Joanne Heim

Friends, leaves, verses

My friend Christy is visiting, thus the no blogging yesterday. We drove up to Vail for the day to see the leaves--gorgeous!--and to have lunch at Sweet Basil--delicious!

And I didn't take one single picture.

We were having too much fun. And talking nonstop. And I left my big camera on my desk. And I didn't look at my phone once.

The girls spent the day with their Gran and took some school along. One assignment being their new verse cards for Memory Monday. We're adding verses 7-8 to Psalm 91. Halfway there!

I hear Toben stirring upstairs, so I'm off. But I wanted to say good morning, to encourage you to take the time to tell a friend you love her today and that she's a gift, and to give you an opportunity to chime in on Memory Monday on Tuesday. :)

Later, 'gators.

Mnemonic devices

I am all for coming up with all kinds of goofy anythings to help my kids (and myself!) remember stuff. 

When Audrey had to learn the state capitals, we made flashcards and crazy sayings for as many of the states as we could.

For example: St. Paul, Minnesota

Saint Paul was a missionary and so he couldn't afford a big soda and had to buy a mini soda. 

Get it?

Some were much shorter.

For example: Dover, Delaware

Double D!

That was enough to help us remember that one.

We do it with spelling too.

We go TOGETHER TO GET HER.

CLOSE the T in the CLOSET.

We do it with Bible verses.

Philippians 4:8-9 tells us to think on whatever is TNR PLA EP. True, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, praiseworthy.

And now I'm doing it with Greek.

This word means "I say; I speak" and is pronounced "lego."

How to I remember it? I say: Lego my ego!

And this one means "crowd, multitude" and is pronounced "ochlos."

So I remember this even though the pronunciation is not quite right: A crowd of ox was eating lox.

And my favorite for this week?

This word means "house, home" and is pronounced "oykia."

What else could it be but this: Oy! Go to IKEA to decorate your house!

Silly, but it works.

I write them on all of my flashcards.

(And, yes, there are supposed to be accent marks on those words, but I've not figured out how to get them on their with this font yet.)

Blogging over there

Some of you know that Toben and I write a blog together. Occasionally. We've had periods of consistency, but it's been a little sketchy lately. Anyway, that's what that Our Crazy Marriage button is over there in the sidebar on the right er, make that the left. You can read a little of our story and why we write it there.

Anyway, a while back, I wrote here on The Simple Wife about the book Jesus Lives that I've been reading during my quiet time. In fact, I quoted an entire's day devotional on what makes a day successful. And lots of you wrote back to say how you were going to print it out and put it on your fridge. And buy a copy of the book for yourself.

So if you did and you're not up to page 108 yet, you can click over to Our Crazy Marriage for a sneak peek at one that's coming. About control and love and the people in your life. It's a good one.

Joanne's Chicken Noodle Soup

I loved all your responses about secret recipes and tapioca. Which I am totally craving though it's not even 6:30 in the morning!

So, without further ado and without any real measurements...

Joanne's Chicken Noodle Soup

Onion, carrot, and celery (the trifecta of soups)

Garlic (I use lots)

Italian seasoning
Salt and pepper
Lemon pepper 

HOMEMADE CHICKEN STOCK!!
(Toben told me I needed to come back and put this in huge red, flashing letters. "There's no point in even trying if you don't use homemade stock," he said. "It will only be as good as the stock they use!" I don't know how to make the words flash, but there's the red and a couple of exclamation points for good measure.)

Chicken

White wine

Fresh herbs

Flour, oil, water, salt, pepper, herbs

Fresh herbs

1. Chop onions, carrots, and celery. Cook in heavy pot in olive oil until browning. Add chopped garlic and salt and pepper, lemon pepper, and Italian seasoning toward the end. Sprinkle a little bit of flour over the cooked mixture. This will thicken your broth some.

2. Next, add homemade chicken stock. Sorry, canned stock won't cut it--your soup will not be nearly as flavorful. Homemade stock is easy to make. See here.

3. Bring to a boil. Add chicken. I put the chicken in frozen and let it cook in the soup. Put the lid on, reduce the heat, and let it simmer. When the chicken is done, remove and cut into bite-sized pieces and return to the pot.

I usually do up to this part in the early afternoon and let it simmer for a couple of hours. Or even just turn off the heat and leave the lid on. It makes the house smell really, really good. Especially if you put an apple pie in the oven in the meantime.

4. Next add an entire bottle of white wine. I use plain old cooking wine. This is what did it last weekend--the secret ingredient that made all the difference. It makes the broth so rich and round and wonderful. Bring it back to a boil, which removes all the alcohol so you don't get your kids drunk on chicken soup.

5. While that's cooking, make your noodles. Put flour in a bowl and add salt and pepper and some more Italian seasoning. Mix in some olive oil, stirring with a fork. Then add water until you reach a doughy consistency.  Now you can chose a few options.

You can roll out the dough (pretty thin--it will poof when it cooks!) and cut out shapes with small cookie cutters. We like stars and pumpkins and circles and flowers. This is the girls' favorite part of making chicken noodle soup.

You can roll out the dough and cut long strips--either thin or thick. Long or short.

You can just chop the dough into little bits with a knife.

6. Then add the noodles in whatever form you've chosen to the boiling pot. Be sure to add them a few at a time so they don't stick together. Let them cook for 10-15 minutes or so.

7. Add a handful of whatever fresh herbs you have growing. This is going to be a problem come winter! This past weekend, I used parsley, basil, oregano, chives, rosemary, and thyme--chopped up altogether. Throw it all in the pot and give it a last stir.

That's it! Serve with yummy, crusty hot bread to dip into your bowl of delicious, cold-fighting, super-power giving chicken soup.

A few things I love about homeschooling

Right off the bat, I have to say that I had always said I would NEVER (yes, absolutely in all caps), NEVER (yep, another one in all caps!) EVER homeschool my kids. Which seems like reason enough right there for it to happen, and for me actually to like it.

I also said I would NEVER drive a minivan (not anymore, but yep, I loved it when I did) NEVER move away from Colorado (that was right before we moved to California and loved it), NEVER move to Arizona (which we promptly did), NEVER be a runner (which I have come to be).

Well.

Here I am. Homeschooling my kids. And here are a few reasons why I love it:

 

1. Lots and lots and lots of out loud reading. I love to read out loud. And we read really good books.

2. Time to stop and talk about what we're interested in. Hmm...I don't know. Let's take a minute and find out.

3. If we want to, we can have school in our jammies.

4. I don't pack lunches. Instead, the girls make their own and clean up afterward.

5. No carpool line.

6. The paper pile. We don't have one.

7. Not being exposed to every cold and flu germ on the planet.

8. I get to learn along with the girls.

9. Quiet time every day after lunch.

10. Someday it's going to snow, and we're going to sit in our jammies by the fire, sipping cocoa, and reading something great. And it will be school. How amazing is that?!

 

P.S. I will NEVER win the lottery. Just for the record.

Secret recipes

I made the best chicken soup--EVER--in the whole history of chicken soups--on Saturday night, outdoing my previous best. And I have to say I do make really, really good chicken soup. Homemade stock and homemade noodles being key parts of what makes it so good.

But Saturday? A whole new level of chicken soup nirvana.

I mentioned it on Twitter/Facebook and received some requests for the secret. And here's my dilemma: Do I share it? Do I keep this one recipe as my specialty, my super-duper secret recipe? Or do I give it to the world? (Or those of you who read my blog, as the case may be.)

Of course, it would be more of a set of chicken soup guidelines, because I just make it and don't ever measure anything in the process.

Maybe I'm wondering because I watched New in Town the other day--and there's a secret tapioca recipe in the movie. (BTW, I love tapioca. Can't remember the last time I had it, but YUM.)

So here's my question: Do I keep a secret recipe? Do you? What is it? (The recipe, not the secret.) And how do you feel about tapioca? Love it? Hate it? (Seems like it's either one or the other--no in between.)

Okay, so that's more than one question. Waiting to hear...

Monday mishmash

I must admit my first thoughts this morning were not very nice. How in the world did it get to be Monday again so quickly? Time flies, it's true, but does it have to go at the speed of light? Wouldn't a nice leisurely pace be nicer?

It makes me think that if time is going to continue at the zooming pace of the last couple of weeks that I'd better be doing everything I can to live in the moment and choose to enjoy it. Because in a blink it's past.

Am I living in the moment, or just biding time? Or worse, wasting time? Questions I need to ponder, I think. Because every time I turn around another week has gone by. And I don't want to look back on it with regret. "I wish I would have..." just isn't going to cut it.

That said, this morning I'm beginning again...again. I haven't been quite right lately. I've been surprised at some anger that has flared up unexpectedly, been feeling like my heart has been getting comfortable with being hard in places, been unresponsive to some promptings of the Spirit.

But as I was reminded yesterday when we visited a church with some friends and the pastor preached through all of Romans 8, "I am not controlled by the sinful nature, but by the Spirit" (Romans 8:9). And that happens as I choose to set my mind on things of the Spirit. If I'm going to be lazy about that, then no wonder things haven't been quite right.

So. Monday morning. Time for a fresh start.

***Pause to have a meeting with Toben. Cry some. Run four miles. Hear TobyMac's "Hold On" for the first time and feel like it was just for me. Eat a breakfast burrito. Start school with the girls. Break for lunch and quiet time.***

It's now hours later than when I began this post and I have to say I'm feeling worn out, tired, hopeful, anxious. A mishmash of feelings to go with the mishmash of everything else. Somehow a fresh start can feel intimidating as well as exciting.

The girls and I are going to head up the hill and pick some apples. One of the neighbors has an apple tree and a sign that says to help ourselves. So that's what we're going to do just as soon as my mom gets her groceries put away and comes over.

But before I forget, here's what we're learning this week for Memory Monday--adding verses 5 and 6 to what we've learned so far in Psalm 91.

What are you learning this week? 

And also before I forget, here are the lyrics to that TobyMac song:

Hold On

Wake up to the morning light
wipe away the lonely nights
let a brand new day wash over you,
Wanna see you smile again
show some love to your crazy friends
wipe your tears away
those days are through

If you move just a little bit closer you can put your head on my shoulder
Yeah, yeah

Chorus: So baby hold on
just another day or two
I can see the clouds are
moving faster now
and the sun is breaking through
If you can hold on, to the one that's holding you
there is nothing that can
stop this crazy love
from breaking through

We're breaking through
We're breaking through

Wake up to the morning sun
thank the Lord for the
things He's done
lift your eyes up to the
hope that's ever true
Wanna see you smiling girl
you're a light in this jaded world
wipe away those tears
this one's for you

Come on, move a little bit closer, you can put your head on my shoulder
Yeah, yeah

Chorus

And the stars are up there
shining for you
oh, the Father does adore you
His love will never change
And you and I 
we were born to follow
the hope that will lead us to tomorrow 
and no one can take it away

So baby hold on
just another day or two
I can see the clouds are
moving faster now
and the sun is breaking through
If you could hold on
to the one that's holding you
there is nothing that can stop this crazy, crazy love from breaking x2

You see the clouds are
moving faster now
the clouds are moving faster

You see the clouds are
moving faster now
And the sun is breaking through

We're breaking through

***

"Oh, the Father does adore you." Maybe you need to hear that today as much as I did. 

 

Whatever

I think I mentioned that we have a theme for our year of homeschooling this year. The school the girls used to attend always had a spiritual emphasis theme every year and it just seemed like a good idea for this one.

The funny thing is that the theme one year was "whatever"--but it was the whatever found in Philippians 4:8-9 that tells us to think about whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy.

That was a thinking whatever. This year, our whatever is a doing whatever.

So on the first day of school, we talked about what these verses mean. What words are repeated? What words don't we understand and need to look up? Here's what Audrey and Emma came up with as the most important things to remember:

Do whatever with a thankful attitude.

Do whatever with all your heart--the best you can do.

Do whatever for Jesus. 

What does that look like for us and for school? I asked.

Write neatly! Take my time. Pretend that Jesus is the teacher to whom I'm turning in my assignment.

Pay attention to what I'm doing. If I'm doing math, do math with all my heart. If I'm reading, pay attention to that and don't worry about whatever is coming next.

Even if I'm doing my least favorite subject, be thankful that I can learn. 

There's lots more, of course. And it's something we talk about every day we do school. We start the school day with one of the girls reading these verses and then praying that God would help us do this. All of us. Me included. Because I need to remember to be thankful, to teach with all my heart, to do a job well rather than cutting corners because it's faster or easier.

The girls are getting it. And so am I. Whatever I do matters. Because whatever I do--teaching, running, laundry, cleaning house, talking with a friend, spending time with Toben, cooking dinner, studying Greek--can be something done for God.

And that pretty much changes everything.

This year feels different

Somehow homeschooling feels like a whole other kettle of fish so far this year than last. Of course, we're really only one week in and still settling into a rhythm, so that could be it. But somehow this year seems harder.

Not harder bad, necessarily. More challenging. More focused. More intentional. Like there's more on the line.

And our days just seem longer. Which could be doing a four-day curriculum instead of a five-day curriculum. (Though we did a five-day curriculum in four days last year.) But we're starting together at 9 and not ending together until 4. Of course, there's an hour for lunch in there. And an hour of quiet time. And an hour of time for each girl to work on her own while I do math with the other.

The good thing is that the days don't feel rushed. And I have to say I'd prefer longer and some open space and time, than shorter and rushed. 

I don't like being rushed. 

The girls don't like it either. It's a sure way to a bad attitude and whatever their current version of a meltdown happens to be at the moment. Mine too for that matter.

Anyway, this year feels different. And I think I'm okay with that. Choosing to watch and see how it shakes out, how it settles, how it pans out as we adjust to the rhythm and see things fall into texture of our family life.

I'm reminding myself that it takes time for things to settle.

Memory Monday: How to memorize and Psalm 91:1-2

I got a question the other day from Jen about how I actually memorize using my verse cards. I thought it might make a good post--and give ya'll the opportunity to chime in so we can all encourage each other and share what works!

So here are my top three tips:

1. GET IT IN FRONT OF YOUR FACE.

A verse in my Bible will stay a verse in my Bible rather than a verse on my heart if I don't get it in front of my face. Even an open Bible can be distracting with so many words on the page.

For me, this means a verse card I can keep on the computer screen, by the kitchen sink, on the dash in the car. (And when it comes to memorizing Scripture, it helps me to put it in the first person.) We make our verse cards on the computer and print them out on 3 x 5 cards. Mine are usually pretty plain, but the girls like to change the typefaces, add color, and such.

Here's my latest idea for getting Greek grammar stuck in my head--write it in the shower with dry erase marker. Toben got in the shower the other morning to find this. (Terrible photo--didn't turn and kinda blurry, but you get the idea!)

 

You could write on your mirror. Or on your fridge, if you have a white fridge. Or on your kitchen window.

2. REPEAT.

Repeat. Repeat. Repeat. Someone once told me that repetition is the key to long-term memory. And it's true. You must repeat whatever you're learning every day. 

Say it morning, noon, and night. Every time you get a drink. Every time you take a break from a task. Every time you hit a red light. Think of something you do often that could be a reminder to say your verse (or the chart of Greek articles or noun endings!).

As a guideline, the Bible curriculum we use for homeschooling says to say the verse aloud a minimum of two times a day. I think it needs to be more. We each read the verse out loud twice--looking at it until we know it. Trying to say it when it's not yet memorized and getting it wrong tends to get the wrong stuck in our heads. Look at it until you know it! Which leads to number 3...

3. USE AS MANY SENSES AS POSSIBLE.

Look at it while you say it.

Say it out loud. Even if you feel like a dork. Use expression. Set it to music if that helps.

Pay attention to the sound of your voice as you hear yourself say it.

Move while you say it. Goofy hand motions. Jumping jacks. Jump rope. Sounds silly, but it helps your memory. I could find an article to prove my point, but I'll let you look it up if you don't believe me. ;)

***

All that said, the girls and I are memorizing Psalm 91 over the next weeks. We're focusing on a few verses at a time. So this past week we worked on verses 1-2 and will add the next few today.

  

***

What are you memorizing? How do you memorize? What works best for you?

 

 

So much scope for the imagination, as Anne* would say!

Part of our Language Arts curriculum for this year includes keeping an artist's sketchbook--not for drawings, but for words. A place to record thoughts or ideas that grab our imaginations so we can have a place to go for inspiration when a writing assignment is given.

I naturally do this in my journal, jotting down words or phrases or ideas that tickle my fancy.

Things from books like Island of the Blue Dolphins. What would my secret name be? What would it be like to be all alone on an island? What would I do? How would I survive? How would I keep hope alive?

Things from places we've been, like Yellowstone or the Grand Tetons. What would it have been like to be one of the 50 carpenters who spent the winter at Yellowstone building the Old Faithful Inn? What would it have been like to live on Mormon Row in the Tetons, to have this barn be my barn? What would summers be like? Winters?

 

Or this barn?

 

Houses always inspire me. If this were my cabin, what would I want in it? How would I decorate it? Who would I invite for the weekend? Rag rugs and rocking chairs, for sure, not to mention lots and lots of puzzles!

 

Things from places we pass on the road. Who lives here in the middle of nowhere? What does she do all day? Is she lonely? What would my life be like if I lived here?

 

Treasures in antique stores--Whose was it? Who made it? What's the story behind it?

Old photographs--Who are they? What did they love? What did they fear? What were their dreams?

The bunnies in the yard--How would  I write their stories? What are their adventures?

People from the stories of Scripture--What happened to the woman at the well five years later? What about the rest of Tamar's life?

What kinds of things spark your imagination?

*That's Anne (with an "e")--of Green Gables, of course. If you're not friends with her, you need to be. Talk about imagination!

Meet my friends from the Tetons and Yellowstone

While I did not meet a bear (so disappointing) while we were camping last weekend in Wyoming, we did see a bunch of other wildlife.

Wait! I did see a bear. But not quite like I was hoping for. Though I'm sorta glad this one wasn't able to tap me on the shoulder. He was much bigger than he looks in the picture.

 

We did see LIVE wildlife! Like a moose--super up-close and personal. 

 

Here he is again:

 

Can you even imagine carrying those antlers around on your head all day? Emma tried, but she needed some help. (Obviously, as one of her antlers is upside down!)

 

We also saw bison (are they the same as buffalo?) and lots of pronghorn antelope (which we call "white butts"):

 
Bison/buffalo are BIG and they cause traffic to stop:

 

 

And even though we see deer often living in Colorado, it's exciting when they visit your campsite in the evening to stop and say hello. Especially when they still have some of their spots and let you walk within a few feet of them before wandering away and finding more mushrooms to eat.

 

We also saw a whole romp (thank you, Susan--I tweeted that I'd seen them but didn't know what to call them and she googled it and tweeted me back--all while we were on the river--love technology!) of river otter. 

A "romp" is the perfect name for a group of them--because that's exactly what they do--in water and at home.

First we saw them swimming in the water around the boat. And I got a little giddy. I just love seeing things like this! Our national parks are such a treasure.

 

Then we passed their house, where they were having a picnic dinner of fish. ::crunch, crunch, crunch:: They do not chew with their mouths closed.

 

Totally made me miss the days when Audrey and Emma were little and we watched "PB&J Otter" every single day.
 
 

(See the fish in his mouth? You can click on the pictures to see them blown up more.)

There were more around the side of their house playing a mad game of tag. In and out of the water, up and down and all around. They were so funny!

I didn't think the day could get any better, but when we got to the pull-out spot, THERE WAS A BEAVER! I've always wanted to see one in the wild. He swam around like a little log with his tail out behind him and then--BANG--smacked his tail on the water. It sounded like a gunshot. And then he swam around some more so I could take his picture.

 

 
There are wolves in the Tetons too, but we didn't see any this trip. So we'll just have to go back and let the wolves and bears know we're coming ahead of time so they can get ready to come out and say hello.

First day of school wrap-up love

I am pooped. Zonked. Tuckered out. Tired.

But what a great day. 

I love the theme verse for our school year (Colossians 3:17,23-24).

I love our new history curriculum (Eastern Hemisphere Explorer).

I love our new World Book encyclopedia thing-y on my computer.

I love that the girls and I are memorizing Scripture together again (Psalm 91:1-2 this week).

I love that the girls want to work together on their first Choose Your Adventure project for history. (They're going to throw a luau and teach us about the Pacific Islands.)

I love that the first book we're reading out loud together is Island of the Blue Dolphins.

I love that the characters in that book have an everyday name and a secret name. Something about that totally grabs at my imagination and intrigues me.

I love that we did math without tears. Or even complaining. Not even a groan.

I love that the girls didn't fight doing handwriting exercises but were excited to do it neatly and take their time.

I love that we're learning some hardcore grammar this year. I think grammar is important!

***

In other news, I love my friend Jennifer who sent me this on Facebook today:

She works for a publishing company that publishes a bunch of great homeschool stuff. So if that describes you, leave a comment here and I'll get you connected. 

Wanna see what she sent me not too long ago?

 

This book is HUGE and the pages fold out into an illustrated timeline of history. Take a look:

***

And I also love that the new Sprouts opened today and I don't have to drive for miles to get to one. And that nectarines were three pounds for a dollar. And that coffee was on sale for $5 a pound.

And I love that it's almost dinner time and that after eating and cleaning the kitchen and after studying some Greek vocabulary words and making my grammar flashcards, I LOVE THAT I'LL GET TO GET IN BED AND READ A WHILE AND THEN GO TO SLEEP.

Because have I mentioned that I'm a little bit tired after all that?

The end.

So, what did you love today?

First day of school

Today's the first day of school for Audrey and Emma. Hello seventh and fourth grades!

Heading out the door to school:

 

Arriving at school:

 

Though we could have had the first day in our jammies, we decided to get dressed for the first day! Pajama days are fun, but we've decided to save them for every once in a while to make them special. 

(Hmm...just had a vision of a snowy morning, hot chocolate, jammies, and school by the fireplace. Maybe winter won't be so bad...)

Taking a lunch break and getting ready to do some out loud reading. We've covered history, science, spelling, grammar, writing, and Bible this morning. Phew! Must say that having planners for the girls is working well so far (half a day in!). They are writing down their assignments to check off as they complete them, so I'm only having to say things once. And that is a very good thing.

Off to eat my PB&J, which seems like a perfect first day of school kind of a lunch, if you ask me. Maybe I'll even have pudding for dessert.

The Tetons were grand!

 

The Tetons and Yellowstone were amazing--so much to see and not nearly enough time. We're definitely going to have to go back. Somehow I thought they were much farther away than they really are. Five days was a good amount of time, though I think a week or ten days would definitely be better.

No bear. :(

Though we did see moose, bison, antelope, coyote, beaver!, and river otter! The beaver and river otter were the best, for sure. Pictures coming soon...

We are starting our homeschool year tomorrow, so I've got to get my rear in gear and go for my run, get laundry done, menus planned, groceries bought, and our week organized. Not to mention getting some study time in for Greek tonight. Today's going to be full--but it will make the rest of the week run more smoothly.

But I wanted to pop in and say hello. And show you where I'd live if I could:

 

Even with an outhouse, I think it'd be kind of wonderful. Rag rugs on the floor, stew bubbling over the fire, bread baking. And just take a look at the barn--I've always wanted a barn. 

 

So much scope for the imagination in places like this. If I could grow my hair long first, I'd totally travel back in time. Would you? When would you go? Where?

Going to the woods to meet a bear

I hope. From the safety of the car or from across the lake. Definitely not in the middle of the night on my way to the bathroom. Keeping my fingers crossed.

 See you Tuesday!

September 1

I love the word "September"--makes me think of woodsmoke and leaves changing and freshly sharpened pencils. Not to mention reams of notebook paper and three-ring binders. Flashcards and book bags and highlighters, oh my!

I started seminary again last night. Which is good. Because for some reason I was so sure my class was on Monday. So sure that it's marked on all the calendars for Mondays, but when I got there on Monday night I couldn't find my classroom to save my life. That's because, um, well, my class is on TUESDAY. Needless to say, that didn't make me feel very smart.

But I went last night and found my classroom right away. And am so excited to begin Greek! I'll be packing my flashcards and workbook today.

Packing because we are headed to Wyoming tomorrow to meet Mom and Dad and the girls who have been camping in the Tetons since last weekend. Mom said to be sure to pack art supplies to try to capture some of the beautiful stunning-ness. So I'll be packing our art curriculum too and I think we'll have our first art lesson outdoors.

Here's where we're going in case you're a little rusty on your Wyoming geography:

 

We'll be heading into Yellowstone while we're there too (see how they touch?) and I'm so excited to see Old Faithful. I know I've been to Yellowstone and the Tetons before--but I don't remember it very well and cannot wait. I totally want to be a camping family who visits every single one of our national parks.

This--or something like it--is what's on our wish list these days:

 

So today I'll be packing my camping pants and hoodies and down vest and hiking backpack and some really warm jammies. It's been in the 30s at night up there--can't wait to sit around the campfire.

Found this photo of the Tetons--I AM SO EXCITED!

 

***

What are your plans for Labor Day weekend?