nebraska - phoenix - idaho


A challenging trip to pack for as our temperature variances went from 40 degrees to 104! I only over-packed by 4 shirts, but Ryan and his fickle mind had all our luggage stuffed to the gills. Plus Violet puked in the middle of the night on our way home and needless to say I had a stinky sopping wet sweatshirt of Violet's in my backpack. Ick.


It was a super chill perfect family getaway, however. We started our journey traveling to Phoenix to visit my Aunt and Uncle. Did some chair yoga and our nightly golf cart ride around their neighborhood to look for coyotes and scorpions. Then the 5 of us went onto to Coeur d'Alene to see my cousin, Phil, and his 11 year old daughter Lilly. The girls got along famously and I think it was an amazing thing to witness: this girl -- a wannabe pre-teen who exhaustingly tries to act older than she is at all times -- have permission to just be a kid with Violet! They had so much fun running around and being silly. They especially enjoyed the hot tub at our air b&b.


On our visit to Idaho, we fell in LOVE with the climate of the Pacific Northwest. Totally our jam. 65 and partly cloudy. No humidity.

We enjoyed a silver mine tour in Wallace (NEVER ever EVER want to be a minor, btw), hiked, golfed, and went to an amusement park. Violet survived her first rollercoaster ride and had a 20 cent soda in a $12 novelty cup. (eyeroll)

Group of friends taking a fun selfie together in a car.

why I fear for my job


Oh my gosh, you guys. I just upgraded my iPhone in a major way... I had an iPhone 8 and made the leap to an iPhone 13 ProMAX. WHY THE HECK DID I DRAG MY FEET SO LONG?! The photo quality is OUTSTANDING. Yes it was a huge expense (but a business write-off) and this sucker weighs a ton and is ginormous. BUT the pros outweigh the cons. Especially since I got a new system for transport. More on that later.

So all these pics were taken with my new iPhone. What do you think?!

White flowering shrubs along mountain trail with misty waterfall vista in background.
Serene waterscape with distant mountains and cloudy sky.
Plate of comfort food with melted cheese and checkered tablecloth.
Person relaxing across car back seat wearing a blue floral dress.
Close-up of feet with decorative tattoo in a dimly lit room.
Playful poses on a wooden pier overlooking water and mountains.
Child playing hide and seek under a blanket fort.
Child in pink outfit jumping joyfully on outdoor patio.
Vintage motel and cafe signs against bright blue sky with white clouds.
Colorful kayaks lined up on dock with water and mountains in background.
Person in turquoise shirt preparing food in a bright kitchen.
Person in blue shirt leaning over railing at scenic mountain overlook with rushing water below.
Couple posing together at scenic mountain overlook with waterfall in background.
Group enjoying scenic mountain vista near safety railing with waterfall mist in background.
Couple taking selfie outdoors wearing baseball caps on cloudy day.
Two people taking selfies with scenic mountain waterfall backdrop.
Child playing with camera equipment outdoors on sunny day.
Child enjoying time in outdoor hot tub with bubbling water.
Person sitting on wooden deck railing in casual outdoor setting.
Group of people playing cards at a wooden table in a casual indoor setting.
Scenic wooded trail with dappled sunlight filtering through trees.
Fresh red strawberries served on turquoise blue plates.
Tour group in hard hats and casual wear gathered outdoors near a mining site.
Close-up detail of industrial mining equipment in dark tunnel conditions.
Visitors gathered outside the entrance of Sierra Silver Mine in Wallace, Idaho.
Colorful sign board outside brick building reads 'Wine now cheaper than gas don't drive'.
Historic downtown street view with storefronts and mountain backdrop in Wallace, Idaho.
Person relaxing on white bleachers with beverages on sunny day.
Golf push cart on gravel path with green grass and blue sky in background.
Friends enjoying a sunny day by the water with mountains in background.
Close-up selfies showing joyful expressions and laughter.
Group gathered on wooden dock with water and mountains in background.
Scenic views of calm waters and mountains from boat deck.
Evening dining on boat deck with warm lighting and water views.
Pink flowering tree branches drape over a white residential house with windows on a sunny day.
Modern restaurant interior with black and white tile flooring and industrial-style seating and lighting.
A fluffy gray cat rests contentedly on someone's lap on an outdoor deck.
Long-haired cat lounges on a white railing of a wooden deck with trees in the background.
Airplane wing silhouetted against dramatic sunset clouds during flight.
Dark interior of an airplane cabin during flight.