Hot flashes and mystery rashes...

Yesterday we took a drive into the mountains. Rocky Mountain National Park is only 45 min. from our home and what a difference in climate! Much of the state had 2-3 feet of snow with a recent storm, but in our area it was mostly rain. It was warm on Sunday though, so we decided to see some of the snow for the last time before it all melts away in the coming months.

We stopped at one of the visitors centers in the park and looked around...

Remember being a teenager and not wanting to go places? Why is it that family outings become more difficult as the kids age? I think that once the oldest figures out there are more exciting things going on his universe than taking a Sunday drive with the family, it all changes. Well, Kyle didn't want to get out of the car, and so he sat right here until he was good and ready to come inside. He was glad he did though as the park ranger did a presentation on, "Skins and Skulls" where we got to learn about "migrators, tolerators, and hibernators." Skulls and skins of different indigineous animals were passed around with lots of fun facts.

This 'rack' is from an elk...we would soon meet a few on our travels...

Eeek...look at that skull!

Estes Park with snow covered roofs...
Driving through town we ran into these fellows enjoying a Sunday walk...

See all that snow? Well it was a welcome reprieve for us ladies in the family. My recent hot flashes made the cool air such a relief! No need to say more. :-) Poor Ashlyn needed her own cool down. She has developed a strange case of hives/rash.

I took her to the doctor today and there are two possibilities of what this mystery rash could be caused from. She could have a childhood virus called, "5th's Disease" which goes away on it's own, or it could be a "profound reaction" to shaving cream! In her 2nd grade class they got to demonstrate fractions using shaving cream. Fun! Unfortunately, with her pale skin and red hair, her skin is extra sensitive. The hives/rash could be a product of that. Either way, she got the go ahead that it was OK to return to school, to she is back in the saddle, just a little hot and itchy in the process.

Tonight Kyle had an Orchestra Concert that was a big success, but he also had a disappointing day. He auditioned to play guitar in the Jazz band next year, and didn't make it. He's been waiting for days for the results and kept checking the bulletin board for the results. He has become quite a good guitarist and after 5 years of lessons, I really did think this would be a 'sure thing.' Well, life doesn't always go as we plan, so this was a good lesson in resiliency.

Off for now to plan my next flight out to California. I will be going sooner than I thought to start the big process of cleaning out my parents home. As an only child, this will be a BIG task, and a sad one too. I was lucky enought to win Anita's blog giveaway, and this weekend I finished the book I won called, "The Middle Place". It sure helped to put life in perspective, so I will take those lessons with me when I start the first phase of going through their house.

Until next time, have a good week! :-)