Our big vacation this summer wasn't our usual backpack into the Rockies, but a family trip to visit Nathan and Kameryn and the cousins in Pine Haven. We just hung out the first couple days and the kids got to play their Playstation VR, then we went for some fun in Rapid City to a water park and Reptile Gardens. We did do a couple photography outings a couple of evenings. KD and I spent an evening at Devil's Tower to shoot the sunset and some night sky photos. She was super patient waiting for dark to come that night waiting for the milky way to show. Another night we were able to get out to Badlands National Park, which I didn't even know exhisted until we were up there in the hotel and looking at some pamphlets. I'm glad we checked that one out. It was such a hidden gem out in the middle of nowhere!
This was the first summer we've had that Cami has been working while I stay home and play Mr. Mom. It's been an adjustment, but we found our groove. We all spent a few hours in the mornings painting and jamming out to Skillet in the studio before we went on to chores and the rest of our day. I was able to finish a couple paintings during these sessions with the kids. The first one features an awesome sunset I shot a couple summers ago from up high on the rock cut formation along Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park:
The second is of a peaceful waterfall inspired by an off the path discovery in the Bighorn Mountains of Northeasterrn Wyoming. This one took a bit longer with all the flower details. I've learned that I enjoy rocks. I could paint rocks for days. Grass? Not so much!
