Faces, Places, and Bison

Wow!! I can't believe that summer is almost over and I start my senior year off college in two weeks.
Summer really flew by. While I spent most of my summer working and spending time with my favorite 1.5 year olds, I had my fair share of adventures.

In the middle of May, I took a weekend trip to Gillette and Sheridan for the Cowboy Joe Club Golf Tournament. I am so glad I got to go on this trip again. Pictures can't truly capture the beauty of the Big Horn Mountains.

During a last minute trip home for Memorial Day Weekend, I learned it would be my last trip in my  2002 Ford Mustang. My parents had decided to purchase a new car, and to pass my moms car along to me. After a year of waiting, the Mazda3 was mine to drive. 

The first weekend in June we had our first team practice at Steele Athletics. We spent this time going over basic stunts, pyramids, baskets, and gameday material.

A week later I go the chance to instruct my first ever cheer camp and work with Cheyenne East High School and Sierra High School.

After working some more, it was finally time for a much needed vacation. I headed home Thursday June 22nd.
Friday started with an Optometry appointment and was followed by a short trip to Greeley, Co for Stampede Days and Chase Rice. I returned home Saturday for an appointment for my car ( new new one of course) and finished packing for our family trip.

Sunday we packed up the car and headed off. The Templeton family road trip had finally arrived.

We spent Sunday night in Greeley, Co. For my brothers 13th birthday, my parents bought concert  tickets to tobyMac. We headed to the Stampede. This is by far one of the best concerts I have ever been to, and would go again anytime.
And most importantly, my brother loved it.

Sunday began bright and early. We were back on the road and headed north. We made a short stop in Cheyenne, Wy for breakfast, and then headed east towards Nebraska and then north again to South Dakota. Destination, Black Hills, South Dakota.
We took the scenic route and continued to Mount Rushmore. We saw the carvings, learned more about the making of Mount Rushmore, and hiked on the trail.

Sunday we woke up and went to visit the Crazy Horse Monument. Although still unfinished, this monument is larger than Mount Rushmore. We then drove to Bear Country USA. This was one of the coolest places I have ever been. As you drive through the park, the animals are all native to the area and are given lots of space to freely roam. Visitors are encouraged to drive slow, respect the animals, give them the write-a-way, and remain in their cars. After you drive through the park, there is an exhibit for smaller animals.

For lunch we drove to Keystone and ate at a Himalayan and Indian Restaurant. After lunch, we rode on the alpine slide and hid from a thunderstorm on the way back to the hotel.

Wednesday we woke up and hit the rode again. Before heading back to Colorado Springs, we drove to Devils Tower in Wyoming. Devils tower is a naturally occurring rock formation in Northeast Wyoming and is the Nations first national monument.

We returned home Wednesday night. I spent a few days at home and returned to Greeley once more. This time for a sold out Toby Keith concert. One of the most patriotic country artist for the Fourth of July weekend!! What a great combo.

Sadly, my vacation was now over. I returned to Laramie and went back to work. But only for one day. Tuesday was the 4th of July, and I had the day off. I met a friend at "Freedom has a Birthday," Laramie's 4th of July celebration held at a park. There were games, food, vendors, and music. That night I went to her house for a 4th of July party and watched fireworks on the roof.


No more than a week later, my fantastic team arrived in Laramie and began a week and a half of two a day practices. We began perfecting gameday material and working on stunts. Saturday July 15th was walked in the Laramie Jubilee Days Parade, had our College Camp with Steele Athletics Friday July 21st through Sunday July 23rd, and rode in the Cheyenne Frontier Days Parade on Sturday July 22nd.

 

Back in Black

 Camo Couture

 Laramie Jubilee Days

 Laramie Jubilee Days

 Laramie Jubilee Days

 Laradise Luau

 Laradise Luau

 Laradise Luau

Merica' Day

 

Farm Fashion

 Cheyenne Frontier Days Parade

 Cheyenne Frontier Days Parade

 Team Camp

After a very tiring and exhausting week and a half, I returned to work once more. This week was accompanied by another concert. 10 moths prior, the concert line-up for Cheyenne Frontier Days was release. In that line up was an artist my cousin and I have been wanting to see for quite some time. When he was in Colorado last, his concert was held at Mile High Stadium, the Broncos stadium, and was sold out. When we saw he was in this years CFD line up, we immediately asked for tickets for Christmas, as well as two additional tickets or both our parents. So for my moms birthday and my cousin and I's Christmas, we received tickets to Luke Bryan on July 26th. 

With only a few more weeks before the start of school, I pushed to get as many hours in at work as I could. But I couldn't end my summer with out another cheer camp and some Wyoming sight seeing. Thursday August 10th I joined some teammates and drove to Lovell, Wy. Friday and Saturday we went to Lovell High School and ran a camp for their cheer team. It was awesome being able to work with such an amazing group of girls and teach them stunting basics. I can't wait to see how far their team goes this year and in the future.

After camp was done, what else is their to do in Northwestern Wyoming than drive to Yellowstone. My excitement could not be contained. This was one of the many things on my list to do before graduating from the University of Wyoming. The best part, I finally got to see my first bison!!

And now you are up to speed. So what does the rest of my summer look like. With exactly two weeks left, I will work for one more week, take my senior photos, and then jump straight back into cheer for what we call "Work Week". A week full of practice, photo shoots, meeting, training, and Gameday prep. We will also have team bonding and one last camp with Steele Athletics.

I'm so excited for school and season to start. There are only 18 days till Wyoming Football kickoff in Iowa. With one more year left, I can't wait to share my adventures with you.

Until next time,
Ashley