A Slightly Sad but Essentially Enjoyable Trip to Yellowstone

So... started this post ages ago... determined to finish today!

I gotta finish up these posts about my girls trip because in two days we'll be in Vegas and there will be other things to write about!

Monday, Julia had planned for us to go to Yellowstone. Despite the grim weather forecast we decided to go anyway! It was about a two hour drive but, like the trip to Jackson Hole, it was beautiful country to drive through! When we got to Yellowstone we immediately realized it was definitely spring/summer time. There were babies everywhere! It was so fun! Baby bison, baby elk, baby deer... LOTS AND LOTS OF BABIES!!!!

Our first stop was at Fountain Paint Pots springs. I had been here once before with my family but I didn't remember a lot. It was very fascinating. They have boardwalks all over these hot springs that are EVERYWHERE! Some of them, because of the minerals in them, were colored blues, yellows, rusts... So beautiful! The pictures really don't do them justice! However, as is the case with most hot springs, there was lots of sulfur in the air... and my my... so stinky!

Julia had her heart set on doing a hike and in spite of the crummy weather we decided to press on! We went on a little hike up to "Mystic Falls"... and this is where the fun begins! We got about 50 yards from the car on our "hike" when we were dismayed to see that most of the next 50 yards were basically under water. Apparently thunderstorms and late spring thaw runoff were the culprits. We stood there, looked at each other, briefly discussed and then with my encouraging words of "Oh well... you only live once", still ringing in our ears, we did our best to leap over the first big "puddle", and then proceeded to wade through the next part of the path. The water was cold but it wasn't too bad.

Shortly after wading, we saw a large bison just a little ways off the path. I reached into my pocket to grab my camera and.... nothing. Hmm... I must have put it in the backpack. Nope... not in the backpack. Because Julia was the only one in waterproof hiking boots (Mary Ann and I were in mesh tennis shoes... hehe) she was volunteered to go back to the car to see if I left it there. After five minutes I was concerned. She came back empty handed and was just about to re-jump over our first "puddle" when she stopped, bent down and picked something up from out of the water.... Any guesses what it was??? :( No bueno. So... most of the pictures from this day of the trip and the rest of the trip are NOT from my camera. ***A note: Since then I am happy to report that I was able to rescue the SD card... the camera turns on... but the flash doesn't work... and it only takes pictures in some of the modes. Sounds like it's time for a new camera!***

But after the tragedy was accepted, we mourned, the poor camera was honored, and then we pressed forward! Through muck, up hills, over mini falls and finally, we arrived at Mystic Falls! It really was breathtaking. I am always amazed by the power of Mother Nature. It has a humbling way of making me feel so small. We ate lunch at the lookout over the falls and then decided that instead of going back the same way we came we'd take the loop up and around. It was worth it... we were privileged with some more amazing vantage points and spectacular views!

All in all it was a great hike! We ended the day by visiting Old Faithful! Julia had missed an eruption last time she visited with her family and was bound and determined to see one this time! Mary Ann had been young the last time she was there and didn't remember too much. It was fun! We didn't have to wait too long either... We were only sitting there for about ten minutes! Once again, it made me appreciate the power and majesty of nature!

After the eruption we hit up a couple of the buildings and shops just to check things up. We were all starving so we grabbed some overpriced marginal food (but what are you gonna do? :) ) before leaving the park. The drive home was fairly uneventful with the exception of it taking us 45 minutes to exit the park because some bison decided to just stand in the middle of the road. We all joked that that's probably what they do for fun... dare each other to walk out and stand in the road just to screw with the humans. I wouldn't doubt it! ;)

Celebrating Sunday!

I wasn't able to write much for the rest of my girls trip... so now I'm catchin' up... starting with Sunday!

Sunday was a great day. Julia's kitty came home, (after a 24+hour adventure in "the wild"), at 4:30 in the morning. I'm sure after all the excitement he was happy to be home and decided to show his enthusiasm by mewing ALL morning. By 5:30am I knew I was not going to be able to sleep anymore so I got up. I figured there was no sense in having all three of us get no sleep! I tried to calm Oliver, the kitty, down but to no avail. He kept going over and standing by Julia's bedroom door. I thought he just wanted Julia but we realized later that he was looking for Devin. Oh well... we were just happy to have him home!

We went to Julia's ward on Sunday and got to watch her teach Sunday School to two very nice thirteen year old boys. They were very much 13 year old boys... sat there unengaged and trying to stay focused. But Julia handled them so well! It was fabulous to watch her in a teaching position. I was very impressed! You could feel the love she has for them!

We skipped Relief Society to come home and nap before going to Rigby to see Jeremy's family. We got to watch Aunt Karla teach RS in their ward and then we headed over to the house to have family dinner. Before dinner we walked around outside and hung out with the horses! Julia and I loves horses and while Mary Ann claimed to have a love-hate relationship with them but I suspect she enjoyed it too.

Then we had a fabulous BBQ and were introduced to cookie salad! (If I can find that reicpe on line I'm FOR SURE posting it on our recipe blog!) It was wonderful! Both Julia and Mary Ann commented afterwards how easy it was to feel comfortable and "at home" with Jeremy's family. I am very blessed with a wonderful family-in-law! We got to play with Candace's (Jeremy's cousin) twin boys and the evening was made complete with a piano performance by Julia, and Mary Ann showing off her talent of standing on her tippy toes (slightly creepy)! All in all it was a wonderful day!

We're goin' to Jackson, aint never comin back... (Well technically we already went and we definitely came back)

Well.... these next few posts will be pretty much just about me (Jess). I'm on a little girls retreat with Mary Ann and Julia for the next few days. So far it has been wonderful! Mary Ann and I drove in Friday afternoon. The four hours flew by! Friday morning I went to the Provo library and got a library card (I know... I'm such a big girl!) and checked out Eclipse on CD for the drive. I haven't borrowed anything from a public library in YEARS! It was pretty cool. You do self-checkout now! Crazy! Anyway, Mary Ann and I got through five chapters on the drive up! It was awesome. We're brushing up before the movie comes out at the end of this month! Wooohoooo!

Friday night we did a little grocery shopping and then went to bed. We were all exhausted! Yesterday was a blast. We woke up too early (Mary Ann and I were up by 6:30am... and Julia shortly thereafter) for vacation. Julia informed us her kitty ran away in the middle of the night, so spent a good 45 minute wondering her neighborhood looking for him... but no kitty. :( So we went to work out. ***Side note: I am both blessed and cursed to have friends who, even when I'm on vacation, encourage me to work out... mostly by doing it themselves. They truly lead by example!***After workouts we showered, got ready and headed to Jackson Hole.

It was a fabulous day! We had a beautiful drive through "God's country". ;) It really was gorgeous. I've decided I could definitely live in this area. The first thing we did when we got into Jackson was go on an alpine slide. It was mine and Julia's first time and Mary Ann's second. We took a chairlift up to the top of this mountain with a spectacular view!

And then we got to slide down... it made us all feel like kids again (please see exhibit A... Mary Ann's face in the following picture!)

Then we headed into town and had fun looking at shops (and, of course, doing a little shopping), meeting Big Foot (quite an honor) & taking lots of pictures (the ones below is taken in front of the arches in the town square - they're made of elk antlers! Very cool!)



We stumbled across a chocloate shop while wandering and Julia pulled us in. You know... I could have resisted until I was in there with temptation staring me in the face. What's that thing they say in the church... avoid putting yourself in compromising situations... Anyway, it ended up being some of the best candy ever. Their Raspberry Cream covered in Dark Chocolate was to die for! Below is Mary Ann and I enjoying the last few bites... Uh... heaven...

We couldn't resist going and getting an "Old Time Photo". Julia and Mary Ann had never done one before, and it has been years since I have (remember that, Claire?). It was so much fun. I mean how can you not have a ball when you're laced up so tight in corsets you can hardly breathe and you're wearing bloomers! :) Oh and we totally loved the "frame" it came in. Apparently we are ladies of breeding... meaning we are well bred. Is that any better than the alternative??? Hmm.... something to ponder...

Then we set out on a quest to find a place for dinner. We visited several locations, including the “Million Dollar Cowboy Bar” (see pics below), but settled on Bubba’s BBQ. Not everything was amazing… but the stuff that was, was DELICIOUS! Seriously some of the best fries I’ve ever had!



The drive home was pretty and uneventful, a lovely combination. We were all beat so we went to bed pretty early. Oh! And good news... Julia's kitty came home! 4:30am... and wouldn't stop mewing once he did... but we're just happy he's back! :) More to come soon!

Workin' for the Weekend!

Well... it was a wonderful holiday weekend. Spent Friday doing some service for my boss... scraping, sanding & painting her garage door and her outdoor patio. Spent Saturday doing some service for our own house... scraping, sanding & painting OUR garage and new fence. Spent Sunday doing some service in church (well, our callings, but that's still service)... watching, playing with & having fun in nursery (yes... that's right Jeremy and I just got called to nursery!) And spent Monday honoring those who have served our country... and doing more painting, and having a fabulous BBQ with the Merrills. And here are the pictures to prove it!

Ryder enjoying the hammock (or as he calls it "hellmuck) -

The Merrills... what a cute family photo!

Enjoying a dinner outside!

Mary Ann and I going green... in a sense!

Ryder & Rianna giving Lani some love. They both love Lani so much... but they still get a little nervous around her... It's a love-hate relationship! :)

Ben & Mary Ann chillaxin... Hey... who's watching your children????



SUPER RYDER!!!!

I detest this picture of me but I just had to show that all three of us were in the hammock together! If you could see the weak ropes holding this thing up... trust me... you'd be impressed! :)

But alas... it is Tuesday and it is back to the old grind... However, it is a short four day week and then it's off to Idaho with Mary Ann to go visit Julia! I've said it before and I'll say it again... Friday cannot come fast enough!!!!