Jackson Hole 2013

 We managed to skip a day of school and slip up to Jackson for one last summer vacation. My family has a big family reunion up there every year and we just couldn't miss out on the fun.

 String Lake Day was so fun!! Jumping off the big rock, paddle boarding, trips around the lake in the raft. Lunch on the beach and then lots of lightening. We got poured on and ran for the cars. Luckily we had lots of thunder as warning. You can see the concern on James' face. I don't think he believes Tyler is rowing quite fast enough. The thunder was clapping directly overhead. It was pretty loud and intimidating.

 Cousins freezing by the lake and enjoying a bit of lunch.

 Byron was off looking for huckleberries when he ran across this cute little guy and his Mama bear. He came back to get us but by the time we hiked back to where the bears were the rangers had closed the trail. The bear were eating off a deer carcus and they didn't want any hikers getting into trouble. We hung around for a minute and the rangers managed to drag the carcas away from the trail and into the woods. They opened the trail and we managed to hike in quick enough to get a few pics of Mama and baby cub crossing over the trail following the scent trail to find their food again.

 We were all very excited about our close encounter with the bear. I had a bit of an adrenaline rush as Mama bear was walking straight at me while I was trying to get her photo. I eventually yielded the trail and she crossed exactly where I had been standing. Thanks for telling me I was standing in the scent trail of the carcas.

 Fun signage. We were there on 8-21-13. This Mama has been in a bit of trouble lately. In the last five days she had gotten into four coolers in the close vicinity.  They were hoping the deer carcas would slow down her people food habit she was getting into.

 Jonathan was hiking Ali back from viewing the moose who wandered through our condo units.

 They playhouse is a favorite activity of mine. We got great seats this year! Ali and Nathaniel enjoyed the front row action. Ali did manage to fall asleep before the end and I had a good chuckle watching five guys dance and sing their hearts out right above Ali while she slept like a baby. I don't know how she didn't wake up.

 Some of the playhouse crew. We bought sixteen tickets altogether. Troy was nice enough to run the five blocks through the rain to bring the car around for our crew. I love the animated faces of these cousins!!

 A little horseback riding adventure for us. We got more adventure than we had planned on.

 The horse is actually a mule named Fancy. The wrangler is actually a superhero in disguise. Garrett managed to save Ali's life during our trail ride. We are every so grateful and I have no doubt there were angels helping as well. This girl did get herself into a pickle, by no fault of her own though. About an hour into our ride Ali's MULE spooked, bucked and darted down the trail. Ali was not able to hold on and was thrown. Garrett said he heard the mule buck and turned around to see an empty saddle and Ali dangling by one leg being dragged under the running mule. He kicked his horse into high gear ran along beside the mule and did a flying leap for the stirrup. He somehow managed to free her foot but he got kicked in the chest. He told me he had never dismounted a running horse before and wasn't sure how he was able to get her foot free. It is a miracle she was not kicked or trampled or honestly hurt in any way. Not a scratch on her little body. She was drug through the mud for about twenty yards before Garrett managed to get her foot free. She was shaken up but didn't even cry, not one tear. Brave little lady we have on our hands.

I did not see all of this take place, thankfully, but I could hear sounds of terror coming through the trees. I yelled up the line asking if Ali was okay....nothing. Yelled again, is she okay? Finally I hear she got bucked off but is standing. I finally leaped off my horse and ran up the line to get my eyes on my little girl. I am so grateful for the angels who were watching over her and keeping her away from those hooves. Garrett was alright as well, not sure how you take a hoof to the chest and walk away from it but he did. I did tip my guide, my sister tipped our guide and when my Dad heard what happened he headed back to the ranch and tipped our guide again. By the time my Dad got over there Garrett had headed out on another trail ride. They said he was doing just fine, Fancy not so much...she will be retired. That was her last rodeo.

 This is Ali after her big adventure on Fancy the Mule. She lost her hat and a shoe flew off her foot during the run-away mule ride. It took some looking but we found the shoe. She was concerned they are her new school shoes after all. We sat on the porch so Mom could have a little cry and recover herself a bit. Ali just wanted to go jump on the bungee trampolines. I was far more shaken up than she was. We went to the tramps!

 Trampoline fun for the boys. They didn't want to be left out just because they didn't get bucked off a mule. We are proud to brag that all three kids did front and back flips on the tramp. They are getting so talented in their old age.

 More Teton Village fun. Luckily the rock wall does not buck.

 Candy store in Jackson. We visited twice in the four days we were in town. Carter left his candy at the Merry Piglets restaurant so we had to go back so he could restock. What else can you do if you loose all your candy?

 Will and Greg (Jake's twins) were holding Ali's new turtle for her. She was quite distressed that they would not stop sucking on the flippers. Such cute boys!!

 The fishing gang. Chandler really wanted a trip to go fish with Byron. We snuck down to the Snake River and they caught two fish between all of them.

 BUBBA'S!!! Nothing says a good breakfast like Bubba's. Biscuits and gravy, blueberry pancakes, pecan waffles, bacon, ummm. Byron decided the best way to do Bubba's is he orders the biscuits and gravy and then also eats off everyone elses plates so he gets a taste of everything. It worked out pretty well for him. He's lucky we are all so nice.

 Nearly ready to hit the road for home and Carter got a bee sting. A little mud fixed him right up. He didn't even cry, isn't he so brave. :-) Just kidding Carter, of course he wouldn't cry over a little bee sting. Especially not right after his sister flies off a bucking mule and doesn't cry. He's got to compete with a tough crowd.