August 2017 - Jackson Hole / Total Solar Eclipse

Tyler and Carter are both loving the wake board though I do believe Tyler likes it more than Carter. Tyler is really out there working at getting better and working at jumping the wake and such. Carter doesn't have as much free time and doesn't get a chance as often.

This is Erin working it behind the boat. This doesn't happen often though. I prefer to be driving the boat.

Penny came for a little river cruise. As you can see she is in and out of the water constantly and is nearly always a wet little puppy.

Poor Jessie!! She managed to break her leg and Ally and I took her to Spokane for surgery. This happened while I was out of town in Eureka and Byron dealt with the initial crisis by himself. They found an emergency vet that was open 24 hours as he discovered her break after dark when he was calling her and couldn't get her to come in one evening.

The fiber fest in Eureka was a fun event. I drove Julie and the pop up to Eureka and helped her sell her wool and lamb chili. We had a good time.

Tyler drives the boat occasionally. He really likes it!

Payzlee, Penny and Ally trying to stay warm. 

Ally is cutting out heart stickers from the medical tape. She did a good job loving Jessie up and making her feel watched over and loved. Everyone is feeling sad for Jessie and her broken leg.

We are in the hotel here the night before Jessie goes in for surgery to have the steel rod and pins put in.

Ally is dipping her long hair in some concentrated cool-aid. It's a temporary hair dye that she heard some of her friends had been trying and wanted to give it a go. I think it turned out pretty cute.

Post surgery for Jessie. They gave her lots of good dog drugs for the pain. She's been pretty out of it but probably not in much pain. 

Amanda and Josh took the kids who were up for an early morning adventure on a hike around Phelps Lake and a quick little cliff jump. Ally Carter and Ty all went along. Poor Carter was leaping off this cliff and somehow ended his flip in a belly flop. They have it on video in slow-mo...it is painful to watch. He did manage to survive the fall though so lesson learned or something long those lines. 

Candy store visit is essential. We should just open a tab and pay it off at the end of the week. These cousins like their sweets. 

Carter walked into a toy store wearing his rubik's cube t-shirt and the store owner told him if he could solve the 5X5 cube he could have it for free. Carter smiled and said, great....ten minutes later he walked out with a new 5X5. I guess the owner isn't used to people actually being able to solve the cubes.

Jackson Hole Aquatic Center....cousins chilling in the warm water.

Playhouse Night and milkshakes are a must....

String Lake day....Marie, Will and Greg in the kayak.

River Day...

Top of the tram.....

We saw a little black bear run right under the tram as we were heading up to the top.

Ty, Ally and Carter under the iconic arch.

This is the eclipse year and the town is making the most out of marketing the event. 

Lydia, Ally, Tommy and Rachael....heading to the ropes course....

Birthday party in the condo...You can see Judy in the background at the table, she and Don joined us for a few days this year.

After the eclipse. Trying to capture the line of cars leaving Idaho. It was the great american traffic jam after the great american eclipse.

Hugs good-bye.

Best experience ever!!! My dad started talking up the total solar eclipse months ago. I thought he was being a little bit crazy about it. He told us had ordered a box of glasses - enough for everybody - we were extending Jackson a day so we could all stay in the zone to be able to view the eclipse. Luckily Byron had also heard it was supposed to be cool so he took another day off work and we stayed on at Cynthia and Troy's house to view this total eclipse. A few weeks before articles started hitting the internet and I did a little "research" of my own. Mainly reading Facebook posts about a total solar eclipse. When the day came we were ready to fully experience. It did not disappoint. Pretty much the coolest natural event I have ever observed. The air got cooler, the birds stopped singing, it was like a sunset in the middle of the day. Then when the sun was fully eclipsed you could take your glasses off and look at it directly. When it started peeking out of the full eclipse there was a celestial event that is hard to describe but it felt like peeking into heaven. Like experiencing a tiny bit of what celestial glory must be like. There was a flash of a diamond in the sky. I can't really put it into words but it made my body fill with the spirit and I cried a bit it was so gorgeous. The birds started singing again, the air warmed up, the sunrise occurred in the middle of the day. What had just happened? We will definitely be solar eclipse followers from henceforth and forever. There is one happening in Dallas in six or seven years. We will be there! I have got to see this again. It was truly an unbelievable experience. SO that was the last day of Jackson and it was amazing. The rest of the week was fun as well.

Getting these two ready for their school year at the Jamboree....pretty much paying fees.

Got some planting done. Grapes are in. Weeds have started to grow.The garden is shaping up...more sprinkling work here

Ally and her darling puppy Penny. She's sharing her soccer ball with her. That toy won't last long.

Lucy is making herself a home in my strawberry rain gutter planters I built. 

Ally is riding bus number 7 this year. 

Tyler's first day of school....He is a freshman this year and is heading to Glacier High School with Carter to do the Engineering classes they offer. I love this kid so much! How is he entering high school? They are lucky to get him.




Does she look ready? I think so...Ally and her school supply shopping. She takes these things seriously and has meticulously chosen every piece individually and with great consideration. These things are important.