Phelps Lake Hike Cont.

If you zoom in on this one, you can see the snowflakes that were falling on us. Also, in real life, we had a much better view of the misty Tetons.

This was a magnificent sight. Again, I really wish the pictures did it more justice.

Another view of Phelp's Lake

When
we got back to the Preserve Visitor's Center, we found that Guy and the little boys had had a great time reading books and staying warm. Guy even managed to spot a bear across the meadow.

Teton Mountain Lodge

October 9-12, 2008 Guy's work treated us to a family getaway at Teton Mountain Lodge, just South of Grand Teton National Park. We had a two-bedroom suite and the boys couldn't stop gushing about what a great place it was.

This first picture shows the living room area. We had a balcony, but the weather was such that we didn't really take advantage of it. There was a Murphy bed in this room where Sheridan and Mitchell slept. We discovered on our last day that the couch also made out into a bed, so we could have fit two more people!


This shows the kitchen and loft areas.

The thing the boys thought was the coolest was this spiral staircase up to the loft where there was a bathroom. . .

. . .and these beds where Caleb and Marcus slept. They LOVED having their own tv in their room.

This is the main bath. There was also the bathroom upstairs and one with a spa tub in the master bedroom.

Periodic Springs

October 9, 2008 We got away later than we'd wanted to for our vacation at Teton Village, WY, but we still decided to do this hike I'd discovered online. In Afton, WY, we got off the highway and headed East up a side canyon to hike to (we hoped) Periodic Springs, also called Intermittent Springs. According to what I read online (and we all know we can all trust whatever we read online), there are only two other springs like this (springs that naturally turn off and on--one place called them cold-water geysers)--one in Nepal and the other in the Alps. The hike was rather cold, we didn't get to our hotel until about 8 pm, but Periodic Springs ended up being a really great detour for us.

This is looking up the ravine where the spring begins. At this point, it was flowing, obviously.

Pictures from the top of the ravine at the source of the spring

While we wait for the spring to begin to flow (or to see if we've been punked), Guy explains the science behind the periodic nature of this spring.

Before

After

Before

After

There is a very real possibility that we're all just a family of geeks, because all of us (except maybe Mitchell) got a real kick out of watching this spring do its thing (there was jumping and cheering involved, even).

Caleb explains this hydro-geologic phenomenon.

What happens when I hand the camera off to someone else. . .

Here, Caleb shows off the fossil he found in a rock near the trail head. I'm just noticing in these pictures, that this must have been the weekend when Caleb (for reasons unknown) decided that he must make this face in every picture I take of him.

Mitchell Birthday Rundown, Pt. 3-- Presents

Christmas is going to be fun with Mitchell who has now totally gotten presents figured out. He's been a bit obsessed about his brothers' backpacks, so Grandma made him one of his own.

Mitchell Birthday Rundown, Pt. 3-- Blowing Out the Candles

Mitchell waited very patiently for his cake. My mom was here in the afternoon and told him that as soon as everyone came over for his party, he could have his cake. Well, the plan was to have dinner first (soup, something Mitchell really likes, actually), but Mitchell pushed his bowl away and just sat in his chair pointing and saying "Cake, cake. A, B, B cake." We finally decided that since it was his birthday, he could skip dinner. Much of Mitchell's earnestness for life was displayed when we lit the candles and started singing. He stood in his chair and sang along and swayed from side to side, and his birthday smile appeared in earnest when he got a plate of cake.

Mitchell Birthday Rundown, Pt. 2-- The Cake

Ok, so I know I've been the super fondant-fan lately, but with three cakes to make over a 6 week period, who can blame me for re-using techniques and supplies? This was a scratch carrot-cake, cut and layered (4 layers tall in the middle). Then I used the base frosting left-over from Sheridan's cake, and had just enough. The fondant letters and pictures were a hit with Mitchell who kept saying, "A, B, Cookie!" whenever he saw his cake during the day.

Mitchell Birthday Rundown, Pt. 1--The Farm

Mitchell with a "bubble" flower.

It's tricky getting five of them to look at the camera at the same time.

It's so nice these two get along now.

Caleb right at home.

Mitchell's ready to move in with the cows

October 7, 2008

It worked out that Shanda and her little ones were in town for Mitchell's birthday so she, Marenda and I (and 6 kids) spent the morning at the Thanksgiving Point Farms. It is just about heaven on earth for a kid this age--well, unless you're Marenda's kids on the pony ride. . .

P.S. I need help in Blogger. I can't get it to format right with the images. GRRRR!