Hike #3- Table Rock in Grand Teton National Forest (our great BIG hike)

This was the great BIG hike of the 3 hikes.  The one that took us all summer to condition for.  It is on the border of Idaho and Wyoming.  It is kind of high, but not really as high as some mountains- it is 11,100 feet.  But the thing about Table Rock, is it can be diffucult because it has some challenge spots on the trail.  And it feels pretty long because every vantage point that you look at it from, it looks SO FAR away.  The shale, which is a long field of sharp jagged rocks that you have to cross, is right before you get to the top and is very challenging.

The view at the top is spectacular of course.  The Teton Range is so close it feels like you could just reach out and touch it.  Not the case, as it is sheer cliffs between Table Rock and those other mountains.

It was great fun for the family, as well as for my husband, who has great scouting memories climbing these mountains.  I think he said this was his 4th time for Table Rock, but it had been over 20 years since he had done it.  He got the ball rolling with this and picked a day that would work for us, then reached out to his siblings and invited them…. and the next thing you know, 4 out of 6 siblings were able to be there, along with Mom and Dad.  It was great family bonding to do it together!

Mom had the idea for making t-shirts, and she let my girls design them.  And here is the special part about our shirts- TEAM LIZ!  For our cousin who is fighting- and WINNING- the battle against breast cancer.  We can now join her other pictures of cool poeple and places who have taken this banner with them.  We are fighting and praying with and for her!  You can read about that here: http://www.profoundingfather.com/ and here Worldwide Logos

GO LIZ!!!!!

Now for the spectacular pictures…..

Here they are hiking....

 

The field of shard....

On top of the world at the 11,100 feet!



Here they are as they walked in the door.  Please note the dirt on everyone, especially my children!

 



Yes, Grandpa did it!  He is over 70 years old.  Look at him, young and spry and chipper.  I don't even think he has a hair out of place!  Remember, this is the "after" picture!  Can you believe it????

This is my nephew... he was the first one to the top- congrats!!!

Brother and Sister-in-law.

My little niece, such a trooper.  She did it with a broken arm!

My other brother and sister-in-law.  He is so funny when it comes to picture taking.

And another brother-in-law.

In the meantime, some of us stayed back to care for the little grandkids who couldn't go.  We took a little hike around the cabin, played games, watched movies, did a alphabet-nature scavenger hunt.

I am in love with these kids.  They are soooo soooo cute!

The next day each family did a skit.  Very fun.


And we had a family craft.... Grandpa taught us all how to do leather stamping.  He dusted those stamps off that he used many, many years ago when he was a teen.  Pretty cool stuff.

It was a wonderful trip that we will never forget.  Not just the hike, but being together and enjoying eachother and the beautiful cabin and scenery.  (And I think it is pretty safe to say all those little cousins sure seem to adore their teen cousins, and visa-verse).

Hike #2- Hiking the Y

Hike #2- Hiking the "Y"

You really haven't lived until you've hiked the "Y".  The "Y" is the painted white Y on the mountain that overlooks BYU.  I think we were almost engaged the last time me and my honey hiked that baby.

It is really steep with switch backs the whole way.  My youngest and my husband hiked that early one morning while my oldest and I were attending the dance classes.  Kudos to the 2 of them for hiking that to make a great memory and also for the awesome views.

Here they are starting out…. wow- how can they be so silly that early in the morning?  That's what happens when you have a fun dad and a teenager together.  It might also have to do with the cool brand new shoes she is wearing.  The first one is the "before"…. not quite as chipper as the second one which is the "after".  Adrenaline will do that for you, too.

Goofy.  Pretending to be tired.

Woohoo-- they made it to the top.  Look at that view!

"I can sit on the Y."   (AAAhhhhh!  Be careful- don't roll off!  That is steep.)

 Always time for lots of SELFIES!

Hike #1- Bridal Veil Falls

We took 3 hikes- a little one, a medium one, and a great BIG one.

Hike #1- Bridal Veil Falls
This was the wee, little hike.  It didn't take long and was very easy, except the trail is super skinny.  Totally brought back memories of me and my man dating and being newlyweds.  We went here quite a few times together.

 See them there in the middle of the landscape/mountain?

 There they are again, the little specks there.

 The desitnation.

 Here it is with the Goof Balls.

 This one is a little better.

 Aw…. now that is lovely.

I like all the pretty little things that surrounds the area.

Good job getting ready for Hike #3!

College Road Trip

If you've seen the movie, you will be disappointed with this blog post.  Our trip was not quite so eventful.  But it was awesome, nonetheless!  And oh, how we have missed the mountains and looking at the "Y" each day.

We spent 3 days in Utah, checking out BYU Provo.  My oldest got to participate in a few dance classes to see if she is interested in pursuing anything with dance.  We were so busy we didn't have time for too many pictures, but we did have fun at the cougar one night taking pictures.

Here are a few pictures I found On-line so we can remember the awesome campus!

Then, we spent a few days at BYU Idaho.  They have a wonderful campus and amazing teachers with smaller class sizes there.  We were able to attend Education Week, which was very inspiring.  Again, not enough time for picture taking so here are some more I found On-line.

And here is my husband and his brother enjoying one of the classes that our sister-in-law taught.

All in all, my oldest says she wants to attend BYU Provo, and my youngest wants to attend BYU Idaho.  We will see where they both end up beginning next year!!!