Summer Vacation 2009

So we just came back from a great summer vacation - we spent a week up in Jackson, Teton NP, and Yellowstone NP. These are some of our most favorite places! Mason did really well and only had one short relapse of pneumonia. He toughed it out and we had a great time.

We started with an important stop in Star Valley on our drive up to see Aunt Mary Isabell. She's one of our most favorite relatives. It was really good to see her!

She sent us across the road to the local dairy. Of course, being city boys, we thought the tractor was cool and had to take our pictures with it. I'm sure the local farmer thought we were silly!

We got to pet the calves. Mommy especilly liked this one on the left - he reminded us of our dalmatian dog, Copper (except that Copper is liver-spotted: brown and white instead of the typical black and white).Cousin Barton stopped by in his big semi and let us hop in to test out the driver's seat. I was just a bit nervous about the whole thing - it was sooo much louder up close and personal!We had our timeshare condo up in Jackson for the week. Grandpa and Grandma G. spent a few days with us before leaving for a reunion and then to head home. This is a picture of me and Sam out in front. We ate at all our favorite eating places and shopped at all mommy's favorite shopping places.We had to take the required picture under the Jackson Elkhorn Arch. See Aunt Jen Jen's blog for a quick story about catching us there on the local web cam. We took a spin around the town in a stagecoach too. We loved it! We also got away from town and spent some quality time in the Tetons. We tried to take Grandpa and Grandma on the tram to the top of the Tetons but we got rained out. Here are daddy, mommy, and the boys on a hike around Jenny Lake to Moose Ponds.

Even though we had the condo all week, we decided to spend a couple of nights up in Yellowstone NP so that we didn't have to make the long drive up and back each day to sight see. Yellowstone had lots to see and do.

Here is a picture of me on our hike at Pelican Point. It was so green and pretty. And yes, I actually hiked this whole hike - on my very own legs.We saw some of the great Yellowstone sights - we love the Canyon area. This is upper falls. Unfortunately this was my pneumonia relapse day so we didn't do some of the hikes we planned for this day. Just seeing the sights and taking a nice long drive up and back through the Lamar Valley was enough for my little body for this day.Here is a picture of me peeking over the edge of the Canyon of the Yellowstone. Mommy (who has a nasty fear of heights) barely let go of me - - just one small rock between me and the deep, deep canyon!Here is a picture that daddy snapped early one morning at our hotel in Yellowstone. Don't ask!

We drove up to Mammoth Hot Springs at the very north end of the park. Mommy and daddy said it wasn't nearly as active and colorful as it has been in the past, but it was still pretty cool to see. One lady we overheard as we walked around thought that this was all man-made! We saw hot pots! Crazy stuff if you ask me - definately not man-made! We took a great hike on our way back from Yellowstone NP to Jackson . . . it was to Ice Lake. It was in the middle of a burned area that had really come back nicely with new pines. Not all of the burned parts have been this lucky.Here's a picture of me and daddy balancing on a big fallen log. Daddy tried sooooo hard to catch a frog for me here. He said they were the fastest frogs he's ever seen. We did get to see some great animals on our trip. Moose . . .Big Horn Sheep - which are rare for us in these parks.Buffalo - definately plentiful this year. This guy liked to rest among the pretty purple flowers.We also saw some elk, antelope, and osprey. This coyote jumped out onto the road right in front of us as we were driving between Mammoth and Tower. He was spooked by something but we never did see what scared him out. We FINALLY saw our bear for this trip. Sadly it was a big wooden one near our condo in Jackson. We'll have to take it for this year.

And this is mommy's favorite view in all of the Tetons NP - - Oxbow Bend. It is a great place to see wildlife and just to experience peace and beauty!

Sam Alert: Hey there - what a great summer vacation! I could get used to these things! I love the wind in my hair and mosquito bites all over my head. Yes, mommy forgot to put bug spray on my head - it's hard to find good parents these days! And this is a picture of me in the cab of cousin Barton's truck. What's there to be scared of? I feel quite at home! If someone could just help me with the pedals! And a cup/bottle holder please.

Sam out!