Jackson - Fall 2014

We just recently returned from our annual fall vacation to Jackson Wyoming.  It is one of our favorite things that we do!  We had beautiful weather and a nice time away.

We started with a stop at the family cemetery in Northeastern Utah.  Grandpa L's family is buried here and we love putting pinecones around the headstones as a sign on love.

We spent our first full day in Jackson wandering around town and visiting our favorite shops.  

We stopped at the gallery where we crack open a geode.  Mine was full of amethyst and a huge calcite crystal.  It was very exciting!!!

Sam's geode had smoky quartz and malachite.  Beautiful browns!!

Here we are in our favorite bear chair - this is a required (and requested by us boys) picture stop every year!

And here we are under the elk horn arch at Town Square.

This is what our room looked like every night - two boys doing some reading before lights out.

We did some serious animal watching too.

Here is Mr. bull moose - first animal of the trip.

We stopped at Signal Mountain - with a required picture at the "elephant tree".

Isn't this a beautiful view from on top of Signal Mountain?

A whole family picture.

We stopped for brunch at the Signal Mountain Lodge - we love going there for brunch while we are here in the fall.  We generally close out the restaurant as this is their last weekend open for the year.

A view from their deck after we finished brunch.

 We spent a good chunk of the afternoon at Oxbow Bend.  

Here we are throwing rocks in to the Snake River.  I'm surprised we haven't filled it up completely with rocks with all the rocks we've tossed in over the years!

While we were there this beautiful bald eagle soared overhead for quite a while.  He never did come down to fish, but he was looking!

After Oxbow Bend we headed over to String Lake.  

We love to hike next to the little river that connects the lakes.

Here we are on a little island out in the middle of the river.

And here I am getting splashed by a rock daddy threw.  

Here's Sam - just enjoying the day.

And here's daddy - there are no words!

Oh wait - here's mom.  She decided to take a nap on the rocks next to the river.  Good thing she didn't roll over in her sleep!  She said it was one of the best naps she's ever had!

We saw antelope.

In fact, here's Mason heading out with a camera to sneak up on some antelope.  He is developing a love of photography - so is Sam.

We stopped for awhile at the Cunningham Cabin - an old homestead that is now a historic site.  Isn't that a beautiful view to wake up to every morning!

We saw some elk too.  

And here is a view from Mormon row over in Antelope Flats.  Just straight up beautiful - isn't it!

And finally here is a family picture at Oxbow Bend.  Mom had to go home early for a work trip - - - and dad doesn't take "people pictures"so that wraps up our trip for this year.

A great time was had by all - except mom who was sad she wasn't there with us for the whole week!

Next year . . . .