Trip to the Grand Tetons!

John and I had the chance to go to Jackson Hole and the Grand Tetons and we had a blast. My sister, Mel, and I swapped kids this summer so we would both have a chance to go on a trip alone with our spouses. The kids also had the chance to go to Grandma and Papa's house for a couple days also, which is always fun. We both has so much fun traveling without our children that we are already planning it again for next year, I can't wait.

If you do not know John then you may not know how much he loves wild life. He was seriously like a little kid in a candy shop, and lucky we saw a lot of while life. I was a little worried that we would be searching our whole trip to see the wildlife and especially the moose that he so badly wanted to see that we would not be able to really relax and enjoy ourselves. Luckily as we were driving to find a camping sight that first day we got there, a lot of cars were parked alongside the road, so we parked also to see what everyone was looking at. As we got closer right across the river was the biggest bull moose I have ever seen. He was a little bit hidden so I had to get up on John's shoulders to get the pictures. There was even some stranger that took advantage of John and got up on his shoulders also, it was pretty funny, she really didn't want to get down. After seeing the moose John was so relaxed and really didn't care what we were going to do the whole rest of the trip because he had seen his moose. Throughout the rest of the trip we saw 3 more moose, buffalo, an eagle, deer, elk, and even 2 grizzle bears.
The first night we were there we camped, and then the next two nights we stayed at Grand Teton Village in a place called the Hostel. It really did feel like a youth hostel too. The first night at the Hostel it wasn't so bad but the next night it felt like there were only sheets separating us from the people on both sides of us and above us. I also think the people above us spent the whole night rearranging their furniture, it was quite the experience. I guess when your hotel is at least $100.00 cheaper a night then any other hotel around there is a reason.

The whole trip was so relaxing there was nothing that we had to do or anywhere that we had to be. The second day we decided to go river rafting which was so much fun. We were put on a little 8 man boat with only 4 people plus the guide and one of the 4 people was a little boy so I was a little worried. The guide worked with the boy most of the time trying to teach him the different strokes so we would not tip over. The guide put me as head row-man or what ever you call the person that leads all the other people. I think it was little difficult for John to follow my lead, so that was fun to watch him wanting to be in charge, and getting yelled at if he was not rowing along with me.

We went on a few different hikes while we were there and they were so amazing and beautiful I loved it. One hike we went on we only saw one other couple and it was so quite and peaceful. On our longer hike we went on there was a bull and female moose right off the hiking trail hanging out together. John got really close to get a good picture but I stayed up on a rock in case it charged.

We loved this sign because a lot of the wild life we saw really was trying to cross the road or just hanging out along side the road. Even the 2 grizzle bears we saw were just trying to get across the road, and had to go between all of the cars stopped to watch them as they cross.

Our Grand Teton trip was one that we will always remember. I almost felt like we were just newly weds again, because we could really focus on each other. I can really see how important it is to spend alone time with your spouse and always cherish one another. I felt like on this trip that is exactly what we were able to do. Although part of me was sad to go, I was so excited to see our kids that I was okay with it. Can't wait for next years trip, thanks again Mel, Mom, and Dad for having Eric and Ash.

I'm so glad when Daddy comes home!

Having a teacher as a husband definitely has its perks, like having a lot more time off in the summers. However, the fun is now over and John is back at school getting ready for the students to show up on Monday. When Eric and Ashtyn wake-up they still don't believe me when I tell them Daddy has gone to work. They just keep asking where Daddy is, like I am hiding him from them. When Daddy does finally get home Eric and Ashtyn are always so excited. They immediately yell out "Daddy" in unison and run over by the garage door to great him. What the kids don't realize is that they are not the only ones that is excited for Daddy to come home! I am so grateful for what a wonderful Dad John is. He spends so much time with Eric and Ashtyn, teaching them new things, reading books with them, and listening to their endless chatter. I am not near as patient and constantly look to him as an example of the kind of parent that I should work to become. These are a few pictures of when Daddy comes home.

I was tagged :(

I was tagged a few weeks ago by both Melissa (my sister) and Marci (my good friend from college) with two different types of tags (thanks a ton girls). So I am just combining the two to make a little creative tag of my own. Fill free to skip through this post if you would like.

3 Joys

1. My wonderful husband has always been a strength and support in my life. I am so grateful to be married to a man like John. He is always so willing to go with what ever crazy ideas I come up with. While I have been going back to school, although it has definitely been a challenge for our family, he is constantly trying to make it easier on me in what ever way he can.
2. My two beautiful children are a huge joy in my life. They know just how to make me smile, and how to make my heart melt. I love to watch them as they play together, and develop a relationship with one another (it definitely can be rocky at times).
2. The gospel in my life is such an amazing blessing. It brings such joy and peace into my life. I know that through the atonement we can have true happiness, and I have felt that true happiness in my own life.

5 things I was doing 10 years ago

1. Getting my drivers license, and my first traffic ticket a few months latter.
2. Playing tennis everyday.
3. Having my mom as an English teacher. She is still my favorite teacher that I have ever had, not just in English but in life.
4. I was the laurel president, which really pulled me into the church and helped me with my testimony.
5. Snowboarding all winter long, even if it meant skipping school once in a while.

3 Current Obsessions

1. Graduating from college. It will only have taken me 8 years to graduate with my bachelors degree. I am so excited for this spring when I am finally finished.
2. The twilight series by Stephenie Meyer. I just got into it a couple of weeks ago and I only have the last one left to read.
3. Photography. I just got a new canon digital SLR that has been so much fun to play with and take pictures with. I hope someday to be a professional photographer.

5 things I would do if I were a billionaire

1. Move into a bigger house with more rooms (preferable out of Las Vegas).
2. Travel
3. Put my kids in the best private school I can find.
4. Do a lot of service with my family. Eric found out the other day that there were kids that didn't have any shoes. He now wants to give all of his shoes to those children without any.
5. Go to the spa once a week, I would settle for once a month even. This one is a little selfish, but I am trying to be honest.

I hope that was not too painful for you to have to read. I have to tag a couple of people so sorry about this ahead of time. I tag Cassie and Ashley.