Tetonia

Our Nutty summer vacation has ended.  Not before we had one final week of family and fun however.  The very best part of the week… our great big Nutt was able to join us for most of our escapades and adventures!  We had missed him so much, like the song says – “reunited and it feels so gooood”, I think it's safe to say that's how we all felt.

So glad to have him back!

Before Brent was able to join us, we had one last day of exploring in Salt Lake.  There was no question about it, for this Nutty group, that meant a trip to the Museum of Ancient Life at Thanksgiving Point (aka the dinosaur museum if you are a younger Nutt) was in order.  To help make this day even more fun – grandma came along!  Any Nutt-y adventure is elevated when other family members come along.  Any exhibit that had the “hands on” sign, thus allowing looking with our hands in addition to our eyes was an added bonus.  Kaden seemed to dart from hands on sign to hands on sign, feeling anything and everything he was allowed.  We visited the Ancient Life Museum last year on our summer voyage so we knew a bit what to expect.  As both little Nutts, especially Kaden have taken an interest in dinosaurs this past year, I found this visit more enjoyable – being able to point out different dinosaurs that they recognized, asking my little kiddos to telling me what different skeletons looked like, etc.  The favorite dinosaur of the day – no big surprise, was the T-Rex.  One of my favorite moments came toward the end when both Kaden and Kara were able to act like real paleontologists and make a plaster mold of a t-rex tooth that they were able to bring home with them.  A learning experience coupled with a memento to remember the day by – about perfect to me!

Determining which was the real fossil and which was the cast

Silly dinosaur poses

The Utahraptor with Grandma

Great big giant, t-rex!

A closer, more scary view of t-rex

Even the sharks were huge

They love to dig and explore for dino bones

Stirring his plaster

Pouring hers

Finished product

Finished!

They are both so proud of what they made, and rightly so!

After the museum, we continued to take advantage of our last day in Salt Lake and our day with grandma and went for lunch followed by a dessert treat of crepes.  So very yummy to our tummies!!  After which we took a backway over the mountain (from the American Fork/Lehi area) back into Salt Lake, stopping at the top of the mountain so Kara and I could go on a little hike to look out at the valley.  Sharing a moment to further discuss all the pioneers went through, to talk about picking up litter (a cause very dear to Kara), the animals that live on the mountain, addresses and other random topics that could possibly come to the mind of a four year old. 

On top of the mountain with my favorite girl

After our adventurous day we continued our enjoyment that evening as Alicia treated us to dinner at the Old Spaghetti Factory where two little Nutts were delighted to get to sit inside the old trolley car AND get a special drink that came with cotton candy swirled around the straw.  Can you say two little kids are spoiled much?

After picking up our long lost Brent from the airport the next day we were on our way up to stunning Tetonia, Idaho complete with a breathtaking view of the Teton Mountains, picturesque sunsets and evenings spent around a campfire.  Of course, no campfire is complete without s’mores, so to celebrate our Tetonia arrival, that’s how we spent our evening – relaxing outside, with a campfire, jackets for us way too cold Phoenicians, and s’mores.  Perfect start to the last leg of our vacation!

View from Grammy and Papa's front yard.  Simply AMAZing!!

S'more heaven

Because you can never just have one

Happy s'more eaters!

Now, to our two littlest Nutt’s the best thing about Idaho, next to Grammy and Papa are huckleberries and going huckleberry-ing.  These tiny purple berries are like gold to our little huckleberry hounds and they weren’t going to let any other Idaho activities take place until we went huckleberry-ing, so, that’s what we did the very next day.  What a change from last year – last year, the roads were awful, fortunately, they were better so my poor car walked away covered in dirt, but no worse for the wear.  Kaden, who last year would plop down in a huckleberry patch and just eat away seeked out the huckleberries, putting most in his bucket and just those that were cracked entering his mouth.  Kara, who last year did so well at filling the bucket reversed gears and focused on filling her belly and leaving the bucket empty this year.  At least her eyes were full of happiness while it happened.  Sadly, where we had much success finding the huckleberries last year, this year, there weren’t anywhere near as many to be found for who knows why and after searching in multiple locations, we ended our day with roughly one quart of huckleberries.  Now, it may not be much, but finding them in itself was half the fun – being in the middle of the forest, surrounded by all that Heavenly Father gives us.  The different trees, flowers, wild mushrooms, everything that we typically don’t get to see down in Phoenix and the experiences of being that deep in nature are so worth it to me personally and to me as a mom that wants to expose my kiddos to nature and help them gain a love for, appreciation for, and desire to be surrounded by nature.  We treasure each huckleberry that we have and will celebrate each one as we eat them up, trying to ration them out to last a full year.

Huckleberry plant with a few huckleberries waiting to be picked

Brent & Kara berry searching

The berry hunter

Love him

and her

She found one!

and promptly ate them

Searching with grammy is the best

Kaden stuck his tongue out at me!
Little stinker

So in love with this berry hunter

Our pickins'!

All tired out after a long day of berry picking

Thursday we journeyed down to Idaho Falls to see what the town had to offer and we found that there was plenty for the Nutt House to do and so much more we just couldn’t get to.  (Of course!)  After meeting up with some friends that recently moved up to Idaho from Arizona we headed to the Idaho Falls Zoo.  To be perfectly honest, we weren’t expecting much.  It seemed the zoo didn’t have that many animals, it is nowhere near the size of Phoenix Zoo, and the cost was a fraction of what we’d have to pay in Phoenix, so we went in with low expectations.  Boy, did that little zoo prove us wrong!  There were so many animals that we don’t get to see in the Phoenix Zoo – penguins, red pandas (who knew there was such a thing), kookaburra birds, leopards, and many more. Additionally, the exhibits were closer to the zoo visitors allowing us to better view and enjoy the animals.  There were animal’s presentations including one where a trainer feeds the lions up close allowing you to see how tall they can stretch, their true size, etc.  And, one of the best things about the Idaho Falls Zoo was that because the temperatures are much cooler, most of the animals were awake and moving around where in Phoenix, if you go to the zoo mid-day during the summer you are most likely going to see the animals lounging about to escape the heat.  Brent has already requested that this be placed on our list of places to visit next year he enjoyed it so much!

Penguins!  Our first ever penguins!

Love this!

He enjoyed putting his head in the lions so much!

They really were much more excited than they appear 

The crew at the zoo

After the zoo, we continued our vocational trend of getting a treat – this time from a local dairy where we enjoyed fresh ice cream.  So very yummy!  Next time, I plan to be there during lunch hours so I can try their homemade grilled cheese sandwich – consisting of cheese from their dairy, butter from their dairy, and homemade bread.  Doesn’t it just sound heavenly?!!?  After we finished our ice cream our little Nutts enjoyed petting their farm animals before we once again were off and going.

Next stop – a museum with a pirates exhibit and not just any pirate exhibit, but one based on a real sunken pirate ship and items that have been discovered from the wreckage.  Such fascinating stories and the exhibit was very well put together, with volunteers throughout dressed in pirate garb – there to further explain what we were seeing, providing greater detail and answering questions as needed.  I found myself impressed that Idaho Falls had done this better than when I had seen the same traveling exhibit at the Arizona Science Center a few years ago.

Animal petting at the dairy

They loved the tiny cow

After the pirate exhibit we found an Idaho
history exhibit complete with a log cabin
that someone enjoyed!

A tiny mountain to climb was included as well

Of course you can't have Idaho
without horses

Giddy' up!

Aaarrghh goes the pirate!

Having traveled to Idaho Falls on Thursday we chose to head in a different direction on Friday and journeyed over the mountain to Jackson Hole, Wyoming.  We started off our Jackson Hole fun with a trip up the Jackson Hole Aerial Tram, something the little Nutts and I had done last year but thought we’d do again this year with other family members in tow.  The temperatures were warmer than usual and we had better footwear on which helped to make the experience more enjoyable.  The tram ride itself is amazing as we climb up the mountain in the tram, but it is the view from the top that is just superb.  The view of the top of the Tetons, the view of the Jackson Hole valley on the other side, snow clinging to the mountains where the shadows overpower the sun – simply breathtaking.

Overlooking Jackson Hole Valley

Overlooking Tetons

Two goofballs riding the tram

Partners in crime riding the tram!

The whole crew!

After the tram ride we made a quick stop downtown Jackson where we couldn’t help but pose for the tourist essential picture under the horn archway.

The best part of our day was still to come – a chuck wagon dinner experience with the Bar T – Five group.  Oh my goodness, how fun it was!  We started out riding covered wagons into the forest.  Our wagon driver, Emily – so much fun, she was a great conversationalist with a bubbly personality.  Anywho, along the way to our dinner location we encountered a mountain man and Indians who attempted to overtake our wagon.  Fortunately, no one was taken and we made it alive to dinner.  What a feast we were treated to!  A dutch oven dinner (so I was already won over!) consisting of chicken, roast beef, beans, corn on the cob, salad, rolls, drinks, and brownies.  Oh. So. Good.  And did I mention all you can eat?  Of course, not much more was needed, as the food was heavenly.  After dinner we were treated to a show where the Bar T – Five performers entertained us with cowboy type songs.  The fiddle player even played “Devil Went Down to Georgia” one of my personal favorites.  Though, that evening “She’ll Be Comin’ Round the Mountain” was my favorite as the rest of the Nutt House crew all went up to participate.  The little Nutts assisted in rubbing their bellies and saying “yum, yum” along with other children during the “We’ll all have chicken and dumplins when she comes…” verse.  Brent, well he got to have a solo for the line about wearing silk pajamas, he donned a cowboy hat, made an interesting hand gesture and said “oo la laa” as he attempted to be as romantic as possible.  I’m not sure about romantic, but he was funny!  What a show it was!  I definitely would enjoy returning to the Bar T – Five for another show during a future visit to Jackson Hole.  Good food, good entertainment, and all who worked there – so friendly and helpful!  Not to mention the amazing atmosphere they hold their shows in, simply amazing!!

My favorite goof-ball

Waiting for the show to start

Two little Nutts w/ our Wagon Driver Emily
and our horses:  Buck & Shot

Serious wagon riders

and the more relaxed wagon riders

The spread

My little stars!

"OO, LA, LAA!"

A little snippet of the song (the ending is the best!)

Saturday was our last day in Tetonia.  We had initially planned to head down to Rexburg to once again visit Bear World which the little Nutts enjoyed so much as they got to see so many animals.  Well, seeing how we were just a couple of hours from Yellowstone a last minute change was made and we ventured up to Yellowstone instead.  It’s been so very long since I’ve been there, but once again I was in awe at the beauty and variety that our Heavenly Father has blessed us with in this world he’s given to us.  The Paint Pots were beautiful, geysers amazing, waterfalls spectacular, just all of it, so much fun!  Of course, we had to see Old Faithful while we were there.  Well, we had just finished lunch and knew it was scheduled to go off soon, so where I was driving I dropped everyone off close to Old Faithful and went to find parking.  I got over toward the end of eruption.  After the fact, I watched and listened to a video Juli had recorded and my heart was touched to hear Kaden say they needed to turn it off as Old Faithful started to erupt because I wasn’t there yet.  I love my tender hearted little man so very much!  At each stop, I worked to point out to Kara how unique Yellowstone is and that just as she is unique and special Heavenly Father also didn’t make any other area on this earth just like Yellowstone.  I hope some of that sunk in and that even if they are faint, she’ll remember some of our trip to Yellowstone.  Now, Kaden, he was okay to be at Yellowstone but had his heart set on seeing animals.  After having no luck finding anything we once again made a last minute decision and turned toward the inner part of the park.  Once there, we entered an area with an abundance of bison.  Of course, by this point, both little Nutts had fallen asleep. Recognizing this sort of opportunity doesn’t come around often instead of letting them sleep, we woke up both Kara and Kaden so they could witness the bison.  Kaden, he doesn’t wake up easily, not if he isn’t ready to be awake so he was fussing and crying after being woke up.  After he finally registered what was going on he was big eyed and focused on the movements of the bison.  We watched as one walked through the river to get to the other side, a couple others walk up a hillside, a couple more walk up the road, in fact, walking right in front of the car.  To be that close where we could really appreciate their size, hear the noises they make, and witness the speed at which they can move – all of it helped to make seeing the bison worth the added trip time and helped to make Yellowstone a complete success to Kaden.  Of course, Yellowstone is not a place you can fully see and appreciate in one day, so the Nutt House has plans to visit again, maybe over the next few years focusing on just different areas of the park each year, or planning multiple days in Yellowstone, we aren’t sure which yet, we are just sure we can’t wait to go back again!

Just couldn't get Kaden to look at the camera

Posing at Old Faithful

Watching Old Faithful

She enjoyed the variety in the different steam pot areas
and wanted to know the why and science behind it all

Bison on the hill across the street from our car

and directly in front of our car

Kaden found he could "control"
which direction a grandparent moved
by pulling on their ears

He got to be very good at it, enjoying it immensely

It may seem that with all these grand adventures we didn’t have time for smaller, relaxing activities but that just isn’t so!  On Thursday we visited with a local artist who showed us the processes he uses to create sculptures out of bronze.  The little Nutts assisted Papa in watering the town flowers, we enjoyed huckleberry ice cream and for myself – a lime freeze shake at the Driggs drugstore.  We lounged in the hammock, rode the 4 wheeler, played hide and go seek and in general just spent time outside, enjoying and appreciating the change in weather.

Two little Nutts about to water flowers

Working so hard

Easy-peasy work

Just chillin'

She loved the hammock!

Occasionally even sharing with others

Big riders

Kara's just ready to go!

We miss these guys!

Love this!  Their love and trust in and for each other!!

Before we leave Idaho, while in Yellowstone Mitch and Juli (Papa and Grammy) purchased a gift, a book titled Have You Ever Seen a Bear with a Purple Smile?.  It's about a bear who enjoys eating huckleberries - of course our little Huckleberry loving Nutts love the book.  One of the last things we did Sunday morning before leaving was sit down together while Papa and Grammy presented the book to our Nutts, then listened while Grammy read the book.  A memory I never want to forget, so, we'll keep it here.

With all of that, our summer trip has come to an end.  We are back home now, a messy car unloaded, half unpacked, with our hearts filled to the brim with the love we’ve felt from our family members, new memories linger in our minds, as we already start to look forward to when we can vacation again and see family again.  All that said, we are a Nutt-y family, much in need of our schedule and routine and all that our so called normal life has to offer.  We look forward to a, hopefully, relaxing week that will help prepare us for our whirlwind of activities starting next week.

Before I close for the night, the other night I had a dream that on our vacation we did so much – we could cover every letter of the alphabet with something from our vacation.   So, on the drive hope, thanks to some help from Brent – I discovered we did cover every letter of the alphabet during our vacation. 

So, here is the Nutty Vacation 2015 ABC’s

A = Aviary

B = Bryce Canyon

C = Candy Factory

D = Dinosaurs

E = Endless hours in the car (oh so very many!!)

F = Fishing & fish sticks

G = Grandparents!!!

H = Huckleberries

I = Ice cream treats

J = Jumping on trampolines

K = Kookaburras, penguins, red pandas, leopards & other new animals

L = Lumberyard & forklift

M = Memories – always the best

N = Never ending rounds of “Do-Re-Me”

O = Off-road 4 wheeler rides

P = Pioneer Day activities

Q = Queen for a day with pedicures and a play

R = Reunion

S = Splash pad fun

T = Trains

U = Unbridled fun

V = Veyo Pool

W = Wyoming for the aerial tram, Bar T – Five, and horn arch

X = Railroad Crossing excitement

Y = Yellowstone

Z = Zion

Impressive!!! (If I do say so myself)