August 1

What? Too much like Jack Nicholson?












Last day on the boat for our vacation. You can see how much Daddy's beard has come in. He only stops shaving on Day One of vacation and doesn't shave it off until he's back at work.

July 31

This sums up our family's reaction to dinner at Jackson Lake Lodge. YUCK. I keep banging my head on the counter when I think of us going there again. And encountering crap food again. The menu reads like heaven but the execution is more like hell. Internet, next year, please remind me, "Just say no to Jackson Lake Lodge" with a sledgehammer, ok?

July 30

This was an extraordinary shot. Sammy had been asleep for about 20 minutes when I decided to take her picture. She looked so comfy there wrapped up in her pink blankie in Mommy's arms. Right when I snapped it, she smiled. And kept on sleeping.

July 29

Does this look like a relaxed little girl? It's funny because the photograph highlights more of her hair than you actually see. She pretty much doesn't have any of her birth hair left EXCEPT a tiny tuft in the back of her head at the bottom near her neck. Yes. You're right. That's what it's called. A Mullet.

Today we spent just us girls reading, relaxing and watching movies as Grumpa and Daddy went fishing again. I don't think that we changed out of our pj's until noon. ah...vacation.

July 28

Here we are at Jackson Hole Golf and Tennis. Sammy is smiling at Mommy and Daddy because she knows that it is forced smiles. This golf course we have played before but you couldn't tell us that. Those stupid mountains distracted us, the course was a reverse course, the weather was hot, we couldn't find the 'on' switch on any of our golf clubs, and oh, yeah, the earth is flat. We kept calling her Naked Baby because she was only in her diaper. This was the first time that she managed a full 18 hole game. She was a trooper!!

And after all that fun, we went into town to shop and to take another obligatory photo in front of the town antler archway.


There are four archways on the town square. Each winter the Boy Scout troop takes a trip to the National Elk Refuge (about one mile from town) to gather all the antlers the male elk drop during the fall. After that, the BSA troop make repairs and fill in the archways.

July 27

Um, can you guess where we went today? Sammy's picture in front of the Old Faithful Geyser is a continuation of a family tradition. I have photos of Auntie Kenna and Daddy in front of this sign beginning when they were little kids. Of course, they weren't sitting on the sign then.

July 26

Yes, you have seen a version of this, but this is Sammy's bath towel. And you haven't seen the TETON version of bathtime!

July 25

Here's Sammy in the boat for the first time. Notice Daddy's skin color? Yep....Sammy and Daddy have the same skin. Watch out Sammy!







And here's Uncle Dave...oops!














And here's Daddy, trying to copy Uncle Dave.

July 24

See any resemblence?

July 23

Happy Birthday Uncle Dave!

How lucky is this? Uncle Dave celebrates his birthday while on the annual Teton vacation! We did what we always do for birthdays: ate and drank. Uncle Dave has introduced us to blue cheese stuffed olives. Mommy and I love these things. When Uncle Dave and Daddy order their Belvedere martinis, they have to order extra olives for Mommy and Mimi.

yum.

Sammy was such a good baby looking on while we stuffed our faces with much cow. or pig. And then we had the LONG drive back to camp...one hour...and we were sleepy after much cow. or pig.

July 22

See what we mean? Camp Cluster.

Nothing gets done easy or efficient with us. If there is a hard way to get things done, we do it. With a smile and a headache.










According to our Bike Master, this would be an easy ride with the little tow package. The only bike path we could find for Sammy that was paved. Everything else was dirt. And it usually went UP. And you all know how I feel about UP. This is over by Jackson Hole. Jackson Hole is probably what you're all familiar with. This is 11 miles from Jackson. Jackson Hole is the ski/golf resort. When we say we're going to Jackson you probably say Jackson Hole in your head but they are really two different areas. Jackson is the town. JH is an enclave. A very pricey enclave. You also might know it by it's local term, "Undisclosed Location".

July 21

Girls Day Out.

Mommy, Sammy, Auntie, and Mimi had a girls day today while the menfolk went a fishin'. Gah.

Anyhoo...we spa-ed. We went to lunch. It was mahvelous!

This is camping at its finest.

July 20

Aren't we a happy group? Official name?

Camp Cluster

One of my older brothers calls his place Camp Runamuc with all of his kids and grandkids. I thought that it was funny and planned on calling our place the Reno headquarters of Camp Runamuc. However after a few days with this group? Camp Cluster was born. You'll see why in a later photo. Here at Camp Cluster we have no phone reception except a 6 inch by 6 inch square on the dining table inside the coach. Maybe. If you hold your breath and touch the refrigerator. Maybe. So we don't have much interaction with the outside world. Here Sammy is hiding inside because the males of the family were deciding which would be the best way to set the grill up outside and start burning meat for dinner. While drinking martinis. I should really say that we ended up having mac and cheese for dinner but that wouldn't be fair to them. Their dinner was good!

July 19

I love to go a wandering

along the forest trail

and as I go I love to sing

with my baby bjorn on my back

ok, EVERYBODY:

Valerie, Valera, Valerie, Valera-ha-ha-ha

Let me guess...you don't know this song?

Today was the first day hike that Sammy went on. We decided, or rather the hike masters, decided that we would do a very easy hike, only 1.6 miles. Up. Did I tell you that we are currently residing at 6500 feet? And by 'up' I mean, climb higher? GASP. I decided that if we were to go on any more hikes, I would travel like Sammy did. Carried. Protected from the sun. Napping. We hiked up to Taggert Lake or Lake Erie, I don't know, I had oxygen deprivation at that point. Mommy then suggested that we go back via 'the loop'. Uncle Dave and Auntie Kenna decided to hike further UP to Amphitheater Lake. 8 miles further. maniacs. Anyway, the LOOP ended up being even longer going down than going up. We didn't see any animals; maybe because of all the gasping going on.

This was also the first day of Camp Cluster.

July 18

Hi all,

I've managed to finagle my way back to the lodge that has wifi and I can update to my hearts content. Grumpa is down at the river looking over some flyfishing areas. Mommy and Daddy and Samantha are taking a walk at Colter Bay and me? I'm blogging and trying not to get depressed about our vacation coming to an end. We leave for home on Saturday. I will try to get this all updated now.

Uncle Dave and Sammy looking relaxed and ready to begin exploring the Grand Teton National Park. Sammy seems kinda blase' about this doesn't she?

July 17

Our first full day of traveling from Winnemucca to Idaho Falls. Sammy was an absolute miracle baby enjoying her long ride. We stopped in Twin Falls at a local Mexican food restaurant that we've been going to for years even after they closed the first location, by luck we found them again. The men folk chowed down on huge burritos while Sammy looked on. This photo is after we got to our camp site in Idaho Falls. Don't we all look refreshed and content? One more day on the road with only a few hours travel and we'll be there!

So Long, Farewell, auf Wiedersen, Adieu

Our family is about to leave on a two week vacation to Wyoming. We visit the Grand Tetons every year and this year we introduce Sammy to all that gorgeousness. We'll be camping, taking pictures, hiking, taking pictures, wakeboarding, taking pictures, golfing and taking pictures. Despite all this picture taking and my cutting edge knowlege of computers, wi-fi, and such, I'm not sure if I'll be able to upload vacation photos until we get home. Keep your fingers crossed that wi-fi has made it to Colter Bay. This is what we'll be living with for two glorious weeks:







P.S. If you think that this photo doesn't have a picture of Sammy in it....think again. ;-}