Mike, Tracy, Willa and Hazel land at Jackson Hole airport, load their plunder into a rental car, and we all make our way to our hangout for the week, our motorhome in Gros Ventre. Hazel takes over Willa’s traditional sleeping cubby back by Grampa and Nana and Willa is thrilled with her spot on the jack-knife sofa (unicorn and rainbow bedding are a big selling point). Mike and Tracy get the over-cab queen and all is set….cozy but comfy.
We spend a day planning, exploring and settling in. While Mike gets some recommendations from the Visitor Center Ranger the girls have a great time with the exhibits and trapsing around on the river image projected on the visitor center floor. It is pretty cool.
Day two we dive in. Mike, Tracy, Willa and Nana head for the Death Canyon Trail Head. Cool name, right? Our destination is the Phelps Lake Overlook. We spot a black bear and her cub enroute along Moose-Wilson Road. The trail is a bit challenging with some elevation change and an added mile or so because we have to use overflow parking. We spend some time soaking in the view of the lake at the top and watching mock (we hope) helicopter rescues below us. Great first hike, Dad. Kent and Hazel enjoyed some chill time at the motorhome. She caught her afternoon nap.
Checking out town, Jackson. First, it is playground time. There are swings and climbing structures and plenty of slides plus a coffee shop not far away. It is a fun couple hours for kids and adults. We all work up an appetite and head for the Persephone Bakery where we share a selection of delicious pastries, cakes, and cookies. There is a stop for pictures under the antler arches along the way. Once we hve gad our fill of goodies, Hazel heads back to camp with us while Willa takes Mom and Dad shopping and sight-seeing. We hear that there is a horse drawn wagon involved and a stuffie, Rainbow Ruby (a unicorn) comes home with them. Hazel takes a motorhome shower with Nana. We get the girls for the evening while Mom and Dad head back into town for a date night. Win: win all around.
Another hike, 
this time to Hidden Falls and Inspiration Point above Jenny Lake. We start with a ferry ride then there is a lot of “up”, we sort of expected that with a destination like Inspiration Point! Willa is anxious to mountain climb – not just walk a trail- and to maybe get to the snow. Above Hidden Falls she gets at least part of that wish. The trail gets rocky and steep just perfect for her hands and feet climbing on up to the point. She is thrilled to meet the beggy trail chipmunks. She calls them “chicky” and is adamant that she be allowed to adopt one and take it home. I get in trouble for swatting at them as they try to climb into my backpack and steal food. They are very people habituated! Just as we get her to move no an unusually brazen pica scurries right by Willa’s feet in a hurry to stash his mouthful of grass. We climb a bit higher onto Cascade Canyon trail hoping to see more wildlife as the crowds thin out. No luck with that but it does take us to an alternative, shorter, less steep return route back to the lake. Here are fewer hikers so it makes for a perfect place to try out Willa’s rescue chain.
Check out the pic. Her stated purpose was so the test of us could help Daddy when he got tired carrying Hazel the whole time. More on its origin later. The return ferry trip is a welcome opportunity to sit down for a few and by the time we make it to the car everyone is about done for the day. Hazel was a great sport (Mike too) through all her time in the carrier. She even caught a bit of a nap.
Beach time! Lakes here are pretty cold for swimming but Mike gets a recommendation to try String Lake. It is shallow so about as warm as they come in these parts. We pack up blankets and towels and lunch and head out, Hazel in the truck with us. Parking near the lake is an absolute zoo. We troll the lots several loops until Grampa’s patience gives out. Mike has dropped Tracy and Willa as he vultures for a spot. I join them and Kent is off back to camp. He and Hazel will find alternative entertainment today. We girls are just claiming our spot on the beach when Mike walks up. He got a spot in the second row…credit to his practice at parking in the city all those years. Willa and Tracy build a great sand castle. Mike takes the Polar Plunge, the only one of us to completely submerge in the “warmer” lake water. A volunteer ranger comes by to have us move all our stuff to the bear locker. A bear was sighted just a few hundred yards behind us. We stash our bags for a half hour until we get the all clear and enjoy a nice picnic lunch. There is a bit more castle building and some warming in the sun then we wrap it up and head home.
Today we head up to over 10,000 feet on the Bridger Gondola in Teton Village! After about an hour weather (lightning) delay the aerial tram takes us to 10,450 ft on Rendezvous Mountain. Clouds shroud the mountain tops and we rise right up into them. We are all startled when a rock cliff appears seemingly right in our path. We of course rise just along and above to safely come to a halt on the mountain top. It is cold in the fog and wind so we duck into Corbet Cabin for a traditional treat, waffles and hot drinks.
We go for one traditional waffle =brown sugar butter and one Belgian= cookie butter, caramel and powdered sugar. So delicious. The sun breaks through and we head out to explore. Our goal is the Top of the World trail. We are still looking for snow to play in but we are still not quite high enough for this time of year. 
We have to be content to check out the glaciers above us. We stroll and take in the view then board the tram for the trip down. Its clear skies all the way down so views are better than ever. The grounds in the resort are grassy and a great place to play. Willa discovers a bungie trampoline. She is going to try it. I’d rate it as a somewhat tense but overall fun adventure.
Check out the pics and you be the judge. We grab some lunch, play a bit longer as Grampa and Nana relax in our Adirondack chairs then we head off with the kids while Mom and Dad try to squeeze in one more hike. Fun day for all.
Yellowstone day. Willa is quite the volcano fan. Mike and Tracy have never been to Yellowstone. Today is the day; they set off to check out the caldera and all the thermal features. We plan out a fun day for Hazel with us so they can focus on that unique place. They spend a night at the Yellowstone Inn and trapse all around checking out the sights. Pictures and their report back say a good time was had by all. We take Hazel to the beach at Lower Slide Lake. We throw a lot of rocks to watch them splash. Splash each other and do some people watching. She is a bit reluctant to start but really gets into it by time to head home. 
Once back home she paints, makes Dad a birthday card, and gets a traditional brown tub bath. It is a full day for all of us too.
Early birthday for Dad. Mike jumps in to help make his “cake”, Dutch oven peach cobbler. It’s a fun way to celebrate and I’d say it came out pretty good. There were no leftovers.
Nana there is a Moo
Then there was just everyday fun stuff. Campfires with s’mores and fun stories. Chalk art. Coloring. Painting, rocks and on paper. Crafts, the afore mentioned huge paper chain in particular. Tillie time/pretend school mostly. Bocce. Playball. Camp dishwashing time. Moose watching walking around camp and out the motorhome window, sometimes even sparring. Redneck playpen bounce ball: Willa and Hazel in the pickup bed with the tailgate closed. Kent bounces a tennis ball into the bed where it ricochets around until they catch it and throw it to, at, or purposefully just out of the reach of Grampa. Much giggling ensues.
We had a fantastic week and can’t wait to see them again when we head their way for Hazel’s birthday in October.
for the NY visit – Willa’s 5th birthday. Cake baking and decorating is the first order of business. It’s a rainbow this year. Three batches of cake and an unbelievable amount of brightly colored buttercream icing. Check it out.
for the pre-k class and we are all invited. What a fun program. We love it Willa. We sneak a few no grand-kids moments. I get an evening out with just “my” boys and Kent and I have breakfast out with our guys. All too rare and cherished get-togethers.
The trail crosses a number of bridges and there are great huge old trees so there are lots of troll and ogre encounters. Good time had by all.
Day 10 we head to Point Pleasant, WV for Kent’s 50th class reunion. Traffic is surprisingly light given it is Friday of Memorial Weekend but we’ll take it. It is a beautiful morning and the drive is uneventful – other than a stop at Hillbilly Hotdog. Who could bypass that? We are settled in over in Gallipolis and the first gathering of old school buddies happens this evening.
control with thumbs up, flat hand and thumbs down for go fast, maintain speed and slow down. By the next day she is in her own seat and smiling broadly into the wind. We go super-fast a lot!
treasure maps, X marks the spot, emerge from an early project session so of course, we have to go on treasure hunts. Willa directs Kent as we zip across the lake in search of the perfect island beach and high mountain to climb to find the treasure. Two such excursions result in fun hikes and shore lunch with our treasures being fields of wildflowers and cactus blossoms.
hike the Ring Trail through the hole in the mountain cliffs. Kent has prepped her and she is ready to try it. The walk begins in a sandy wash, crisscrosses rocky cactus strewn areas and passes a pictograph area where we check out ancient rock drawings. Then the featured event, a climb through boulder filled narrow cracks in the mountain aided by metal pins and rings driven into the rock. Willa heads right into the climb making careful foot placement and never faltering. Quite the accomplishment.
out across the fore dunes toward the peaks. Willa is adamant, she is going to the top. She is equally adamant that any trip to a place with this much sand MUST include sand castle building. We have packed tools and extra water just for that task. We skip and run then trudge and finally even crawl across 2 miles of soft sand. She and I make it tantalizingly close to the top but the sand is just too hot to go on. Looking back toward the tiny dot that is Grandpa below us we decide we have accomplished enough and race down the steep slopes to about the half way point where we stop for a cool drink and some epic sand castle building. Climbing was so difficult that we had to drink our extra castle water but are thrilled to find that if one digs below the dry top sand, a seemingly endless supply of perfect damp castle sand can be found. The building was a blast and I think Willa enjoyed the demolition phase even more. It is a significant trek back to the trail head. We will all sleep well tonight.
The cinder cone rises high above the desert floor making it an exciting adventure and a bit daunting. There is no real hesitation, Willa wants to climb the volcano; but, “next time can we take a break and not hike two big hike two days in a row? Take a day off?”. I agree, that is a good plan. We continue on with couple snack and drink breaks at conveniently placed benches then navigate steep switchbacks until we find ourselves on the high rim of the crater. Ancient pumice type lava fields stretch out all around the cinder cone and a smooth solidified lava floor fills the center. We rest and have lunch as we marvel at the view. Willa declares that yes, she wants to hike down into the crater to walk on the lava. The walk is a little precarious, steep and lots of loose rock but most is safely navigated holding Grandpa’s hand.
Her biggest booboo of the trip happens just steps from the center of the cone where Willa slides on loose stone and lands on sharp edged volcanic rock. There is no blood but some scratches and she is frustrated because she was trying so hard to walk the trail on her own like grandpa showed her. There are a couple full throated screams then once the damage is inspected and nerves calm, she is anxious to check out the very middle of the volcano. The journey back down goes smoothly with Willa staying a little closer to Grandpa and taking his hand a bit more than the uphill trek. It was a great adventure that ended with a stop for ice cream, it is a hot day, and the purchase of a Route 66 magnet at Roy’s Diner. We extend the day with a drive through the Preserve to check out the visitor center and look for blooming Joshua Trees. We take the back way home on Wild Horse Canyon Drive. Willa got to see a group of beautiful wild horses, maybe just released horses, and we got to try out the truck 4-wheel drive. It is nearly dark when we finally get home. Willa works on her Jr Ranger book. She has nearly completed it.
Of course, the bunny finds Willa here in the desert! The day starts with a fun egg hunt filled with challenges and clues to find a hidden basket. She thoroughly enjoys it. The basket includes eggs to decorate and cookie cutters shaped like a bunny and a carrot, some other small toys, candy and a chocolate bunny. Willa and I start with the egg coloring and decorating and Kent is making pancakes shaped like carrots and bunnies. Yum. We spend our last day together finishing Easter activities and just goofing around in camp.
(out on the drive not in camp!) the very first day.
one a ten point, and several other young males along with a doe and her nearly grown fawn.
It is a 60-foot section here on the refuge office complex. It came out without any difficulty and we have set half of the new posts. We had hoped to complete it before Thanksgiving but have been weathered out a couple days and took one day last week to support planting on the Big Boggy Unit. If it is not too muddy we will be back on boardwalk tomorrow.
Pretty tasty with a new treat, Texas Twinkies: jalapeno stuffed with brisket and cream cheese, wrapped in bacon then smoked. Yummy with a kick.