Trip to Jackson

We took a day trip to Jackson and the Tetons on Monday. What an experience that was! It was my first time driving over Teton Pass. At a 10% grade it was really interesting to say the very least (esp. since we were stoppped at the base for road work). I found this great video on driving the pass that gives you a feel for the trip and shows the beautiful scenery. Can you see why they named it Jackson Hole?

www.youtube.com/watch?v=QtnHFKmwCP8

We had a good time. Bailee got to shop (she loved Yippie-I-O Candy), look at beautiful scenery, and eat fudge. That's a perfect day for the Bee. Photos will be forthcoming. We're having some trouble downloading photos from the new camera.

Monday, Monday

It's another Monday morning here in hot Idaho. Thankfully, there is a breeze blowing that is helping somewhat. Predictions are for another hot day though, so I'm trying to map out the activities of the day.

I should choose from one of the following list:

• clean house


• weed


• trim trees


• work on school curriculum


• write the brochure for Back-to-School Day


• update all my websites


• did I mention clean house?


• paint the living room


• water the lawn


• make a dental appointment


• make a grocery list for tomorrow and gather coupons


• write on my book

Now, the problem is that I do not particularly want to do any of those things right now. Sorry, I really don't. For some reason I lack motivation on Monday mornings. A simple reluctance to start the week I suppose. Since I am the family early-riser there's no one to nag me at the moment, so I chose what I see as the easiest of those tasks. Blogging is SO much easier than scrubbing the floor. Also less noisy, so I'm really being thoughtful of my still slumbering family, right? Yeah, I'm afraid I think so too ... lame excuse, but right now I'll take any excuse I can grab.

Getting the new computers up, running, and integrated is a pain. I'm one week into the transition, and I am still working on it. I might have to call out the Geek Squad again, as the Dell doesn't like talking to the Epson printer sometimes. The last thing I need is a moody computer, but my new Dell certainly has proven to be one. It did an automatic reset a few days ago and I lost all the work I'd done to customize it. Very aggravating.

Hadlee continues to be a brat. He staged an escape from the yard last week at midnight and we had to chase him down the street. He's still trying to dig under the fence. I don't know what his problem is, but he has become rather perverse. He's making mom a wreck with his antics. Won't eat, hides in the house and won't come when called, tries to get out of the backyard, etc. I don't know if he just wants more attention or what. Guess we need to call the Dog Whisperer, eh?

I have to go back to school in six weeks. Right now I do not want to go back to school in six weeks. New principal, the reality of the budget cuts, dealing with a ton of changes, and the prospect of a new group of students all have me a little on the gunshy side of things. I'll come around (I always do), but right now - not so much! We did take Bailee shopping for her school supplies. She can't wait for school to start. Diana and I both found it VERY hard to adhere to our vow NOT to spend our money on items for our classrooms. It just didn't seem right or natural to avoid picking up extra supplies, etc. for the school year. Difficult, but we're trying to stick to our decision. Neither one of us cares to subsidize our schools after the state cut our pay. Considering I habitually spend one to two thousand dollars a year in my room, the impact is going to be a big one. I know I'm hurting my students - but we had to choose between our family and our students. Sorry. No contest. The legislators will just have to live with it.

Road Trip #2

On the road out of Big Elk Creek.

Victor, Idaho

The view by Driggs.


Palisades Reservoir

The famous SQUARE ICE CREAM!

Yesterday we went on our second short road trip (our alternative to a vacation). We did the Teton Scenic Byway - a drive that takes you from IF to Swan Valley, Palisades Reservoir, Victor, Driggs, a slew of little hamlets, Rexburg, and back home. We revisited Big Elk Creek campground - the site of a rather infamous camping trip from a September in the early 90s. The place certainly has changed! It's been upgraded to a lovely little wilderness parking lot. I preferred it when it was rough around the edges and nature felt closer.

It was fun to tell Bailee the story. We went out in the middle of September, eager to get in one more camping trip. It poured rain, snowed, Diana's old dog Amy snuck out of the tent in the middle of the night and got lost. My dog Saber found her - but she was a mess! Burrs, mud, etc. I'm sure the story of her night in the woods would make quite a tale. It's a pity she couldn't talk!

I proved to the world that I CAN make a fire in the middle of a pouring rainstorm though. Quite an accomplishment to have under one's belt if I do say so myself. I'm sure the whole trip sounds like a disaster, but we had a great time. Crazy, eh? When the time came to go home, I ended up chasing Saber around and around the van. He did NOT want to leave to go home. Can't say I blamed him. The autumn mountains were beautiful and peaceful.

We had to stop at the Rainey Creek Store for square ice cream for Bailee. It's a must have on these trips to Swan Valley. Messy, but fun. We saw one bald eagle on our drive, but saw lots of young osprey. I got some cute photos that I will have to add later (new camera and I still have to figure out how to download).

We also had to stop in Rigby for a Bambino - a local treat (sort of a tiny pizza calzone). Bailee loves them. She also loves their fries, which she thinks are the best ANYWHERE. I must say, they are good. Crispy, fluffy inside, just basically perfect. Visit their website at www.pickettsbambino.com

We saw some beautiful homes on the drive. Some people are obviously doing all right in this stinking economy. (It sure isn't us.) I did see one home that gave me pause. It was located in the middle of a huge farm - a beautiful three story house with huge porches and decks. The odd thing? The big windows and porches were all on the west side of the house - looking out on the desert, while the rear of the house faced ... the Tetons. Okay, whose contractor was drunk? What a horrible waste! The view they could have had was the one on our banner. How crazy is that?

INL Fire

Yesterday we went to see the movie The Last Airbender (good show - I recommend it) during the afternoon. Our winds were horrible (40 mph), so doing anything outside was a misery - especially for those of us suffering with allergies (Bailee and myself). When we got out we saw this huge brown cloud off to the northwest. Dust storm? Fire? Turns out it was a wildfire out on what we refer to as "The Site." This is the huge compound of the Idaho National Laboratory located out on the desert west of IF. Whipped by the winds, this fire had consumed over 30,000 acres by the time we went to bed.

For once, the wind was with us. The prevailing wind bypassed IF and Ammon, so we were spared the smoke. Our allergies are thankful. Today the wind has dropped (so far), so hopefully the firefighters will have a chance to get a handle on this.

We're off to Staples to purchase some school supplies for Bailee. They have some really good sales on right now. Hooray. Bailee is excited for school to start. The adults in the house? Not so much. :)

Blowing in the Wind

The wind is blowing at a high rate of speed - which makes life rather miserable. The weather looks nice, but when you step outside! Oh my! It isn't pleasant. For those of us with allegies (curse ragweed and cottonwood) the wind makes things even more uncomfortable. My eyes itch, I'm sneezing, and I am very cranky. A triple threat in other words.

The new computer is now online. Bailee loves it. Hooray for Best Buy and the Geek Squad! It is nice to have the computer actually up to speed again. Such a nice change.

Life continues busy. Bailee starts dance camp tomorrow. We have tons of yardwork and housework that I really wish someone would do. I have this sinking feeling that the "someone" is going to be me. Oh la ...

Mesa Falls Road Trip

Big Falls Inn - Today

Big Falls Inn - Yesterday

Upper Mesa Falls

Lower Mesa Falls

We took a road trip up to Mesa Falls yesterday. It was a lot of fun - beautiful scenery and very relaxing. The down side was that the camera was dropped and is now nonfunctional. That has trapped the photos within for the time being. We'll see what happens next.

It was a shock to find we had to pay $5 to park at Upper Mesa Falls (yes, it's been a long time since our last visit). We had to go scrounging for cash in the car - so the folks there now have lots of change. Diana enjoyed the displays at the Falls Inn located there. It really looks nice now. Great job of refurbishing.

We also had to stop at the Frost Top Drive In. We have fond memories of stopping here with my dad when he ferried me back and forth between BYU and later my job in Rigby. It was usually a stop on the way home, so the memories were all the happier. These memories are so precious! It reminded me again of how very much I miss my dad. He was the best! I loved all the road trips he took us on and the special memories he created for us. I am so thankful to have them to treasure in my heart now.

Happy Fourth of July!

Bailee has been spending a good portion of her nights practicing for the Independence Day Parade. That's meant a hectic schedule and fast food. We're trying to keep the fast food on the healthier side, as the kiddo loves Jamba Juice - esp. Strawberry Surfrider!

The mean old Nonnie has also been making her practice her English Grammar. Somehow that doesn't really go with the whole Summer Fun Agenda, but it is one of her weaker areas. So we're practicing. Apparently touching your nose helps.

The Baking Ballerina has now extended her skills into the pie arena. This was a mini Dutch Apple Pie - ready to go into the oven. Yummy!

Diana and I spent eight hours painting styrofoam stars for the Studio One float. We go VERY messy, hot, and sore (oooh my tendonitis!) - but here is the finished product with Becky and the younger dancers on board.

The older girls (it's hard thinking of Bailee in that category) strutted their stuff all the way along the parade route. Three solid hours of dancing and walking!

Guess what! We took first prize in the Dance Division. Huzzah!

We're mighty proud of our dancers! They were pretty tired (they had to be at the staging area at 7 in the morning). We went home and took naps! Today we'll set off our fireworks and do our barbecue. Yesterday we were just TOO tired (yawn) Hope you all had a great holiday!

Hello July

It's July first. What I always think of as the hot month. I don't particularly care for hot, and I don't particularly care for July. It's kind of the February of the summer months. I'm not a big fan of Independence Day ... so I don't even have that. Luckily, I have many projects planned for the month, and I am determined to make the most of it!

Bailee is practicing for the parade every night for two hours. She comes home pretty hot and tired. She's excited about being in the parade though. I'll tell you, that girl just gets "lit" by anything that has to do with dance. Guess it is definitely her passion. Lately we've been catching some heat over Bailee and dance.

1. She dances too much. (Actually, we don't let her dance as much as she wants to.)
2. Dancers don't make enough money. (I know, but when you love something ... well, her parents are teachers. How dumb was that decision for us? You do what you love. If you're lucky, you make money. If not, at least you're happy.)
3. Why are you letting her waste her time on dance? (I've never seen doing something you enjoy as a waste, but she's counting on a dance scholarship to help pay for college.)

We had an exciting thunder storm on Tuesday. The wall cloud was pretty impressive. We had just dropped Bailee off at dance, so had the opportunity to watch it roll in off the desert. There was heavy rain, so at least the van got rinsed off. It smelled wonderful afterward. I LOVE the smell of rain! I'll put up with a great deal of pyrotechnics for that payoff.

As if late freezes were not enough of a challenge - Caribou went out and sat on the tomato plants. How rude! I am now looking at the whole gardening season as a total loss. What a bummer. I always feel like I'm letting my dad down when I fail to have a nice garden. He was such an accomplished gardener. Sure miss him.