We just spent a week in Scottsdale followed by a week in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. The pictures are a little bit mixed up but it's fairly obvious where we were in each. If we're bundled, we're in Jackson. If we're in swimsuits, we're in Scottsdale.
We go to Scottsdale twice a year, as you probably know. We absolutely love it there. It's nice and warm. The accomodations are gorgeous and the food is yummy. The pool is always so warm and the people are wonderful. Actually, we met a very nice family there who we decided to travel with to Jackson Hole. It was a little bit of a risk, going on vacation with someone we barely knew but we had so much fun. They have a 2.5 year old little girl and she and Hunter were best buddies.
In Scottsdale we spent nearly every day by the pool. We played in it morning and afternoon with a short break in the middle for naptime. The boys had SO much fun, as did Brian and I. We love it there and look forward to going every year.
Jackson Hole was an entirely new place for us. We had to get bundled up - which we aren't used to doing. As soon as we landed I knew it was someplace special. It's a tiny little airport set amidst these gigantic mountains. The leaves on the Aspen and Cottonwood trees were bright yellow. It almost looked like they were lit from the inside out - i've never seen anything like it. I fell in love immediately.
Ms. Maddy posing by Chapel of the Sacred Heart in Grand Teton National Park.
A moose drinking from a pond right next to the road. When Brian hopped out to get a picture, I decided I should change Hunter's diaper. He was standing by the road and I pulled off his diaper. He's been potty-training himself pretty well so I asked him if he wanted to go peepee. Well, there he went, right on the side of the road. We were both laughing at the image of this little boy peeing on the side of the road in a National Park. So funny!
Scottsdale - Daddy and baby Landon bonding
The view from our beautiful balcony.
Date night!
Back to Jackson Hole - Mama Courtney and I took the kids for a walk while Brian and Matt went out photographing with Tom Mangelsen. Tom and I have become good friends over the past 5 years and he lives in Moose (near Jackson Hole). We knew we would get together while we were in town but we were so lucky that he agreed to take the guys out for photos. They got some incredible photos of some down below. For those of you who have been to my house, the nature photography all over my home is by Tom Mangelsen. He is a world renowned nature photographer who is truly an inspiration. He has 9 galleries in the U.S. but is known internationally. I think he is one of the most incredible people I have ever met and I feel lucky to call him my friend.
Making a mess at breakfast.
Piggy back ride!!!
Landon in his cute little hat.
This is a big archway that is made out of antlers! No animals were harmed in the making of this arch - every year the elk shed their antlers and regrow a bigger pair.
All bundled up before we went outside for smores. We tried to get this picture all week long, but wouldn't you know that on the last night the toddlers both sat down right next to Landon!!
Paternas at Smores
Our backyard!
This is the only ski-in/ ski-out resort in Jackson Hole. To top it off they had a beautiful pool area with 3 jacuzzis that varied in temperature. They also had armoires full of towels and robes so they would heat your items while you were enjoying the water. When you got out, you had a heated robe and towel waiting for you!
Oxbow Bend
A picture that Brian took with Tom of a gorgeous Cottonwood tree.
Mt. Moran in the distance
Brian and Tom Mangelsen
Matt and Tom
Matt and Brian
Me and Courtney in the jacuzzi
A deer right by the road
Jenny Lake. We went on a safari one morning. It was supposed to be 4 hours long and the kids were reasonably well-behaved. About midway through we were on the road next to Jenny Lake - which has no guard rails, btw. Anyhow, all of a sudden the right front brake locked and the car kept pulling to the right - straight towards the water. He couldn't stop the car because the brakes were stuck! It was so scary. I was asking if we should get the kids out of their carseats in case we went over the edge. Luckily we made it off of that road and went on a little Nature Walk while waiting for the company to deliver a new car.
The Cottonwood trees.
Bison. Many people refer to them as Buffalo, but Buffalo don't actually live in the U.S., only Africa.
We went on a little hike over near Oxbow Bend and Brian took this photo.
Hunter and Maddy just started snuggling. They stood here like this for a few minutes, so we took photos. Silly kids!
Us at Oxbow
Matt (who is a chiropractor) found a vertebrae! How cool is that?! He was very excited!
So we had finally given up on seeing a bear and then Brian said "BEAR!!!". He was walking right down the road towards us, which I thought was pretty cool for awhile. He just kept coming closer and closer, and then I got nervous. Luckily, he turned and went into the brush instead of eating us for lunch!
The Paternas
Landon was clearly as taken with the scenery as I was. We couldn't get his attention.
Walk like a cowboy back to the car. I thought it was an awesome photo of my cowboy swagger.
Loving the little man
Before we left we visited with Keagan and Bridget. Hunter and Keagan went night-night in Keagan's bed. Just for pretend.
Then Keagan crawled up into the chair with B and Wyatt. Gotta love big brothers!
Landon was SO proud of himself. He woke me up at 3 in the morning, chirping like a bird. When i walked in he was standing like that.
Ready for the pool!
Mohawk man. Brian thinks he needs a haircut but I do not! I love his long hair.
In the cabana. Such a beautiful day.
Landon eats a lot of big boy foods. If I am eating it, he wants it. This is a good thing because he hates jar food like Hunter did. He is eating plenty and at his 9 month appt he was 19 lbs 12 ozs and 28 inches - perfectly 50th %ile.
Daddy and Hunter in the pool
On our one day home between vacations we went to 2 parties. Little Sean turned 1!! Happy birthday to Sean!
Hunter really enjoyed playing with the musical instruments.
As did Cute little Landon
That night we went to a Halloween party with our mommy and Daddy friends. Hunter is Nemo, Landon is Crush (the turtle from Nemo) and I am Minnie Mouse. Brian was Mickey Mouse but Hunter stole his gloves, which meant he just had some ears.
Me and Janeen as Minnie.
In Jackson on the first night the kids were pretty tired. Hunter and Maddy crawled into bed to watch a movie.
And here is dinner the next night.
Landon is SO proud of himself. He can push things around the floor and walk behind them. He was not too happy that nothing in this place moved.
Bundled!
Bundled!
Super bundled.
Happy baby enjoying the fall leaves.
Holding hands on a nature walk
Courtney and Maddy by the fire pit on our walk
Me and my boys
When we got back we had some hot chocolate. Hunter spilled it down the front of his shirt and then ate the marshmallows out of the bottom of the cup. Maddy would only eat the marshmallows and wanted nothing to do with the hot chocolate.
Hunter referred to this as his "office" and he could frequently be heard making phone calls from it. Maddy was the only person allowed in his office.
What better place to do work? It's obviously naptime for the kids or else I wouldn't be sitting still.
The scarf game
Maddy can't wait to be a big sister! She was SO good with Landon and obviously really loved him. We worried that he would steal Hunter's girlfriend.
HUGS!
ROCKSTAR!!!!
On a hike with mommy. We found a big trench which I referred to as the "big hole". This might have been his favorite thing in Jackson Hole.
Hunter took this photo of me. I'm proud of his ability to get me in the frame.
The 4 Seasons. Rated #2 in the country this year by Travel and Leisure magazine
My boys.
Hunter not wanting his photo taken, as usual.
In the office.
Town Square - Jackson Hole.
The Paternas
Pretty pouty Maddy
Giving kisses
"I see a BEAR!!!! RARRRRR"
"I see Landon, RARRRR"
Landon sees nothing because he's resting his tired little eyes. Sweet little boy.
Matt with Landon and Maddy. I think he needs a little boy.
Wilson! THis is Tom's dog and I just loved him. This is Toms backyard. Recognize the bench? We have it framed and covered in snow in our dining room.
Me and Tom (www.mangelsen.com)
The whole group - Matt, me, Brian, Courtney, Sue and Tom.
Me and Brian on the bench
Me and Tom at dinner
The kids. We had this bright idea of the 4 adults and 3 kids all going for a game drive in our car. We won't do THAT again. When one stopped complaining, the next one would start. AHHHH!
Me and the big little man.
The little smiley man
Maddy and Hunter love each other. Hunter asks for her ALL the time.
I wonder how these trips will be different when they're 15....?
We stopped at the visitor center where you could feel the fur of all the animals in the park and hold the antlers. Hunter is a male Elk.
Maddy is a male Elk
Brian is a male Moose
Matt is a male Moose
Courtney and I found a teepee right next to one of the ski runs. The kids thought this was a pretty fun place to hide.
Smores by the fire. I'd like smore of this baby. SOOO cute.
This trip was one of the highlights of my life. I had way too much fun and fell head over heels in love with this town. I hope we will visit there frequently (at least annually). I hope the boys will learn how to ski (and that includes Brian) so that we can enjoy all the benefits of the park. It was truly gorgeous and the Paternas were the best travel companions. Matt and I get along so well and Brian and Courtney are so very similar that we were all just a very happy bunch. We can't wait for our next trip with them.
In the meantime, we'll be spending some time in L.A. Especially "Catamina with jett and chason". Hunter sure did miss his uncles while we were gone....
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