Road Trip: America's First Park

While we experienced a few brief showers on our last day in the park, we were so fortunate to have good weather for our entire trip. We drove the bottom half of the grand looping and made several stops. More rock skipping. Taking in the lake views. Just enjoying the drive. We grabbed lunch at the Lake Hotel Deli and ate in front of the Lake Hotel. Stinky mud pots. Hayden valley with wildlife. 

We then drove up to view the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. We saw it from afar and we also hiked right down to the brink of the falls. It is quite amazing to see all of the changing topography. We also made a couple of stops at a couple more Geyser basins. D-man really enjoyed the geysers. We made it back to the hotel around 6:30 and then grabbed dinner at the Lake House. The boys went and skipped rocks while we enjoyed the last of our drinks watching the sunset. 

We're on our way home. A long drive, but we have another audio book; and each other. 

 

 

 

The beautiful Lake Hotel 

 

T-man using his pocket knife to open our wine 

 

Picnic lunch with huckleberry wine 🍷 

 

Stinky mud pots 

 

Bison 

Grand Canyon of Yellowstone 

 

 

Geysers 

 

Sunset view from the Lake House 

 

 

More rock throwing - from the snow bank 

 

Leaving the Tetons on the way home 

Road Trip: Yellowstone

I woke up earlier than the rest of the family and headed over to the main lodge and grabbed a fancy coffee for my birthday. The boys and Marshall joined me a little while later and we headed to the 1950's diner for breakfast. After packing the car to head out, we stopped you the diner again for milk shakes (D-man wanted to be sure to have a milkshake at a '50's diner.  On our way out of Teton, we made one last stop at Jackson Lake to do some more rock skipping. 

It was amazing to me how quickly the landscape changed as we climbed into Yellowstone. Lots of snow still on the ground and the lake we were going to have our picnic lunch was completely frozen (and the picnic area closed). We toured West Thumb along Yellowstone Lake before eating a picnic lunch along the lake. 

Our room still wasn't ready so we just headed to Old Faithful. We got to see Old Faithful erupt twice - before and after dinner. We did a loop around part of the Upper Geyser Basin - such unique features and landscape. We checked out Old Faithful Inn and enjoyed my birthday dinner in the dining room - complete  with a happy birthday version of "Home on the Range." It was a very special birthday with three wonderful guys. 

 

 Breakfast at the diner 

 

 

More skipping rocks 

 

So beautiful 

 

Checking out Upper Geyser Basin 

 

Birthday dinner at Old Faithful Inn 

 

Sunset with the geysers in the background 

 

2nd Old Faithful Eruption - still so light at 9:15 

 

Old Faithful Inn 

Rod Trip: Water Day

We got lucky with another sunny day here in Teton. We started the day off with a morning float trip down the Snake River (which was preceded by a breakfast of little cereal boxes and pop tarts). We then grabbed some lunch meat and cheese and had a picnic lunch with a killer view (and of course some rock skipping in the nearby creek). 

We then drove past the Jackson Hole Ski resort and into Jackson to walk around the town square. The boys were not excited about this at all as we started a book on CD that they are both really enjoying. We then headed back to the park and had plans to take a shuttle across the lake and do a little hike to a water fall and hike back around the lake. Well...... both the shuttle and the trail we wanted to do were closed because of repair work. So, we ended up on a scenic boat tori which both boys really enjoyed. 

After casual happy hour in our room, we drove to Colton Bay for dinner and another view of the Teton Range. A full and wonderful day for sure. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lunch and (root) beers with a view 

 

Using his new knife 

 

Downtown Jackson antler arch 

 

 

Boat ride 

 

Jenny Lake 

 

Colton Bay - look at that reflection 

Road Trip: Teton National Park

We completed the first leg of our trip last night. We made a stop in Laramie for dinner, a drive by the University of Wyoming and Matthew's house, and on to Rock Springs we went. 

We were up early for breakdast and some time at the pool. We made a stop at Cowboy Donuts and drove through downtown Rock Springs before we headed north to Teton. We arrived at Dornan's for lunch right before they were shutting down the kitchen for a wedding (whew!). 

We then drove up to Jackson Lake Lodge with several stops along the way. It's breathtaking and looks different with different lighting, angles and time of day. We ate dinner looking over the Jackson Lake and then had cocktails and dessert watching the sunset. In one day, we have already seen antelope, elk, bison, and a moose. Quite a good start. 

 

Brotherly bonding in the hotel? 

 

T-man basically slept the entire drive today 

 

View from lunch 

 

 

Skipping rocks (and then taking pictures with Chinese tourists) 

 

Huckleberry cocktails while watching the sunset  

 The sitting room at Jackson Lake Lodge 

 

 

Another Last

The crazy end of the school year has finally come. Today was no different - 7th grade pancake breakfast and a failed attempt to have lunch with T-man. I got teary-eyed last night tucking the boys in. So many things going on for T-man this past year and hard to believe D-man will be in 8th grade next year. So proud of both of them. 

 

I forgot to get T-man's picture before he took off on his bike with his friend 

 

But I did get a pic of him having Jimmy John's for lunch (even though I missed lunch) 

 

My sad looking pancakes for the pancake breakfast 

7th grade pancake breakfast (loved D-man was hanging with some newer friends) 

Amazing Teachers

T-man's last assignment for the year with his tutor. ❤️ this. 

 

The Sites of Indy

I've been to Indianapolis for business four times, but each time before this, my schedule was pretty packed because it was a conference (or most recently, just one night). 

Tonight I had no plans after I left the office so I went on a walking tour of the city. There were many things I had seen, but several I hadn't (canals, anyone?).  It was a gorgeous night and it stays so light so late which I love. And Indianapolis is just a nice small, midwestern city. Fun to finally get to be a tourist. The first pic is of my view from the hotel room (our office also looks out  on Monument Circle). And you can see that the city is getting ready for the Indianapolis 500 this weekend. 

 

I Got It

A picture with D-man and his Nana and Pop. 

 

Crazy Karlen Weekend

It's Sunday night and it has been a whirlwind weekend with lots weird  weather and lots of schedule changes because of the weird weather. But, I used that is life at the end of May when school and sports are wrapping up.

Mom and Dad arrived on Friday around noon and the three of us enjoyed sushi for lunch. Friday evening started with happy hour at the house and then wrapped up with dinner at Casa Alegre and ice cream at Sweet Cow. We actually had no sports on Saturday thanks to the weather, but kept busy with trips to the library and the Boulder Farmer's Market. T-man also attended a birthday party, and we squeezed in a graduation party Saturday night and a beer at the neighbors. 

On Sunday morning, Mom, Dad and I hit Costco to stock up for the Procrastination Party (I'm trying not to freak out about it) before the sporting events kicked in. 

We then attended T-man'a soccer medal celebration and watched T-man's soccer team earn a victory (T-man played a really good game) and sent him off to his flag football game where he scored a 2-point conversion and had an interception! We headed the other way and went to the state lax tourney which turned out to be freezing and rainy and two losses (tough overtime loss in the first game). D-man was really disappointed with that loss (I didn't even try to ask for a pic with Nana and Pop). 

And even though it was a crazy weekend, we found time for some cards and catching up. Feel so fortunate that my parents are still able to come and see our crazy life. 

 

Happy hour 

 

T-man showing Nana his lego creation 

 

Skate City birthday party! 

 

Saturday afternoon cards and beer from Nebraska 

 

What a great bunch of boys 

 

So happy to have them here

#17 ready for the face off 

 

  

What gorgeous weather for a game - brrrrrr

 

The rainbow was about the only good thing about he lax tourney