day 15: rest, death canyon hike.

We did it, friends!

We are home, safe and sound, as of noon today, Sunday. We were so eager to be back that we pushed through and did it a day early.

It’s more wonderful to be back in our beautiful, clean, spacious house than words can express. Those last three days were not for the faint of heart. But I’m getting ahead of myself . . .

On our last day at the Tetons I have to confess that the kids and I wanted nothing more than to relax. We encouraged David to take a giant hike by himself, knowing the challenge and fresh air and mountainous beauty is his happy place.

So he left the Airbnb at 6:30 and the rest of us slept in, sipped coffee (me), played Uno (them), and generally lounged around. At 9:00 we walked into the little village our neighborhood is set in for a snack. Persephone is our favorite bakery/coffee shop ever. There’s a location downtown in Jackson, and another one in Wilson, where our apartment was. We got something to eat, a London fog latte for me, and set ourselves up with an Uno tournament.

 

 

I hastily threw our Uno deck into a suitcase the morning we left home, figuring someone would want to play a game at some point. I wish I would’ve packed a couple more card games, because we ended up having lots of time in Wyoming. Ah well. We have fun memories of Uno on this trip.

After Persephone, we walked to the playground where Gabe and Noah found a gaggle of rowdy boys and jumped right in. I love how elementary school boys can go from perfect strangers to playing “blind zombie tag” in a matter of minutes.

We headed back to the apartment at lunchtime, and David came back soon after.

 

Death Canyon hike

He hiked 17 miles roundtrip up into the Tetons, and saw soaring views.

Here’s our summary of Grand Teton National Park: it’s by far the prettiest national park we’ve visited. It was a shame, though, that by the time we reached it we were so tired. I remember this happening three years ago when we got to Zion.

So the kids and I were fairly hiked out. Also, it was packed. To get any sort of parking place you have to leave early. And you’re either taking a big hike or playing in the lake; not much in-between.

Every afternoon we would’ve loved to set up by one of the gleaming lakes to swim and relax (it’s too cold in the mornings), but by then there’s not a parking spot to be found.

So that was the downside to Grand Teton for our family.

For any of you that plan to go, I’m just hoping future summers won’t be quite this crowded. Even so, it’s truly a glorious place, and we hope to return one day.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our hero.

Yes, these road trips are a team effort — a whole family effort, really — but David is truly the one who makes them happen. He logs twice as many hours as I do, consulting maps, getting the van checked out by our mechanic, planning a budget, booking hotels, adjusting plans as needed, doing the lion’s share of the driving, encouraging us when we feel we can’t go on, and comforting us (okay, just Amie and me) in our melt-downs.

These national park trips are his vision that have become the whole family’s vision.

 

When he got back, David took a nice long nap and had some down time, then he and I set out for date night in Jackson Hole. We left the kids with what they’ve termed “frozen food.” Which means pizza pockets and taquitos. Frozen food is a once-a-year-or-so treat that’s always met with great enthusiasm.

 

 

David and I did some last souvenir shopping, then ate a delicious, leisurely dinner in a cute little wine and tapas bar. It was truly the first time we’d had conversation away from our children on the whole trip. Judah and Amie like to remind us that we even had to have our arguments in front of them. Well, that’s real life I guess, right?

Afterwards, we headed back to the kids to catch the latest episode of Lego Masters.

A perfect end to our time in Jackson Hole.