Utah | The Sedgwicks

It finally feels like fall–chilly nights and mornings, warm days and more color in the trees. I pulled out the Halloween decorations yesterday. But before I get ahead of myself, I need to put up some pictures from the end of summer.

We only had a few weeks at home this summer, and they were filled with different camps and activities the kids were involved in. It went way too fast. But we took a really fun 2 week trip to Utah, Idaho, and Wyoming to end the summer. We actually covered 7 states in that trip if you include the 17 hour drive each way. I was able to attend Education Week with Mom and Emily. I loved being back on BYU campus, I love Provo in the summer, and I love learning how to be a better person! So Education Week was definitely a highlight for me. We had fun staying at Sundance again with our Hutchings cousins.

Mom and I drove with the kids up to the Island Park, ID cabin for a few short days (way too short!). We even managed to see “Joseph” at the Playmill (ah, the memories…) and take a short float trip down the Snake River. Something about that cabin is just so relaxing. I loved sitting in the hammock, pushing the kids in the swing (I think that same tire swing has been there for at least 15 years), and watching the kids build forts with all the branches and things lying around outside. It doesn’t get any better than that. The only thing missing was the old candy store with penny candy. I had to drive the kids down the highway to purchase their treats for reading.

From the cabin we drove through Yellowstone, stopping at a few geysers along the way, and down to Grand Teton National Park. I must say I’ve always been fascinated by the beauty and majesty of the Tetons, but I’ve never spent any time there other than driving through. I decided a few months previous that the Tetons would be our annual camping destination this year. It was a lot of work to drag the camping gear and bikes all over the map (not to mention the damage to our van from the bike rack falling OFF the back along with all the bikes!), but it was well worth it! We stayed 2 nights at Jenny Lake campground. Just typing that gives me chills, that’s how beautiful it was. We were right below the high, pointed peaks, and we hiked the most beautiful hike I think I’ve ever taken, with waterfalls rushing down everywhere and a wonderful view for miles and miles at the top! I even braved the freezing cold water and took about a half hour to relax on a raft in the lake below the mountains. I thought I was in heaven. I could have been.

We were lucky to have mom with us–she was a huge help and fun to have around. She thought she was in heaven, too–she spent much of her childhood in this area and she is an Idaho girl at heart. I guess I can claim to be, too, since I was born there.