Two

Saturday was a day of twos. We traveled two hundred miles in two states(alright, so it was really 199, but I'm going for a theme here, so work with me), saw two people from our ward in a totally unexpected place, rode ski lifts at two different resorts, and drove the Teton Pass two times, all of which added up to a bit too much togetherness for a bunch of boys who are growing too big to ride comfortably in Mom's too-small car.

["He's touching me!"]

The day trip from, er...home began as a simple trip to Grand Targhee to buy our passes for the coming ski season.

[audible cheering from the snowboard crowd]

It evolved into a gigantic loop through Jackson Hole and Swan Valley before eventually making it back to Rexburg. Sunday was Parker's eighteenth birthday--I know, I can hardly believe it either!



So this trek was kind of his party. We went to the places and did the things he wanted to do.

After we bought our passes at Targhee, we rode Dreamcatcher lift so Parker could take some pictures for his photography class. I'm just glad I had enough sense to grab a jacket; it was windy and cold!



I spent a grand total of five minutes at the top before riding the lift back down to the lodge with Cameron and Jacob--this time, armed with an enormous comforter provided by the lift operator for temperature-challenged people like me.

When Parker and Hayden came down the hill, we piled back into the car and drove over to Jackson Hole. We went to Snow King Resort, where we rode the alpine slide.



As I sped down the hill on a tiny sled, hoards of parka-wearing, cowbell-ringing fans cheered me on as I crossed the finish line in record time, taking the gold medal. Oh wait, that was someone else. Never mind. It was fun, though. We stopped at Pearl Street Bagels and loaded up on bagels and cream cheese--yum! If you've never tried them, you should. They have two locations in the Jackson Hole area to serve you, one in town and another in Wilson (they ought to give me free bagels for the free publicity I just provided, don't you think? Feel free to email them with that thought).

Then it was back over the Teton Pass, through Victor, and over the hill for square ice cream cones, a Swan Valley tradition. Believe it or not, that was my first time! The older boys have all been treated to the geometric delight several times; I don't know how I missed out. I guess you had to work with Paul somewhere in Swan Valley to rate the privilege, something I never did. It was there that we saw Gerald and Bryce Stucki; they were camping nearby. After we ate our cones--which, technically, were dinner--we headed home. The driveway never looked so good (well, probably after our trip to Nauvoo it looked better, but you get the picture).

In spite of all the complaints and close quarters, it was a good day. Parker proclaimed it his best birthday party ever. He's grown up a lot in the past two years because of the trials we've been through. I continue to be amazed by the things he's accomplished and the person he's becoming. He must get it from his dad. :o)