Family Vacation Days 1 and 2 (Updated)

Recap: Thanks to everyone who helped make our vacation to Jackson Hole, WY so much fun! Jon's parents provided the condo that we stayed in. Some dear friends at home fed our fish and watered our garden while we were away. My family, all of them including our Texans, came to visit on Saturday for a family reunion and to celebrate two birthdays. Thank you for coming. We really missed everyone after they left. We learned a lot about vacationing with a one-year-old this time around. After the squeaky condo pack-n-play was replaced by the Crenshaws pack-n-play, the Phillips family slept much better. Thank you Scott and Bethany. You saved our vacation!

Now here's the longer version of our story.
Day 1 We started our vacation last Thursday afternoon. I forgot to put the camera in the car so our final start time was 3:30 pm instead of 2:30 pm. Good thing we remembered by the time we got to Richmond. Dooh! We headed north passed Preston and drove through Emigration Canyon (by Mink Creek). The fall colors in the canyon were wonderful. We came down into Bear Lake Valley and passed Montpelier into Wyoming. We drove through Star Valley, up the Snake River Canyon and into Jackson Hole, where we had a condo reserved for a week. It was 7:30pm when we arrived so we just had time to make dinner and get settled. Autumn took several hours getting used to our condo with its squeaky floors as well as the fascinating carved bear statue at the top of the stairs. For Autumn, the entire week was centered around the carved bear. We made many trips to visit the statue every single day.


Day 2 Autumn got up at 5am on Friday. We decided to take advantage of the early hour and headed out to see the Tetons in the morning light. This is my Grand Tetons photo.


In Grand Teton National Park there is a drive called Signal Mountain. We took it and ended up following a mother black bear and her cub up the road for quite a distance. The baby bear was the cutest fuzz ball ever! (Photo credit Jonathan, through car windshield.)

In the afternoon we met up with my mom, my sister Mandy, and my brother John from Texas with his wife Meli and their daughter Julia. Autumn met uncle John for the first time and I think she really likes him. Together we took the fancy, fast tram to the top of Teton Ski Resort. Autumn rode in the hiking backpack. It was very windy at the top, but we managed to walk around and see the view.

In the evening we ate pizza and then went swimming at the hotel where John, Meli, and Julia were staying. There are more pictures of our Friday adventure at my mom's blog.

Just the facts

I learned a little bit more about catface spiders today. Catface spiders are seen in the fall. The females get very large before they lay their eggs and die. The one in our yard made a very large orb web from the side of the house and out into the grass. Catface spiders are not poisonous. The one in our yard died yesterday while I was away, but I hope we see more next year. They are preditors of hobo spiders and they compete with hobo spiders for food. If you have a catface spider, you'll have less hobo spiders. According to Washington State University's Etomology page, "Cat face spiders and other members of the Family Araeniidae are extremely beneficial natural enemies of many garden insects up to large insects when the spiders are mature." I just hope they eat grasshoppers too.

Best Animal Sighting Ever

Saturday evening, we ventured up Logan Canyon to a picnic ground near Beaver Mountain Ski Resort. We had a great hot dog roast and even saw a bunny. But he wasn't the best animal sighting ever.

After dinner we drove about a 1/4 of a mile down the highway to the turnoff to Franklin Basin. We found some amazing white rock canyons that definitely beckon us back and some fine looking camping spots. At dusk we saw the most perfect specimen of porcupine ever. He walked across the road in front of us after we stopped and then paused to get his picture taken. We kept driving along the dirt road until it came out near Franklin, ID.

While Jonathan was in D.C. last we got a new pet in the backyard. I thought his picture could be included in the best animal sightings entry.

Happy 1st Birthday Autumn!

Autumn had the best first birthday party ever!There were twenty three people at her Saturday party in Orem. All of Autumn's grandparents and almost all of her aunts, uncles, and cousins from Jonathan's side and mine got to be there. Grandma and Grandpa Phillips shared their backyard.

The party guests were entertained and entertaining. Just ask Celeste what happened after Aunt Mandy lowered her upside down behind her head.

Uncle Brian amused family before dinner by swallowing seven cupcakes in 60 seconds. Luckily, his child was't watching!

Some guests arrived as average citizens...

And then magically transformed into birthday party maniacs! Hey Jackson, where did you get the change of clothes?

Aunt Jessica set up a ball pit in the afternoon and Cousin Kloe gave Autumn a personal ball pit-jumping lesson. Kloe was so exhausted from jumping that she fell asleep on her dad during the actual party.

Out of respect for Elmo, the pinata was not hit with a bat, but shaken until wonderful toys and candy emerged.

Could it really be- candy from heaven?!!!

The Elmo and Cookie Monster cupcakes turned out better than I thought. My neighbors babysat Autumn so I could finish them. How many different facial expressions can you count on the Elmo cupcakes?
The entire Phillips Clan had their picture taken, sans Alysa and Ray who live in New Mexico, but we'll Photoshop them in soon too!

Thanks to everyone who made Autumn feel like a princess!!!

How to have a sophisticated birthday

(A card for Grammy Goose)

...

If you want to have a birthday

As sophisticated as you

I'm going now to tell you

Just what you'll need to do.

...

First you'll need a coat

One that's lined with fur

It doesnt really matter

As long as it can purr!

It's nice to have some pearls

to look at or to wear

I keep mine ever handy

To twirl in the air.

One should always remember

To be in charge today

Just hold onto that remote
And you'll always get your way.

Hats are very nice

They make birthdays lots of fun

I use mine to hide my face

When I am doing something dumb!

And last of all it seems to me
Your birthday is complete
When friends and family show their love
By telling you, You're sweet!
Happy Birthday, Grammy!!!

Love,
Autumn, Amy, and Jon

big rainstorm

After today's big rainstorm I took this picture of the Wellsville Mountains from our front porch. I really like how clean and shiny everything looks after it rains.

Half of a camping trip

Last night we took our new tent camping. Sort of. To save time we eat our oven-cooked tin foil dinner at home before we left. We drove up Temple Fork road to find a good camping spot. All the spots were taken so we watched the sunset and the stars and came home to spend the night in our own beds. We slept very well. In the morning we had our camp breakfast outside in the backyard. This picture is from Thursday when Jonathan put up the tent for the first time. Autumn was a good helper.