Leaps, and Leaps

No where on my New Year's resolutions list for 2015 did I write, "take a leap of faith." I didn't really intend to take one, much less many. And yet that seems to be the theme this year for both Mike and I. He's still leaping as he searches for new clients to keep his business going. And I'm joining him in the leap of faith area by starting a full time job on Tuesday. As in, TWO days. I was offered a position yesterday with AmeriCorps for a 12-month service term, and right now it feels like the right transition for me. I'll be developing a youth volunteer corp for Iowans through a non-profit called Community Youth Concepts. I'm eager to get on the ground training and experience in volunteer management, service learning, and non-profit functioning. But I'm reeling with the realization that I'm not just re-entering the work world, I'm jumping in without much warning! Gah!!!

1st Day of School!

Gavin's 1st day of Kindergarten!!

Benji's first day of second grade!

And Jack's first day of third grade- phew, these kids are growing fast!!

Prepping for the 1st day of school

Homemade cinnamon rolls are my breakfast treat of choice on special days. Getting ready for what I hope is an awesome morning tomorrow...

Last weekend of summer

Breakfast at our fave, The Perk Up Cafe

Winding Down

Our last day in Wyoming, we spent in Jackson Hole. The kids wanted to swim in the hotel pool again, and we were ready for some downtime.

Enjoying burgers and local beer at Liberty Burger

Jackson Hole Shoot Out performance

We brought home a couple Jr Rangers!

Such a great family vacation. We had a wonderful time. The boys did a great job flying, and were troopers on the entire vacation. I already miss the mountains...

Grand Teton National Park

The day after Brent and Christina's wedding, most of our friends left town. But we still had two days to enjoy. So we took off for Grand Teton National Park to see Jenny Lake, and hike up a mountain to Inspiration Point. And of course, the older kids wanted to earn Jr. Ranger badges for a second national park in one week.

We rode a ferry from one side of Jenny Lake, over to the mountain on the other side

the boys were troopers on the hike up this mountain

Every hike deserves a snack break

Moose!

The view from Inspiration Point was gorgeous. And for this mom who is terrified when her kids are at any height, it was also slightly horrifying. 

The kids were enamored with the tame chipmunks who were clearly used to being fed. 

This little guy walked right up to Gavin and tried to take a bite out of his sandwich. When it startled him enough to drop some pretzels, the chipmunk wasted no time in grabbing one for himself.

Jackson Hole adventures

We started the day out with breakfast at The Bunnery, and then took a visit through the town square farmer's market. On a whim, we took a stagecoach ride around the town.

After our morning of town square fun, we went with two other families in town for the wedding over to do some Alpine Sliding at the Snow King Resort. I love how everything in Jackson Hole is incredibly walkable. Our hotel was only 6 blocks from the town square. This outdoor sports area, as well as great parks, hiking, and other fun stops was minutes away from our cabin.

The scariest part of the whole sliding adventure was this ride to the top

After the sliding, it was time for a quick lunch (Oh, NYC Sub Shop, I will may never be able to eat Jimmy Johns again....), it was time for the wedding! It happened right inside the entrance of the Grand Teton National Park at the Chapel of Transfiguration. A small spot with a gorgeous view, the guys in tuxes were happy that the ceremony was a short one on this hot day.

This is the 1st wedding we have been to that had a tipi with some of the reception tables in it! The kids totally dug that.

Had a great time hanging out with Terrilee and her lovely 13-yr-old daughter, Loralei, who is growing up far too fast!

The kids got to do smores after wedding cake!

The view from the reception certainly could have been worse!

 I attended my friend Sarah's wedding in October 2010. Gavin had just turned one days before, and was the first and only one of our kids to ride on an airplane. I wore the very same dress to this wedding, and couldn't resist getting a photo holding Gav, 4 years after that last plane ride to a wedding in Portland.  Here are the two photos:

Apparently I don't change my hairstyle often enough...! Another thing I loved about these two photos is that the necklace I am wearing in the second photo, I purchased in Portland while there for Sarah's wedding. It's made from a piece of old skateboard. 

Out of Yellowstone and into the Jackson Hole

We left Yellowstone to drive down the eastern side of the park, and head straight through the Grand Tetons to Jackson Hole in preparation for Brent's wedding rehearsal. Saw Benji's favorite grizzly area for the last time, and did not see a grizzly. Passed a bunch of parked cars on the side of a road... and *did* see a grizzly. But only from verrrrry far away.

yellow-bellied marmot

The only grizzly we did see. My camera's zoom had to work pretty hard just to get this image.

Pronghorn

Lake Yellowstone

We were happy to settle into our more spacious digs in Jackson Hole; a cute cabin at Cowboy Village Resort
The kids were happy to spend the rest of the evening swimming in the hotel pool.