Touring Idaho and Wyoming

This summer we became experts in packing lunches and taking day trips to the beauty surrounding us in Idaho and Wyoming.

Mesa Falls is our most visited hangout because it is close and perfect for a short hike. We love the spray of the water, the lack of cell service, the beautiful trees and calm breeze.

We also hiked over to the abandoned train tunnel where we found an eagles nest (with eagles!) sticking high up into the sky, marriage proposal, and more gorgeous scenery.

The beauty of Yellowstone never gets old! 

Old Faithful was faithful, the paint pots were stinky and mesmerizing, the scenery breathtaking and the company a joy to be with. We even got to witness a bear roaming his mountain home.

The day ended with a light rain which cooled us off enough to need hoodies and blankets but in no way did it water down the adventure.

Jackson Hole took us back in time to a wild west adventure with guns blazing and fists flying at the main square.

The top of Teton Pass and the tram and gondola rides to the top of Rendezvous Mountain gave us a gorgeous view of the Grand Teton Mountain Range and forced us to pop our ears several times.

The winds at the top of Rendezvous Mountain cooled down a ninety degree day to a nippy sixty degree day and lack of oxygen at 10,450 feet evidently left Nathan and Hyrum a little loopy. The view and the company were spectacular! Nathan and Hyrum decided that they were each going to take their own gondola down the mountain. My little adventurers are becoming so independent!

On the way home from Jackson, we stopped at our favorite ice cream stop, the Victor Emporium. 

While Nathan, Hyrum, Daymia and I enjoyed our ice cream, Justin & Kayla and Gabor & Vivien gobbled away at over sized and overpriced grill style hamburgers and home style fries from the Brakeman American Grill next door. Gabor ended up accidentally stealing his Coca-Cola restaurant cup as a souvenir, which we all unforgivingly teased him about.

We left one morning to do a loop from Rexburg to Twin Falls to Craters of the Moon and through empty no-mans land back to Rexburg. An unscheduled stop came after only 30 minutes at the Honda dealership because the van was shaking so bad at any speed above 40 mph. It was an easy fix (rocks and asphalt in the rim due to all the road construction around us) and we were on our way again.

The first scenic stop was just north of Twin Falls at the Shoshone Falls.  The falls and surrounding canyon were spectacular!

We next went into the city of Twin Falls to see the long bridge spanning the canyon. It looked impressive from the road but walking underneath it to see the structure, hear the traffic above, and witness the massiveness up close was, well, Wow! To add to all of that, there were bridge jumpers dropping from the top and we were able to witness parachutes opening, graceful landings and what had to be exhausting hikes back up the canyon wall.

After a picnic lunch in the shade, we headed to Craters of the Moon. My kids had each been there on school field trips, but I had never been there. What a vast, black, hot, landscape!

We hiked up the black sand to look out over the mountains, then wandered our way over to the caves.  Though spelunking was fun, after awhile it started to feel suffocating for me. The day was a hot one so the caves were nice and cool but the feeling of being covered in darkness (both in and above the caves), void of any color, greenery, or as it appeared, even animals, gave me a feeling of imprisonment that I have never felt while being out in nature.  However, I took the time to appreciate the opposition of beautifully landscaped mountains and imagined the volcanoes, weather and science that went into the making of Idaho's volcanic wonderland

The drive from Craters of the Moon back to Rexburg didn't really improve the empty feeling as we meandered through three hours of wide open fields with a scattering of a few small towns. With the late start to our day (van check-up), spending more time at each place, and hiking in the heat of the day, we were quite famished. Each time we came up on a town (village? community?) of lights we hoped for somewhere to stop for a meal (and potty break) but it wasn't until the road suddenly dropped into west Idaho Falls that relief seemed near. Fast food never looked so good.

Temple Square and Lagoon

We kept our family trip close to home this year with a visit to Salt Lake City with our first day spent at Lagoon.

 After a quick just-in-case-we-get-separated photo of the boys, we split up into several groups with a meet up time for later. Hyrum (who wasn't quite tall enough to join the thrill seekers) and I kept it close to the kiddie rides and had a great time! As the youngest of 6 (which has grown to 9) he revels in individual mom time. Our common loved ride was the swings. We would get off and run back around through the empty line to get right back on. 

After a day of rides and wandering we ended up at Pioneer Village. LeRoy (who is not a museum kind of guy) and the younger boys went back to the rides while Levi, Daymia, Derek and I wandered through the old-time shops. We each found a place that called to us: Daymia at the barbershop, Derek at the watchmakers, Levi at the old church full of interesting facts, and Me at the piano shop.

Erika and Kailee Jo joined us for the second day while we visited Temple Square. They had recently moved to Taylorsville and Bret was unable to join us due to his new job. However, we took very good care of his girls, often arguing over who got to stroll with Kailee.

We toured the Beehive House, the Joseph Smith Memorial Building, and the North Visitors' Center where we wandered the lower level with all the videos, paintings and statues as well as the upper level where we had a family picture in front of the Christus.

I love the feeling of reverence in this place, especially when sharing it with those who mean so much to me!

4th of July Highlights

♥  Family  ♥

Vivien and Gabor
Only a few days in the USA and they fit right in with our crazy family just perfectly!

Kailee Jo

Parade and Fireworks
And again, Vivien, Gabor, and Kailee Jo!

Explosions

From a safe distance we watched LeRoy lead another explosive (and messy) summer show. Only watermelon and dumptster treasures were injured.

Fullmer Family Camping Reunion

We had such a fantastic time with our extended cousins at the Heritage Grove Campground in Mt. Pleasant Utah!

Good food, fun games, late night conversations, and plenty of laughter filled our weekend. Two nights hardly seemed long enough!

Each of us left our hand prints on the big family tree.


Grandkid cousins

Parent cousins

Grandparent siblings

Four generations of the Vern and Reva Family:
1 - Fullmer siblings: Alice, Sylvia, Evan
2 - Oldest son, Evan's kids: James, Kimberly, Jared, Kate, Joe, Kara, Jake
3 - Oldest grandchild, Kimberly's kids: Justin, Erika, Derek, Hyrum, Nathan
4 - Oldest great grandchild: Kailee Jo


The lake was a highlight throughout the entire day!

Graceful . . .

Not so graceful . . .

Yes, that is an "adult" pushing a kid (his nephew) off the diving board, on a bike, into the lake.

Dedicated Hikers

Bubble Challenges

Volleyball At Dusk

Evan and Trudy Fullmer Posterity

Evan and Trudy Fullmer Children

Memorial Day Hike

We celebrated the first summer holiday with a hike up "R" Mountain in Menan.

It was the first time that it was just Nathan, Hyrum, LeRoy and I doing a family activity. What a solemn reminder that after Justin's upcoming senior year, it will just be the four of us.

Nathan was excited to get around to the north side so that he could see the sand dunes. After doing his Idaho report on the sand dunes, he really wanted to see a full view of them instead of just pictures.

 Hyrum, with the shortest legs in the group, pointed out how far away the van was from the top.

My Boys

We took the long way home so that we could stop and visit the Fullmer graves. I turned around at one point and found both boys saluting the flag near Grandpa Vern's military plate. We took the opportunity to discuss the holiday and to thank Grandpa.

We also talked about Great Aunt Donna, who didn't even know who I was (blood relative) but never forgot LeRoy, and Great Grandpa Will and Great Grandma Fannie who settled the Menan area where we have our yearly family reunion. The visit brought to mind some of my favorite memories of Grandma Reva.

Later that day I went on my own to the Rexburg cemetery to take a brief time remembering the stories my Evans Great Grandparents, Jessie (who Hyrum is named after) and Sylvia.

Mesa Falls and Warm River Rail Trail

On a warm Sunday afternoon we took to nature once again, this time heading for one of our favorite yearly spots near Ashton.

The falls never disappoint. The crisp, clear air and the rushing of the cascading water mutes the noise of a busy life. One of the biggest advantages is that LeRoy has no cell phone service which means we get his undivided attention for family time.

Erika and two month old Kailee came with us.

We also took Charlie along with us and quickly found that his short, stout legs are not built for steep stairs or hiking. His wheezing breath caused him to drop on his belly in the first spot of shade that we walked through, refusing to leave.

Following a rejuvenating walk along the falls, we headed to the abandoned Warm River Rail Trail.

The tunnel under the road offered a comedy of echoes and a touch of shade before we took to the trail along the Warm River in the full heat of the sun.

 The abandoned train tunnel is an impressive build in size and design. One end was blocked off for safety with a large gate that LeRoy didn't even hesitate to climb over, and the other end was open due to the massive gate being crumpled in a rock slide. The dates, names, and marriage proposals carved into the huge beams led our imaginations to create stories of those who had hiked before us.

Walking the half mile back to our van in full sun left us a bit sunburned but extremely satisfied with our spring Sabbath in nature.

Dinner was a simple picnic in a shaded grove of aspens.

June - Summer Is Here

Our first summer morning was spent sleeping in and Nathan making Hyrum's favorite breakfast of One-Eyed Sailors.

The first Summer Saturday was the boy's gymnastics recital. I love seeing how they have progressed and watching the students interact with Justin as their coach. Many of them asked for individual pictures with him or gave him hugs.

Just like at home, Brock fits in as one of the brothers. We all have nicknames for him and he grins at each one. Justin call him Brock and Roll, which seems to be his favorite.

Eight Saturday's were dominated by Hyrum's soccer schedule.  Hyrum is an excellent soccer player! He has energetic stamina, is always aware of the ball and this season he was one of the high scorers on his team.

The most random moment at soccer was when a girl brought a rabbit on a leash and then put the rabbit in her chair and she sat on the ground. Odd.

Derek also had a break from school for the summer which means we get to see him a bit more. After purchasing a new-to-him (but really kind of old) car, we welcomed those extra trips with a lot less concern for his safety that will his previously owned $600 car.

During one of his trips home, Daymia convinced him to let her pluck his uni-brow.

My morning joy throughout May and June was my three hours with Kailee Jo.

I'd happily delay a shower, laundry, housework, office work, cooking, and just about anything else to snuggle with her . . . and I did.

I tried to put her down while she was sleeping so I didn't create any bad habits that Erika had to undo but that didn't mean I wasn't just sitting there staring at her. And, no matter how tightly I had her swaddled, she would work her arms out to get them up along her face.

In just two short months she grew so much! Those gassy smiles in her sleep turned to real smiles with eye contact and completely melted my heart. I'm just mush with her! Being a grandma really is as great as everyone said it would be.