Leaving our Montana Day Trip

Before it got too dark we headed back to Driggs over the icy roads.  Everyone was too warm in the car to get out for the Montana sign so Todd was a trooper and stuck his head out. 

 Back in Idaho I took some sunset pictures playing around with my new camera in the car.  It was a beautiful drive.

 Right before we turned to go into Driggs you can see the Grand Tetons in the distance.  It was really pretty with the white valley that went on for miles of untouched snow.  We also watched the New Year's Eve fire works from a distance that they shot off from the ski resort.
We took the kids to the pizza parlor in town for dinner and then we went back and played some games to ring in the new year.

Bear Refuge

After snowmobiling we went to the Bear Refuge Center to see the new bear cubs.  Apparently there was a bear attack not that long ago in Yellowstone and they had to put down the mother but the rescued her cubs.  You should have seen Hailey's eyes when we told her that story and then said we were going to see the bears.  She wasn't too thrilled  until we told her they were in cages.  Uncle David scored us some passes to get in while they fed the cubs.

 Blake was keeping one eye on the wolves just a short fence away!  He thought they were really cool.

 I was also amazed how pretty they are and just two feet away!

We did not want to be their dinner though!

 The bear cubs were adorable and very playful!

 Blake and his second cousin Blake, my cousin Dana's baby.  They went over with us.

Waiting in the warm gift shop for everyone on the giant bear couch.

Day Two: Snowmobiling in West Yellowstone

The next day we took a very icy and snowy road to my Uncle David's cabin in  West Yellowstone.  He has a ton of snowmoblies and wanted to take us riding.  We even got Grandma in a helmet to ride.  There was a side by side my Uncle rode her in and later Grandpa.  I also rode in that one.

 Madison and Abby were all giddy to ride in the pod.  They were all giggles at first, but got tired of the bumpy ride after a while.  The next time they wanted to go on teh snowmobile itself.

Todd and Blake pulled them around for almost 20 minutes.   

 Hailey rode with my cousin Ryan.  She is my little thrill seeker and so is he so they were a good match.

 Mandy and Grant

Off they go!  It was a very cute little snowmobile town.  Everyone rode around in snowmoblies to do everything.  All of my cousins from Uncle David were there but Lisa. They all have little kids so the cabin was full have toddlers and babies.  It was fun to see everyone again. My Dad teases that my  Uncle David should be th Mayor of the town .  I think he is right.  It was very nice of them to show us their neck of the woods.



Winter Break Trip Day One

After being in Utah a couple of days we went with Grandma and Grandpa to Driggs, Idaho.  Paul and Robin have a condo there they were nice enough to let us use for a few day.  So a bunch of us went to find some snow to play in.  We found lots of it!!!  There was no snow in Utah yet this year but there was plenty in the Targee National Forest in Eastern Idaho.

 Abby couldn't"t wait to get in  it and play.  She was so excited to throw a snowball and make a snow angel.

 Blake and Madison came out quickly to join her after exploring the condo a little.  Hailey was out for a short time but wanted to go in where it was warm.  She was excited Mandy was around to play some games with.

 Getting busy on the first snowman of the season!

 Right outside the condo was a frozen pond.  The kids liked walking on the pond.  I was not so excited about them on it however.  It was 12 degree but Abby and Blake were die hards and were out until the sun went down.  It had snowed while they were out there so they were dripping wet.  They did not care as long as they got the snowman made.  Blake was so nice to help Abby finish.

Time to get warmed up.  The kids loved having a pajama party with Grandma  They thought it was pretty funny that she had pjs on like them with little sheep.  Good night!

This is the Place, Heritage Park

 After being in the car the whole day before we decided to get out and walk around Heritage Park with Grandpa.  It is a park in Utah that recaptures the old west when the Utah Pioneers established the Salt Lake Valley. 

  The kids couldn't"t believe how tiny the houses were that housed such  huge families.  They did think the loft beds were really cool, until they realized they had to sleep in them EVERY night with 8 or 9 other kids. Everything was decorated for the candlelight Christmas so they saw what a typical Christmas was like for them.

 Here is Hailey ringing the one classroom school bell.

 This building was the original Brigham Young University. 

 We had never seen a bull before.  We thought it looked like a half dog half cow.

Abby loved the sheep.

 
 We told the kids before and after school they would have to take care of the animals.  They loved shoveling the hay and feeding the bulls.  Although day and after day they would be doing some serious complaining though I can guarantee it.

 This is the chapel that Grandma Ruth attended in Pine Valley.  It is one of Utah's most historical church buildings.

After walking the park's little town we stopped a the This is the Place monument where Brigham Young led the Mormon Pioneers to religious freedom and established Utah.

There were plenty of deer we found on the hillside behind  the monument.