Eastern Idaho- Sand Dunes

I told Buck's sister, Jade, that if she was ever around Rexburg when it was summer that we would come and visit her. I have a "no winter" policy when it comes to that place ever since I graduated from there. And this summer she was finally there! (she's normally on the Fall/winter track) So we made plans and away we went.

I think that after Disneyland I was feeling kind of invincible as a traveling mom. It just went so well. But this little family excursion was one to humble me and bring me back down to earth.

It's not that it was bad or anything but it was a lot of car time for Hazel and she hates the car if she's awake. We knew this going in but we tried anyway. Originally we were going to go Thursday evening and stay until Sunday. We ended up waking up before the sun on Friday morning (because what was I thinking about a Thursday evening drive- that's Hazel's awake time!) and then we spontaneously left Saturday late at night. So... it turned into a one night, two day event instead. ha! But you know me, I managed to turn everything into a photo shoot. (somebody save me from myself!) so and I've decided to make this into three posts so that I don't feel as ridiculous adding all my photos.

So. Driving Friday morning proved to be a good idea and Hazel slept the whole way and June was pleasant enough. We went to Jade's apartment and then Buck had to stay there and work. Meanwhile we went to the best sandwich place, Millhollow. I got my original favorite and then my blog friend/old acquaintance Brandilyn came too! She's even prettier in person and it was fun to chat.

Then Jade and I went and toured some of the RIDICULOUS new apartments in Rexburg. Don't even get me started on how crazy these places are and how dumb it is that these people are trying to create a social divide amongst college students but whatever.

 Then after the girls napped,

and we convinced Buck to stop working, we went to the sand dunes. This was a highlight. June loved the "sand mountains" and we all had fun exploring and relaxing in the quiet wind.

And originally I was going to keep this photo in the personal collection but I did some editing and for all you know I'm simply holding my baby. I just really like this photo. I feel like it tells a story of how I feel about the bond between Hazel and me.

And anyway, there's more to this day so read on!

Eastern Idaho- Horses and Fields

Driving down that road was like flipping thought an old photo book from my college years. I could see flashes of memories as we passed different landmarks. I could see Sarah and myself at that yellow gas station taking a photo of her by the toilet/ash tray that had "put you dirty butts here" written on it. I saw Mandy, Carrie, and myself laying on the sand of Rigby lake. Me and an old boyfriend at the antique store just right off the highway. Leah, Kelia and myself swimming in the river while wearing thrift store lingerie (but nothing too scandalous I promise mom!) I had visions of Mandy dancing in Andrea's convertible with the top down on our way to her birthday dinner. The nursery where we bought a tree to plant in a widows yard. The bridge my neighbor took photos of me on. The road to turn off on to go to a restaurant with real pet alligators inside. All these memories. All on one road.

And I heard the conversations echo and bounce through my mind. The wheels of the car were like a needle on a record player, singing the songs of the past. Sarah's past, an awkward first date conversation about the honor code, Adam trying to convince me to marry him because he loves baseball just like my dad, lots and lots of spilled secrets between girls, dating woes and fears of the future. I thought all of this as Buck and Jade were talking about some of the hard transitions in their lives. Five years later and a new conversation was being added to that road. I loved my life back then but I felt so much peace as I saw Buck next to me, knowing that I had him there. When I lived in Rexburg I had so many fears about what life could bring but with him all that hurt feels so small now.

It's weird how so many of us were there together. We were stuck in that small grid of a college town. We were all nervous and flirty. None of us knew if we would ever get married. It was exciting and scary all at once. But we were in it together. The grass in that park was smashed beneath hundreds of feet all at once and now all of those feet, all of those people, are gone. And they are spread through this country and world. We have all moved on and dispersed. Most people found someone to scatter with. Yet despite social media I don't even know what happened to some of the people I cared most about. We're all just... gone now.

But good old Rexburg remains.

And thankfully a couple of my favorite people do too.

Like my good friend and old roommate, Nicole. This weekend we stayed the night in her lovely house in Idaho Falls with her cute little family. It was so good to catch up and talk with wide eyes about the happenings of life.

And then there is my dear friend Adam (not the one who tried to convince me to marry him.) Adam and I go back to the summer of 2005. We all spent that summer as friends going boating, camping, setting off fireworks and jumping off docks into lakes. It's nice to go back and see him. He and his wife recently bought 80 acres of land (!) and so we got to go ride his horses around his golden fields and icy river.

And June got set up on a date with his son.

Romance of the barley fields

I like when Buck takes photos of me, not because I'm vain, (at least I hope I'm not...) but because I feel like I get to see how he views me and it makes me feel beautiful.

And sometimes crazy.

It was so quiet and calm out there. Some people have all the luck.

And this weekend we got to share in that luck. It was a beautiful way to end a day.

Eastern Idaho- Yellowstone

(And Montana and Wyoming!)

Saturday morning, after great effort, we left for Yellowstone.

The view on our drive. Amaze balls. And I've never used that slang term before but it seemed to fit here. Seriously- look at those Teton Mountains!

And with this too. Amaze balls. (and now I've decided that I'll never use this term again.)

Hazel slept until it was time to stop in West Yellowstone to eat. So far so good. Plus we found a restaurant called "The Slippery Otter." Odd name, but hey it worked and got us in there.

Then Hazel slept as we drove to Old Faithful. Another win.

And we kept on winning. We got there two minutes before the famous geyser erupted. It was fun to show June and add a new word to her vocabulary. She's cute when she talks about and describes geysers now. A third win.

Then we went to one of my favorite places- the Old Faithful Inn. Built in 1904.

We did some shopping as well and got ice cream.

I picked some flowers

And then is was back to the car...

But that was the last smile we saw from Hazel I fear. After that point she was DONE with the car. We were able to take breaks from driving at the hot pots though, so that was convenient.

June refused to wear her shoes here when we got out of the car so I was like, "Fine. Burn your feet!" and as she stepped onto the asphalt she smiled and said, "It's not too hot mommy!" and I looked like the silly one.

So a little later when she stubbed her toe on the board walk I made sure to take a future "told you so" photo before comforting her. But let's get real, she won this battle regardless.

Fun times. Notice how Hazel and Buck are not in these photos. That brave man was wandering around with her trying to make her happy. Meanwhile, we tried running away from our shadows.

The ride back to West Yellowstone was rough. We were all a bit grouchy. Or at least the three of us in the back seat were... So we stopped at a diner and I feasted upon country fried steak. And that made my world better.

Once we got into the car it didn't take long for both girls to fall asleep. And it was that moment that we decided to just keep driving until we got home to Utah. Why risk it the next day when we knew our girls would have a better and dreamy ride right then?

Don't worry. We dropped Jade off in the burg before we zipped home.

And then we drove off into the sunset and lived happily ever after!

Mostly. I mean, I woke up the next morning all dazed and confused. But all was made right again when I remembered that I had this new bear hat.

Even though plans changed I don't regret the trip at all- obviously. We have to keep trying! And the new memories that I got to add to the tapestry of old memories were worth it. There were about 24 other things I wanted to do and places I wanted to see and a few more friends I missed and nearly 857 photos I wanted to take but I suppose we'll save those for the next time we make the trek up. But Idaho, you have my heart. You are my home always and forever. Till next time. xoxo