First Day of School

Wednesday 8/27/14 - First day of school for Connor at Doherty Middle School and for Margaret at the new Bancroft school!  We will drive Brady to Gould next Wednesday!

Reports are that Connor had a great day.  He's on Team 6A, in Mrs. Burt's homeroom.  He even went to a friend's house after school for a small impromptu pool party.  Margaret has Ms. Schoen for 3rd grade.  Her afternoon is not quite as fun, as she had a dentist appointment.

Bancroft Bus Stop

A Day on the Dock ... making summer last!

After a few days of "re-entry" in Andover, we welcomed a day at the lake on Sunday 8/24/14!  It was a fun afternoon on the dock with Grammy & Grampy, Aunt Maribeth, Uncle Paul, Kalli, Timmy and Matthew.  We then stopped for a nice dinner with the Greens before heading back to Andover.

Road Trip

After taking our time and aiming for "fun stops" last year, we all agreed that we'd rather push through and just get back to Andover in as few days as possible.  When we left Lander on Monday 8/18/14, we figured we'd get back mid-day on Thursday 8/21/14, but we had some hope that Wednesday evening was possible.  With no major traffic delays and only a little bit of rainy weather, we actually made it in three days and were back in our Andover home by 8:30pm on Wednesday 8/20/14.

Monday night we stopped at the New Victorian Inn in York, NE.  Tuesday night we stopped at a Comfort Inn in Toledo, OH.  Indoor pools for the kids and pizza both nights, and a 7am start each morning.  

Corbin did most of the driving, but I took about a 3ish hour shift each day.  We played some "musical chairs" with the seating in the truck, just to mix it up.  While there was certainly a good amount of being plugged into a device, we also had a few good conversations and laughs as a family.  Margaret spent some time each day reading to Corb and me, while the boys were listening to their own audiobooks and podcasts.  The one big "treat" of the trip was that I read "Wonder" to the whole family.  We read a couple of times each day and finished the book as we exited off the Mass Pike on Wednesday.  It was a great book, and everyone was fully engaged.  Overall, it was a pretty darn good family road trip!

Human pyramid at one of the hotel indoor pools.

Cute Pillows

A Visit with the Campbells

It's been 2-3 years since we've spent an evening with Bruce and Carol Campbell in Lander.  Last summer, Corb and Connor stopped by for an afternoon visit on their drive west.  It was wonderful to spend the first night of our road trip in such warm and wonderful company!

Sunday morning 8/17/14 we finished packing, cleaning and loading up the truck.  All went rather smoothly.  We said "good-bye" to Driggs at about 1-1:30pm and made our way to Lander.  I appreciated the last view of the Tetons from the east side as we drove out of Jackson.  We arrived at the Campbells at about 5:30pm, after "taking a Main" and driving by the Langs' old home on Wind River Drive.

Cornhole (or beanbags) in the backyard, swingset play, time in the playhouse, lemonade on the back porch, a tour of the "skinning" area in the garage, perusing Carol's photo album from her recent trip to Germany and Switzerland with Amy, Jason and kids, dinner on the deck - complete with ice cream pie and coffee, bugles in the kitchen, and a great night sleep ... it was wonderful to catch up with Bruce and Carol.  They've known Corby since he was 6 and they've known our kids since they were babies.  It's a special friendship the Langs and Campbells share ... reminds me of the Langs and Greens :-)

Monday morning 8/18/14, after a delicious (as always) pancake breakfast and packing a good supply of Carol Campbell cookies into our cooler, we said our "good-byes" and began, in earnest, our journey east.  We were so grateful for this visit - it was a nice way to end our time out west and set the tone for a positive trip east!

Everyone tries out the bugles!

Family photo before we leave

Connor and Margaret each chose a book from their "Little Free Library"

Carol, Corby, Bruce

Moving Day for All!

On Friday 8/15/14, I got in an early morning walk with Heather and Corina.  Note - earlier this week (Tuesday, 8/12/14) I got to run Southbound with Susy.  No pictures, but it was an awesome trail run!

Ok - back to the moving ... So on Friday, Susy's family all headed back to Boulder.  She stayed behind to pack and clean.  So, of course, we thought we should go help her - or at least hang out with her while she cleaned the kitchen!  On Friday evening, Heather, Sharon and I all went over to Susy's.  We had a fun evening full of cleaning, packing, and lots of laughs.  I actually spent the night -- a nice break for me and kept Susy from being alone in her house.  It was the best night sleep I've had in a long time!! Saturday morning, 8/16/14, we got in a good morning run -- awesome show by two sandhill cranes, likely protecting babies -- then we loaded up her car and said our good-byes.  Soon after I got home, we made our final trip to the dump in preparation for our "move" back to Andover on Sunday.  Immediately after the dump, we headed over to the Schmidts' to help them pack up for their move to Jackson.  Corbin helped Brian load up the trailer, I helped Sharon pack up the kitchen and the kids played with Sammy (walked the dog, played on the trampoline, etc).  It was fun to help them and we still had plenty of time this afternoon to do our own packing.

Fun on the swingset and trampoline!

Sammy, Margaret, Connor

Sharon, Sammy, & Brian Schmidt

We finished our day with dinner at the Brakeman.  The Brakeman served as our "bookends" this summer -- we ate there our first night and our last night in the valley.

We're never really ready for summer to end.  It's always hard to leave this valley.  Yet, we are looking forward to ... a visit with the Campbells tomorrow, what is likely our last Trepanier Family Reunion at Purity Springs on Labor Day Weekend, Margaret starting 3rd grade in the new Bancroft, Connor starting middle school at Doherty, Brady beginning his Gould journey, Corb and I teaching together again ... and already some exciting things to look forward to next summer!

Final "bucket list" items!

We've all had such a wonderful summer - part of it skillfully planned and part of it spontaneous!  After the kids had all returned from Oregon, we sat down and created some lists of "wants" and "needs" for our remaining time.  This final week we've tried to check off some of the remaining items on the list.  One of Margaret's BIG requests was horseback riding with Cheyenne Wilcox, on Abbey.  We were finally able to make that happen on Thursday evening, 8/14/14.  Weather threatened, but did not ruin the evening.

Thursday was a pretty full day for everyone.  Connor and Margaret were at TISA camp all day -- their last day, and they loved it.   I used the day as a pretty full work day, Brady got a few things done in preparation for Gould, and Corbin got a lot of work done in the yard.  We were able to arrange a nice meeting between Brady and Jen Calder, coordinated around TISA camp pickup.  Jen's son, Bode, goes to the camp and he and Connor love to play together.  Jen and Joe Calder are ski patrollers - Jen at Teton Village in Jackson and Joe at Targhee (with his rescue dog, Otter).  Since Brady's planning to do the Ski Patrol program at Gould, he thought it'd be fun to chat with Jen or Joe.  Jen was GREAT!  She shared her passion for ski patrolling, and she told Brady if he could ever come out during ski season, he could go to work and shadow her.

Crazy Weather!

We have had some crazy weather these past couple of weeks - lots of rain, intense thunderstorms, cooler temperatures, and then beautiful sunshine.  Weather reports have not always been spot on!  On Wednesday 8/13/14, we decided on one more family float on the Teton River.  Canoe, 2 paddle boards and lunch packed, we put in at Bates by noon.  Although storms weren't highly likely, we figured we'd beat them if we got on the river early.  Lots of fun and playing on the boards and one moose and lunch in a good spot ... then ... the storms started to move in quickly.  We paddled hard, hoping to beat the rain, and we actually did.  However, the wind was so strong that Brady and I (on boards) were being blown upstream!  In quite a few spots, we jumped off and walked our boards.  Corbin even got out and towed the canoe.  We took out at the first campsite at Rainey (or Big Eddy) and Corbin brought the truck to us.  As we drove back to pick up the car, the rain was strong and steady!  We were lucky - and had a fun and educational adventure.

Lunch on the River

Check out that sky!

Such a ham!

We got home, took hot showers and put on warm clothes, wondering if our evening plans to go to the Teton Springs pool for music by the Miller Sisters would be cancelled.  But by 5:30, the skies in Victor were clear, so we headed down.  The kids had a blast in the pool, I had good visits with Heather, Corina, Lisa and Jay, and we all got to spend time with Karee Miller's new baby, Enza.  The music was, as always, awesome -- a good evening!

Karee and Candice Miller - LOVE THEM!

Human Pyramid -- Brady, Connor, Margaret

Human Pyramid - Brady, Connor, Gabby

Annie with Enza

Ladies' Night

Monday 8/11/14 was a gorgeous day, so we headed up to the Targhee pool, as we haven't been there in awhile.  Corb got in a good bike ride, while the kids and I hung at the pool - swimming, reading, and lunching.  By the time Corb got back, the pool was pretty packed, but we carved out enough space for ourselves for a family game of "push and glide."

It was Susy's birthday and a bunch of the ladies were trying to find a time to get together.  We managed to agree on appetizers on Monday evening in Victor (West End Yard).  Corb decided this was a great time to take the kids to Big Hole BBQ - on everyone's bucket list - for dinner, so we coordinated the two outings.  Our ladies night was short, but awesome -- good to gather the group together.  Susy and I agreed to meet for a trail run (Southbound, Horseshoe Canyon) on Tuesday morning.  Carlen's hoping for a walk on Wednesday, and the whole group is aiming for a walk early Friday morning.  There's also hope that many will get to Teton Springs for one more Miller Sisters concert on Wednesday night.  We'll see ...

Corb and I have decided that it's best if we head back east a few days early.  We've had so much fun here, and really there is business to tend to before everyone heads back to school and work.  With a few extra days in Andover, we might minimize some of the stress and "crunch time" feeling as we prepare for a very exciting year ahead.  Our plan at the moment is to leave Driggs on Sunday, 8/17/14.

Back: Carlen, Nancy, Tammy, Heather
Front:  Sharon, Susy, Annie, Lisa

Groupie!

SuperMoon

With all the hype about a super moon on Sunday night (8/10/14), we decided we needed to see it in style!  We set up the fire pit and chairs near the creek bed, for a good view of the moon rising.  The night did not disappoint.  Clear skies, one shooting star, star identification with iPhone app :-), a gorgeous moon, s'mores, and - most importantly - fun family conversation and laughter!

Brady whittles roasting sticks; we're set up and ready for a fun night!

Figure 8 Races!

One thing all the kids have been looking forward to this summer is the Figure 8 Races - the last event of the Teton County Fair, Saturday 8/9/14.  We planned to meet the Wilcoxes there.  Heather had suggested that we get there very early to get the parking we wanted, so we agreed that a tailgate picnic would be fun.  Of course, I took that literally, and we were there by 5pm - first spectators :-)  Despite some initial boredom, everyone settled in to a fun evening.  Brady drove our car around the parking lot solo, the kids picnicked on top of the roof, Brady and Corbin inspected the race cars and chose their favorites, we had fun all watching the races from the beds of Harley and Cheyenne's trucks, and Heather and I were called in for "lap counting" duty in the final heat!

Connor, Rudi and Margaret

Creative Play

With so many "screen" defaults and planned outings, creative play moments can take time to develop.  When they do, we notice.  She's a gem -- loves her "babies and puppies."

Table Mountain

After seeing how Thursday turned out, we decided to plan to hike on Friday, despite the iffy forecast.  We packed everything on Thursday night and got up early on Friday morning (8/9/14), after Brady and Connor had slept out in the wall tent.  We went up the face and planned to go down the Huckleberry trail (longer, less steep), but the clouds on top were a little ominous, so we opted for the faster hike back down the face.  It was steep, but not as difficult going down as I'd remembered.  That Huckleberry trail is beautiful, but it is never-ending.  Every time I've done it, we are ready for it to be over, with about 2 miles left!  The decision to go down the face was right, as the thunder and rain started in earnest when we got to our cars in the parking lot (after the kids got to wade in the creek, of course!).  It took us about 3.5 hours up, 1/2 hour on top, then 3 hours down.  Not lightning fast, but not too slow.  We ran into Brady's teacher from 4th grade (Mrs. Kunz) and her two kids (ages 15 and 12).  That was fun.  The other cool moment was just before we summited, we met a woman on her way down.  She was 79 years old and does this hike every year.   This year she was joining her nephew and his boy scout troop (they were still on top and she wanted to start down early).  She told us that last year, at 78, she did it alone (!!!) and completed the round trip in 6 hours.  That inspired all of us.  She vowed to be at least that fit next year at 80.  I have no words.

Thursday night - packed, ready and hopeful!

Elsa, Ann, Will, Brady, Connor - ready to start

We can see where we're headed - Table Rock!

View of where we've been

Last scramble up

On Top!  Cloud cover not obstructing view!

Moms' "selfie" -- or is it a "groupie?"

Love this picture!!

Our mountain goats scrambling down with no problem

King of the hill

Good resting spot on the way down

Boys playing on the boulder -- near the bottom!

Cheers to us!