Explore your inner hippie: PART 1

Instead of calling us the Lamar’s you can call us the world travelers.  I honestly feel like I have been gone most of the month of July.  We got back from the beach and 5 days later Trey and I were off again. 

Trey loves to travel.  I do too, but I love to be at home.  We hadn't gone anywhere, just the two of us, since April of 2011.  We have some friends who have asked us to go out west with them about 4 times and we finally agreed to join them.

Thursday was the big day.  I honestly had anxiety for more than a month about this trip.  Major anxiety!!!  John Brantley is 13 months old and he had never spent the night away from  me, and now I was about to travel half way across the country the first time away.  Wednesday night was kind of hard for me.  I nursed Bitty for the last time.  Thursday morning I got up at 4:30 in preparation for the trip.  Trey and I left at 6:50 AM headed to the Memphis airport.  We flew from Memphis, TN, to Minneapolis, Minnesota.  From Minneapolis we flew to Salt Lake City, Utah.  And from Salt Lake City we flew to Jackson Hole, Wyoming.  It was a long 7 hours of travel, but finally we arrived!

 We were picked up at the airport by our friends, Wynne and Jessica.  We stopped by our room at the Antler Motel.  (I didn’t take a picture of the room so you’ll have to click here.)

 Then we hopped in the car and headed to the mountain.

 Jessica and me

 My sweet friend and roommate from my senior year, Molly, lives in Jackson Hole and came to see us!!!!

 We rode a gondola up the mountain to a restaurant/bar about 9,000 feet up.  

Now normally I plan ahead and think of everything that I need or should do.  I dropped the ball BIG time in one VERY important area.  I failed to drink lots of water prior to the trip to ensure that I was thoroughly hydrated.  The altitude difference KILLED me on the first day.  I felt so sick up on that mountain.  I had a headache and was nauseous.  Thank goodness the view was breathtaking or I might not have survived!   

 Molly and me  

 Jessica and Wynne… Jessica is expecting twin girls later this year!  

 The weather in Jackson Hole sure doesn't compare to this weather in Mississippi.  It was chilly up on that mountain!  

 On Friday we shopped around for about an hour and then rented a raft to float down the Snake River.

 My cool river shoes.  These were a must.  The river had LOTS of rocks.  If you were to get out or better yet, fall out of the raft you needed special shoes or the rocks would tear your feet up.   

 After our rafting trip we hurried (in the car) up the mountain to our new resort at Spring Creek Ranch.  We were in a rush because Jessica and I had scheduled hour long massages at 3:30.  I enjoyed my hour with Hagar.  He was worth every penny!

 Not a bad view, huh!!!???

 The room was complete with no air conditioning.  This was on purpose of course, because it’s not 95 degrees in Wyoming like here in Mississippi.

 Friday evening we walked to the restaurant at the resort and had a nice dinner.

 Friday morning we went back to the restaurant for breakfast and a little friend walked by our window as we were eating….

 After we ate we loaded up and headed to Montana…..  (To be continued)

The BIG Pond: Part 3

This is the last beach blog, I promise….

Part of our family vacation tradition is to find coordinating outfits and take a family beach picture.  We ordered the kids outfits, and planned the adult attire accordingly.  

 BoomPa throwing Bitty in the “big pond”.

 The best I could do with all 5.

 My family…. Gran, BoomPa, and Ken

 This is how he mows the yard….

On my birthday we rented bikes.  Everyone in the 30A area seems to travel by bikes around the beach.

 Trey went for a drive one afternoon and found a cool area down the road.  There was a stream, if you will, cut out behind the beach.  The water was shallow and the kids loved playing in it. 

 The mom bathing suit!!!

Uncle Ken and his nephews

 Sleeping beauties….

One of their favorite activities

 Yolo boarding in Watercolor

 A blue sucker

I really regret I didn't get pictures of Puddin, Pops, and Uncle Vance while at the beach.  We seemed to have very different schedules.  If they will take us back real soon I will take lots of pictures with them!!!!  (hint hint)

 Our last night at the beach Gran and BoomPa kept all 5 of the grand-kids so the parents could go out to eat.  We went to Watercolor and ate at Fish Out of Water.  The food and restaurant were fabulous!

 The end…

We had a great time at the beach and made lasting memories.  Thank you to both sets of our families for our trip!!!