Thursday, July 24, 2014

Grand Teton National Park


Sunday we spent the day in Grand Teton National Park. It's a beautiful part of the Rocky Mountains. We spent the afternoon with the wedding party and guests on a Jackson Lake pebble beach. The children had fun with water toys (rafts, floats, etc.) while Wayne and I sat back in the shade watching them.





Wednesday, July 23, 2014

Wedding Day

   
Christine escorted by her father
Wedding guests 

Wedding Ceremony


Jackson Hole is a great vacation spot and a beautiful place for a wedding. Christine and Graeme got married on top of Snow King Mountain, most easily accessed via chair lift. It was a lovely outdoor ceremony - small and simple - with friends and family gathered around in a grassy meadow filled with pine trees and wildflowers and overlooking the town of Jackson. Afterward, the bride, groom and more adventuresome guests went down on the alpine slide while we older folk took the chair lift back to the base. After several Champagne toasts the newlyweds took off on their bicycles pulling their two little children behind in a child bicycle trailer. Bikes and trailer were adorned with ribbons, flowers, Just Married sign, and tin cans. 

These three perched on a rock to watch the ceremony
Our grandchildren - Fischer (left) and Courtney (right) with cousin Preston in the middle

Our son Chris and granddaughter Carly

Off they go to the reception

The reception, featuring good food, drink, music, and activities for the children was in Swains' lovely backyard where we had a leisurely time talking with family and friends.

Back yard reception - lovely spot

Saturday, July 19, 2014

On the Road to Jackson

tundra wildflowers along Trail Ridge Road
Jackson, Wyoming is the site for the upcoming wedding of our daughter-in-law's sister. Wayne and I drove up from Estes on Wednesday and Thursday, spending a night in Rawlins, WY with Chris and family. The Hrupek and Swain clans have arrived and we'll be heading to the top of the mountain this afternoon for the nuptials. Meanwhile, we're having a wonderfully hectic time doing the Jackson Hole tourist stuff (hiking, gondola ride, swimming, horseback riding, and eating, eating, eating). 

We drove the scenic route on Wednesday over Trail Ridge Road then north through Walden, CO and on into Wyoming. It was a beautiful drive.

Fischer doing flips on bungee apparatus
waiting for a gondola ride to the top of the mountain



Monday, July 14, 2014

July is Streaking By



I've neglected my blog this month - too much going on, I guess. We've had company and when we're here alone I've been working on Centennial Quilts. Our daughter and her family left yesterday after a lovely visit packed with activities and good times including hiking and a Rockies game in Denver, the best of the season. They brought us some home-grown, vine-ripened  Nebraska tomatoes which we turned into a BLAT feast on their last evening here, with Grace's apple pie for dessert. My mouth waters just remembering it.

Bailey, their dog, enjoyed herself too. She is eager to join all activities. While they were packing up their car Sunday morning, she stationed herself in the back seat a half hour before they left so she wouldn't be forgotten.