Our June Vacation

The kids and I went to Star Valley in June for two weeks.  It was two weeks packed full of  fun!  We got there just in time for my Brother and I to travel to Logan to run the Wasatch Back Relay.  It's a relay race from Logan to Park City Utah.  We had so much fun!  Thanks so much to Mom, Dad, and Shilo for watching my kids!


Two days after we got back from the race my brother Bert and sister in law Shilo went on a 13 mile hike in the Tetons.  We went up Cascade Canyon and it was so beautiful, I felt like I was Heidi in the Alps!  It took us about 6 1/2 hours and Shilo and I were pooped by the time we got back!  It was well worth it though.

I spent a couple of days helping my dad haul firewood at his cabin.  We went on Ranger Rides, the kids chased butterflies, catched bunnies, and got awfully dirty every day!  Spring in the mountains is so much fun.  All around my parents cabin were probably about 5 birds nests, we had fun each day seeing if any more eggs had hatched, how much each baby bird had grown and watching the mom bring food and care for her babies.  I took pictures of one nest and watched it for two weeks.  The last baby hatched just before I left!

One week after the Wasatch Back, my brother and I decided to run the Jackson Hole half marathon.  It was spur of the moment fun.  My brother did it in 1 hour 34 min!  I wanted to break 2 hours, but came in at 2 hours 2 min.  Oh well, pretty good for not preparing I say.  It was a great course, great post race food.  A small race, but great!

I was able to take Sam fishing on the Snake River.  That is pretty much a requirement when going to Star Valley.  He is getting quite good and can do everything himself....now if mom could just relax a little on that big river.  I'm always so nervous about him falling in that every 2 seconds I'm pulling him away from the edge.

One day we met my sister Rachelle's family and Shilo's family and went on a little hike with all kids.  There is a star up on one of the mountains in the valley, where it is tradition for the Seniors in High School to hike up there each year and change the number of the year.  So all the kids wanted to hike up there.  I was pretty impressed with all of them, even my little Andrew made it to the top without being carried.

My mom and I went to Rexburg Idaho one day where my grandparents live and we were able to spend a little time with them.  My kids were so excited because my grandparents live on a cute little farm and they had a couple of batches of kittens.  My kids loved playing with them, and wondered if we could get another cat....to their dismay I said no.

Another day we took the kids to Minnetonka Caves in Idaho.  It's a nice guided tour that lasts 1 1/2 hours.  You have to go up and down 888 steps I think.  Again, Andrew surprised me and did it all himself.  After that we went to Bear Lake since it's not that far from the caves.  Its always so nice to spend the day relaxing and letting the kids get as dirty as they want.

We spent an evening at Cottonwood Lake canoeing and having a hot dog roast.

Then we traveled to Roosevelt Utah where we had a Wheeler Family Reunion.  Jeff was able to meet us there. It was great to have everyone there.  We played at a lake, had a talent show, played games, watched fireworks, and tons of the family participated in the Neola 5K and half marathon.  Alison ran the 5k with a bunch of her cousins and did a great job in 38 minutes.  And thanks to Julie I finished the half marathon in 1 hour 54 minutes.  She told me to stick with her and she would get me under 2 hours.  So we cruised to mile 8, and then Julie got her second wind and left me, but she had us so far ahead that I just had to keep a nice steady pace.  Thanks Julie!  Some of the guys got to go golfing and after the family reunion, Jeff, Greg, Sam and Jesse went fishing.