Star Valley, WY

As I have mentioned before, I felt really strongly that I needed to visit my Grandmother.  This trip to Wyoming was the entire reason for my westward journey alone with three small children.  Right before I was scheduled to leave, my grandma had a minor stroke and they found that she needed a pacemaker.  While I was en route, she had surgery for her pacemaker.  She had a few complications (they put a hole in her lung resulting in a collapsed lung, inserted a faulty chest tube, and re-inserted a good chest tube) and was still in the hospital when I was scheduled to arrive at her home.  The original plan was to go straight from Idaho Falls to Star Valley.  It turned out better for everyone for me to head home to Utah, recover and allow my grandma time to do the same and then go up the following weekend.

My biggest concern, considering all that my grandma had been through, was overwhelming her with my little family.  My dad and my Uncle Roice worked it out so that we would stay at my Uncle's home and my Uncle would stay with my grandma.  This ended up saving the entire trip.  The kids loved staying at Uncle Roice's house.  He had a "grand kid toy" corner that was filled with all sorts of treasures.  My Grandma was not super excited to have my kids around, or even me it seemed (a little discouraging).  I just kept reminding myself that I knew I was supposed to visit her and tried to make the most of the trip plus, I love the lady regardless.   My kids had a blast. 

We arrived in Star Valley Friday evening so pretty much had one jammed packed Saturday as you will see by the following pictures.  Reagan declared it the "best day ever".  Ainsley agreed.

Grandpa reading the church news in an early soak.

Coasting!  Only available a few weeks of the year and we hit the perfect time.  So fun!

The kids could slide down the hill on their ski pants.  Coasting is pretty much snow with a hard crust on top.  Essentially you can walk on it without falling through and it makes for great tubing!

Linking the tubes.  I had to take the picture from the car because Will wasn't having ANY of it.

The big bad bull.  My uncle's.  In solitary confinement for killing two horses.  He was HUGE.

Waiting at the chicken coop door

This was the face I saw the entire trip.  "Hold me!"

Ducks

Reagan and Ainsley with Uncle Roice at the chicken coop

Grandpa and Will

Gathering eggs with Uncle Roice.  The girls weren't scared at all.  Ainsley dropped an egg and it rolled under the rooster and she just grabbed it out from under him with no fear.  It was awesome.  I was terrified of the chicken coop as a child.

Cute little boy

Waiting their tractor "ride"

Having fun with Grandpa

Uncle Roice having fun too

Will joins in because it looked like fun but he is unsure... so am I

Uncle Roice takes it to a new level and I scream resulting in Will crying and Ainsley's priceless face.  I laugh every time I see this picture.

For my own memory.  My Uncle Roice's home.  I loved coming here as a kid.

Another view of Uncle Roice's house. 

The kids at the milking barn with Zachary. 

Bottle feeding the new calves

Watching the brand new calf learn how to suck from a bottle. 

A swim in the hot tub with Grandpa

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It was also my Grandma's birthday so their was cake at one point also.  I didn't get any pictures of my Grandma for reasons mentioned above.  It was good to be in her home and smell the smells and eat the bread and visit.  My Uncle Donlee and Aunt Deanne and Cousin Kdee and Buddy and their families were also there.  It was great to see everyone.  Best of all, it was great to see my Uncle Roice.  He was so great to my children.  So GREAT.  It reminded me of when I was a kid.  I just loved him.