Whitewater rafting down the Payette River

Last Saturday, we decided to do one last hurrah out here in Idaho. So, Anthony, Jed and I went whitewater rafting down the Payette river. Well, it hasn't rained a day out here since June.....until we decide to go rafting, of course! Ugh! So it was only 77 and raining! (Yes, anything 80 degrees and below is cold to me now.) Luckily, the rafting company had full body wet suits for us. So we all got suited up and down the river we went.





Jed and Anthony were the two in the front. Jed is on the left, looking at the picture. I was in the second row, directly behind Jed. There were 6 total in our raft, including the guide. However, the kid directly behind me was 14 and scared to death! Before we got in the raft he was shaking with terror!! His Mom made him go and she was also in the raft. Unfortunately, the kid sat behind me and was completely worthless! The only thing he did was hunker down in the raft and hold his paddle out to whack me in the knuckles everytime I was trying to paddle! Argh!







We got to go over quite a few class IV rapids (V is the highest). It was SO much fun!







Jed and Anthony were in the front and got most of the water, but I was by no means dry! We couldn't take cameras on the raft (obviously) but there were people on the sides of the river taking pictures to buy later, which is where we got these. I just wish someone got a picture when we stopped and had the option to jump off the cliff. Jed was shocked I actually did it. :) I was (sort of) prepared for the long drop before I hit the water....I wasn't prepared for the 55 degree water I dropped into!!! It was like instant ice cube!!! Hahaha!



It was wet, it was cold, but it was sooooooooo much fun! I want to go again!

One last look at Stanley

Visiting Stanley with my family was definitely bitter-sweet. I loved being able to take them to one of my favorite places, but I also knew it would be one of my last visits there, as well.





Izzy was saving her energy for when we got there.



Redfish lake and the Sawtooth Mts.



The water was crisp, but not bad at all



Izzy LOVED the water



However, she didn't love the sun. I guess I wouldn't either with a black fur coat. Glad I could provide her with some shade. Haha!



Redfish lake is, so far, my favorite lake on earth



Not quite paradise....but really close!



Daddy and Mommy taking it all in



Izzy taking it all in....or more like want to get in! :)







Daddy, Lishi, and Eli




These little boys were so cute. They were trying like crazy to get their little raft out there, but the waves were too much and they were pretty much at a stand still. (They were like 10 feet from shore. Watching them made me think about Amity Lake:))



Dad and Izzy Marie bonding



















On our way back to the car, heading for Stanley lake.



Pretty snowball-like flowers



Pretty pink flowers



Stanley Lake



Boys being boys



"Mom and Dad, can we just stay here forever?"



I certainly wouldn't mind living here!



Whole family....minus one



There! Whole family and the Sawtooths at Stanley lake.















Izz was helping Jesse navigate back to the house



MUAH!



*Sigh* How I'm going to miss my Sawtooth Mountains!



This is my favorite barn just outside of Sun Valley.



I hope we will be able to visit Stanley again! I'll just have to go through my pictures when I get 'mountain sick'! :)

Roadkill

About a week ago, Jed and I were on our way home from dinner in Twin Falls. We were going by one of the ramps to get on the highway, when I noticed something large and dead in the middle of the ramp. It didn't look like anything I had ever seen before. Turns out, I hadn't ever seen anything like it before. It was a BADGER! I was quite excited and wished I had had my camera with me. So, I took it with me the next day to church and luck had it that he was still there! Jed was a little less than thrilled about pulling over so that I could photograph roadkill, but I figured I would never see another roadkill badger! :)




I had no idea how large Badgers were! It's kinda hard to tell in the picture, but he was quite a big guy!



He looks pretty ornery, but then again....he did just get hit by a car.

Yellowstone-a few favorites

As I previously mentioned, I took roughly around 900 photos while we were on vacation, so it was hard to choose just a few to put on here! So, here are just a couple of my favorites!







Overlooking Jackson Hole, Wyoming







There was a little mouse who came out to see us!



The boys and the Grand Tetons



A herd of elk beneath the Grand Tetons



Jesse and myself



Eli and Lishi







These aren't pikas but I forgot their name...cute anyway.



Jesse, Dad and me in front of Moose Falls



Old Faithful never gets old



LOVE the hot springs



















Eli







Soooooooo pretty



Elk



Mule deer



Herd of Buffalo



Pelicans



Big boy











Mammoth Hot Springs



A tree branch had been covered by the hot springs junk (that's the technical name, too!) haha



Mammoth Hot Springs







Mommy and Daddy at Mammoth hot springs











So weird



A Pronghorn


















First Grizzly bear siting...good thing my camera zooms 24x! :)







Grand Canyon















Some man who barely spoke english took this


















Buffalo







I don't remember the name of these mountains



2nd grizzly siting....it was much closer and we found it on our way home to the cabin



He was digging for something...probably grubs, yum!















strange plant







A magpie perched on elk antlers









We had such a great time (at least I did.... :)) and I never wanted to leave. Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks are by far, one of my favorite places on earth. I am going to miss living this close to them! But hopefully we will be back for more visits!