Can We Stay Forever?

We are spoiled. Just look at this view and convince me otherwise. However, this vista does not come from my new neck of the woods but from a lovely little place called Sun Valley, Idaho.

Most summers my parents take a week and rent a condo in Sun Valley. Most summers me family has already overstayed for the summer fun and we miss this beautiful trip. Not this year! After the Barlow family reunion, my parents, myself, and the kids (poor Jer and that dratted work!) headed up to Idaho to rest, hike, bike, and play.


One of the highlights for my little family was the early morning horseback ride. (Thanks again Mom and Dad!) The night before we left all the kids were excited, Whitney in particular talking about the upcoming ride until she fell asleep mid-sentence. Needless to say, she was first on the horses!



Parker getting a few steering lessons.

I don't think Spencer ever got those stirrups quite short enough. Every time his horse would trot he just held on for dear life, although I think for him that was part of the thrill.

I kept trying to photodocument our adventure as we rode. I snapped this shot of Whitney over my shoulder. At first I almost deleted it from the camera but over time the perspective has grown on me.

As I put this shot up on the blog, Parker looked over my shoulder and questioned my judgement. Maybe it is the hat brim, perhaps the mountains in the distance, or the memory that Whitney was just taking a breath to keep singing at the top of her lungs while we rode, that helped this one make the cut.

After the trail ride we had some time left with the horses. We headed over to the arena and had some fun galloping, trotting, and doing stuff on our own. Although the trail ride was fun, the kids really loved the arena time. I do not have one picture of it because I was too busy seeing how fast I could get galloping across the arena. If I weren't such a polite person and been raised right by my parents, the ranch hands may have had to pry me from the back of that horse. This playtime just reaffirmed for me how much I love horses and the dream of someday having my own is still alive and kicking (should I have said "bucking"? Too cheesy? OK, I'll leave it out).

After dismounting and walking around a little funny for a few minutes, we got ready to head out until Whitney got stuck loving the ranch dog. That Whit would cross a 5-line highway to pet some strange dog. I don't know where she gets this?!?

This picture seems like it is of Whitney but really I got out the camera because this sweet dog came over to my Dad and, without invitation or hesitation, plopped on my Dad's feet. The look on Dad's face was classic but I missed it with the camera. Suffice it to say, my Dad is not such a dog person but he endured it well. Notice the partially clenched fists.

On our way down we stopped to take in a few views. As I took some video and snapshots like this of the scenery, Parker, and Whitney,

I turned around to see this of Spencer.

Unbeknownst to anyone in the car he had crossed the road, climbed about 200 feet up the side of the mountain and then started sliding down on his behind. Good thing this kid seems to have a guardian angel close at all times. We like Spencer immensely and would prefer to keep him alive and unharmed!

Perhaps it is part of some great scheme that each adventure you embark on with your children must have at least one moment of panic from Mom. Just that one skip of the heart. I am developing a theory that enough of those panicky, heart-stopping moments in your life and the body and mind react by mellowing out over time and learning to take just about anything in stride.

Is it Heavenly Father's way of preparing me for teenagers?