Fox Fam Vacay 2024 Yellowstone

 

This picture was on the very first post I ever did on this blog back in 2008.  Of course this moment had to be recreated!!

Pretty good, eh?

These pictures posted on here the opposite order I wanted.  So I guess we'll start with the end of the Yellowstone leg of the trip first.  We stayed in this really janky motel that had five queen sized beds all in the same room.  Strange.  But, somehow it worked and was quite fun.  We did have one other room separate from the rest of us.  We let Elinor and Clark and Daniel have that room.  The family introverts need their time and space without the rest of us.  I respect that.

Daniel took his first steps in this janky hotel room:)

The hot springs in the river.

George tried to avoid my camera for much of the trip, but I got him.

These two were tight buddies on the trip-- well, actually they are tight in regular life and always have been.  Greta is right there by his side and Clark is so kind and patient with her as she chatters away about anything and everything.  He also has detailed, thoughtful answers to all her questions.  They melt my heart.

Peter celebrated his 10th birthday in Yellowstone and we had lunch at the lodge by the lake.  We made a little cake of Andes Mints

"Dragon's Mouth Spring" near the mud volcano

In some of these pictures you will notice Faith is on crutches.  It's a long story of how that came to be the case.  I will go into detail in later posts about an earlier summer activity.  Ooh, so mysterious!

We make a pretty good team. I'm so glad Abe is good at planning trips for us.  I like to think I could manage it if needed.  But let's be real... I wouldn't manage it as well as he does.

Look who's together again.

Hello Mr. Double Digits!

Awww, look how cute and happy we look!  I shall now share with you a secret.  This particular moment was tense.  Abe really wanted this picture at "The Grand Canyon".  Elinor was feeling overwhelmed and didn't want to get out of the car, much less pose for a picture.  It was crowed and we had to wait our turn for the picturesque spot.  Some were annoyed because others were annoyed.  You get this picture.  It's life.  But let me say that one of favorite things about looking back on moments of "life", is that everyone kept trying to get along.  No one threw up their hands and said, "Screw this!  I'm outta here!"  Everyone just sort of kept on trying to be pleasant (or at least not unpleasant).  And I think that is impressive.

He's sixteen, so, you know.  We get a lot of these looks. 

And still a lot of this.  He's pretty great.

Another dynamic duo of the trip-- Grandpa and Daniel.

Betsy, aren't all these pictures a little repetitive?  Same people, same beautiful scenery?  Yeah, what of it?  And no, it is different beautiful scenery!

Sometimes I think George is just a little too cool for the rest of us.

Do you see the look on Faith's face?  This was near the end of the boardwalk trail at Norris Geyser.  We told her she didn't have to hike it with us.  Someone even volunteered to wait it out with her.   But you know Faith-- of course she was coming with us.  Poor girl rubbed her armpits raw.

Sometimes I chuckle to myself when I recall the look of udder disgust when we informed 17 year-old Clark that we were expecting our last baby.  Even when Greta was a baby and total and severe hater and terrified of all men, she always adored Clark.

Sleepy time

Another look at the janky room

Faith at Old Faithful.  

Greta making use of her souvenir binoculars

It had been about seven years since we had  last visited Old Faithful, and we had a good chuckle at how badly behaved several family were on our last visit. It's hard to say which threesome has/had the most potential for ill-mannered behavior in public--- Faith, Cannon, and George--- or Clark, Bethany, and Elinor.  I'm going to have to give that one to Faith, Cannon, and George.  Although, because I'm a little more experienced now, I'm not as horrified as I used to be.

And THIS moment.  Near the end of a longish hike and Faith was hurting on her crutches.  Clark to the rescue.

She's a good mamma.

Bright light! Bright light!

The cute little newlyweds

Just breathtaking

Fox Family Summer Vacay 2024 Rafting the Snake River

The second week of August was our Fox family trip to Yellowstone and Spokane, Washington.  

Picture it-- all twelve of us in a 15 passenger van on the open road for many hours with good tunes, lots of snacks, and minimal tears (mostly from Daniel).  Really good times, but I will say, I had forgotten that traveling with baby is more challenging than older kids.  Shout out to all you young moms-- I see you!

Fortunately, there were lots of big people happy to help out.  

For the record,  I will just be sharing a fraction of the pictures taken on this trip, and yet, it will be excessive.  It was well documented.

The first night we stayed in a delightful cabin in Island Park.  Highly recommend.

Elinor and Daniel joined us shortly after this pic was taken.  We played a game of going around naming animals that started with "S".  There are a lot:)

Getting ready to load into the van to take us to the start of the rafting trip.

We had a large 10 person raft and a two person kayak.  Bethany and Ben started in the kayak and when they promptly ran into the pier and overturned, I cackled for about twenty minutes.  I laugh even now just thinking about it.

My, what a fetching headdress you have, Cannon.

We had some sun, but by the end it was rather drizzly.

Nice doo-rag, George

The double whammy--The stink-eye and the side-eye at the same time.

Sometimes the river was deep (ish).  But sometimes we literally had to get out and push it.

What a different life these younger kids have from the older kids.  Its all really good-- just really different.

Bethany spent much of the trip trying to make friends with Daniel.

Ben was the first to brave the rope swing into the very cold water.

Then Faith

Then Bethany

Then Cannon

Next to Elinor, Grandpa is Daniel's favorite person.  Is anyone surprised to hear this?  I didn't think so.

Do you see the baby moose?

 

Big Sigh...

 It is the 10th of October.  Glorious, glorious, glorious October.  How do I love thee?  Let me count the ways...  Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?  Thou art more temperate.

Summer was WILD!  In a good way.  Such fun, such adventure.  And now we are settled into the beautiful routine of fall.  I have not been so diligent in keeping this blog updated with the happenings of life.  Sometimes if I disappear for a little while, there is a cause for concern.  I might be drowning in life and don't really want to talk about it.   Thankfully, at least for the time being, that is not the case.  There are just so many good things happening or things that I want to be doing, I haven't taken the time.  

Here's what I've been up-- a snapshot of my time and brain space, if you will.  

1.. PLAYING PIANO.  This is one of my chief joys in life.  I've always wanted to be a better pianist and it has been a source of shame and frustration to me that I am not better than I am.  

Yikes, Betsy!  That seems a harsh thing to say to yourself.  

Why yes, it is harsh and not very healthy, if I do say so.

Let me explain.  In the MANY piano students I have taught in the last 16 years, I know that learning to play the piano comes much more easily to some than others.  Everyone can learn and reap benefits, but the fact is, it IS, in fact, easier for some.  And I am not one of those.  I have to practice and I always have had to practice to teach my fingers what to do.  I don't have great muscle memory in my fingers, so I have to train them to do what I want them to do.  That is not the case for some.   I don't memorize easily.  It's frustrating to work so hard and still sometimes not see the results I want.

For a long time I felt some shame and embarrassment that I wasn't better.  Considering how long I've played,  I should be better. I should have a better understanding of music theory than I did.  I didn't want people to realize that I really wasn't as good a pianist as they thought I was.  When Bethany and then Cannon really got into singing, I desperately wanted to be able to accompany them singing our favorite musicals.  But most of the music was too challenging for me to play well enough for them to sing to.  

So, in my embarrassment and frustration, I said to myself, "Betsy--there is no reason you can't get better and become the pianist you want to be.  You tell children all day long that if they want to get better at piano, they have to practice.  So, freaking, just start practicing!"

And so I did.  I started practicing more.  I started studying music theory more.  Most days I practice for at least an hour.  And I love it.  And it still takes more work on my part than it would for many others, but that's my reality.  And guess what?  I'm getting better!  A lot better!  I'm almost feeling qualified to teach others:)

2. TEACHING PIANO- We are in "recital season" when my students are preparing pieces for both the Halloween and Christmas recitals.  Finding the right pieces for the right students is time consuming and I have been spending quite a bit of time organizing my music collection in a way that will make assigning pieces for future recitals much easier.  A little over a year ago, I added monthly group theory lessons to the mix and getting to interact with the kids in a different setting has been quite enjoyable and invigorating.  Ooh-- good word, "invigorating".  So exciting times there.

 3.  GENERAL CONFERENCE and THE BOOK OF MORMON and PROPHETS and TEMPLES  Seriously!  Am I right?  I love the Good News, the Glad Tidings, The Plan of Happiness, the Nourishing Word of God.  In the last few years it has come alive for me and it brings me so much joy and peace.  Scriptures and time in the temple have become something I GET to do, rather than something I'm "supposed" to be doing.   It really is good news-- who knew?

4.  THE THEATER and CONCERTS-- I've been rather spoiled as of late in getting to go see so many plays-- and going to plays is my favorite way to spend an evening.  Here are a few of the shows I've seen  (or am looking forward to seeing) lately: --Sweeny Todd at the Draper Historic theater with Abe and Ben and Bethany, Funny Girl at the Eccles with Abe, Jersey Boys at Pioneer Theater Company with Andrea, Bright Star at Scera with Bethany, The Magician's Elephant at Hale with Bethany (my Christmas present), Newsies in Bluffdale starring my own dear offspring, Arsenic and Old Lace with Jeff and Alice Allred at Hale Center Orem, Mrs. Doubtfire at Eccles with Andrea and James, Bandstand by Do Good Theater with Elinor and Hunter and Ben and Bethany,  Anastasia at Bluffdale with the family (Cannon and George are doing ballet in it) REO Speedwagon and TRAIN at Usana with Abe, Imagine Dragons at Usana with Abe.  I'M SO SPOILED!  

5.  ORGANIZING TO MY LITTLE HEARTS CONTENT-- I know I'm not the only one who delights.. nay, THRILLS... at the very idea of bringing a wee baby bit of order to otherwise chaotic scene.  I've organized the kitchen pantry, the linen closet, the garage (that was a doozy), the costume collection, my piano music.  Thinking of ways to better organize and store stuff, and ways to use our limited space more efficiently brings me so much joy!  Now, is it possible that this desire is really just my attempts to control the natural uncertainty and disorder of life?  Of course it is!  But I see no problem with that.  I can think of worse ways to deal with my lack of of control.  

6. DIET COKE WITH A COUPLE SHOTS OF VANILLA-- Speaking of worse things I could do, diet coke with a shot of vanilla is not one of those "worse things".  I drank a big Diet Coke from Swig on the day of Bethany's wedding.  Something switched in my brain and I've had one pretty much every day since April 4th.  I take myself on a little outing to the local Maverick and then sip on my little pick-me-up throughout the afternoon.  Ahhh, so refreshing.  Judge me if you will.  I am aware it is not the healthiest choice I could make, but as I said,  I can think of a lot worse pick-me-ups I could imbibe.

7.  BYU FOOTBALL-- its a great season, 7-0 as of last night.  Cannon is obsessed  with college football and it's been great fun to cheer alongside him and Abe.  

I started this post on October 10th and and finishing it on October 19th, but no matter:)