Summer so far...

So here is a quick update of the summer thus far. I recently hiked Rendezvous Peak, we celebrated 4th of July, and Jay's Aunt Margy and Uncle Will came to visit. Below are some pictures of my most recent activities.

Me at the top of Rendezvous Peak - 7.5 miles and 4,100 vertical feet. This hike took me 2 hours and 25 minutes. It was incredible and so beautiful!

View from the top!

Last weekend was the 4th of July. This picture is all the girls at sunset before going to see fireworks at Snow King. Megan, Tori, me, Jenny, Katie, and Jennifer

Jenny and I

The girls at 43 North getting ready to watch the amazing fireworks. Katie, Jennifer, me, Tori, and Jenny

Jay and I getting ready to take the Tram up with Margy and Will

Will, Jay, Margy, and I at the top of the Tram

Jay and I at the top of Rendezvous Peak

We hiked around at the top of Rendezvous Bowl and down to Corbet's. This picture of Will and Margy is one of the prettiest pictures with the valley in the background. Top of Rendezvous Peak.

Moose!

A great shot of the Tetons from Dornan's where we enjoyed some margarita's after a super fun, enjoyable, and adventurous day!

Well, that is all for now. More pictures and updates to come soon. I hope everyone is well. Love and miss you all BUNCHES!

P.S. Mom and Dad just booked their trip to come out in a month! They are staying at an amazing place and I absolutely CAN'T wait to see them! YAY :)

You Raise Me Up

I have attempted this post several times now, but I have struggled to find the appropriate and deserving words to describe the loss Jay has recently had. His Mom, Marsha passed away June 5th. I was fortunate enough to have met her once while she was visiting Jay in Jackson. She is one of the sweetest, friendliest, loving, kind, smart women I have ever met. I feel like I learned even more about her after she passed away because each person I met while in town shared many sweet stories and memories of her. She really had a huge heart and was loved by many, many people. She loved her children so much and beamed with pride for them. Jay is who he is because of his Mom and he loved her very much.

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;

You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas;

I am strong, when I am on your shoulders;

You raise me up... To more than I can be.

~Josh Groban

The champagne toast in honor of his Mom, Marsh.

Most of his family. They are a huge, loving family!

Jay's aunt Margy, me, and Jay.

Wedding of the Year

This past weekend I was honored to be part of one of my best friend's from college, Brooke, wedding. The wedding was beautiful and so much fun! I really enjoyed getting to see Brooke and many of my friends from college! I was also able to enjoy some well missed time with my family. Enjoy the pictures :)


Mrs. Blackmon


Meesh, the Bride, and me getting ready before the wedding.



Brooke and I
Meesh, the cutest pregnant woman EVER!

Meesh and I before the wedding

My favorite picture of the new bride and groom :)

Up close and personal

Amber and Jenny at the reception...love these girls!

Meesh and the bride on the dance floor

Just Married :)

I am so blessed! All of my nieces and nephews.

All the ladies with the babes.

G'ma and Reese

Reesers...miss her :(

Mom and I before dinner

Dad and I

I had a grand time at home! I loved getting to spend some time with the family. I am so thankful to be surrounded by such incredible and loving people as my family!!! I am truly BLESSED!!! I am back to the real world...not too bad of a place to have to come home too :) I hope everyone is doing well. Love and miss you bunches XOXO

Road Trip 2009..."I'm just sayin..."

The beginning of our third road trip started after work and after packing when we hit the road around 9:30 PM. We drove until we couldn't see anymore and stopped around 3:30 AM to sleep. We pulled off the road somewhere in the middle of nowhere Nevada and slept in Lucy, my car. This is Jenny and I about to crash.

The drive from Jackson to Lake Tahoe is roughly 12 hours so by getting an early start the day before we were able to get to Tahoe and have a majority of the day to check things out. Below is a picture of me with the beautiful Lake Tahoe in the background. This is when we had just drove over the Mt. Rose pass and saw Lake Tahoe for the first time.

A few facts about Lake Tahoe...

Lake Tahoe up close and personal. I would absolutely love to go back here in the summer. I can only imagine how much fun it would be. We only spent time on the northern rim...but I think I like it the most because it is scattered with these small towns that are super cute.

Gar Woods...a wonderful little restaurant right on the water with a very funny and interesting menu. The restaurant has been here for over 20 years. We made it just in time for their happy hour and set on the deck and looked over the great beauty of the lake.

The restaurant has a pier where you can just dock your boat and go enjoy some good food and beverages but this is their fare warning before you drink and boat...ha!

It was the off season around Tahoe so all of the campgrounds were closed. We found this campground that seemed far enough off the road to where we could just sleep in the car and not get caught...boy were we wrong. As Jenny and I are brushing our teeth and getting ready for sleep, 2 cars with super bright lights come barreling down the road and ask us what the heck two girls are doing there and "what are you smoking?" We tried to explain to the officer that we were heading to San Fran and just pulling off the road for a minute to rest (just a lil white lie) and that we weren't smoking anything. I was brushing my teeth and the officer thought I was smoking something else...ha!

So, after Tahoe we headed to San Fran where we crashed with a friend from Jackson, Taylor. This is Jenny and I on top of Taylor's roof looking over the city. A great spot for sure!

Another shot on top of the roof right before sunset.

Sunset in San Fran and a great shot of the Golden Gate Bridge.

Jenny, Taylor, and I on top of his friends roof watching the sun set.

Another great shot of the sun set.

Nothing would be complete with out an impromptu Wycleff Jean concert...VIP style!

Full House...the 7 sisters...look familiar.

Heading out of town and decided to stop for a couple pictures in front of the Golden Gate Bridge.

Heading north along the coast, it was recommended to visit Point Reyes and the light house. Well needless to say, the dense fog prevented us from seeing the actual light house and the fog created a very creepy setting. In the picture below, you can see the stairs (which were closed) that supposedly led to the white house. We could hear the fog horns and the waves crashing but couldn't see either.

Jenny and I taking in the views...wait...we couldn't see 20 feet in front of us...ha.

A little history and information for you...

A random bus stop photo along the way...

The wine tasting began around 10 AM at Cellar 8. The picture below is just outside of Cellar 8...let the tasting begin :)

Geyser Peak...the 2nd winery.

My favorite, Clos du Bois, was our 3rd and final winery we visited in Sonoma Valley...it was fabulous! I thoroughly enjoyed all of the fun wines we got to taste. I could have spent days doing this...but it was time to move on.
My purchase from Clos du Bois.

The vineyard

After 3 different tastings...it was time for a break and some coffee :)

After heading a little bit further up the coast, we decided to camp at Russian Gulch Campground just off the beach.

Hanging out by the water just before sunset.

So apparently, this is a banana slug...very common in this region and HUGE! It took me awhile to get use to seeing these guys everywhere.

Continuing the drive north. The coast was gorgeous!

Our 2nd campsite. We decided on this one after entering the Red Woods NP. It was a brief hike in and just above the ocean. We were the only ones here...it was great! So peaceful and quiet.

Fern Canyon with our friend Jeff who was passing through the Red Woods as well. Fern Canyon was a really magnificent place. Steep, vertical walls covered in lush ferns.

Our 3rd campsite...right on the beach. If you look closely, you can see our tent. One of my favorite spots ever! A bit windy and chilly but beautiful!

Our friend Jeff actually found this campsite. He played guitar for us...so fun!

Sunset :)

I needed gas, and this was the closest gas station. WOW!

The key for the bathroom was attached to the toilet brush...yuck! Guess they don't have to worry about anyone running of with THAT key!

The "drive thru" tree. There are two other trees to drive through but we missed them. This was quite funny because we were pretty sure it was in someones back yard. But of course, I still had to drive through and get a pic :)

This was a great view point to watch baby and momma whales migrating. We were so lucky to actually get to see them!

This is the beginning of the Red Woods where the trees really started getting bigger! The trees are bigger and more beautiful and magical than I could have ever imagined. These pictures do no justice to the beauty these massive giants hold. Enjoy :)

This is the root system of one of the fallen red wood trees.

Our campsite in the northern region of the Red Woods NP.

After leaving the Red Woods, we headed toward Crater Lake. Still quite cold here but the lake is really beautiful and massive. The lake's only water source is rain and snow...no streams or other water features feed into this lake. It was once a volcano that collapsed and then filled up with water. It is known as one of the cleanest lakes in the U.S...and the biggest and deepest too.

So that is the end of the pictures. I know that was a lot to take in but there were a ton of pictures taken and a ton of great memories experienced that I wanted to share. I hope you enjoyed! This road trip was really fantastic and fun and adventurous! I am so thankful for the opportunity to travel and see all of these great spots. I am also so thankful to have a travel buddie like Jenny who has made each of our road trips (this was the 3rd) so spontaneous and awesome! I hope everyone is well! Love you and miss you bunches :) XOXO

Wonderful Times in the Hole

Here are some recent pictures that I wanted to share. Stay tuned for more updates from my trip to Chicago to see OPRAH!!!

St. Patty's Day at the Brew Pub

And again!

Caddy Happy Hour with Jenny...espresso martini...YUM :)

Having drinks at the Caddy with some GREAT friend :)

Jackson Hole Mountain Festival with Jenn and Jenny! It snowed the entire time and was truly a BLAST!!!

Closing day for Jackson Hole Mountain Resort...dressing up is essential!

Did I see Jane Fonda on the slopes???

My mobile pic in front of Harpo Studios...more pictures to come from this trip :)

That is all for now. I hope all is well with everyone. I love and miss you bunches!!! XOXO

Family in Jackson

First, I enjoyed a week with my parents and then my sisters came for a long weekend. Having my family here is so incredible that I wish they would never leave! This was my parent's third visit and my mom's fourth visit! I was thrilled to have them here again and we had a truly amazing time. We enjoyed a little skiing, snowmobiling, eating, eating, some more eating, and a little spa action too :) My sister's made their first trip out here since I moved to Jackson. This was very special for me to have them here...ALL to myself :) We had a nice and relaxing long weekend of girl time, shopping, eating, drinking and a little spa as well! I am truly blessed to have my family come visit me and to be able to spend some time with them. Let's just say, their timing couldn't have been better. Below are some pictures from both of their visits...ENJOY :)


Dad and I at the Grannery for dinner

Mom and I getting ready to go out to dinner

Mom and Dad at Burke's Chop House

Mom, Dad, and I snowmobiling

It was snowing so much and such a wonderful day!

In the Aspen's

Hand feeding the little deer they rescued

Joe the deer that the people at the Box Y Ranch rescued

Throwing snowballs into the river

Grey's River...so beautiful!


Dad and Mom took a day to drive around...entering Idaho



Coming back to Wyoming

Playing in the snow

A great view from the top of Teton Pass


Beautiful day to explore :)

The Tram

The antler shot with Mom and Dad

Jenny and Mary at the top of the mountain at Corbet's Cabin

Jenny and Mary at the top of Rendezvous Bowl

Tram ride down

Jenny, Me, and Mary outside the Snake River Lodge and Spa where they stayed

Jenny and Mary outside of Dornan's inside the Grand Teton National Park

I don't think there are enough words to describe how wonderful the time I had with my family was. I am so blessed they all took the time to break away from their lives at home to come visit me in Jackson. I really, really, really, loved seeing them and the great times and adventures we shared. I love and miss them more than anyone will ever know. Thanks for such a grand time!!! I love you :) I think that is all for now...hope all is well with everyone!

Our Beloved Dot

Last Thursday evening my family's dog, Dot, passed away. She had not been feeling well for the past couple weeks and then suddenly on the night of March 5th, she became very ill. Mom and Dad took her to the emergency animal hospital and they discovered she had a cancerous tumor the size of a football in her abdomen. The tumor was bleeding out...and Dot was dying. They had to put her down. Dot was 11 years old and had been a part of our family since she was a puppy. She was the second addition to the family after Syd who is 15 years old. Dot was so very sweet, modest, loving, and protective. She let Syd be "top dog" and rule the house. She was the spry, younger dog who we didn't imagine would be the first to go. This is something we didn't see coming and for my Mom and Dad...they have lost a best friend. The dogs are such a part of their lives and getting use to things without Dot around are very hard for them. Dot will be missed greatly by our entire family. We loved her dearly. The video below is something my Mom put together to honor our sweet Dot.

Rescued Koala Bear

My Mom shared this article and picture with me so I thought I would share it as well. It is a precious story amidst all of the tragedy occurring in Australia right now.

Koala Rescued From Australia Wildfires
By ROHAN SULLIVAN, AP

SYDNEY (Feb. 10) - It was a chance encounter in the charred landscape of Australia's deadly wildfires: A koala sips water from a bottle offered by a firefighter. David Tree noticed the koala moving gingerly on scorched paws as his fire patrol passed. Clearly in pain, the animal stopped when it saw Tree.

"It was amazing, he turned around, sat on his bum and sort of looked at me with (a look) like, put me out of my misery," Tree told The Associated Press on Tuesday. "I yelled out for a bottle of water. I unscrewed the bottle, tipped it up on his lips and he just took it naturally.

Firefighter David Trees shares his water with a female koala whose habitat was scorched by raging wildfires in Australia on Monday.

"He kept reaching for the bottle, almost like a baby."

The team called animal welfare officers to pick up the koala Sunday, the day after deadly firestorms swept southern Victoria state.

"I love nature, and I've handled koalas before. They're not the friendliest things, but I wanted to help him," Tree said.

Often mistakenly called koala bears because they resemble a child's teddy bear, the marsupial is actually a rather grumpy creature with a loud growl and sharp claws. It rarely comes down from the trees and doesn't like walking.

Koalas are especially vulnerable to wildfires because they move slowly on the ground.

The wildfires cut through parks and forests and sent countless wombats and other native species fleeing. One resident reported seeing kangaroos bouncing down the road with flames at their backs.

5-5-5

So I was tagged by my friend Michele in this epidemic in the blogger world called a "meme". Once tagged, you are supposed to explain the 5th picture in your 5th folder in your pictures and then tag 5 people to do the same. It is pretty fun to see every ones pictures. See below for my 5th picture in my 5th folder. Enjoy :)

So this picture is of my niece Ella at the 2007 Buddy Walk wearing the shirt I designed for Travis' team :) The Buddy Walk is hosted by the Down Syndrome Association of Atlanta and helps raise money and awareness. This was the 6th consecutive year our family has attended and they were there again this past year. I love this picture this day :)

So, now I tag Jenny, Jamie, Tori, and Gilly. I think these are the only people left of my blogger buddies who haven't been tagged. Or if they have been tagged, they haven't posted. So here ya go...your turn!

I hope everyone is happy and well! Love and miss you bunches and bunches.

Bluebird Day

This past Monday, Jay, his friend Andy (visiting from Chicago), and I went skiing. It was another Bluebird Day in Jackson and a great opportunity to take the Tram up for stunning views of the valley. See below for a couple pictures :)

Jay and I at the top of the Tram with a beautiful view of the valley below. These pictures were taken with my phone so they are not stellar but they give a good idea of the amazing scenery.

Andy and Jay and the top of the Tram with a nice view of the Grand Teton in the back ground.

The funny part of the story is this picture. I took this with my phone and sent the picture to my Mom with the text: "Skiing another Bluebird Day...thinking about you and miss you bunches. Love, Rachael" Well, my Mom thought I was literally talking about a Blue Bird and she was looking so hard in the picture for an actual Blue Bird. The definition of a Bluebird Day is: A beautiful sunny day after an overnight snowfall. It's a perfect skiing day with a clear blue sky, bright sun, and fresh snow. So she had to call me to figure out what the heck I was talking about. Needless to say, she knows the definition now :) And then on top of that, she was worried that I was by myself (hence my shadow on the snow) and she didn't like that. But I was only on an access lift (which I took from right outside my front door) to meet Jay and Andy. This conversation really made me smile so I thought I would share it with you. I thought it was pretty funny and really cute :)

I hope all is well with everyone! LOVE and MISS you BUNCHES!