Come On Over to Cody!

My sister and her husband came with their kids for a 9-day Cody vacation. So we gave them one! :)

Our friends the Renos took us 4-wheelin' up Rattlesnake Mt., about 15 mins. NW of Cody.

Me and Brandon. It was a perfect day to be on top of the world.

I would go anywhere with this girl. Time with Shelli is never long enough.

Shell and I in the backseat of the Razor.

One of the many breathtaking views. Carter Mts.

The men up front, and Todd and Claire blazing the trail ahead of us on the 4-wheeler.

Facing south.

Umm, power stance?

The Buffalo Bill Reservoir is just to the left. I liked this tree.

Little hidey-hole down a steep drop.

Someone's hunting cabin. Shelli DID NOT use the outhouse in back.

Corrals at the hunting cabin. Facing east. Heart Mtn behind us, which we climbed later that week. Cody is just off to the right.

Our Heart Mtn. hike crew. Trevor, Chelsea, Brandon, Rachel, Braeden, Tanner, and Jacob. I'm taking the picture.

We met a friend of ours on the way. Her son was up farther and he joined us for the rest of the hike up.

Resting.

This sign is posted at the treeline, about 30 mins. into the hike.

We like shade.

Hey, Trev, which way is the top?

See that big rock behind me? That's the top.

Viewpoint east, looking towards Cody.

North face trail.

Not the top, but so close.

Here we are! The boys are signing the log book kept at the top in a weatherproof box. People from all over the world have signed the books as proof they made it.

Ahhh, heading back down.

At the end of the week, we attended the Cody Nite Rodeo. It was a first for all of us, and we dressed for the occasion.

Well some of us did. These boys don't need anything extra, though, do they?

Neither do these ladies, but it sure looks fine, don't it?

An intense thunder shower came at us over Cedar Mtn.

Shelli and her girls. Work that wind!

Yeehaaw. Hang on.

These are just a few highlights of our week! It was so fun to have a vacation in our own backyard. We really are blessed to live in such a ruggedly beautiful place, with so much history and tradition. More pictures to come!

P.E., Cody Style!

Sleeping Giant was a defunct, small ski resort, closed before we moved to this area (click SG vintage photo for link). Some great people swooped in and rebuilt, built up, and now it is a super, family oriented ski resort just minutes from our town and the west gate of Yellowstone. So, for Jacob's P.E. unit this semester, they are downhill skiing.
Can you say, "AWESOME?"
It was his first time, and my friend called me up and said, "Let's go surprise the boys!" So, we did.
A beautiful day up Northfork.

Evening At Trapper Creek Lodge

My sister-in-law loves her job, and it shows. Erica is a lively waitress at the Trapper Creek Lodge & Supper Club in Shell, Wyoming. For my Father-in-law's 65th birthday (Happy Birthday, Dad) we made the drive to the foot of the Big Horn Mountains (and one of the lovelier areas of this part of the state) to make our reservation and to meet Chef Robb Howe. Erica has been working for Robb for several years, beginning at Robb's restaurant, the Wagon Wheel, which sadly burned down a few years ago. Robb now cooks at Trapper Creek, and I was so happy to see (and taste)  that his recipes made the move with him. So much so, that I only took a picture of the appetizers, and forgot the camera for the rest of the meal. As it probably should be. I also had my camera on action setting from Jacob's game, so the pics are a little blurry. Maybe we should have moved around more.

We were so full. We shared these mouth-watering Sirloin Tips on Toast with Horseradish Cream, and herbed Boursin cream cheese on "Crackers", toasted thin slices of garlic baguette, practically soaked in butter. YUM. Our salads were all topped with Robb's famous Roasted Red Pepper Ranch. He roasts and purees all those peppers by himself. The dressing is mellow and smoky and zingy. Then our orders came. I had the pork tenderloin pasta with garlic cream sauce and mushrooms... heaven. The popular choice was chicken fried steak, but Mom had the citrus grilled chicken pasta, Dad had the prime rib (1 1/2" thick) and Erica had the sun-dried tomato chicken. Somewhere along the lines, we were getting pretty silly, as is the Jensen family tradition, and Doug mentioned "Dust in the Wind" and John Denver... which struck me as a little off, and I laughed... wait, John Denver doesn't sing Dust in the Wind... who was it? The Eagles or somebody... Brandon said (of course he knew... he's a walking jukebox... or itunes... or whatever) it was Kansas. Kansas, of course. And I couldn't stop giggling because I was picturing John Denver playing his guitar on the side of a mountain singing the forlorn "All we are is dust in the wind..." with a bowl of Grapenuts, surrounded by Muppets. Okay, I'm giggling again. But back to the meal... We topped it off with a cool mug (literally) of whipped-cream-topped chocolate mousse. A few of us had the Kahlua Cheesecake. Brandon's dad is also a Bishop, and after he ordered the cheesecake, announced. "Wait a minute... isn't that rum?" then proceeded to demolish his dessert faster than any of us. It was his birthday after all, and it wasn't really rum. Right? Becca gave up half-way through hers, and Josh graciously finished it for her. Doug and Erica were smart and shared. Brandon and I savored the mousse, barely finishing our mugs, and Mom sent hers around for any interested crazy people with absolutely no more room for dessert.
We thanked Chef Robb, and he wondered why we didn't order the seared scallops, which are a favorite of mine. I didn't order them because capers are not a favorite of mine. I didn't tell him that.
It was a wonderful meal in a beautiful setting, with great, happy people who can make me laugh really hard... the kind you feel in your stomach muscles.
On the way home, Brandon plugged his itouch into the stereo and pulled up... you guessed it... Dust in the Wind, by Kansas.
Chelsea wants to go to Trapper Creek for her birthday next month. Fine by me. Maybe I'll try the scallops.