The Wild, Wild West

We just came back from a really fun family trip to Moose, Wyoming.  We stayed at the Gros Ventre River Ranch, and enjoyed three gourmet home-cooked meals a day, fishing, horseback riding, outdoor cook-outs, fellowship with family and with new-found friends, and a fun, humidity-free-very-chilly-weather week!

See pictures below  (Warning, LOTS of pictures, in no particular order)   :)

 View from our cabin...Good Morning Teton Mountain Range!

 Uncle Jason really liked Jackson's cowboy hat

 Check out those bison

 Prairie Dog

 Loved our cabin

 Jackson's first time to touch a horse

 "Snuggling with the horse"

 Playing "peek a boo" with the wrangler

 Elk horns in Jackson Hole, Wyoming

Uncle Jason and Jackson toasting their drinks

Below, state flag of Wyoming

Pictures at Slide Lake

 July 4th
Sadly, no fireworks on the 4th due to the risk of starting wildfires, but we had a fun cook-out at the Ranch with 150+ locals from the surrounding areas

 Sunset over the Tetons

 Old Faithful

 The Grand Canyon of Yellowstone National Park

 Yep, that's snow "stuck" to the side of the canyon

 This bison was literally right outside my car window.  If I stuck my arm out, I could have touched him. Craziness

 Mama Moose outside our cabin (apparently baby moose had wandered into the horse corral, and the wranglers set her free so she could go find her mama)

Below: morning horseback ride, and eating breakfast by the river

 Outside Jackson Hole Lodge, with the Tetons behind us

 Hiking around part of Jackson Lake in Grand Teton National Park

 Aunt Margaret tampered with wildlife to entertain Jackson...sssshhh, don't tell

Heron Pond, in Teton National Park

First Popsicle

In trying to beat the heat, Jackson and I ventured over to Steel City Pops yesterday.  Everyone in Birmingham has been raving about these delicious, healthy popsicles.  And let me tell you, it really was delicious, and the place was packed!  My friend Caitlin recommended the Cucumber Lime, reassuring me it tastes like a margharita (which sounded oh-so-good to a pregnant woman on a hot day).

 First bite!

This picture doesn't do justice to the fact that Jackson ate half of this popsicle, and when he dropped a teeny piece on the floor, he had picked it up and shoved it in his mouth before I could stop him.  This boy isn't going to let that Cucumber Lime go to waste!

My First Ever iPhone Dump

I had a fear, a legitimate fear, of what would happen when I plugged my USB cord into my iPhone.  But with some encouragement from my friend Lacey, I did it, and easily, smoothly, and successfully transferred my beloved pictures onto my beloved Picasa storage.  Phew.  Fear conquered.  (Can you tell technology and Emily are not exactly compatible?)

So, I am going to copy every other soul in blogging world and do an iPhone dump.  Sort of a year in review of sweet Jackson's life.  Crazy how time flies. (Well, not really a year in review, since I've only had my iPhone since Christmas 2011.  But you get the idea.)

 Maybe a month old here?

 2 week pediatrician check up. So concerned. Taking in life.

 Touchdown!  With Uncle Robert.  New Year's Eve 2011.

 Celebrating Shelby's engagement New Year's Eve night. So fun we got to be there, and so fun that she's getting married in NYC in September!

Busybody.  Just realized he can help Momma "organize" the pantry.

 Checking out his friend Ford. They are fast friends. (And people say they look alike all the time...maybe it's the bald heads?)

 Fun in Memphis. December 2011.

 Happy 1st Birthday!  We love you Jackson!

 Chews.On.Everything.

Loves to swing at the Tot Lot.

 Busybody.

 Loves to eat

 Making a joyful noise!

 Cool dude in his car

 Date night with Mommy, GiGi, Pops, and Aunt Margaret at Chez FonFon

 Happy child. Love that smile.

 First time in Publix big boy cart. Loved it

 "This is what happens when you leave me with grandparents!"

 First Easter egg hunt 2012

 First encounter with the Easter bunny

 Second encounter with the (creepy?) Easter bunny

 Welcome to the Jungle

 Checking out my new car seat

 Stud in the H2 hummer

 Stud. 'Nough said

 Gearing up for our trip out West

Drew Brees' child...I mean, 1st time in the library sitting at the big boy computer

 And he loved it

 Daddy surprised us for a quick visit at the McWane Science Center. I love surprises like that.

 Our day today. Yes, Jackson thought Tucker needed floating, soggy dog food.  I lazily left it, and Tucker ate it (and oddly enough loved it). Sad.

 "Look Mom, it's Ford!  BABY!"

Snuggling (aka hugging) Ford, while Ford winks, his newest trick.

 Rare family picture

 Big Brother! (This was taken right after he fell and busted his lip and tongue, hence the unhappy face)

 Storm damage on our street from one month ago.

 Fun at the playground. "Mom, help me get down!"

 Tired boy, watching the DVD in my car. (I know, I know, I said I'd never do it, but I did)

 We love Daddy  :)