Monday, March 2, 2009

Better and Worse

We spent the last few days exploring eastern Idaho, and western Montana and Wyoming with ten good friends. It was great! Here's the trip in a nutshell:

What could be better than

  • A four-hour car ride with great friends, laughing and laughing and laughing

What could be worse than
  • Finding out that one friend lost their grandma just that morning
What could be better than
  • Visiting with my brother and his family for a few hours
What could be worse than
  • Watching my niece suffer a complete meltdown because of all the tests she had to take the next day
What could be better than
  • Brad discovering his toothbrush is covered with soap--first practical joke of the trip
What could be worse than
  • Brad not being able to sleep on a noisy air mattress
What could be better than
  • Arriving in West Yellowstone to start an adventure together
What could be worse than
  • Hearing Obama announce a new health care plan just as we are about to leave
What could be better than
  • Seeing elk and bison as we entered the park

What could be worse than
  • Seeing nothing else all day long because it snowed and snowed and snowed all day (8 inches)
What could be better than
  • Learning to drive a snowmobile with heated seats!
What could be worse than
  • Running into a "DO NOT ENTER" sign due to lack of experience driving said sled in the aforementioned snow ($404.76 was the bill)
What could be worse than
  • Getting stuck in the snow, narrowly missing a tree, all because your husband desperately wanted to pass someone in front of him

What could be better than
  • Watching your bishop fall through three feet of snow and face plant, all in an attempt to rescue us
What could be better than
  • Enjoying the beauties of Yellowstone

What could be worse than
  • Being unable to witness the beauties of Yellowstone because of whiteout conditions and howling winds and frozen toes
What could be better than
  • Lunch in a yurt just outside Old Faithful
What could be worse than
  • Resting your helmet in a bathroom sink with an automatic sensor, not realizing it was filling with water
  • Wearing said helmet (with a toilet paper tail) the rest of the miserable trip, water dripping down your neck
What could be better than
  • Finishing 135-mile snowmobile trip through Yellowstone and a warm van for the drive back
What could be worse than
  • More whiteout conditions that prevent driving over 25 mph for a few hours
What could be better than
  • Tod at the wheel of the vehicle, never breaking a sweat as he opened the window to flick frozen particles from the barely functional wiper blades
  • Marva's homemade chili and rolls when we finally got back
  • Convincing friends to branch out in their underwear experiences
What could be worse than
  • Weather report at Grand Targhee that forecasted 6 degree weather, snow flurries and 290 mph winds for the day
What could be better than
  • Wrong weathermen--0 wind, no flurries and 25 degree day
What could be better than
  • Getting off the lift for the first run of the day
What could be worse than
  • Bob grossly overestimating Kristen's and my ski skills and taking us down a blue run for our first run of the day
  • Falling four times on that exasperating run
What could be better than
  • Finding a green run with the best new snow and view ever
What could be better than that
  • Watching Brad flail around and fall as we passed him on the ski lift
What could be better than
  • Hot food and great talk in the lodge
  • Marni finding a hot stone massage at the day spa while we all skied
  • Gorgeous weather and primo skiing
What could be worse than
  • Finding out one of the men in our group had been laid off from his job earlier that week, victim of this horrible economy
What could be better than
  • A fantastic dinner at a local Idaho steakhouse surrounded by friends and family
What could be worse than
  • Realizing someone you thought was your friend (but who is actually in league with Satan)had ordered the most delectable chocolate cake ever--SEVEN layers of joy and four scoops of ice cream to boot--making your willpower disappear as you devour bite after bite after bite after bite (it was SO worth it) . . . .
What could be better than
  • Clearance sales on BYU-I stuff at the bookstore
What could be worse than
  • Walking back to the house and your husbands driving by you, throwing a rubber snake and whistling, then leaving you to walk another 100 yards in the 0 degree weather
What could be better than
  • Finding listings for Rexburg student housing are all online

What could be worse than
  • Knowing your daughter is going to be leaving you
What could be better than
  • Your dad happening to be in eastern Idaho and taking the time "just to give you a hug"
What could be worse than
  • A four-hour car trip back to SLC when you've gotten 5 hours of sleep a night for four nights
What could be better than
  • Four days away from all news and information, living in a joyful bubble
What could be worse than
  • Watching CNN in the airport and realizing that the country continued down the tubes in your absence
What could be better than
  • Coming home to welcome home signs and 8 happy kids, two of whom are already in bed
What could be worse than
  • Realizing that Stake Conference is at 9 am, and that no Sunday clothes or baths are ready for tomorrow
What could be better than
  • Picking beets, turnips, cabbage and a bowlful of peas out of your beautifully sunny AZ backyard after a trip to the snow
What could be worse than
  • Using your A/C in March
What a great trip it was. It made me remember what good friends I have and how important making memories can be. Tami took more pictures, and I'm excited to see what antics her lens captured!

Thanks for a fantastic few days!

Epiphany #46--Vacation time rejuvenates the soul and refocuses you on what's important in life.
Baby's crying. Back to reality.

5 comments:

  1. Sounds like a great trip, except for the frostbite! You came back at just the right time-nothing like 90 degrees in March! Just read your comment, glad you knew the tongue should firmly be placed in the cheek when reading my comment. Jamie

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  2. Jen- What a great blog! Your soooo Cool! Tod and I laughed and laughed reading your comments. We had a blast and we are also looking forward to the next time! Love Ya, Marn

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  3. glad you guys had a great trip. I wish I could et a hug from my dad, your lucky.

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  4. That sounds fabulous. I'm glad you had such a great time.

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  5. Wow, you had an amazing trip...and after reading your post, I feel like I was there!

    Great post, Jen.

    =)

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