Hales Family Reunion - Jackson Wyoming

We went to Jackson Wyoming for a few days for a Hales Family Reunion.  

On the way, we passed through beautiful Swan Valley.  It is tradition in David's family to stop in Swan Valley for square ice cream cones.  So of course we had to stop.  And it was delicious!

They really are square.  They use a special square scooper.  

The first night that we arrived in Jackson we went to dinner all together at Bar J's Chuckwagon.  We had some time before dinner, so we walked around the grounds at Bar J.

 Then we got our seats and waited for the dinner and show to begin.  We had fun visiting and playing cards.

 Dinner was amazing!  Very excellent food.  Then after we ate, the singing began.  These guys were super talented performers--excellent music, good stories and lots of laughs.  It was a great night.

 The next day we hiked around Jenny Lake.  It was beautiful!

Cousins!

And other than some of the kids getting far ahead and some of the adults panicking that they were lost, we had a good time.

My sister Julie and I

Sarah and Danielle

 It was a pretty amazing view from the top!

 We got to watch this beautiful elk for quite a while.

Yeah, I pretty much couldn't stop taking pictures.  This was one of the most beautiful places I have ever been.

After the hike and a picnic lunch, we drove a little ways up to Jackson Lake.

Wow!  It was so beautiful!  The Tetons are spectacular!

We borrowed David's brother's boat and played on the lake.  However, due to some mechanical problems, we couldn't tube or ski.  But we had some fun scenic drives around the lake.

It was a lovely afternoon!

 We got back to Jackson just in time for the famous shoot-out

 and a stop in front of Jackson's signature archway.

 We also spent some time doing hanging out in the pool,

and catching glimpses of the hot air balloons each morning.  

One afternoon most of the big kids and grown-ups went whitewater rafting.  William was too little to go, so he and I, along with Mark, Andrea, Zachary and Emma, took the scenic raft tour down the Snake River.  We had a great time, but it was a bit long for the little kids.  I made my family promise to go back in a few years when William is big enough so we can experience the whitewater rafting too.  They all had an amazing time.  

The last night there we went to the rodeo.  Not as good as the Ellensburg rodeo, but a fun thing for us to do all together.  

Yay for family!  I love you all!