IDAHO SAFARI

December. Lonely Idaho highway. Raging blizzard. 

One unforgettable sight.

We are on our way to Sun Valley when we notice a small herd of antelope grazing on one side of the road. With no cars coming in either direction, we skid the truck to a stop to enjoy them.

{This wasn't the unforgettable sight. I haven't gotten to that part yet.}

As we sit there, we seem to gradually take in the fact that this is a lot more than a happy, little gathering of antelope. They are scattered, camouflaged by whirling snow, as far as the eye can see!

We do a lot of ooohing and ahhing and pointing...{but I still haven't reached the truly unforgettable part. Just hold on to your hats a second; I'll get there!}

After a few minutes, Andrew, glancing at the rear view mirror, announces that a semi truck is coming and we had better move on. Turning in my seat to locate the semi heading in our direction, something else catches my eye instead, and all I can do is gasp.

{This is the really incredible part, by the way. In case you were wonderin'.}

Over the white plains, on the other side of the road, swarm more antelope, thicker and more numerous than I ever would have expected to see in real life. Running full speed ahead, they snake behind us and course across the highway in a solid, steady stream. Think Discovery Channel. Planet Earth. African Serengeti. PBS special.

I'm talking hundreds and hundreds and hundreds!

And hundreds.

{I looked it up, and it is not uncommon for the wintering herds in this area to reach 1,000 strong.}

Snow-packed roads make it near impossible for the semi truck to stop in time....its front bumper sliding within a couple feet of the stampede. It is an intense couple of seconds.

Antelope are North America's fastest running land animal, and it still takes a long time before they all reach the other side. What a view that trucker must have! I watch with my mouth hanging open for some time, before I come to my senses and realize three key things:

Number one. My name is Rachel Ashmore.
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Number two. There is a camera sitting in my lap.
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Number three. I am an obsessive-compulsive picture taker, who literally dreams of photo capturing opportunities such as this.


By the time my camera is frantically pointing in the right direction, all I have to show for it is an unfocused trickle of the last antelope scampering away.

Bah, Humbug.

And of course, Andrew's only regret is that he doesn't have his hunting rifle...


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SUN VALLEY INN

Back in December, in celebration of Andrew's graduation and our 4th wedding anniversary, we took a vacation to Sun Valley Ski Resort. 

We checked in to the hotel amidst crazy snowfall. There were seventy-something inches on that mountain we'd be boarding on. 

The resort is insanely ritzy. We never could have gone were it not for a gift card given to help shoulder the cost. It felt like the kind of place you'd expect to see a movie star come around the corner at any moment. It was all very surreal. 

Finding our room.

Here was the cozy, happy, yellow stripe-ed bedroom. I loved it. 

Somehow, we ended up in one of the few rooms with a private balcony. 

The view was beautiful and forest-y and mountain-y. And as you can see from the accumulation on the railing...snowy. 

That first night, we relaxed, watched a movie, and drank hot chocolate next to the fire. 

The only thing needed to complete this picture is a french maid vacuuming in the background and a smoking cigar held nonchalantly in Andrew's left hand. 

Even the toilet paper was fancy. Have you ever seen something so ridiculous? I'm sorry, but I can't imagine a more foolish waste of my time then folding bathroom tissue into little points. 

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I'm just too practical for the rich life I guess.

Outside the Inn, all the festively decorated trees made for a stunning, nighttime stroll. 

Not to mention the snow sculptures...

And the ice sculptures. I love the Christmas ornaments frozen inside!

In the morning, we splurged on room service. To give you an idea of just how grandiose this place is, we found a corn dog and fries on the kid's menu for nine bucks! 

But the food was yummy!

Um, Andrew? As much as I appreciate you demonstrating my point, will you please just smile at the camera like a normal human being? 

Thank you. That's better. 

Then we got dressed for a day on the slopes! 

That there is my: "I'm so stoked to go snowboarding on a foot of fresh powder today!" self portrait. 

And what a fine day it was for it too! Just look at that sunshine! 

But the rest of the story will have to be saved for another day...

LITTLE TURKEYS

Our second Thanksgiving  celebration began with a family turkey bowl game at the high school stadium. This was Aurora's first year as a participant, and she sacked our quarterback! Not bad, eh?

We enjoyed our feast back at Grandma's house, before Utah's incredibly warm weather beckoned me outside. 

Colorful Becca and I herded the little ones outside for a snowball fight...with what little snow was left.

Utah still looked appropriately autumn-ish, while the Idaho we left behind looked like it was ready for Christmas. 

 My baby sisters. 
Aurora, look at me. 
Aria, scoot over so your face is in the sunlight. 
Belle, smile pretty, please. 
Aurora, hold still. 
Aria, stop talking for just a second. please. 
Say cheese!
Aurora, look at the camera!
Belle, will you please open your eyes?
Okay, ready?1...2...3!!!


That's basically how it went down. 

We all played with our beautiful, little cousins until the last of the snow had been scraped for Grandma's back lawn. 

I mean really. Aren't they the sweetest?

Little turkey...

PHOTOGRAPHY ATTEMPT

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Here's a peek at the engagements I took last month.


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Brad is bringing along these three gorgeous kids into the marriage. Check out Nicole's beautiful blue eyes!

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One of many of Alex's silly face expressions during this shoot. If I asked everyone for a smile, he would scowl, close his eyes, or glare at me. If I asked everyone for a serious face, he would be the only one with a bright, happy smile. =) .

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Sweet little Whitney...

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These were just a few of the pictures. Check out some of the best ones right HERE.

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BIG SISTER

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While in Utah, we met up with my baby sisters, who were visiting from Arizona. This is Aria...one of the twins.
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This is Belle. They are identical except for one thing...
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...Belle doesn't have any hair. Apparently, the girls found a pair of scissors and decided to give her a new do.

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But on the bright side, I have no problems telling them apart anymore.

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They are in their little pioneer dresses because we were at Pioneer Village at the This Is The Place Monument.

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I also saw my sister Aurora. She is six going on sixteen, and quite the little entrepreneur.

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I ended up paying a dollar for this original piece of artwork. It is of a Sunday school teacher saying "Jesus is Our God" while her students either play with "betend" guns or pretend to be dead. And God himself looks on from his throne in heaven. Pretty deep for a six-year-old.

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Mostly, I just want to know what Sunday school class she's been attending.

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It also looks like she's been busy sprouting into a pole bean these last couple months. I can't get over those lanky limbs!
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They were all at Pioneer Village to support my dad in artwork selling efforts of his own.

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He's actually pretty good. You can see more of his artwork HERE.
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Anyway, that's all for me.

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Coolest Big Sister Ever,

Rachel

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JOLLEY OUTDOOR GAMES 2010

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At this charming old house, built over a hundred years ago...

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Andrew, stop it! Get out of my picture!

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I apologize. Let me try that again.

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At this charming old house, built over a hundred years ago, Uncle Doug and Aunt Cathy host the annual Jolley Outdoor Games every Memorial Day weekend.

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These games are serious business. Careful scores are kept, brackets organize the teams, and competition is fierce.

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But there is only one winner.

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Only one privileged family member with the honor...the glory...and the trophy on their mantle.

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This year, tents of the contestants dotted the beautiful backyard--for this tournament was too great to be held in one day, and many had traveled long distances to attend.

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Why hello, Becca.

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Blue skies over the canopy, trellises, gazebo, pond, grape vines, and gardens set the stage for the distinguished event.

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On a side note, this is the toad, that lived in the pond, that nearly drove all of us insane. For the record, a toad's mating call is not a pleasant sound.
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This shaded corner of the yard was to be our domain. It had a view.

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We woke up to this in the morning.

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And Cupcake here, stared from the fence into our tent for much of the afternoon.

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That first day, I was pleased to see Uncle Chris saunter past in a sombrero. I suddenly knew this weekend had to be a good one.

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In his defense, for those who not impressed by the headgear, Chris begets beautiful children. Meet Rachel Marie.

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This was me. Notice how full of hope and anticipation! So lighthearted and optimistic! So occupied by lofty dreams of wealth and glory! I would conquer all!

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How naive I was...

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The first contest was a rousing competition of Frisbee golf. After the course was carefully arranged with obstacles of varying degrees, and Frisbees were inspected to meet proper requirements, the games began.

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The course wrapped around the house. My stress level mounted as it soon became clear: I would be losing this event somethin' terrible.

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The competitors participated in many events over the next few days: kickball, field goal kicking, skeet shooting, beanbag toss, whiffle ball baseball, and other games I can't remember the names of.

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Here, Lane, Becca, and Andrew watch and prepare for the beanbag toss.

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But who were they kidding? No one was to outscore Amy's amazing skills.
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Even the animals took part in the competition.

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Until it was time for kitty's belly scratch, that is.

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I shall call him kitty and he shall be mine. And he shall be my kitty.
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At about this point, I was disappointed to find that Uncle Chris had opted for a new hat. Cool...but not nearly as cool as before.
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But then, after multiple qualifying rounds, the Jolley family hula-hoop championship commenced. It was to be a bitter fight between the opponents Arial, Celeste, and...
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...Becca.

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Cue the suspenseful music, please.
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It was to be a lengthy battle. But two were destined for defeat.

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(Becca is looking way too cocky here.)

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After an honorable attempt, Arial was the first to fall. She joined the cheering crowd.
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And now there were two. Pressure was mounting, as distractions were fired from the taunting spectators.
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But finally, after 25 minutes of hip twirling, there was victory at last!
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Rebecca is the champion!
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Are you curious about the strangeness of this image? For lack of a better name, this activity is called...the giant-stretchy-pink-thing-of-death!

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Apart from providing the joy of an extreme sport, this baby does a fabulous job of showing off the figures of its participants. =)
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But basically, this is how it works...
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Four people get inside and stretch away from one another...

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...until two people switch places hurtling the next two people to opposite sides of the stretchy circle. This goes on and on, at increasingly dangerous speeds until...
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...someone gets seriously injured.

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It's great fun!

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Near the end, many were feeling the effects of prolonged sun exposure. Exhaustion and sunburns were setting in to the point that I would have done anything for Chris' sombrero. I settled for this lovely topper instead.
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It was perfect.
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And many others sought relief in the shade. Including Andrew...
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Celeste...
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And Arial.

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So there's where the sombrero went!
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In the end, the opponents all joined together to share in celebratory feasting.
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As for the winner? I honestly don't know. The only thing I'm sure of is the fact that I didn't even come close.

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Until next year...

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