Sun Valley or ghost town?

Since we didn't make our usual trip to Sun Valley in July this year, we rescheduled for Labor Day. It turned out to be an amazing time to be there. After the first day the place emptied out, and we basically had the whole resort to ourselves!

Jake could only stay a few days, so he drove his motorcycle up, while I followed behind with the girls. This is the longest driving trip I've ever done by myself! And it wasn't too bad. Kennedy and Macy were both very well behaved, even though neither one really slept more than 30 minutes the whole way up. I checked out some kids cds from the library for us to listen to. We also told stories, and watched Mulan. We also made our customary stop at the Twin Falls Costco to load up on groceries for the week, use the potty, and get a slice of pizza for lunch.

Uncle Andrew was the first one to arrive - coming from Boise, he also had the shortest drive. It was so great to see him again. I miss having my brother around! We didn't always get along as kids, but now I love spending time with him. As we all sat on the patio of the Lake Cottage, a rainbow filled the sky.

It was so beautiful, and so fitting because just that morning, Kennedy woke up and said, "Last night I dreamed I was walking on clouds." A week ago she had told me about a similar dream, but she was walking on a rainbow.

Highlights from the trip, which included some activities that we've not done before:

Jeff, Andrew, Jake, Macy and I played mini golf at the Sun Valley Golf Club. It's not what you'd expect for a round of mini golf - it's actually an unbeliveablly difficult 19-hole putting green with lots of hills in the most inconveinent places. As frustrating as it was, it was also a lot of fun. It was such a windy day when we went, and it was really busy. Macy did a great job of staying out of everyone's way. She played with a ball and club for a while, but she was most interested in laying in the grass to roll around.

As frustrating as the course was, it was also a lot of fun. So much fun, that we came back again to play with Grandpa Ray, Tim, Kathy, Pamp, and Kennedy (Jake and Andy had left along with all the other Sun Valley visitiors.) The second time was a beautiful day, and we were the only ones on the course.

Jake took Macy over to inquire about the paddle boats on the lake, but we'd missed our chance by one day. They had closed on the day we arrived - the Saturday before Labor Day! The helpful staffers gave him some other activities that would be fun to do with kids, including visiting the little farm (which we did) and riding up the gondola at River Run to Bald Mountain (which we also did.) Andrew and Tim went off on a bike ride while the rest of us rode up to have lunch at the restaurant mid-mountain. From there, Pamp, Jeff, Jake, Kennedy, and I rode the chairlift up to the very top. It was breathtaking (and also cold and windy). Riding in a chairlift with a three-year-old is a bit scary. She made us nervous a few times when she scooted forward in her seat - even though I had my arms wrapped tightly around her.

My friend Lisha drove over for a visit. She lives in Boise, and it's been a few years since we've seen each other. It was great to catch up with her while we went out to lunch and then for a walk with the girls. Kennedy even talked us into playing a few games of Old Maid with her.

Of course, we had to stop by the bears for our photo...

Evenings were sometimes a difficult time, as the girls were often tired and we ate dinner later than they are used to. The perfect solution to their crankiness? Swimming! We were all alone in the pool, which was so nice. Jeff joined us one night when the water temperature was in the low 80s, but the next night it was up to 91. It's kind of strange to be swimming in a giant bathtub, but Kennedy and Macy loved it. The circular pool has a ledge than runs all the way around it, and both girls walked around and around. Kennedy even paddled across the middle of the pool in her floating "dolphin suit" (a thrift store find from when we were up here last year.)

Most nights, after dinner and bedtime for the girls, we sat around the dining room table and played games. Besides lots of Old Maid, we played Hacienda with Andrew and Jeff, Racko and Bananagrams, a family favorite. Kennedy also did some work in her princess sticker/workbook that we picked up at Costco. Macy wandered around the house, circling the table, playing in the sun room - and she managed to stay out of trouble and not get hurt other than a scrape from tripping on the doormat when we walked in the house for the first time. I also read lots of books to the girls, including reading Kennedy some tales from Arabian Nights in a book called "Geanies, Meanies and Magic Rings."

When we arrived on Saturday, there was a classic car auction going on at the resort, and then as we were leaving, a Going to the Sun Rally. Jake and Andrew also turned down the chance to drive a new Tesla - the line was just too long. I'm not a huge fan of old cars, but there were some pretty ones, and the Tesla was awesome! We stopped by to admire them after leaving the bowling alley. Grammie, Kennedy and I shared a lane with bumpers and Kathy, Tim and Jeff were next to us. Again, no one else was there; usually we have to line up for a lane when they open in the afternoon. The three ladies shared a very lucky ball, and I ended up the big winner (with only one minor bumper assist.)

On our last night, we had dinner at Trail Creek. The girls had been whining, especially needy and just plain frustrating (I credit the colds they both had, and the lack of naps again), and I was very tempted to skip going out to eat. I was picturing a scene with tears, shouting, chasing them all through the restaurant because it was raining and we couldn't go outside, squirming children in my lap making a mess of their food, with the evening turning into a general bust. We went, in our own car, just in case, and...they were perfect! There was nothing to worry about. I brought along a few books to read to them, which was all the entertainment they needed. They ate a good meal of warm scones with honey butter and fancy mac and cheese. We all had a very nice evening. I don't know why I was expecting the worst. They're always good when we go out. I'm just sure glad I'm not a single parent. I don't think I could handle it. It was good to get home to Jake the next day. And, yet again, the girls were fabulous in the car, thanks to Grammie who rode with us part of the way to help keep them entertained.