After cleaning up and bidding fond farewells at Bear Lake, we headed straight up to Ashton, Idaho to spend time with Jared's wonderful mother and enjoy the Loosli farm while I presented a bunch of workshops on motherhood and that sort of thing at Education Week at BYU Idaho in Rexburg. I got to celebrate my birthday with some of my very favorite people in one of my very favorite places.
While I presented classes, Jared and the kids had a great time exploring Yellowstone and hanging out with Grandma and cousins. I was a bit jealous. But my classes went really well and I had a fun time presenting.
I'll let photos tell the story of our 4 days in Ashton. The light up there is so pretty that these totally un-edited photos turned out pretty darn good, if I do say so myself.
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Here we are behind Jared's mom's house |
As a bonus, my wonderful sister-in-law Anita (who wanted to check out the fabled farm and attend classes at Education Week) and my dear Power of Moms friend, Allyson Reynolds (who was also presenting at Education Week) joined us at the Loosli farm house for the weekend. Jared's mom is such a wonderfully welcoming hostess and great cook and it was fun to have Anita and Allyson meet her and see the great places that I love so much. Allyson and Anita had so much fun enjoying the farm with us and I was so glad to have such great company.
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Somehow, this is the only picture I took at BYUI. Ooops. I guess they've added flip flops to the dress code - and all Anita brought was flip flops. Plus I had to use my flip flops to get around campus thanks to my messed-up ankle and my uncomfortable dress shoes (but I did try - and sometimes succeeded - to remember to put on my dress shoes while presenting). We're such rebels! |
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The potato fields all over Ashton were frosted with potato blossoms - love that. |
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The huge swings in the backyard were a huge hit, as always. |
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The kids spent a lot of their days on the good old super bouncy trampoline.
Even Allyson got out there and enjoyed it.
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We spent an evening touring the Loosli farm. |
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We took a tractor ride - can't visit the farm without one! |
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Allyson, Anita, Jared and I all crammed into the cab of a tractor for a joy ride. Top speed = 26 mph. |
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I love these vintage Loosli farm signs on the trucks. |
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The sunset over the Tetons at the end of our farm tour.
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After the farm tour, Allyson said "I always knew you married a potato farmer but now I think I really get it - you married a SERIOUS potato farmer." Yep. I sure did. My mom always said, "find yourself an Idaho farm boy and you'll be happy." I thought she was silly. I was going to college in Boston. I was finding myself a professor-type. But no. I found me a super hard-working, smart, wonderful farm boy who also happened to be a brilliant MIT student. My mom was right. Farm boys are the best.
And my farm boy earned himself a lot of extra points by showing up at one of my classes on the morning of my birthday. Totally ignoring my embarrassment, he got up there and hung up a birthday banner, passed out birthday hats and noisemakers, and led the class of 100 or so in a lovely rendition of "Happy Birthday." His little presentation actually ended up being a great object lesson as I went on to present my class on building family traditions and culture including ideas for celebrating birthdays. What a guy.
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Here I am with my birthday stuff at BYUI. Some nice people brought me cookies and cards
and I got Facebook messages and emails all day from so many kind people. |
7 comments:
wow sar those pictures are all GORGEOUS! good memories of being up at the farm last year on your birthday! and of going to that railroad bridge with you and Jared way back when. I love it up there!! love you so much!! the rainbow is spectacular!
LOVE all these pics! And SO impressed with your husband's surprise on your birthday - what a guy! Sounds like it was fabulous!
Awww! That was so sweet of Jared!
Ask Jared if his family ever works with Walters Produce from Newdale. That's Tyler's potato farming family.
What a fabulous place! My 'country' children would love it! I especially LOVE the family picture by the John Deere tractor--a perfect Christmas card picture.
You got yourself a great Idaho boy-good for you!
Education Week was absolutely fabulous. I loved your classes! Thank you so much for coming to our small neck of the woods.
Oh my gosh I keep forgetting that Idaho is the most beautiful spot on earth AND has amazingly beautiful people. What great lighting on that beautiful day...complete with a rainbow! Hoorah for Jared and everyone who made your day so memorable!
Awwwh How could a birthday be better than that?
Wow Sar this makes me want to go to the farm even worse! It is so incredibly gorgeous. And how cute of Jared. He sure is amazing. And so are you. Love you.
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