Visiting the Cabin Again

If I were to use hockey games as a way to gauge how busy we’ve been, then this fall must have been a huge mess of overwhelming tied-up and swamped in overloaded no fun time. By the way, we are big Steelheads fans and go to games whenever we can. So if we’ve only seen one game so far this season, that’s pretty terrible.

Surprisingly, it didn’t feel too bad! December is supposed to be the month of death for music teachers, but I made sure to have fun this time around working with my students, and I felt they were pretty well prepared. I sure hope *knock on wood* it’s a sign that I’m getting the hang of things!

We’ve been back to the cabin whenever we can (Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas) to spend time with Dan’s parents. That place is our piece of idyllic heaven: miles of fields for the dogs to roam and run, nearby trails for the snowmobiles and new Ranger, wild animals passing by, hot springs at the bottom of the hill, and neighbors who are all family relatives. Seriously! Dan’s uncle lives down the hill and runs the hot spring business and lives next to his other uncle, who lives next to Dan’s cousin ….and so forth. The family traditionally uses the hot springs as their Christmas Eve gathering place (and every Sunday dinner); everyone brings a slow-cooker soup or dessert to eat, sing Christmas carols, then swims in the pools. Dan has several relatives, so I’m still having trouble remembering names. Another hot spring tradition is to climb the rafters and jump into the pool, which I only did once so that I can at least say I’ve done it. Well, I’ll probably do it again, but I’m just saying that I felt more air time at that moment than from what could be seen on the video.

Anyway, here are a few pictures from our adventures around the cabin, with the winter scenery.

Our goal was to make it up to the relay towers where we could get a good view of the Tetons. We’ve been trying to make it back up there since my first time ever out on the machines (we had just started dating), but something always happens. I think this was our third try since, and we had to stop this time just at the base of the last hill where the snow was too soft and the trail groomers had quit. I remember that first time thinking that the ride was really long, but this time, we could have made it as though it was a short trip. I must have been going realllllly slow that time, then! Good thing Dan is so patient with me!

 

Catch-Up Time

June was a whirlwind of a month! In the next few days, I will work on writing some catch-up entries. I just finished my 5th year of teaching and my second year at my new school. So far, it has been the place I’d like to be for the rest of my career: It’s two miles from home yet far enough away for me to walk anonymously in my own neighborhood, the staff is like family, and my administrator has been so positive and supportive with big-picture ideas and students’ best interests in mind.

The day after school finished with PD meetings and frantic cleaning of the home (seriously, no time to rest!), my parents flew in from New Jersey, then my Aunt and Uncle from Korea the next day, for our wedding. I was a little nervous about getting ready for the event because there is apparently a lot of things one must do to prepare, yet I didn’t feel like I did that much. Actually, most of what I had been planning on was the last-minute decorating of the cabin, which was 5 hours away. So, based on my experience, I have some good news for the low-maintenance bride on a budget, because it all turned out beautifully, and everyone was happy!

Anyway, since this is the Idaho blog, I need to mention our wedding location! Dan’s parents have been building a beautiful cabin at the top of a valley in Newdale, Idaho, which is about 10 minutes outside of Rexburg. His grandpa owned Green Canyon Hot Springs (first opened in 1903) at the bottom of that valley and the farmland around it, which has since been inherited and run by his Uncles. Dan grew up working at the hot springs during the summers. Below are some pictures of the area, with some of that last-minute decorating fun! After the wedding, the family joined weekly Sunday dinner at the Springs (closed on Sundays except for family), then visited Yellowstone, which is just an hour away. Dan and I parted from the group and commenced our road trip, which I will post about later.

 

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