Best Spring Break Ever

Kissing A Moose
National Museum of Wildlife Art
Photo Credit to Marc Sweet

This past week has been such a wonderful break from school. Being with some wonderful people, staying in a different place other than campus, and reuniting with some animals, people, and views was exactly what I needed from the stress that came with Spring Semester. I was able to drive back west to Jackson Hole for spring break. I was a little worried in regards to roads and it still being 'winter' out in the Forever West, but surprisingly, the roads were incredibly clear and dry. Actually, my week in Jackson Hole was really warm! There was no new snow, and a lot of the snow that was already on the ground either melted, became rotten snow, and was really mushy. Spring is slowly settling into the GYE.
I am really excited...because that also means, summer is right around the corner and well...my graduate school journey will be over as well!

Home stretch with a great brain break in between. But I left Thursday late-morning to head west and arrived in Jackson around 4:30pm. I went straight to visit with my friend Sarah for a well-needed girl chat on some awesome comfy couches. Talking about our plans for summer was just getting both of us really excited for what was to come in the near future and making this transition to become a Jackson Hole resident again was getting more real!

Oh...I guess I can announce that I will be moving back to Jackson Hole come June (at least for the next year or so). I am really excited to start this new chapter in my life with some wonderful people in a wonderful place. But more details will come about post-graduation when that gets closer. :)

Visited the Hunters Barn
Near the Teton Science Schools Kelly Campus

Old Horse Shoes!

Watching Tourists SWIM in the Kelly Warm Springs
Warning: You Do NOT Want to Swim in This!

Anyways, back to my awesome break. Most of my break I worked at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort. Being around that community and those little ones was awesome! Super good feelings! When I was not working at the Kids Ranch, I adventured around town, went to a music festival, visited the National Museum of Wildlife Art, cruised up and down the park, hung out with friends, babysat, and of course, worked on my Masters Paper.

It was jam-packed and busy. But it was a good busy. This week was just by far wonderful. Not to mention getting boyfriend time was really nice too! Here are some pictures from the week. There are more scattered throughout other specific entries too! So, check out the rest of my blog!

Jackson Hole, thanks for blessing me with one of the best spring breaks ever. You truly topped yourself from last year - good riddance.

Xo.

TheChristyBel

Summit Pose in One of the Hunter's Barns

Such a Wonderful Spring Break!
MUCH BETTER THAN LAST YEARS!

Just Let Me

I just wanted to post the most adorable pictures...ever.

Taken from Saturday's Exploration & Adventure during my Spring Break.

Just Let Me.

Enjoy.

TheChristyBel

Marc Giving 'Moose Ears'
Photo Credit to Marc Sweet

The Creative Couple At The Wedding Tree in the Bridger-Teton National Forest
Look at That View!
Photo Credit to Marc Sweet

I Think This Picture Pretty Much Sums Me Up
Photo Credit to Marc Sweet

Rendezvous Festival

For four-days straight, Jackson Hole had the Rendezvous Festival in town. Marc and I decided to go to Friday night's show that was hosted in the town square. Robert Earl Keen played and it was super fun...and one of my first time's actually enjoying country music! The entire town square was closed off starting in the morning and when returned back from work, there were a whole bunch of vendors and people. Before the show, Marc and I went to Liberty Burger for dinner. They have really good burgers, and, of course, sweet potato fries! When we were done, we just walked across the square to meet some friends for the show. The show was absolutely fantastic and it was such a great idea to move part of the festival to town, rather than keeping it solely in Teton Village like last year. Well done!

TheChristyBel

Photo Credit to Jackson Hole's Instagram

Back to Partying With Pioneers

It's Great to Be Back!

You would think that when a graduate student reaches her spring break, she would not work on her Master's paper, get out of the college town, fly to Mexico, and drink margaritas by the pool....nope. TheChristyBel did the opposite - well mostly. For my spring break, I had a long list of edits from my committee to incorporate into my paper, drove to Jackson, and worked all week long (for 8-hours straight) with the most awesome little people and Pioneer Party People! Yep, went back to Jackson Hole Mountain Resort for the week. Even though I was 'working,' you are having fun all day long. Sure there are a few moments that are really challenging, annoying, frustrating, tiring, and you just want to go home, but overall, it's one of the best jobs I have had. The instructors and team I have been able to work with are some of the most positive, laid-back, welcoming bunch of gems ever. I received such a loving welcome when I stepped back into the Kids Ranch!

But yea, there was never a dull moment with Pioneers. We had a huge rush of spring break clients from the east coast. And let me tell you...there are days where I do NOT miss that east coast attitude! haha (says the girl with one of the biggest ones!) But, I was able to teach a bunch of little 3-5 year olds how to 'pizza' all day long, cuddled with some of the sweetest and cutest Pioneers, and challenged my amazing working with children skills when they just were not having it.

Oh, not to mention...I met Nina Garcia (from Project Runway) and her little boy! And....I got to meet Sandra Bullock's little boy as well! So star stunned! 

Even though I had been there just a week, it was definitely not enough of a fix of working with little ones and being around a great group of people. I cannot wait for next winter and be able to experience an entire season with them. 

Thanks for some wonderful moments during my breaks from school. I really needed these brain breaks! 

TheChristyBel 

Too . Much . Shredding

Bowl Cut Brotherly Love

One of the Best Cuddlers!

He Had His Portrait Painted...Totally Accurate!

Some My Best Pioneer Party People!
Gonna Miss Them!

A Teton Sunset

This evening after Marc's Avalanche course, we decided to take a drive into the park to get out of town and embrace the clear skies for a Teton Sunset. We drove all the way up 89, right before the Moran junction. The weather was great (super warm - we didn't even need a puffy!) and the skies were clear! I think both of us really needed the drive into the park. The calmness and quiet that the park provides really clears your headache in your head and not gonna lie, it was great having a 'nature date' with Marc. We totally took a bunch of photos and Marc attempted to give me a 'spark notes' version of a lesson on how to take photos with his camera...that is too be continued for the summer. Haha. Ohhhhhh...and I got to see my most favorite animal ever. Guess what animal that is? Made the evening that much better! Enjoy the photos! More to come...Marc is editing them.

TheChristyBel

His Photo Came Out So Much Better!
Plus There are Moose in This Picture!
Photo Credit to Marc Sweet

A Teton Clear Sky Sunset - Beautiful
I've Missed This View.

My Fave...Animal...Ever!

Just Browsing the Bitterbrush!

I Love It When He Nerds Out...on Animals...and His Art.

Beautiful Sunset
Photo Credit to Marc Sweet

Captured a Sundog!?! Maybe!?
Photo Credit to Marc Sweet

Attempting to Take a ChristyBel Photo...Through the Binocs.

Sleeping Indian Over the National Elk Refuge

Look At That Handsome Indian and The Sunset On Him!

Enjoying Time in the Park and Taking Photos Through My Sunroof!

A Taste of East Coast Home

About to go in the oven!

Boiling Bagels - The REAL East Coast Deal

When I was last in Jackson Hole over winter break, I was chatting with my friend Ben about missing some part of the east coast - like bagels. The bagels here in the west...well, just aren't up to par. Please, do not tell me that the Thomas' English Muffin - Bagels are REAL Bagels. I might just punch you in the face. I am talking about real, crispy hard crusts, fluffy insides, boiled rings of awesomeness that are at times as big as your face! Those...Are...Bagels. If you want to argue with me, you'll be sorry!

But anyways, off the soap box. Ben texted me when I got back to town for spring break and asked if I wanted to get together with him and actually make some bagels! Of course I said yes! He is from Philadelphia and used to bake breads and bagels to sell at farmer's markets. So this morning, stopped over at his house and we got down to baking bagels. He had already prepped the 'sponge' and we just needed to add the rest of the dry ingredients before any bagel boiling. Ben also wanted to try a new recipe that he had been interested in using, so we used that. You can view the recipe here! But it only took about an hour or so (the night before I got there to make the sponge), then about an hour or so to add the rest of the ingredients and knead it all together. Before we let the dough rise, we had to roll them into little balls. I think that was the hardest part - working with your hands to roll the dough into small, smooth balls. This is gonna be my new arm workout! Haha. After that, we had some coffee and chatted (maybe about an hour) to let the dough rise. Then it was time to make the dough into bagel form. Super fun poking holes through the dough and stretching the dough to make some rings! Almost bagel boil time - we just need to let them rise one more time. So I went to go work on my Master's paper at the library while Ben left for work and the bagels rose in the fridge for the day.

Around 5pm this evening, we came back and boiled the bagels (about 2-min per each side) in a malt syrup and water solution. Covered them in some delicious toppings, and baked them for about 30-minutes (about 15-20 minutes with two pan rotations). It was the longest wait! But after we took them out and let them cool, we were able to indulge in the a wonderful taste of east coast home! Delicious! And I get to take about a dozen of them back to Laramie! However, that recipe was super easy to do - so I definitely see making more in the future!

You should try this!

TheChristyBel

The Longest Wait of My Life!

Reminds Me of Home! 

Drew a Thank You Wolf for Ben on His Fridge!
Will be Sending Him Banana Bread too!

The Grumpy Kid

This little guy was the talk of the Kids Ranch today because he took the title for 'Longest Frown Held in a Single Day.' Poor little guy, kept up this frown all day, for literally 5-hours straight. It was not until he saw his dad when he turned that frown upside down! I am not going to lie, I wonder if his face was hurting...I mean, I've heard that it takes more muscles in your face to frown that it is to smile. Hmmmm. Well, I am glad he was reunited with dad, because I just felt so bad that nothing we did could make him smile. Even when you gave him a cookie, that frown was still there.

It was just really impressive...holding that frown for that long. Of course, I had to take a photo. And well...I sent it to my supervisor and well, that is when it all exploded. Sales decided to make a few...I mean, a bunch of memes of this poor child. Enjoy.

I wonder if any of these pics will go viral?

TheChristyBel

Grumpy Kid
Grumpy Cat's Owner?

Nothing Could Change That Frown to Go Upside Down

My Favorite!

Nelson Crew Roomie Dinner

Saturday evening after babysitting Talia and Greta, the Nelson Crew and I decided to have a family/roomie dinner. It was awesome to get together, cook up a bunch of dishes, and have a family dinner. It was super nice out that we even used Marc's grill! Later after dinner, a few went out to a show, while a bunch of us stayed in and played the game, 'Heads Up.' That was hilarious! You download a free app onto your phone and basically, people have to give you clues that describe the word that is displayed on your phone's screen when you hold it up to your forehead. There are even times the phone will record your friends describing things to you....it's HILARIOUS! But this dinner was awesome and exactly what I needed to come back to Jackson Hole to. Here's to a great start to a WONDERFUL spring break! 

TheChristyBel

I Missed These People!

Singing Into Spoons with My Other Half, Sarah

Babysitting Little TSS People

During this spring break, I was able to not only revisit a wonderful place, but some wonderful people and wonderful little people. Hanging with Talia and Greta for the afternoon was super fun and really entertaining...especially in Princess dresses.

TheChristyBel

Princess Puzzle Finished in Princess Costumes
Completed in 2-hours. 

Baking a Sand Cake

Back to Miller Butte

For UW's spring break, I made a 6-hour drive back to Jackson to see those beautiful mountains, to get some Pioneer's time at the Mountain Resort, and of course, to see the boyfriend and some wonderful friends. I've been here since Thursday evening and spent my arrival evening visiting with friends. Yesterday, it was super nice out: we were in light jackets walking around town, laying in the sun in town square, and also had a morning tour at the National Wildlife Art Museum. This morning, I went through the back entrance of the National Elk Refuge and got to check out some beautiful creatures! Driving back behind Miller Butte, you pass the huge herds of elk, pass the ponds where you can see a dozen or so Trumpeter Swans, and then you get fully behind the butte, and you get to see Big Horn Sheep! They were super close to the road this morning, so you rarely needed binoculars. But I was able to get some great up-close and personal shots of them with the use of binos! I really missed these moments - seeing big game and well animals in general. Laramie does not give you that animal fix the way the Tetons do...so this was much needed and a great 'welcome home.'

TheChristyBel

Trumpeter Swans!

Big Horn Beauty in the Road!

I Missed These Moments!

Morning Grazing