ian and i snuck away for a really quick trip with my parents and siblings to celebrate my dad’s 80th birthday! dad chose jackson hole as our gathering place – it’s a spot on earth beloved and full of memories for all of us eyres because we used to go there every year when we were growing up. he found a gorgeous home exchange house for us all to stay in and booked it for a week. ian and i could only go for a couple of days because our twins turned four the weekend the gathering started, and because childcare coverage and leaving work was too tricky for longer than that. because we were there for such a short time, i really relished every single minute!

we had a good five-hour drive together to get there on friday evening – catching views of the tetons just before it got dark! it was so exciting to pull up to the amazing house and reunite with loved ones as more and more arrived. we had a lovely relaxing night chatting and eating and in the morning i did some yoga with saydi on the deck.

we all headed out to jenny lake to do a bit of hiking on saturday. it was a perfectly beautiful fall day and we took it slow with mom and dad for the first bit walking around the lake and then took off more quickly at a turnoff when they decided to turn around. we, the second generation, made it up to inspiration point and then cascade canyon, which were stunning!!

next we all gathered – including eli and julie who had just arrived in jackson – at snowking resort to ride the gondola and take in the views (and oktoberfest party) at the top.

then we headed back to the house and did some cold plunges in the pond, followed by soaks in the hot tub as the sun went down. that night we had a big birthday party for dad! we ate delicious food and chatted about unique sibling connections (at dad’s request). after, we gathered by the fire and eli interviewed dad, and then we each shared memories and poems for him. it was pretty special! (my brother noah had arrived but we were bummed to not have my brother josh with us – he actually came right after ian and i left!)

in the morning we had some discussions (richard eyre’s favourite thing is to lead a deep discussion!) and then we went to church together. after that it was time for ian and i to leave – to get back to our babies on their big 4th birthday! – so we had a big huddle prayer all together and then the wrights said goodbye.

i wish so much we could have stayed longer, but i’m so grateful we were able to go for a couple of days and be with my parents and siblings … and especially my dad. it’s weird and a bit scary having aging parents, and i’m just so grateful for every moment i get with them.

we had some pretty sweet notes waiting for us from our big boys when we got home.