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“Bet you can’t beat five skips,” Josie challenged Max. They had been enjoying the lake while skipping rocks. Josie just threw an exceptional skip. Max was searching for flat, smooth, stones along the shoreline.
“I bet I can get at least six,” Max responded to his sister’s challenge.
“Max, Josie!” Grandma called. “It is time for lunch.”
“Hooray!” cheered Max, abandoning his search for rocks. He was really excited about going to the diner at Jackson Lake Lodge. Grandpa had been telling him about the milkshakes. Max and Josie hurried to put their shoes back on.
As she buckled into her seat, Josie pulled her map out of her knapsack. “Where are we headed?”
“We are going to the Pioneer Grill at Jackson Lake Lodge,” Grandpa replied. “It is on the same lake as Colter Bay where we are now staying.”
“Oh! I see it now. It is just down the road a bit,” said Josie, locating the lodge on her map.
Max was looking out the window with his binoculars, scanning for wildlife.
“Why are you looking at the sky with your binoculars?” Josie queried. “Aren’t you looking for bears?”
“No, I want to see another pelican. I want to see one swoop down on the lake and see it eat another fish. His beak opened like this,” he said as he held arms next to his face with his arms straight out before he smacked them down together.
Moments later, they pulled into the parking lot at Jackson Lake Lodge. It was a big log framed building. As they entered the front doors, Max spied a sign with birds all over it. “What's that?” he asked, tugging on Grandpa’s shirt sleeve.
“I don't know, let's go see.” Grandpa walked across the lobby, read the sign, and then said, “They’re putting on a raptor show later this afternoon.”
“What is a raptor show?” asked Josie.
“Raptors,” said Grandma, “are birds of prey. That means they are birds that hunt. I think we should stay for the show. What do you all think?”
“We should have plenty of time after swimming and lunch,” said Grandpa.
“Sounds great!” said Josie.
“I’m in!” Max said. “Those birds on the poster look so cool.”
They headed upstairs to the diner.
“Whoa!” said Josie, “This looks like something out of a movie.”
The restaurant had four rectangular shaped counters with bar stools along three of the sides.
“Welcome to the Pioneer Grill!” a man called to them, as he led them to a spot at the counter. “Are you having a good time at the park?” he asked.
“Yes!” said Max. “I caught two fish this morning!”
“Way to go!” the man replied, smiling and giving Max a fist bump. “Do you know what you would like to drink?”
“Well, we would all like water, but we also want some of your delicious milkshakes,” said Grandma. The diner offered four flavors of milkshakes, and each member of the family ordered a different flavor: vanilla for Grandpa, chocolate for Josie, strawberry for Max, and huckleberry for Grandma.
As they were finishing their burgers, chicken, and fries, Max was studying Grandma’s milkshake with intensity, “Why is your milkshake purple, and what is a huckleberry?”
“Oh!” Grandma replied smiling, “They are delicious! Huckleberries are little purple berries that only grow in the Northwestern part of the United States and in some parts of Canada. They only grow in the wild, so this is a special treat.”
Max took a spoonful and smiled. “I’m getting this next time! It’s my favorite!”
“I thought strawberry was your favorite Max,” said Josie.
“I can have more than one favorite!” replied Max.
Grandpa decided they needed to wait 30 minutes before swimming, so they went to the back deck of the lodge to view the Grand Tetons.
Grandma pulled out her sketchbook and asked if anyone else wanted theirs. Max and Josie both wanted to attempt drawing those massive mountains.
“Those mountains are so big. What are they called again?” asked Max, his tongue peeking out as he carefully sketched the outline of the middle mountains.
“The range at the park is called The Teton Range,” said Grandpa, “But that largest mountain straight out is called the Grand Teton. It is 13,775 feet tall. Surprisingly, it isn’t even in the top 20 tallest mountains in the United States. It seems taller than it is, because it rises so steeply from the land, and it is easy for people to see and climb. The Shoshone Indians who used to live in this area called the range ‘Teewinot,’ which means ‘many pinnacles.’”
“These are the most beautiful mountains I have ever seen!” exclaimed Josie.
“Many people would agree with you Josie,” said Grandma. “It is a wonderous site.”
Max poked his head over Grandma’s shoulder, looked at her sketch and asked, “Are you two finished yet? I want to go swimming now!”
Splash! Water flew into the air. As Grandpa resurfaced above the water, Max laughed and said, “That was a good one, Grandpa!” Max and Grandpa were having a good time jumping into the pool. They were perfecting their cannon balls.
Grandma and Josie laughed too. Grandpa somehow made gigantic splashes as he jumped in.
Josie was kicking around the pool on her unicorn blow up pool toy. It had a silver mane and glittered all over. “It is so fun to swim in the mountains with pine trees all around us!” Josie loved to swim, and she participated in a year-round swim team at home. Her favorite stroke was the breaststroke. After she had completed several laps, she had decided to relax on her toy.
They pretty much had the pool to themselves. One other family with little children was playing in the shallow pool.
Grandma was relaxing on a deck lounger as she read her mystery novel. It was a beautiful, sunny day, and they were enjoying the pool.
“Time to go!” Grandma called. “It is nearing time for the raptor show.” They had enjoyed a couple hours at the pool but needed to dry off and change into their clothes.
Max quickly climbed out, “I’m ready!”
“I’m not!” Josie called, “Can we stay a little longer?”
“Sorry sweetie, but we better get moving if we want to see the birds.”