A few years ago around Christmas, I looked at my kids and my brain wanted to ask them, “What do you want for Christmas?” But my heart told me, “You know, they don’t really need things. Why don’t you just take them on a long weekend anywhere they want to go in the US.”

So I asked them where they wanted to go. 

I threw out this question: If we could go anywhere in the US, where do you want us to go?

Without a second’s hesitation, Jersey eagerly responded, “Wyoming!”

I almost fell out of my chair.

“Wyoming? Why Wyoming?!” 

She didn’t have any real answer as to why she wanted to go there but there it was. Somewhere she wanted to visit. It’s like she was holding on to it for years and just waiting for me to ask this question so she could blurt it out without hesitation. So I tucked Wyoming away in my brain – for some later time.

Fast forward to the end of 2023, a bit of a tough time for me. Well. Tough for all of us. That experience inspired my 2024 word. FUN.

Book the trip. Buy the shoes. Do the thing. It sort of became my motto for 2024.

So, in January, while Southwest Airlines was teasing me nearly every other day with “new deals,” I thought perhaps later is NOW. Maybe the “fun” Wyoming trip should happen close to Jersey’s birthday.

At first, I thought it would be fun to swoop her away – just me and her – for a girls-only weekend. But as I started to research Wyoming – and Yellowstone – I felt compelled to include everyone. I couldn’t leave the boys out of this one.

So another cold January 2024 day, while I sat waiting for my dad at his physical therapy appointment, I succumbed to all of that SWA marketing and booked four tickets to Bozeman, Montana. From there, we were going to drive to Wyoming to explore Yellowstone. And possibly Jackson Hole and the Grand Tetons.

I could have thought of 363 reasons why NOT to go away for a long weekend in early March. I have a lot to do. But John has been traveling a lot lately and we definitely needed to build in some family connecting time.

So. Last weekend, we left all our obligations at home and we went. Together.

I will say that in the spontaneity of it, I left out looking into a few things. I mean, I wanted to do as much research as I could beforehand – in between all the things I had going on at home. But, when we got to the hotel and checked in, I asked them, what’s the best way to drive into Yellowstone?

The lady replied you CAN’T drive in Yellowstone in the winter.

Um, okay. Time to think on my feet. All the plans to go see Old Faithful or the Grand Prismatic couldn’t be done unless we were on a snow coach tour. Getting there on a Friday night, the only possible day for that was Saturday, and everything was already full. So – at 1 am – I began leaving messages with every company I could find about last-minute possibilities, for things like dog sledding tours. Then, I set my alarm really early to begin calling places first thing in the morning to inquire. 

In the end, it all worked out and I got us hooked up with a great small business that rented snowmobiles. They also rented all the clothes. (You may have seen us all outfitted in snow gear on my Instagram stories). Honestly, the day turned out to be everything we needed it to be. The company was so great and we went into the National Forest with the snowmobiles. The kids loved that. And I have NEVER – in my whole life – experienced so much snow and snow SO white that it was literally glowing! Really. It was so fun and also amazing to experience something new like that with the kids and John. 

The next day on Sunday, we drove three hours to Jackson Hole and the Grand Tetons to do a wildlife tour. The way there ended up being a mini adventure of its own because roads were closed between West Yellowstone (where we were staying) and Jackson Hole. Those closures didn’t show up in the maps and we had to figure out an alternate route. (Again, we’re just not used to winters like THAT). But, we did get there safely, and with a half hour to spare. That tour took us to an Elk Refuge where we saw elk, coyotes, and Bighorn Sheep out in the wild – which was super cool to see.

Beyond just being a Wyoming experience, the entire weekend turned into a sort of winter wonderland experience. We even got to say we were in 3 states, as at different points we were in Wyoming, Montana, AND Idaho!

It also all turned out to be a great way to celebrate Madden’s entrance into high school, and Jersey’s 10th birthday.  I think if you ask them what their Montana/Wyoming/Idaho highlight was, they might say the hot chocolates. They drank about 8 total hot chocolates and celebrated that way ALL weekend. For me, the highlight was definitely the snowmobiling and the wildlife safari – and experiencing all of those things as a family.

So today I’m here to nudge you to book the trip. It doesn’t have to be cross-country. It can be a short drive away. But just be intentional about carving out time with those you love most. Pull the trigger on that trip you keep putting off and leave your stress and life obligations at home.

I’m pretty sure no one in the history of ever has regretted just going for it.