Yellowstone Vacation Day 7

We were so sad to leave Yellowstone. It's such a wonderful place and we (all 5 of us) had a great time there! We stopped to check everything over and take one last picture of Yellowstone lake. We stopped at the South Entrance to the park to take a few pictures and lucked out seeing this grizzly bear on an island in the middle of the river. We were so excited!! Our plan was to spend a few short hours at the Colter Bay visitor center in Grand Teton National Park and do some hiking on the shores of Jackson Lake. As we started our hike, we passed the marina and Corey decided to rent a motor boat for 2 hours and really see the lake. It was a great idea!!! We had so much fun on that little boat and saw spectacular views. Everyone took a turn driving the boat and enjoying the water. We didn't see wildlife from the boat, but we certainly were not disappointed with the views. The water was calm, like glass, and very relaxing. We left the Tetons wishing we had camped there for 1 night. Instead, we headed to Lander and camped with our good friends and neighbors, Tim and Narda McClain. They were on their way to Yellowstone, so we shared some of our stories and handed off maps. Narda even brought strawberry shortcake...YUM!!! Sadly, another great vacation was over and we made it home safely and back to reality.

Oh, I almost forgot the favorite parts of the day:

Corey: leaning over the edge of the boat and letting his fingers glide through the water while watching Jared drive the boat.

Josh: seeing the grizzly bear

Jared: driving the boat

Jaydon: the boat ride on Jackson Lake

Me: Looking at the Tetons from the boat

Yellowstone Vacation Day 6

Haydon Valley

Hayden Valley: Corey loved this part of the park. There are always wildlife in this lush valley and the beautiful view of the mountains.

On our way to Tower/Roosevelt area we had to drive over Mount Washburn and a morning storm had just dropped rain and was moving on. It was a little chilly and the dark cloud left a sense of calmness on the mountain. The steam from a thermal feature is rising in the background. As we headed toward mammoth, we saw a petrified redwood tree and another beautiful river cutting through a canyon and valley. When we pulled into Mammoth, there was a small herd of elk with their new babies grazing in this picnicing area. So we decided to eat with the elk. The kids loved it and the elk didn't seem to mind. After our lunch, the boys took their completed Jr. Ranger packets to the visitor center and received their Jr. Ranger patches. It was such a great program for them to do and we all learned a lot. Way to go, Jr. Rangers!!!

We saw this black bear outside of mammoth. At first we weren't sure if it was a black bear or grizzly, but the boys learned the difference and said the griz has a hump at his shoulders and a dip in his nose. This bear had no hump and a straight nose, so even though he is brown...he is a black bear.The kids needed to burn off a little energy, so we let them climb around on the rocks below Sheepeater Cliff. It was neat to see how the lava rock had cooled in these columns. Every road in Yellowstone is surrounded by some sort of wildlife. Traffic is moving pretty slow and sometimes there is a wildlife (usually bison) traffic jam. While stopped for those in front of us to take pics of some elk, Jaydon spotted this buck laying in the grass next to our truck. Most of those in front of us, and even Corey, did not see it until Jaydon pointed it out. He even know it was an elk. I was impressed. The brink of the lower falls was breathtaking, and a little scary. The viewing platform was really close to the edge and you would feel the rumble and vibration of the water rushing over the edge. Oh, the power of nature!!!

Yellowstone Vacation Day 5

Day 5: Canyon and Lower Falls, Norris Geyser Basin, Brink of Upper Falls

Artists Point & view of Lower Falls

Mom and Dad's favorite part of the day: Lower falls were right behind us. We hiked the south rim trail and it took a good 2 hours. The kids did great and we all enjoyed the hike. The lower falls. WOW!!

Jaydons' favorite part of the day: Norris Geyser Basin

Josh and Jareds Favorite part of the day: Brink of the Upper Falls and a rainbow in the mist.

Looking over the edge of the falls.

Yellowstone Vacation Day 4

Day 4: Old Faithful & Madison We saw Old Faithful erupt 3 times and ate lunch at the Old Faithful Lodge, which is the largest wooden structure in the world. We then drove the Firehole lake route and Firehole Canyon route. We ended up at Madison Junction and listened to a Jr. Ranger program on the Myths of Yellowstone. Favorites: Jared: Sitting on a rock by the Firehole cascades. Mom: Eating lunch @ Old Faithful Lodge where Jared tried trout for the 1st time.

Dad & Josh: Seeing Old Faithful blow

Jaydon: watching the geyser blow and the water fun off

The boys dipped their heads into the Firehole river at a calm spot. Goofballs!

Yellowstone Vacation Day 3

We expored the area around Yellowstone Lake, Fishing Bridge Visitor Center and the West Thumb Geyser Basin. We took a boat tour of Yellowstone Lake and saw a Bald Eage. Then ice cream at Lake Village and next to LeHardy Falls. A park ranger was netting cutthroat trout out of the stream where they were spawning, and measuring them. The boys got to touch the fish talk to the ranger about it. Corey and I both agree, this would be a perfect job for Jared when he grows up. Next we hiked a trail around the mud volcano and Dragon's Mouth! This is a picture of the Dragon's Mouth...Jaydon's favorite feature in the park. We had to visit it more than once. It not only looks neat, but also has great sound affects!

Here are the boys with the trout at LeHardy Falls.

This is the boat we rode on for the tour of the lake.

My 3 boys at LeHardy falls.

Favorite part of the day:

Dad: mud volcano

Josh: Boat tour & seeing the bald eagle

Jared: the big trout

Jaydon: Dragon's Mouth

Mom: LeHardy falls and the trout

Yellowstone Vacation Day 1 & 2

I haven't taken a lot of pictures the week before our trip, partly because I'm so busy getting ready and partly because there is nothing going on around here except packing. Kind-of boring!

Day 1: Westminster to Thermopolis, WY...

We left home this morning at 8 a.m., fueled up at Cheyenne and coasted into Casper on fumes. The gas light was on and the chime was dinging, but we made it. After getting a few supplies at Walmart & eating at Subway, we headed to Shoshoni. We planned on world famous shakes at Yellowstone Drug, but found it closed and a different location for the malt/shake shop. Needless to say, the shakes are no longer worthy of their world famous title. On to Thermopolis and our 1st campground. After setting up camp, Mike and Corky Messenger (family) met us and we all went swimming in the hot mineral spring pool. The kids enjoyed the water slides and we all enjoyed the hot water.

Favorite part of the day:

Dad: the pool

Josh: the giant slide at the pool

Jared: the pool

Jaydon: when we saw buffalo

Mom: seeing my boys behave so good at the pool and supper!

Day 2: Thermopolis to Cody and then to Yellowstone...

We left Thermop at 9 a.m. to head for Cody. We stoped to see Marge & John & Pipa (the weiner dog). The boys love playing with the dog and throwing the tennis ball for her. We visited, went to lunch with Marge and John, and then headed for YNP. We were so excited to be only about 1 1/2 hours from the park. We saw lakes and rivers and streams during the drive and Jared could only think and talk about fishing, fishing, fishing! After setting up our campsite, the boys found some areas next to the camper to play and we went on a bike ride after supper.

Favorite part of hte day:

Dad: French dip he ate for lunch

Josh: bike ride after supper

Jared: Making a shelter out of logs next to our camper

Jaydon: going down the hill on our bike ride

Mom: seeing Marge and John and eating at a restaurant will well behaved kids!!!!

6-21-09 to 6-23-09

Happy first day of summer and Happy Father's day! This is what our house looks like in the summer. You can see the very back of the 5th wheel. It has stayed in the driveway all summer. We have been using it a lot and this week I'm packing it for our Yellowstone Vacation.

I found this little treasure at a yard sale Saturday. It has 3 bins to conveniently organize my 3 sons.

The plants and flowers are going crazy in the back yard this summer. It has been cooler and wetter than the last few summers and everything is growing like crazy!