Yellowstone

So - we bought sunscreen, only to not see the sun for the rest of our vacation - Monday we headed in to Yellowstone, we went back to the store and bought an umbrella but only used it a couple of times. It sprinkled on and off, but over all it was just cloudy - which made for some really pretty pictures. Jenny's lake - the water was really high - we had to go down a little, fairly steep hill and of course Grace stepped right in the water. Max through rocks - of course.

I kept telling Grace she would see all kinds of animals - but we hadn't seen anything all morning. Then there were about 50 cars pulled over so we stopped. Some people told us there was a bull moose down in the meadow - which was a really steep downward climb. It was nerve wracking and everything my mother ever told me about moose I threw out the window. I took my kids down to the meadow to see the moose- Well he was still on the far side of the meadow - but we didn't stay long!

Then we headed on to Old Faithful. Mike said he's never seen it - we were driving up and saw it go off, so we had an hour and 20 minutes before it went off again. We ate in the lodge, visited the gift shop and stopped for ice cream. Then we headed outside to see natures amazing beauty -

Instead I saw what a mess two little kids could make with ice cream cones, they were laughing, Max was covered from head to toe, Grace rubbed it on her face after she saw him and I was a complete, sticky mess.

Mike wasn't so so thrilled at this point.

There were hundreds and hundreds of people there, and I'll admit my thought was I want to hurry to the car so we aren't stuck in the parking lot while everyone is trying to leave! (Yes, I'm my fathers child.) We started walking away before it was all the way finished, I still had to make a stop in the restroom to clean up ice cream.

On our way out of the park we stopped at a little walk way and saw some of the small hot pots. This ended up being our favorite part, the kids enjoyed it, they laughed and picked their favorites. I became my mom, "stay on the walk way" "don't lean over" "don't run"....I loved my family vacation memories!

This one was called Mustard Pool - when we got to it you could hear water, but not see it. A couple told us to wait a few minutes and sure enough the water started blowing, whistling and then came shooting out of the ground. These things just amaze me!

So we saw one animal, and some hot pots. Mike and I want to go again without the kids so we can see more - but they were done and by this time it was late afternoon. We hit an awesome storm in West Yellowstone and had a scary drive into Idaho Falls. Thankfully the hotel's pool was open 24 hours, and we let the kids swim until after 10pm.

Just a shameless plug - if you are ever in IF and need lodging we stayed at the Best Western Cottontree and it was really nice. The rooms were nice, the pool was nice, the breakfast was awesome and the staff was great.

Day 3 - Jackson Hole

On Sunday we headed into Jackson Hole - we couldn't check into the hotel for 4 hours so we walked around the down town shops - Max picked out a toy gun and Grace picked out a toy stuffed moose that she named Lucy. We had to get a picture by the antler arch and then had a 100% organic lunch. The kids ran and played around this tree, we were just burning time so we let them run for a while. We ran to the store where I bought sunscreen, I didn't want another hot day without it - cause I'm safe like that.

Out organic lunch consisted of ice cream - it's healthy right?

Then we rode the tram in Jackson up to the top of the mountain. It was an overcast day (I thought the next day was going to be sunny, no, I didn't check the weather). It sprinkled on us a little but it was nice up at the top. We had our pictures taken and had hot waffles- which were very yummy!

Actually we stood in line ordered our waffles and handed the guy our debit card, he said the register was broken and that he was suppose to be announcing that they were only able to take cash - he forgot so he gave us our 3 waffles for free, I love free!

We didn't see any animals on the way up or down, but we saw a pretty little stream-and some mountains still covered in snow. The guy operating the tram said skiers ski jump off the top right and picture ledge - he said there is usually a couple hundred inches of snow, but I still think I would have a heart attack.

Max didn't have to use the restroom in the bottom picture, I'm just not sure what he's doing either.

After we were done we went back to our hotel and swam in the outdoor pool where it started to rain, it was so cold! We then went to dinner at Bubba's. The wait wasn't too bad getting a seat but they were very understaffed and our waitress was stressed, she had two tables giving her problems and it took forever for her to take our order. Max was starving and on the brink of tears- we ordered them mac n cheese but when it came it was cold, and I'm not saying a little warm- it was COLD. When the waitress came back I told her and she took them back to the kitchen, and poor Max just couldn't handle it any longer. He started to cry, and cry and it was so sad.

He scarfed it down when it came back and then put his head down on his chair, but up in the air and fell asleep. It was the cutest sight ever and I didn't have my camera. It was so cute that totally random people came up and asked to take a picture of him. Luckily he moved easily and stayed asleep for the rest of the night. Our hotel wasa bit iffy - but breakfast the next morning just plain sucked.

I remember eating at Teton steakhouse with my family every time we would go to Jackson - but the buffet was really expensive, the food was gross and almost everything now is an additional add on. My kids dropped some french toast on the floor and we saw the host guy pick it up and put it back in the buffett bar - no I'm not kidding. We'll never go there again!

Vacation Day 1 & 2

We had a very fun, very random vacation this past week - I took about 300 pictures, can we say obsessive? My good friend Stacy welcomed us into their home for the first two nights, and we had so much fun!

We went to the county fair in Big Piney Wyoming on Saturday. They had a large petting zoo which all of the kids just loved! Grace petting the baby goat-

Watusi - whats a watusi? That big huge cow thing, with horns that spanned 6 feet! Wow. Max got to brush a cow, and he thought that was so cool!

They feed goats and sheep and a donkey.

Those goats could spot a sucker from a mile away!

The kids got balloon animals, or in Max's case a sword, Grace got a butterfly and you'll have to ask Mike what he got- I just can't remember...;) The balloon guy was quite funny- but the hypnotist we saw was a riot. The balloon's kept popping when they touched the grass, or the bleachers, or were being help perfectly still. He asked the balloon guy if he bought them at the dollar store.

He was pretty funny to watch, one kid was under and he told him when he woke up he would think he was in Mexico and was going to be really mad at him. They would get in a shoot out and he would lose. When the boy woke up the hypnotist asked him why he was so mad and the boy, in a perfect Mexican accent said, "You stole my burrito!" We laughed so hard! He was so serious- he proceeded to tell him he got the burrito at Taco Bell.

The kid in the orange shirt was so funny to watch- I found out later he was actually too young, they wanted 12 or older and I think he was like 10, but he was hard core. He was so animated and hyper.

Grace insisted she was going to ride the pony. Almost everything was free, but the ponies were $5 a piece, which isn't a big deal but Grace could have, and wanted to just keep riding all day long. It made them smile, and that was worth it.

If the ponies cost $5, how much were the camels going to cost? Nothing, they were free! Seemed a bit backwards to me, but what the heck. Grace rode with my friend Stacy's daughter Ally - Grace loves Alley - they played so cute together for 2 straight days.

Max rode with Stacy's boys, Trevor and Jacob. Jacob was a hoot, he was like the big brother Max will never have. They teased, ran, laughed, and teased some more the entire time they were together, I loved it!

They had a sand castle sculpturer creating while we were there. It was amazing to watch, he made it look so easy and the castle was very detailed.

The local school's science department was there with robotic vehicles that the kids could race, you really should click on this picture to make it bigger,the smile on Grace's face is genuine - she loved it. The science teacher took a lot of time teaching her how to control the robot and then she went to town.

They also let Grace drive the big robot - the one they had spent all last year creating in their classes - she basically tried to run Mike and I down - I had to jump out of the way and what did Grace do - laughed. Watch out when this girl gets behind the wheel!

Other than the fact that I forgot to bring sunscreen - and it was a very warm day - I had such a fun time at my good friends house - we met in 1997 at Jacob Lake and have been friends ever since - thanks Stac- for lending us a bedroom, feeding us and putting up with all of us! We also played a new game to us - Farkle, and we learned girls rule!

Tyler Fireworks

I think I took 200 pictures over the4th of July- but it's my favorite holiday. I love being with family, parades, bbq's, fireworks, flags and fun.

After the McBride family bbq we headed (quickly) (possibly a little too quickly) (possibly too quickly enough to draw attention from a uniformed guy with colored lights) (but we won't talk about that.) Max, Daisy and Grace- it is so hard to get a good picture with all of them.

Every other year Grace has loved fireworks, but this year so was scared. I think she was really doing it for the attention, but she liked the big city fireworks.

Grace and Grandma Ruth watching fireworks-

Max loved them!

Sparklers scare me-

Yes, it's an honest smile from her! Aunt Beth, Grandma Ruth, Aunt Caitlin and Grandpa Todd lighting fireworks and helping kids-

Afterwards we sat on Ruth and Todd's balcony and watched the Kaysville City fireworks while we ate homemade Oreo ice cream. It's the perfect spot to watch the beautiful show!

(And for the record, someone who wasnt' me got clocked going 19 over and somehow did not get a ticket.)(I was shocked!)

4th of July Parade

I'm almost caught up! Go me....

Anyhow, do you struggle getting your kids to sit still and look at the camera? This was like the 50th picture and it's not all that great - but I got one!
Grace loves Brenda - we're walking to the parade in Hyrum. She asks why Brenda isn't still at grandma's, she just doesn't get she lives 15 hours away.

Nicole had our space at the parade saved for 4 days - right in front of the cemetary, just like every year. Max wanted to go in "that cage and play." Yeah, no.

Cassie and Josh, do they look like love birds?

My nephew Ty and his killer smile.

My brother Patch - first fourth since his mission

Grace and my niece Adi - they insisted on wearing the necklaces under one arm

Brother Jordan, Tytan, and Brenda

Me and my mom- I love her!

Brother Jordan - he's cool.

Mike and Max waiting for the parade to start-

Niece Nayvie

Sister Nicole and baby Emery

Grandpa Guy is in the firetruck, thats him arm...

My nices Maggie and Libby were in the parade

The parade was only an hour long this year. After the parade we had a BBQ at my moms and then the kids swam and Mike, my mom, Brenda and I went to the town square to walk through the booths. We had a great day!