Yellowstone 2011

What I love most about vacations are the memories. 

Little pieces you tuck away that seem to become better with time. 

As a kid I went to Yellowstone several times. 

Dad had to work up there every year and so Mom would load us up and we'd make the trek.

We'd swim in the pool and buy cheap rings in West Yellowstone. 

We'd search out the dollar store and get excited over a cute waiter at the Three Bears restaurant. 

I love those memories and feel extremely blessed to be able to make those memories with my husband, my own children, and my parents. 

This is the 32' RV that housed the 9 of us for the week. 

DAY: 1 

The bunk area is always a hit with the kids, and I must admit it's kind of funny to watch them get up and down, up and down over Dad's head as he drives for hours. 

An occasional blanket would fall and land on the driver, or Scotty. 

 One of the beauties of an RV is being able to enjoy the spectacular views from so many large windows.

 Our first stop, as always, is Henry's Fork State Park. 

Last year we discovered leeches in the lake the hard way, so this year the children caught the leeches and skipped rocks. 

DAY 2 : We headed to West Yellowstone. 

This is where a parent must have utmost patience as they help each child spend their 

earnings on trinkets and bobbles.

Here's the breakdown: 

Chloe- a bag, a funny shirt, an I Love Lucy lunchbox, earrings, and a couple gifts for friends. 

Asher- a fedora, a funny shirt, and a satchel (not a purse.)

Aidan- a rabbit fur sprayed to look like a tiger to add to his rabbit fur collection :), a bear claw, a postcard, and a crystal.

Cole- a chipmunk stuffed animal, and an ice cream cone whose top shot off.

Grace- a dog

 We all went to the IMAX to watch National Geographics: Lewis and Clark, Great Journey West.

It was unbelievable. The things these two men went through to chart a wild land. 

We all loved it and learned much.

We've decided without a good woman (Sacajawea) men would be....lost.

 We wrapped up West Yellowstone with pizza and Wilcoxon's ice cream.

Mmmm boy!

That night we stayed at Bridge Bay Campground in the park.  

 The snow was a novelty for June.

Grandpa picked up a hitchhiker. Uh- huh. He sure did.

Mom and I tried to make small talk with the NY native who was here with friends, but

was trying to locate them?  

Then we enjoyed the unbelievable sights at Artist's Point. 

 And a stop at Dragon's Mouth.

It's like picking a scab. You know it won't be good, but you can't stop yourself.

It was stinky, but a real phenomenon.

 That  night we had hot dogs and smores around the campfire. 

Aidan FINALLY had a chance to use his pocket knife and whittle some sticks.

 Mom kept things running.

Here she serves Scott up some mustard with a hot dog :) 

 That night at Bridge Bay Scott, Chloe, Asher, Aidan and I went to a 

Ranger's presentation called, The Living Volcano. We brought hot chocolate and wore our coats.

The information about the geothermal activity and such was intriguing.

DAY 3: 

 Mom needed a new hair-do and I gave it to her. 

A faux-hawk.

We searched out last years sand bar for some fishing on Yellowstone Lake. 

The kids played in the black sand and fished and fished and fished.

Mom built sand creations with the kids and kept her face out of the sun.

Scott and Dad took turns fly fishing when they weren't helping kids.

 History repeats itself however and I'm afraid Dad spent the majority of his time undoing tangles and knots. Patience is his middle name. 

Chloe's persistence paid off when shortly after Dad said, "You'll usually catch a fish in the 11th hour", Chloe lands a good sized cutthroat.  

DAY 4:

We stayed at fishing bridge RV park (which is in no way, shape, or form handicap accessible- note to self) and the kid's discovered a large family of chipmunks living in the tree next to our RV.

They laid still with nuts and crackers in their hands and got the little creatures to climb right on them.

A definite hilight for the kids. 

 We tried a more accessible fishing spot on Grand Loop Dr.

It was very easy to get to, but not great fishing. 

Lots of snags. 

 Chloe volunteered to unhook the snag and ended up in the ice cold drink.

 Asher gave it a shot next and had the same results.

 We decided in order to see some animals we'd have an early dinner and head out to the Hayden Valley area in the early evening. It paid off big time!

We saw a mama grizzly and her two cubs playing in the snow. 

I could've watched them for hours. 

 On the drive back to Fishing Bridge we saw another grizzly up on the mountain near a buffalo. 

The two weren't really interested in each other. 

DAY 5:

We left Yellowstone National Park and headed to Targhee National Forest.

We stayed at Colter Bay Campground.  

We hung out at camp and let the kids play.

This led to the forming of the "Booster Bros."

Booster Bros. help each other out.

They boost each other into trees and the like.

They perform routines in the RV.

Very entertaining. 

We drove in to Jackson that evening and the girls walked the town.

Mom took us to some of her favorite spots.

Wild Hands, the Bunnery, Mangelsen's studio.

On the drive back to Colter Bay we saw yet another grizzly bear just right off the road.

So close in fact the Ranger would not let us pull over.

 DAY 6:

Dad's 77th Birthday was begun with singing and smooching.

Then we were off for home. 

We drove through beautiful Star Valley, Wyoming.

That place always gets my mind spinning. 

I imagine living in a place so wild and breathtaking.

 We pulled in to our driveway on Sunday early evening and unloaded until dark. We were all exhausted and a bit stinky. In total we saw 6 bears, several elk and buffalo, a super cute snow-shoe hare, several chipmunks, geese, ducks, a bushy tailed squirrel and antelope.  My laundry was truly a mountain and took 15 hours of washing to conquer. It was a wonderful time. Thanks so much Dad and Mom.