Oh Give Me A Home Where the Buffalo Roam...

We finally experienced a family vacation that doesn't involve going to visit family. We visited Yellowstone National Park for the first time ever. We had so much fun. My niece Andrea and her family invited us to stay at her husband's family's cabin. We haven't been able to see them very often so it was really nice to catch up!

We were also able to see some friends from the "past". They lived in our ward in Nebraska and moved back to Wyoming the same time we moved to Idaho. They were so nice to meet us in the park so that we could see each other again. It was just like old times with Adam and Megan and little Grant. We are grateful for their friendship and wish them well in the future. Hopefully we will see them again!


We went to a place called Big Springs. The water was so clear and beautiful. You could see everything in the water. There were a bunch of big fish that just sat (do fish sit?) there in the water waiting for you to feed them. For some reason most of them were hiding under the bridge so I only got a picture of one. But it was a good effort.



We brought along some buns to feed to the fish, but the birds were a little faster so I think we helped the birds put on a few pounds instead of the fish.



After looking at some of our pictures I think my kids put on a few pounds eating the buns too! That came out wrong. I don't think my kids look fat, I can see them chewing bread in the pictures :)!!!!!


While we were driving, this buffalo decided to cross the road right in front of our car. The kids were going crazy.



I loved this picture of the kids waiting for Old Faithful to go off. Old Faithful wasn't quite so faithful. They had to wait a little longer than usual.





The water level was extra high this time of year because of a colder spring. The run off from the mountains was delayed until later in the season. Unfortunately, that meant no swimming in the Firehole river. Instead we "waded". Which usually means you get soaking wet anyway :).

Sydney decided that she wanted to get in so Loren helped her. A little bit unconventional, I know!

The kids thought this was a playground, but actually it was the roots of a fallen tree.

Our kids hadn't been fishing before so they were so excited to catch their first fish ever! They weren't as excited to eat it. But I was proud of them because they did at least try it. Dan was a great fish chef. Thanks Dan!

We went floating down the river. I'm not sure that any of us ever got our canoeing merit badge (I guess Loren did), but we made it safely :). I guess I shouldn't say that they water was 2 feet deep and there were 0 rapids. It sounded much more adventurous before.

It was however an adventure to keep Sydney from jumping out of the canoe and trying to row at the same time.

Andrea did a great job of taking these few head shots so I put them in. Thanks for reading my travel log. We had a fantastic time! Maybe we will try the family vacation thing again some time.

I know, crazy hair for me. It takes way too long to blow dry and when you are on vacation you do what you gotta do! So I have since chopped it off. No more long hair for me!

Marin

Macy

Marshall

Sydney