Yellowstone Day #2

We had about an hour to wait until Old Faithful erupted.  We set up on the benches and ate our lunch and just waited.  I remember it being a little bigger but it was fun to see.  

  I walked up around a path behind old faithful and the colors of the various hot pots were amazing.  We walked around another trail but then it started to downpour so we had to run back to our car.  I don't know if it was the rain or not but getting out of the park tonight was bumper to bumper traffic and took quite a bit longer then we planned.

 We ate dinner in West Yellowstone so we looked around at a few shops before dinner.  Both the girls had money they saved to spend and Tabitha was on a the look out for a black bear stuffed animal and Gabrielle a sweatshirt.

Yellowstone Day #1

The girls were super excited to spot various animals.  On our way to Upper and Lower falls there were quite a few cars off to the side of the road.  There was a Bison and an elk, it is the top right in the picture with Tabitha.  

The girls loved that the Bison were everywhere.  

Brandon really wanted to see a Bear.  I drove most of the day today and while he had his binoculars keeping at eye out the window.  He spotted one on our drive to Mammoth.  It was a narrow curvy road with not a lot of traffic, we pulled over and he got right out.  By the time the girls and I got out I think the noise spooked the bear and it took off running.  We walked a little way along the road and saw it again.  We were super close, the first picture there is no zoom, you can see where I was standing and how close to the road and the bear we were.  Once cars started stopping we got back in the car and headed to Mammoth.  

Mammoth was a cute little stop with Elk everywhere.  

It was an exhausting day.  We hit some construction so it delayed us getting out of the park. 

More Bison just walking down the road. 

West Yellowstone

 

We decided to make a last minute trip to Yellowstone and were lucky to find a campsite in West Yellowstone.  We were excited to get a way for a few days and camp, we have already been rained out twice with camping trips we had planned.   We stopped in Idaho Falls for lunch and then drove around the temple, it is closed for renovations.  I remember doing this as a child on our trips to Yellowstone.  The river was run as well.  We set up camp and cooked dinner, roasted marshmallows and then played games.  The girls don't really like smore's but they have fun making them and taking a few bites.

Joseph

We got tickets a few months back to see Joseph and the Tecnicolor Dreamcoat in Midway.  It was a rainy day and the clouds cleared just in time.  It was a beautiful venue sitting outside and a great performance.

Fishing

The girls really wanted to get out fishing with Brandon and David.  Tabitha was up in the night sick so she stayed home in bed.  Gabrielle had a great morning!

Swim party

 

 

Gabrielle wanted to celebrate her birthday with family at my Mom's house swimming.  We all met today and swam, BBQ'd and had fun.  We drove home in time to get together with neighbors to set off our fireworks.  We sure love this girl, she is so happy, smart and funny!