With this post I will be playing "Gravity" By Sara Bareilles. Does not really go with the post...but a new family favorite (we heard on "so you think you can dance")
So there is this couple in our ward that we have been talking to quite a bit. They live right behind us in a cul-de-sac. We have said for some time now that we should do something together. We both love to camp, and he (Tom) is a major hunter like Denny. So while we were at the ward campout we decided to all get around the 24th of July off. Then they mentioned they have a cabin up in Island Park, if we would like to go there. We thought what a great idea! I have never been there and have only been to Yellowstone once when I was like 3 years old. Don't remember much....just that it stunk! So we all scheduled some days off. I was getting really nervous as we got close to the date. I mean this was "new friends!" What is they do not like us? We really had not done anything with them before....just talked when we passed in church or in the neighborhood. We decided to invite them over for a weinie roast the weekend before, so we can plan things. I felt like when you are going on a date for the first time. I was nervous. That night went pretty good. We got excited about our camp-out, and they have two kids (which I had the girl in my primary class all of last year and fell in love...such a sweetheart). Our kids got along really good. They then invited us out to go swimming with them. But I was still worried about after spending 4 1/2 days together....they may not like us!
Well besides Ryanne teething and hitting the spoiled, terrible two's. The trip went very well. We had the most amazing time. We were so busy every day. Ate dinner at 10pm every night (which being so busy meant no nap for princess Ryanne which led to a very ornry girl :)
So there is this couple in our ward that we have been talking to quite a bit. They live right behind us in a cul-de-sac. We have said for some time now that we should do something together. We both love to camp, and he (Tom) is a major hunter like Denny. So while we were at the ward campout we decided to all get around the 24th of July off. Then they mentioned they have a cabin up in Island Park, if we would like to go there. We thought what a great idea! I have never been there and have only been to Yellowstone once when I was like 3 years old. Don't remember much....just that it stunk! So we all scheduled some days off. I was getting really nervous as we got close to the date. I mean this was "new friends!" What is they do not like us? We really had not done anything with them before....just talked when we passed in church or in the neighborhood. We decided to invite them over for a weinie roast the weekend before, so we can plan things. I felt like when you are going on a date for the first time. I was nervous. That night went pretty good. We got excited about our camp-out, and they have two kids (which I had the girl in my primary class all of last year and fell in love...such a sweetheart). Our kids got along really good. They then invited us out to go swimming with them. But I was still worried about after spending 4 1/2 days together....they may not like us!
Well besides Ryanne teething and hitting the spoiled, terrible two's. The trip went very well. We had the most amazing time. We were so busy every day. Ate dinner at 10pm every night (which being so busy meant no nap for princess Ryanne which led to a very ornry girl :)
Even though they had a cabin, we still slept in our trailer. The cabin was really our meet and greet place....and that is where they slept. The first day out there, we got up there around 6pm. They took us to the most beautiful spot after dinner (so pictures are kind of dark) where two rivers meet. It was sooooooo beautiful. Great fishing point, but never got to take advantage of that.
We got there as the sun was setting....so pretty!
That is Race, Colby, and Ryanne
This is our new friends...Capri and Tom. I really liked this picture of them watching the sunset
Colby....lol. He is our family clown! Always makes us laugh! Here he is posing for the camera!
Colby and Amy riding their Rhino back to the cabin
Thursday morning we all got up and decided to head into West Yellowstone. We saw soooo many animals! And where there was an animal there was what we called the "Wildlife Paparazzi!" It was funny there would be just tons of people with cameras right up to the animals....just feet away from them taking pictures. This picture above was the first hot pot (or as Colby called it--Hot Pocket) that we found.
After we saw the hot pot...we got in the truck and found this funny bug on our shield....we were all just staring at it. It had like an alien face. As we stared at it, a fly flew in and we all jumped thinking it was the alien bug. LOL We laughed so hard when we realized it was a fly and that we had all jumped and screamed like little girls!
Colby, Amy, Me, and Denny in front of our favorite hot pot
Then we finally got the whole family to join! Mason, Colby, Amy, Me, Denny, and Ryanne. It was nice being there with friends to take family pictures.
I like this picture....everyone staring down at hot pot
Colby and Ryanne trying to catch up
This is closer picture of our favorite hot pot. Man was it hot standing by it. It was like 20ft deep, at least!
This is Ryanne playing peek-a-boo while we waited for Old Faithful to go off
Ryanne, Amy, and Taige waiting for Old Faithful!I have a picture of Old Faithful....did not upload I guess. Will have to upload later-I am on different computer..sorry!
These kids got really tired after our many stops and our cute picnic
Like I said--we saw lots of animals. These animals would walk through parking lots and around lots of people...they were not scared at all! We actually saw 2 grizzly bears, Lots of Deer and Elk, Coyote, lot of Buffalo, and a Moose. This Baffalo was just chillin right by road.
Now I have a really funny story. This Baffalo was just right there by us at the bathrooms. Tom and Capri bet Denny $10 to smack it on its butt. Well we all know Denny will do whatever for money. So, he was all for it! I was like this is like Yellowstone Animal Abuse! I do not want to be showing this to "When Animals Attack!" Tom had the video recorder out, Denny was sneaking up to this Baffalo, and as he got a couple feet away, the Baffalo did what I can only explain as a BOO! He like turned and jumped right at him....LOL Denny and Tom both took off running so fast. We are actually still laughing about it to this day!
Me and Denny with Ryanne and Amy in front of stincky "Dragon Mouth Mud Geyser" This hot pot was actually in a cave, sounded like a dragon and then the smoke coming out, it did seem like a dragon mouth.
As we walked to a waterfall, I found these statues that looked so real life to me.
I do not remember the name of this waterfall. But it was the COOLEST waterfall I have ever seen. It was bigger than any waterfall in Hawaii! Here Me and Colby at the upper part of the falls.
This is where all the water tries to fit down this narrow way over the waterfall. There was sooo much water and pressure going down the fall.
Beautiful Amy!
The "Coolest" Waterfall!
Race, Amy, Mason, and Colby
Amy, Colby and Race in a cave
I really like this picture. Colby, Denny, Ryanne, Amy, Race, and Mason
Our "New Friends" Awww cute picture!
Colby and Amy
Pretty Rainbow in Mammoth/Yellowstone
Herd of Elk
Us Cool People in the Truck...chillin with our shades!
The Next day we went to Mesa Falls. It was a Beautiful waterfall. It was really Big!
Colby was taking the picture....He said show some love. I do love kissing the hubby!
I like this picture of us too. Not a beauty contest--actually 2nd day without shower--EEEWWWWW
Denny then picked me up to throw me in waterfall. Scared me to death! Wish I knew how to photo shop my big butt!
Mesa Falls
Princess Ryanne
Our Gang
This big birds nest was as we entered the cabin road. There was two falcons (I think they were falcons) in the nest
LOL. I thought this was a cute photo. This was like Big Fish Spring (something like that) The whole crew checking out the fishies! There were actually some big fish in there. We also went canoeing this day....it was fun. Colby and Amy were in their own--that was a hoot. No pictures though, did not want to take chance of tipping the boat and camera gets ruined.
Island Park Lake. This was on Saturday. We rode our bikes (four-wheelers and Rhino) around that day, It was fun! We found a fun sand dune area and played there for awhile too!
Denny, Race, and Amy
Amy, Denny, and cute Ryanne
This was their cabin. It was the cutest cabin inside. We loved it! (Did not know why I did not take any photos inside) It had two bedrooms. A attic room/loft where the kids hung out. And a bathroom where I did finally take a shower in! And a kitchen where we ate most the time. We had the funest time. This trip was amazing. On our way home we stopped at Tom's Mom's house. She lived in St. Anthony. I did not get pictures, did not want to seem like paparazzi at her house. She had the most amazing place. Her house had a deck that went over the biggest river. We sat out there and she made us lunch. She was so sweet. They showed us around the place. They have done allot of work. It was beautiful. I said that gives them time to finish and enjoy, we will finish raising our kids, then retire and buy it from them. It is exactly where I would like to live.
