Ryan and I got up at 5am to get showered and the car loaded. The boys were up at 6:30, and we rolled out of the driveway at 6:37am. It was a long drive, but at the end, we wound through the Grand Tetons and the south part of Yellowstone, and it was absolutely gorgeous. It did snow - white-out conditions - and got really cold while in the Tetons. It kinda scared me for the camping!
We have a ball for making ice cream - we didn't realize it would be so cold this first day (it was in the 50s now, but still) - so we made Oreo ice cream too. Collin thought up the idea to bowl with our firewood. Pretty fun! Oh, and it was delicious too.
We camped in two tents. I was in the big tent with the boys, and Ryan was in the little tent with Kate. We were able to put her to bed about 8pm each evening, and that made our lives a little easier. It was super, duper cold each morning, and I think that was the hardest part. I highly recommend camping in the park though. We were able to go and see everything we wanted to without any traffic or crowds or parking problems each morning. The family across the way from us was from SLC, and they had four boys all the same ages as our kids. Our boys really became buddies and played a lot together.
DAY 2, Fri - Old Faithful, Grand Prismatic Springs & Artist Paint Pots
This was our coldest morning by far. We could see our breath, even inside the tent. We got up early (6ish), and threw the breakfast burritoes I'd made in advance into the fire while we got dressed in all the clothes we'd brought! Brrrr.
We headed to the Old Faithful viewing area and got great seats. Everyone was whispering, really respectfully and almost reverently. It was fun to be part of. Then, Old Faithful erupted about one minute before her predicted time. (I thought you'd like that, Dad. Even God likes to be early!) It was gorgeous, and everyone was silently awe-struck, even my boys. It lasted about 2 minutes.
Then we headed to the Grand Prismatic Springs. This was my favorite place. It was about 10am now, and it was getting crowded. We had to park a long ways away, but it was worth the walk. There was a beautiful waterfall, and Ethan couldn't get enough of it. The ground was all reds, oranges and browns. Then we walked across a long boardwalk through the most beautiful, steamy, colorful hot water pools. The sky's blue and turquoise was reflected in the clearest center, and the edges were swirls of reds and oranges. I have never seen anything like it.
When everyone was back together again, we headed to the Artist Paint Pots. This was the boys' favorite place, and a close, close second for me. It was just a short walk from the parking lot and up a steep hill. And there, just off the boardwalks, was boiling, splashing, spitting, bursting MUD! It was awesome! And kinda gross too... It was a little stinky, but not as bad as we'd find Day 4 to be. Sooo cool!
We then headed to the river for the boys to fish. We didn't catch anything and Ethan fell in TWICE, but that's just life with Ethan.
DAY 3, Sat - Mammoth Hot Springs & Gibbon Falls
Saturday was a little warmer in the morning, and we were able to shed most of our layers by the time we arrived for our sight-seeing. We had pancakes, bacon and sausage for breakfast, so we were running a little later though. We went up to Mammoth this day. I think we were tired and grumpy, because hind-sight says this place was cool, but Kate was whining most of the time, and I didn't really enjoy it. The pictures are awesome though.
There's a little "town" here too, so we got ice cream and went to the museum. They had all the animals you'd commonly see in the Park stuffed and on display, which was nice because we only ever saw buffalo and elk in our time there.
After stopping at a picnic area, we headed back to the campground. After some rest time, we headed to Gibbon Falls. Once again, Kate was a grouch, and I was pretty wasted. It was a beautiful lookout though.
For dinner, we had chicken quesadillas, and after getting our grumpy littlest ones in bed, we played cards with the older boys and made smores.
DAY 4, Sun - Yellowstone Falls, Sulphur Springs & Yellowstone Lake
Our last morning camping was warmer still, and though it was only 40F, it felt great! We had oatmeal for breakfast and got everything packed up. Ryan bought a weather-proof bag for the roof of the van, and it's a good thing: we had a TON of stuff.
Then we drove to Artist Point. We struggled to find a parking spot here, but it was worth the hassle. It was the nicest, faraway view of the Lower Falls, for sure. We also hiked a little ways down a trail to better see the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, which really did have a lot of similarities to the actual Grand Canyon. Such neat rock formations and colors.
Then we drove a little ways to a picnic area along the river. We had sandwiches and fished again. After catching nothing again, I was still dying to see a bear, so we drove through Hayden Valley - where everyone always sees bears... we didn't - while the little ones napped.
We stopped at the Dragon's Mouth and Bubbling Mud (mostly because we loved the Artist Pots so much), and did it ever stink! It was ridiculously stinky... and so totally awesome. This mud was violently boiling, splashing up against the rocks. The Dragon's Mouth was awesome too. We thought it would just be steam coming out of a cave, but it actually growled (gases being released) and the water lapped like waves. Ethan kept saying, "It's throwing up!" So fun! And we got used to the smell after a while too.
Then we headed to the cabin for the reunion in Island Park. After starting two loads of laundry and showering/baths, we went to a cute little hole-in-the-wall restaurant nearby. We were hungry, and we wanted to be pampered. Ryan and I both got delicious bison burgers, and the kids all enjoyed their cheeseburgers. Ryan's aunt and grandmother joined us there too.
After getting Kate in bed, all the other aunts, uncles, cousins and grandparents arrived. We were up late chatting and playing with the karaoke machine.
DAY 5, Mon - REUNION - Firehole Falls Swimming
We got a slow - but warm now that we were sleeping indoors! - start. After breakfast, we headed back into Yellowstone. We hit HORRIBLE traffic in West Yellowstone and at the gate to enter the park. (Hence, our now firm recommendation to always camp/stay IN the park.) We had planned on swimming in some heated watering hole, but it was closed due to the swift current. Undetered, we found another spot, and the kids splashed around while we had a picnic. We grabbed ice cream in West Yellowstone on the way home.
That evening Ryan and I did a full-out bbq for the family before they all headed to a play. We put our worn-out kiddos to bed at 7pm and got into the hot tub. Much deserved! We made brownies and ice cream for the play-goers and relaxed. This was our one, peaceful time together all week.
DAY 6, Tues - REUNION - Big Springs
We got an even slower start this morning, and we didn't make it to our activity until about 12:30, Kate and Ethan's nap time. We found an old cabin, had a picnic next to it, took a short tour and fed the fish and birds some smooshed bread. The highlight was seeing a moose and her baby downstream. My babies were grumpy. It was hot, and they were bored.
This evening we all had homemade pizza and played cards. The cousins played tag outside.
DAY 7, Wed - Drive Home
We got on the road about 9am for our 10-hour trek home. This time our travels took us through the other side of the Tetons and through Jackson Hole. Beautiful and LONG. We got home about 7pm, made the kids help us unload, and put everyone to bed.
Whew. It was wonderful! We are tired, but I got all sad unpacking and doing the laundry today. I started planning this trip almost a year ago, and it was totally worth it. We saw everything we wanted to see... except bears. We were so careful camping, because... well, you know... but then to not get to see one at all, that was disappointing. Guess the Denver Zoo will just have to do. ;-)
Everyone should go to Yellowstone. It is truly amazing, and it isn't too crowded if you plan, plan, plan ahead!
