Our Family Vacation to Yellowstone!

We FINALLY did it! We have been talking about taking the kids to Yellowstone for 3 years, and this year we finally did. We took off late Saturday afternoon, and went to Jackson, we stayed in cabins and the kids LOVED it. (So much that they were up until after midnight that night) This is our adorable children sitting in front of their cabin in Jackson. We left this morning, and headed to Yellowstone to spend the day.

This is in Yellowstone, and happens to be our only picture with all of us together (thanks to a sweet lady who volunteered to take it). We Loved how pretty everything in Yellowstone was. What a way to enjoy what our Heavenly Father has given us!

Here is Jody and the crew. They just happened to sit on the bench in order of age, and I loved the picture. This is, of course, us waiting for OLD FAITHFUL to go off. The weather was PERFECT, warm with a slight breeze. The kids loved walking around to see all geysers around Old Faithful, before driving on.

One of the many stops we made to look at beautiful water falls, canyons, or animals. Sure LOVE these sweet things!

After we were done in Yellowstone, we arrived (very late) to the KOA cabin in Cody Wyoming. We basically just crashed wherever we landed, and rested up for our day in Cody.

We went to the HUGE museum that I remembered as a kid going to. The kids enjoyed all of the cool things this place had to offer.

We all took a picture to see how we compared to the stature of Buffalo Bill, and then my sweet teenage boy picked up his little sister so she could feel tall and proud. I thought this picture was cute!

Here is Jody and me and Danica, sitting outside of the museum, resting up for the trip back to Jackson Hole.

First stop on the way back, was the Buffalo Bill Dam. It was very cool to look at if you aren't a tiny bit terrified of walking or being on things that have nothing below them. Needless to say, everyone enjoyed the view but me! Still, it was a beautiful place to visit.

Our trip back through Yellowstone the second time gave us the up close and personal experience with the Buffalo. They were everywhere, and we loved it. We took lots of pictures, and watched them for quite a while. Other animals we saw this trip were elk, coyotes, fish, birds, but to Jody's dismay, NO bear. For your info, we also got 44 of the 50 states playing the liscense plate game.

After making it back to Jackson, and staying in the same cabins we did our 1st night, we woke up to spend our last day in Jackson Hole before driving home. We went on a very large Tram, that takes you up, up, up to the top of the Tetons. It was beautiful once you got there, and to most of us, the ride up was great too, but not really for me because of that same fear previously mentioned. This is a picture of us waiting to get on the tram and go up.

We took the opportunity of being at the top of the Tetons, to take a few pictures of everyone. Couldn't ask for a more beautiful background.

Kaden

Tyce

Danica

Paige

Ali

And me and Jody

Our next stop was the Alpine Slide, which was a favorite for the kids. It was fun to ride up the mountain on the ski lift, and then ride down this track on a sled. All Danica could say was Go Faster Mom! It was a lot of fun.

Our final stop in Jackson was to watch the shoot our they do in the street every evening, and then we ventured HOME. We had a GREAT time, and are so happy for the time spent together with family, and the memories made. It was a great way to end the summer.

The kids are now back in school, and the boys have started soccer, and the girls will be starting clogging. Back to a routine which is good in a way. It is a little different for me and Danica to have to house to ourselves all day, but we're finding plenty to do. I have started couponing again, which keeps me busy, and Danica now gets to be my shopping buddy. We also welcomed 5 new baby kitties to the crew, and the kids are in love with them. Jody is seeing the light at the end of the tunnel with school, he will be done in November, and we are all looking forward to seeing him a little more.

It has been an AMAZING summer, FULL of many adventures and time together. We are truly blessed and grateful for all we have!!!