Yellowstone

On Thursday we all went to Yellowstone together.  We went in multiple cars and it seemed that at every stop the kids all switched cars.  At our first stop some of the kids were playing on this log and we were able to get everyone lined up.  Grant, of course, did not want to take a picture.

We was soon feeling better when he got to carry Grandma's bag.

We went to the top of the waterfall to see the water rush down.  By the way, we got Grant's hat at the horse back riding ranch.

We went on a short hike to a see another smaller waterfall.

Someone told us there was a buffalo sleeping in the trees not too far away so we went to check it out.

There he was just sleeping in the bushes.

When we got back to the car this elk was standing near the parking lot eating grass.  Grant was excited to show everyone.

Then we went to the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone, I love this view.  That is the waterfall that we were at the top of in the first pictures.  We were on the other side of the canyon though.

It was close to lunch and Grant was done, but everyone else looks good.

I caught this cute picture of Claire and Taylor walking back to the car.

On the way to lunch there was a buffalo by the side of the road.  Grant wanted to stop to see it since he didn't go on the hike to see the other one.  There were lots of cars stopping to take pictures.

We had lunch at the lodge at Yellowstone and then convinced the kids to take another picture.  In the background is Yellowstone Lake.  Here they all are in age order:  Landon (10), Andrew (10), Isabel (8.5), Elaina (7), Claire (7), Mia (6), Taylor, (6), Chris (5.5), Mackenzie (4), Grant (3.5), Mateo (2.5).  I love this picture!

Then we went to see more Geo-thermal sites on the lake.  

At this one, the water is very blue, but it was really steamy hot and stinky.  The next picture shows the pool, but it was so much bluer in person.

We finally made it to Old Faithful and had to wait about 30 minutes for the next eruption.  It was really hot, so we had to go and find some water while we waited in the hot sun.

I wanted to see another area that was near Old Faithful, but no one else did, so they stayed in the car. I love how still the water is and that you can see the reflection of the mountain in the water.

One last stop before we went home, was at Grand Prismatic Spring.  We weren't able to go to this last summer because there was no where to park.  Luckily it was late in the day and we got a spot.  Erik and Lisa ended up stopping there too.  This picture doesn't do it justice.  The pool is huge and the edges are bright red, yellow and orange and then the colors transition to blue and green at the center.

The hot water with algae runs off into the river.

We tried to do a cute picture, but we got lots of silly.

Back home for dinner, we all took turns making a dinner and a breakfast. 

And then, all gathered around Grandma's ipad for something fascinating.

Even though we had seen some of these sites last summer, it was still fun to see them with our cousins again.