Yellowstone & Camping

The last weekend in June we talked my sister Lacie and her cute little family into coming up and visiting us.  We made the most out of our time and took the kids to the Rexburg Splash Park while the boys went fishing Friday night.  

 Sat morning we were up bright and early ready to take on Yellowstone National Park.  It was a beautifully HOT day, with a few occasional rain storms but we had a blast!  The kids were more than a little sick of being stuck in the backseat for most of the day but that just meant they enjoyed the times we got out to walk around that much more :)  They were super awesome sports and we were able to enjoy seeing a lot of the park. 

And we're off!  So grateful to Dillon's parents for letting us borrow their Suburban so we could all be in one car.

Ignore the 'Leaving.'  We really were entering the Park, there was just too big of a line to get a picture taken on the other, 'Entering' side :)

Elk off in the distance

Buffalo!

Out of the carseat!!! :)

Using Uncle Dillon's binoculars to get a better look at the Buffalo

Sofia wanted to try

Such a cute girl!

Our boys

Luke did NOT like the smell and literally plugged his nose the entire time we were walking around here

Trying not to die of heat stroke waiting for Old Faithful

TOO hot!

Picnic time!

Hmmm... I think he's spent a little too much time around his Uncle Dillon.  He may or may not be addicted :)

Beautiful Yellowstone Lake

Half way through the day and all tuckered out

Luke LOVED the water falls and kept asking to see more

I seriously can't get enough of these kids! {love} them!

Being silly while getting a 'horsey ride'

 

Yes we did get to see a little bear cub.  And yes, the kids were scared to death from the back seat of the car.  Yes I hurried and took this picture from the car window while the kids were screaming to get away from the bear.  And yes, as we drove away we saw this little guys mama hiding in the trees.

Just hanging out in town

This was the coldest part of the day.  I stayed long enough to get my picture taken and hurried back to the car while the boys went exploring in the wind and rain while Lacie and I sat in the warm car eating cookies with the kiddos :)

So close we could have touched him!

And they were done :)

Once we had had enough and sufficiently wore the kids out, we grabbed some dinner in West Yellowstone and started the drive back South to find a little place to camp for the night.  We were able to find us a nice little spot and get everything set up before dark.  The kids LOVED being out of the car and LOVED that we were camping.  They had been asking since Friday night when we were going to be camping and we had finally made it!  

Roasting s'mores and starbursts... the best part of camping

Early morning camping glory!  At least Luke is cute :)

Who needs sand?  Dirt works great!

Mmmm... dutch oven breakfast!

She kinda likes her Uncle Dillon.  Kinda.

Bubbles!

Haha, fake sleeping!

Acorn baseball.  Never heard of it?  It's pretty great!

After some breakfast and campsite play time, he went with the boys to try their luck fishing in Henry's Lake.

After cooling off in the water and only catching a leech (on Jake's leg) it was time for another adventure.  We headed back to camp where we packed everything up and headed back toward home.  We couldn't be done yet tho and took a slight detour to Big Springs to see the big fish and have another little picnic.

Checking out the big fish under the bridge

Having a blast chasing birds

Luke is such a good brother to push his sissy around :)

Next on the list.....a nap for the Bastows on the way home.

Well everyone but Luke :)

Once we made it home safe and sound we had Dillon cook us up some dinner of dutch oven chicken, potatoes and cobbler that we didn't get to while camping.  Then it was time to say goodbye to the Bastow family :(

We had SO much fun and were SO sad to see them go!  

But thank you for the amazing time Lacie and Jake and kiddos.  We loved every minute of it!!

And, we're ready for another camping trip whenever you guys are :)