Yellowstone July 6-10, 2013

We went to Firth, Idaho to visit my grandparents on the way to Yellowstone. Nelson is always chomping at the bit to go there because they have their own man-made pond that my grandpa stocks with fish. The canoe is just sitting next to it. It's a man's dream.

My grandpa teaching them how it's done. We always cook up the fish and eat it right after. I eat like a bite and call it good.

Winston and Coleman. Anytime Winston isn't hitting Coleman then it's a good time.

Coleman fell asleep while in the backpack during the fish-fry so I let him snooze in the trailer.

We made it to Yellowstone the next day and stayed at Madison campground. We went to a stream nearby and played in the water for awhile. Nelson caught a sssssnake. Yes, it did bite him.

Mammoth Hot Springs. We got a warning on our truck because we apparently parked incorrectly. Love Yellowstone, hate the strict rules. Annoying.

 

Nelson and Evy walking into a river that had a hot springs that ran into it. It was running pretty fast so I was a little nervous. I kept Coleman with me.

 Nelson and Evy. She thought it was great.

 

What I love about these places is how caught off guard you are with how hot the water is coming into it. You don't expect it.

 

Nelson carries Evy a lot because she's a slow poke. She stops to get rocks out of her shoes or pick her toes. (Her favorite past time)

 My kids slept anytime we got in the car because we wore them out. Plus they stayed up late every night.

 

My mom's 60th birthday dinner. We cooked in dutch ovens. Nelson and Casey are looking at a camp cookbook. Casey did most of the cooking.

 

My Momma is 60! Love my Mommy.

 

Vera, Casey and Coleman

Coleman loved to run around the campground.

My mom played a fishing game with the kids and let them pick toys. They loved it.

 

Coleman got a bunch of dinosaurs.

 

Eating my mom's birthday cakes. I made those in the dutch ovens too. I prepare it and let the boys cook it.

We took a small hike the next day to a waterfall/creek. Nelson carrying Evy across the log.

Nelson and Taggert below the waterfall.

Holly and Coleman. It looks like he's scared here. Don't be fooled. He's mad because he wanted right in that waterfall and I am restraining him.

Some bumps on a log. We are watching the boys get under the waterfall.

Ice cream in Yellowstone is an absolute must.

We took a 2 hour walk around the back of Old Faithful. Besides our kids whining towards the end, we loved it. There were so many geysers hiding back there.

We were lucky enough to watch one go off and it sprayed us. It felt fabulous. Nelson and Coleman.

Evy and Kate

We saw a bear print next to the trail. Closest we got to seeing a bear.

Nelson was carrying Coleman in the backpack. Coleman was drinking a bottle. When he was done, he decided to chuck it as far as he could. That's what is floating in this hot pot. Nelson was going to go get it but Matt advised him it probably wasn't worth melting to death. We told a ranger so he could fetch it out so it didn't pollute the hot pot. That little stinker. We all yelled, "Nooooo!" as it flew in the air. Ha ha.

My little fam. Please enjoy my socks with capris. Most often I choose comfort over fashion, especially when camping.

Matt was sick for 1 1/2 of the days but was a trooper and stuck through it.

Evy near the Morning Glory Pool.

Bear Lake for the 4th of July

We went up to the cabin on July 3rd. We forgot to pack Coleman's port-a-crib so we got the pleasure of sharing a bed with him. That kid is all over the place at night. He kicked me in the face several times.

We drove to Paris, Idaho to watch the parade. I have come to enjoy small town parades. The best thing about them is you can find a good seat 5 minutes before the parade starts and you get tons of candy.

Coleman and Gene

Coleman playing with Aunt Camille.

I caught Karlene drinking the cream that was leftover from making ice cream. I promised I wouldn't share this picture but it's the best ever.

Sawyer, Evy and Linley enjoying the fireworks.

Nelson and Taggert

Connie and Toby

Coleman was nice enough to dump a big glass of water on my bed and all over me right as we were going to bed. Oh joys.

May - June 2013

We finished Joyschool for the year and we will start again in September.

We drove down to Hogle Zoo with our joyschool group for our last day. Evy loved the carousel.

They each wore animal tails and hats. Darling.

Coleman

It was pouring rain which wasn't so bad because it covered up the fact that Evy peed her pants. :)

Plus, she loved playing in the rain and 90% of the people left. We practically had the place to ourselves.

 

We have been going up to Smithfield Canyon for weinie roasts. It's so close by. It's great.

We stayed up there overnight in our trailer to try it out for the first time. Learning how to empty the crapper was the most fun indeed. We also broke both our tail lights. We are learning.

Evy started gymnastics. She thinks she is amazing. Hopefully she isn't like me; I could never do a cartwheel to save my life.

We went to the Summerfest at the Logan Tabernacle. Evy got her face painted with her usual butterfly. Nelson got an Aggie's poster he loves.

Evy's enjoying her kiddie pool. I caught her skinny dipping one afternoon.

We finally got grass! I have raked rocks for the last two years in preparation. Nelson used to call me "the rock lady." We had so much help from family and neighbors. It took about 3 hours.

We took our trailer out this weekend for a big outing in the Uintahs with our friends the Kimbers.

Mirror Lake

Amber was saying how hot it was when Robin would chop wood so I told Nelson to do the same. Ha ha.

Amber and Robin are turbo grillers. We had some good food.

Holly and Evy at Provo Falls. The last time we came here I was very pregnant with Evy.

We hiked to Bonnie Lake. Evy asked who Bonnie was so I told her it was the lady of the lake. When we got there she was so obsessed with Bonnie, whom she decided was a mermaid, that we had to sing to her to get her to come out. I threw rocks in the lake and Evy was sure it was her fins saying hello.

Coleman and Avery. Our kids were so dirty.

Avery and Evy watching Nelson fish. They took the girls fishing in the canoe a lot and Evy reeled in her own fish. She still doesn't like to touch the fish though, unlike Avery who will kiss it on command.