Bison Bison Everywhere

We saw HUNDREDS of bison at Yellowstone.  These pictures don't do justice.

Apparently all the bison in Yellowstone meet at this open field once a year.  We weren't informed, but it was quite incredible to see so many bison everywhere.  We also could see the little bison.  They were often right in the road and we could hear them grunting and glaring right at us...these guys are large and in charge!

An Awesome Hike

In the land of Bethany...the words "awesome" and "hike" do not coincide int he same sentence.

I don't like to hike.

But this one was awesome.

The animals right next to the trail.

 Me feeling a great sense of accomplishment as I overlook the beautiful views.

 Selfies with a big horned sheep.

 Beauties of the Earth.

 And on the way down, the kids (and the babysitters...thank you my dear family for all the times you watched and helped watch my children...it meant a lot to me, especially on this hike) met up with us as they did a "mini" version of the hike.  Molly was glad to see me.

Feeding the Bears

At Yellowstone, just outside of our condo, was the Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center.  It was a lot of fun to go and see those animals up close.  Honestly my favorite part was waking up every morning to the wolves howling just out my window.  Seriously, I loved it.

OK, maybe it was my SECOND favorite part.  The first was the experience at the Discovery Center where the kids got to feed the bears.

They took the bears out, let the kids in with a bucket of food, the kids hid the food under rocks, threw an apple in the water for the bears, the kids left, and the bears came in to search out their food.

 I admit, it was quite sad (and hilarious for me not the kids).  It was freezing and raining.  We ran in to buy ponchos in case it rained since it was going on and off.  Eric decided that it wasn't worth it for a poncho....and then of course as soon as the kids had to go out there it didn't rain...it POURED.  Poor, poor Trey.  But it was still fun for them all.

Below: Here's Eden waving "HI!"  She's of course the last of the bunch cause she's just not one to rush.  She enjoyed placing the food strategically under rocks and hidden away

 Here are the bears scavenging for their food after the kids left.

Molly and Leila were a bit sad because kids under five couldn't feed the bears and it was cold and rainy (we at least got to be under a covering outside so we didn't get wet)...but then they were plenty happy when their aunts came to the rescue with treats.  They know how to make my kids happy.

 This is the kids outside trying to be scary bears.

Bring On the HEAT!

And the smell...

Nose plugging, Eden and Leila style.

Yes, they plug their noses by sticking two fingers up their nostrils...stylin'.

 There were awesome hot pots everywhere that were all different shapes, sizes, and colors.

 Some were still, some boiled and bubbled.

 Some were muddy.

 Some let off steam.

 And some...like the dear Old Faithful, BURST.

 Above:  Ramona, Leila, Miriana, and Ting-Ting...LOVE having cousins.

 Above:  Brayden, Leila, McKell, and Eden acting scared while listening to the sounds that came from Dragon's Mouth.

Proof That at Least HALF of My Family is Awesome

One of the days, we went to Mack's Inn to go float down the river.  We had a BLAST (with the exception at the very end it started to rain and was freezing cold).  Although, we were definitely separated into the "cool boat" and the "uncool boat".  My boat was the uncool one...in case you were wondering

But we had our reasoning, all the people who were uninterested in being splashed were on that boat.

But I later proved that I too can be cool.

The proof came when the first boat (the uncool boat) went right past the rope swing.  In all honestly, it looked pretty lame and it was.  So, we floated on past while the second boat (the cool boat) stayed to at least try it out.

The first boat floated and floated and eventually saw a little bank to stop at.  We hopped out in the shallow water and hung out a while.  Then my sister, Becca, and I decided to join the cool crowd.  We hiked, upstream, in waist high (or higher) water on sharp rocks...until we finally reached the cool boat to see what they were up to.

This is what we saw...

My mom (and neighbor Carolyn whom we don't have a picture) being awesome.

 Eden and cousin, Mirianna, being awesome.  (Eden was scared, but she totally made it into the "awesome" club!)

 My sister, Laura, being awesome...

 My sister, Emily, and brother-in-law, Kelly, being awesome.

(as well as all the other cool boat dwellers being awesome)

 So...naturally, Becca and I had to join in and be awesome with them.

 Here's the "uncool boat".  But we still love them.  It was fun to lounge with them (several of them took the opportunity to nap in the sun during our trip downstream).

 The "cool boat" who all jumped in, were thrilled during shallow areas to hop out and drag the boat, and bask in the adventure.

In the end, our whole family is awesome.  (But you have to admit that some of them proved it better than others.)

Be Prepared...

 ...Several posts of our AWESOME trip to Yellowstone soon to come.

How could it NOT be awesome with a family like this?