Camping in Yellowstone....

We just got back from a really fun trip! We went camping just outside of West Yellowstone, MT. Scott's extended family goes there every year and he took me while we were dating. But we haven't been back since. So this year we decided to go. Lots of lessons were learned and we were saved by the rest of our family's preparedness!

We start the trip off at the grocery store because I left the sausages out all night and we HAD to have sausages for breakfast every morning!

We get to Montana and find our tent site. Scott diligently starts putting up the tent while I am getting stuff ready for dinner. This is when we realize that maybe having a baby who crawls to go camping with you isn't the smartest idea... But we can deal with this. Then as we are unpacking we realize that I didn't bring any pillows. hmmm.... Then as we are putting our sleeping bags out we realize that I didn't plan enough padding to cover the rocks underneath us. Then we just plain realize that I shouldn't have prepared us at all since I am pregnant and just can't remember ANYTHING!!! Oh well... we will just deal.

We woke to a very cold morning (about 40). As we couldn't have any campfires because it was so dry... Dallin decides that he needs to sit in the car with the heater on while we make the hot chocolate and breakfast! Silly boy!

After the most miserable night of any of our lives, we realize that we ought not to bring a teething child that doesn't sleep through the night camping. This is how we ALL felt the next day.

But we pushed through and decided we were GOING to have fun even if it was the last thing we did!!!! So we went into Yellowstone Park and went to Old Faithful first thing. I had been hearing that Old Faithful wasn't as faithful as he used to be... but he was right on time for us! It was really cool! Then we had lunch and ice cream. And went to see some really beautiful geysers!

Josh... Oh Josh... If I weren't married to your cousin - I would marry you! Josh loaned us an inflatable mattress and Scott's aunt loaned us a couple of pillows that they weren't using. We were in seventh heaven!!! Even Maggie didn't sleep horribly!

The next day we went to Wade Lake with the family. It was a great day of playing in the water, watching our kids have the time of their lives and just relaxing by a beautiful lake in the middle of nowhere made of ice cold glacier water!

It is seriously in the middle of nowhere! I don't really know how anyone actually discovered this place! But it's wonderful!! Of course the first thing that Dallin goes for is throwing rocks. He even throws them backwards!

Then he tries his hand at balancing... hmmmm....

He wants to go on a floaty thing (don't remember what they are called). He must wear a "light jacket" in order to be safe. Unfortunately for him they only had a pink one in his size! Nice face!!Meanwhile Maggie and Uncle Mike are getting along famously!! I think he needs to be a grampa!! I told that to Shannon and she agrees with me! Now we just need to get the married ones in on it!!

Did you notice the horse in the background? Oh... I mean the dog! That is Cooper. He is huge and Dallin absolutely loves him! He even prayed over dinner one night that we would be able to go to Cooper's house that night.

Ok... Who is your mother that she would allow you to suck on a Red Vine??!!!???!!???

Dallin did fall into the water while playing and patiently waiting his turn on the floaty thing. Instead of helping a son out what do I do??? Click, Click, Click.... naughty mommy!!

Dallin did get out in the floaty thing with Daddy. Whoever was in charge of these forgot the paddles, so they are kicking with their feet and holding onto a rope that was teathered to Shannon's chair (without her knowing). I think there was a conspiracy to get her into the icy water!!

Overall, we had a wonderful weekend. Camping in the mountains ~ freezing in the mornings ~ grateful we woke up in the morning and not been eaten by a bear ~ learning not to let a pregnant lady get a family ready ~ probably ought to think about the timing of teething and overnight adventures that wake others.

Just a cute shot of Maggie at the lake. She looks a little goofy with only one top front tooth. I keep telling her to get the other one in...

Oh - and last but not least. Very interesting story here. This is called Earthquake Lake (or Quake Lake). Some time ago there was this earthquake that pulled down a lot of a mountain. It stopped the Madison River and made this lake. It is just very odd to look into this lake and see what used to be all these trees! Very eery...

So camping in Yellowstone! We had the very worst of times and the very best of times! I guess you really do need to experience the utter depths of the hot place in order to appreciate the euphoria of being in the middle of nature with the people that you love the absolute most in the world! Can't wait to do it again next year!