Yellowstone 2012

Lanessa wanted to take a mini vacation since she never leaves the house except to go to work.  So we decided to go to Yellowstone.  We begged Kunane to drive us and he graciouly accepted.  Later Clay and Gage got added to the group.  In the beginning we didn't know anything about Bear World but after doing some research we felt price would be worth it for the kids.  This was a very emotional trip for me as once again I am reminded that my children are all grown up.  Kunane, me, Davinn and Channing have gone to Yellowstone two different times and we have so many fun memories.  It was so sad for me to not have them with me, knowing that they probably never will be with me again in Yellowstone.  I realize all of this is dumb but for me it is all part of the empty nest thingy.  All in all though we had a real nice time.  I thought the kids were bored but when ask they never said anything bad about the trip.  We loved our cabin and Bear World the most.

The best part of Bear World is that you don't have to look for the animals.  They are just there.  The animals are obviously not wild but the kids didn't care.

I had so many bear pictures that is was hard to pick and choose which ones to use.  I knew I couldn't put in 25 pictures of bears though.

We really could have stayed all day just petting the animals.  They never tired of it, we did!!

\This beautiful picture is of Mesa Falls.  I had so many beautiful pictures but again had to pick the best one.

We loved our cabin.  We stayed in Island Park.  The cabin had so many cute things.  The kids loved being there and they always ask if they could go to the cabin.

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Kunane was a sweetheart and took us all out to breakfast.  I think he wasn't just being sweet he just wanted more to eat than toast and chocolate milk.  This place was really good and all homemade.

This is bubbling mud at Yellowstone.  I wish the video part would work cause I have such good pictures.

This was one of the funnest parts of the trip.  We let the kids swim in the Madison River.  It was so perfect cause the water was so shallow and just fast enough that they could float down it.

This is sorta a rock made from chemicals.  It is in Yellowstone and a beautiful creation.  Pictures do not do this justice.

On our way home we stopped several times to eat or to let the kids just play and get the kinks out.  Clay drank 4 milks at one setting.  It could have drank more but I was so scared of him throwing up in the truck that I made him stop.

Gage brought a stick with him so that he would make a sword or a fishing pole.  He is attempting to whittle this stick--what a cutie.

4th and last Grandma Debbie Camp



What a group and what a time we had.  This is the last group of the year.  This three have such a love of life and never want to miss out on anything.  They never tired and never got bored.  If the idea of boredom came they were out finding there own fun.  I was worn out all the time, sometimes just from watching them.  I had so many pictures and it was very hard to decide which ones to put on.  They loved having their picture taken and posed constantly.  I appreciate the parents who have raised these three little ones.  They all got along very well and I never had any issues with them.  Its my hope that they continue to be each others best friend as they grow older.

Before leaving Logan we stopped to eat and the restaurant of choice was A&W.  We all got rootbeer frosties to go with our meal.  Avery got a kids meal and we all thought it was pretty funny that we had big frosted mugs and Avery had a little paper cup.



One of the advantages of a kids meal is that you get a sucker.  Avery was feeling pretty proud.

I always take the kids shopping for their snacks.  We went to Smiths Marketplace because it was across the street from A&W.

On the way to Bear Lake we stopped at Ricks Springs.  It was a fun stop and so pretty.  We could have stayed longer.  The water was SOOOO cold and everyone dared each other to jump in but no one took the dare.  Again the posing was fun.

We ask a man that was there to take our pictures.  I never get to be in the pictures because I am always taking the pictures.  I used to not like my picture taken and still don't but now understand the importance of having pictures.

We rented this bike from the KOA campground.  It was lots of fun at first but then everyone got very tired.  The kids are not such good drivers.  Tanner about killed us all three different times.  Avery and Clay weren't much better.  We laughed a lot untill we got tired and then we just wanted to go back.

 After our tiring ride we all got Ice Cream bars.

We stayed at a place called 'Ideal Beach'.  It is so perfect is everyway except one.  The beaches were terrrible.  Muddy and smelly.  Here we were at beautiful Bear Lake and the kids never went in the water.  They lived in the swimming pools.  The place had two different pool and the most popular one had a diving board.

These are the 'some' of the snacks that we bought.  There is string cheese and chocolate milk also for a healthy option. LOL  We actually ended up eating this stuff for like 3 meals because they never wanted to leave to go get something to eat.

We ate at the famous 'Merlins' and loved the food as usual.  The restaurant has dollar meals taped to the ceiling from other people that have signed them.  I wish we would have done that with the other group but we never did.  So we got a dollar and Avery decorated it and we all signed it.  It will be fun to find it next year.

Tradition says that we have to put a puzzle together.  Good way to bond.  This is the puzzle we picked out.  Last year they did a disney puzzle also.

 The high lite of our stay was going to pickleville.  I was so worried because my oldest group didn't seem to like the play this year as well as the one last year.  But they did not disappoint me.  They LOVED it so much.  It was entertainment for me just to watch them laugh especially Clay.  That was the main converation from that point on.  It has become a favorite place for us. The kids also got the cast to sign their shirts.  Such a good idea and they thought is was wonderful

There is a playground on the site.  Any time we didn't have something to do this is where the kids headed.

After swimming most of the day we came into town and got pizza.  Very yummy!!   Notice the same shirts.  The kids never changed clothes for anything day or night.



Avery didn't want pizza so sweet grandma let her get Alfredo, which she ate about 1/4 of it--but thats okay.  Its Grandma Debbie Camp, Right!!!!



There was a miniture golf  on site.  It was kinda fun--too many people when we went.

Ice cream from the ice cream parlor on site, after miniture golf.



Before going to Bear Lake we stopped in Logan and got DVD's to watch.  It had already been planned ahead of time to get the whole series of "Fallen Skies".  It was lots of fun and this is what we did every night before going to bed.  I always feel asleep but they did pretty good.

On Sunday morning, we had nothing to do except wait to check out.  So the kids took my camera and found things to take pictures of.  I must say that they found some good subjects to take pictures.  I think Avery took these pictures but I'm not sure.