Exploring Yellowstone Park

 We finally got the chance to go to Yellowstone Park.  We'd wanted to go for awhile since Casey had never been and I knew the kids would love it.  I'm so glad April was on top of things and got it planned for us to go with her and Casey's grandpa Stark.

Here's the bunch of us starting our adventure.

What was Maia here to see?

Ah, yes,...the ANIMALS!

And we DID see animals!

Here are some elk right up close.  

We also saw an eagle, deer, buffalo (one walking in the driving lane right next to us!), and even a bear, although it was far away.  But I'm good with bears being far away.  :)

There was a little bit of a downpour at the end of the day.  We were SOAKED before we got back to the car.  But Maia decided it was a good camping shower. 

We walked a bunch of the trails... 

And FINALLY made it to Old Faithful.  

The kids had been impatiently waiting to see this.

But they saw it right up front!

Then we explored the Old Faithful Inn.

What a neat building!  So glad they were able to save it from the fire.

Maia decided she liked her great-grandpa.  She'd hold his hand and move her camping chair next to his.     I even heard her run up to him and say, "I love you!"  He didn't hear her and said, "What?"  "I LOVE YOU!!!"  He smiled and told her he loved her too, and she ran off.  

So I guess it was mutual.  :)

We rushed back the last day so the kids could swim in the lake we camped next to.  They found they could catch minnows with their hands and had a blast.  Of course, Maia also caught a leach in her bathing suit!  Ewww!  At least it didn't catch her!

We ate a ton of smores, held our breath as we went in stinky outhouses, cursed the squirrels that woke us up early, saw a good chunk of Yellowstone Park and had a great adventure!  Isn't it always fun to be with family in the great outdoors?