Be prepared for at least a million pictures. We always take way too many, and I really have a hard time leaving them out!
We love hiking around in Yellowstone. One of our most favorite places to visit is Dragon's Cauldron. Sadly, our kids are getting old enough now that they are starting to question whether the "dragon" is really real. That was one of our first stops this trip.
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| Brielle |
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| The Girls |
Can't post about Yellowstone without some pictures of the hot pots!
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| My family |
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| Joe and Jordi |
Caleb loved his binoculars, they went everywhere with him. If only I could convince him to look through the right end.
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| Matt and Jenna |
Every day we stopped at a picnic area for lunch and to let the kids get their wiggles out. Yellowstone involves a whole lot of car time. Jacob found a pretty cool log bridge at this site.
Here he is pretending to be a bear.
Quality time with grandpa.
Cutest baby ever!
If any of you know Caleb, you know he runs everywhere he goes. Sometimes he gets going a little too fast. Then he falls and skids his face across the asphalt. Still doesn't slow him down though. That is one dirty face.
My girls and their Taylor. They seriously love this girl, they fought over her a lot. Most of the time I had to take her...just so they wouldn't fight over her. Or maybe just so I could have her for myself. ;)
My kids sure love their grandpa.
The scenery in Yellowstone is absolutely amazing. You really do get a little of everything there.
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| Matt and Taylor |
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| Caleb sure loves Jordi. She couldn't get a break from this kid! |
Picture time!
My boys are wild, and their dad only seems to make it worse. There was no normal hiking on this trip. Our hikes always involved swinging, kicking, jumping, or running up and down walls. It's okay though, they used up a lot of energy which really helped when they got back in the car.
My little rock climbers.
I had to laugh at all the matching going on. Between the two identical trucks, Matt and Charles' identical pants, Under Armour of course, and Jordi and Jenna's bright orange jackets, there was a lot of matchy matchy.
This little girly loves riding on people's shoulders. That's the only way she'll have anything to do with Charles.
Caleb got really good at tormenting Uncle Matt until he'd play with him.
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| Such a circus. |
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| Even Grandpa likes that dog. |
Not sure what my kids would have done without Samson to keep them entertained.
Grandpa enjoying the scenery.
And here's an awesome photo bomb by Chuck. Don't worry, I got him back.
Brooke and Jacob were trying to catapult each other with this fallen tree.
I'm surprised Charles didn't lose his pants here.
Old Faithful!
My three older kids all became Junior Rangers, and let me tell you, those packets are a lot of work! They never would've finished them if it weren't for their dad. I was no help.
Right down this path a little further are some round, tent like houses. Grandpa and Grandma were walking with Caleb and they asked him what they were. He said, "That's where the 'workers' live." They had to keep asking him what he'd said because every time he said "workers" it sounded like "hookers". So now, for the Balch family, that is where the hookers live. We are all still getting a good laugh out of that.
We had quite the crowd of people.
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| The three sisters in law. We look like we're on some sort of mission. |
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| I love how Jacob always wraps his arms around his sisters. |
I love grandkid pictures!
We totally took a picture with everyone together and I can't find it! They may all be on Jenna's camera. I'll have to get my hands on one.
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| Check out that photo bomb. |
I absolutely love this picture of Joe. Such a tourist!
Overall the trip went perfectly, the only set back we had was a set of keys locked in a truck. It was fine though because we went through the exact same thing last year, so we knew who to call. Ha! Two years in a row. I think its time we buy one of those tools.
This kid was worn right out.
Dinner in the car...crackers, cheese and pepperonis. Oh, and licorice.
Jenna sent us this picture when we were all on our way home. That poor puppy and baby were worn out. And probably really tired of getting mauled by my kids! But we sure loved having them around.
We had such a great time in Yellowstone this year. If only we could talk everyone in to going every time!! It was a great kick off to a very busy summer. Glad we got a trip in while we could!
