We had
til 11am on Thursday morning to clear out the cabin and we needed
every minute. Our plan was to spend the day exploring the southern loop of
Yellowstone and then spending the night in a hotel in West Yellowstone.
We were glad that Ray’s family decided to drive through West Yellowstone
on their way home and would hang out with us until we'd say our goodbyes at Old
Faithful. Again we were happy to pass the decision making off to someone
else and happily followed the Hipwells from place to place.
Besides
a few elk sightings we didn't see much animal life. It's funny how it
seems we have a better chance of seeing deer, bear, elk, coyotes, and even
cougars at home than in a national park famous for it.
Firehole
Falls
Justin’s
only other visit to Yellowstone was back when we were newly married and he went
with a few buddies over a weekend.
He remembers seeing families swimming in a river that was warmed by
nearby geysers. He envisioned his
future children having that same experience some day. As we drove by with our FIVE kiddos in packed in the minivan
he asked them if they wanted to come back the next day and go swimming – he
didn’t quite get the response he’d hoped.
But it does look fun and perhaps we’ll return someday.
We saw
lots of geysers on our way to Old Faithful.
Pictures
while walking around Grand Prismatic Spring – my favorite stop of the day
Justin
took a couple cool panoramic shots on his phone
While
we waited on Old Faithful we walked around the Old Faithful Inn
Old
Faithful
Carly
and Katie hung out with me and Drew at the Snow Lodge while the rest of
the gang went hiking around Old Faithful.
After
they returned it was time to say good-bye to Ray’s family and head to our hotel
in West Yellowstone. I’m so glad
they spent the day with us and hopefully we didn’t slow them down too much. After we checked into our hotel we
ordered pizza and then the kids played in the pool til it closed.
When we
woke up on Friday morning we still didn't have a plan for the day.
Before our vacation started I proposed that we take advantage of the
weekend and before heading home by visiting the Tetons, Jackson Hole, and
Rexburg. Justin didn't warm up to the idea til the day before we'd be
doing it and by then all the hotels were booked solid in Rexburg so instead we
decided to plow through and drive the whole way home that day. I was
bummed we didn't get to see more while we were so close but it was nice to get
home and have the weekend to unpack, and catch up on laundry and bills,
etc...
So what
about Drew? He was awesome! Our little guy is amazing. He was
cooped up in the car for hours and hours and hours. Was forced to drink
bottles when he’d much rather stop and nurse. Rarely did he lose his
patience. In fact there was a moment during our second day in Yellowstone
that he was crying and Cammy commented that that was the most she'd heard from
him all week. He didn’t get very many long naps during the day, but I'm
so grateful he slept great at night and didn't disturb anyone. He still
woke up once to eat, but he never cries, he just squeaks and fidgets til I get
up to feed him. For the most part he was fine with other people holding
him, but when he’s tired or hungry his mama is preferred, and I'm perfectly
fine with that.
We had
an awesome week! When we got in
the car to leave the reunion Abigail was really upset and exclaimed, “We might
as well move to Utah! Everyone
lives in Utah!” The kids had so
much fun with their cousins and made memories I hope they carry with them
forever. I hope we never go three
years without seeing them again!
My five siblings and I couldn’t be more different. We differ in pretty much every way
possible and we are all strong and stubborn in our opinions and beliefs. I’m so grateful though that we respect
each other enough to not let those differences interfere with enjoying each
other’s company. No one is there
to judge, criticize, preach or interfere.
I love and appreciate them for that and can’t wait for the Hipwell
Reunion in 2015!
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