Hipwell Family Reunion – Part Five

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!

Hipwell Family Reunion – Part Four

We woke up Wednesday not sure how to spend our last full day.  Ty, Robyn, and Brenda's families had all left and Ray was taking Savanna on a half-day horseback ride.  My Mom and Val wanted to drive up to the Sawtelle Summit.  So that left our family, Lee, and Cammy and Jayden.  We thought about either floating the river, driving down to Rexburg (just our family), or heading into Yellowstone.  A quick vote and the northern loop of Yellowstone was the plan for the day.

We let Lee be our guide and followed him throughout the park.  He was a great guide.  I was worried our van full of kids wouldn't be able to keep up with the rest of them, but we managed quite well.  Both Lee and Cammy are super helpful and loving to our kids so that made the day much more enjoyable.

Our first stop was to eat our picnic lunch.  It was there that the kids had their first encounter with Yellowstone wildlife.

I’m afraid I wasn’t very good about keeping track of what I was taking pictures of, I’m pretty sure these were taken at the Gibbon Falls.

We stopped right along the side of the road for our first geyser.  Besides Justin, Lee, and myself this was the first geyser EVER for everyone else, including my sister-in-law Cammy.

Shortly afterward we had our first bison sighting as we were driving down the road.

It was fun to look through Lee’s binoculars at what I’m guessing was Roaring Mountain.  I think we counted five different areas where steam was coming out of the mountain.

Mammoth

Some cool rock somewhere (help me out here Chrystie!)

I thought this mountain and its strip of rock formation was pretty cool.

It usually takes Katie a little while to warm up to new people, which is frustrating when she has so many people willing to love on her, but once she decides your cool she'll be your best buddy.  She attached quickly to Brooklyn.  She picked up right where she left off with my Mom and Val and followed Val around the cabin all week and happily announced his entrance into a room with open arms.  Her aunts and uncles took some time though.  When we were hiking to the brink of the lower falls Lee saved our sanity by offering to carry Katie on his shoulders the whole way.  From that moment he became her friend and she kept close tabs on him the rest of the day.   It was quite the hike back up, but the extra weight seemed to hardly phase Lee.  When he set her down, after being carried the whole way, she cracked us up when she exclaimed how tired her legs were - silly girl!

While we were in the car we encouraged the kids to watch for wildlife by awarding them points for each unique sighting.  Abigail was happy to keep tally.  She also kept track of all the different license plates we were able to find.  I think we ended up spotting 39 out of 50 states.  

My favorite of the day - Artist Point

I had no idea we would be gone ALL day.  We were at Artist Point around 7pm and I thought for sure we'd be heading back toward West Yellowstone for dinner and then head back to the cabin in Island Park, but then Lee suggested we drive through Hayden Valley where we were bound to see some animals (which he was right about) and then he suggested we continue onto Fishing Bridge for dinner.  The kids were doing amazing so we were up for whatever our designated guide decided, as crazy as his plan many have been. 

Crossing Fishing Bridge

A large herd of elk

We didn’t get back to the cabin til after 10:30pm that night, but it was such a fun day and I'm so glad we were able to spend it with family.

Hipwell Family Reunion – Part Three

My personal family still eats off of plates my family made at family reunions when I was growing up.  Some have just our names on it, but others have my actual drawings on them. I think it is such a fun memento, but it would have cost me hundreds of dollars to replicate so I had to knicks the idea.  A friend of mine posted a picture on Facebook recently of t-shirts her kids created with sandpaper and crayons.  I bought all the supplies not quite knowing if it would actually work.  On Monday morning the kids worked on their designs. Katie's shirt was the first I put to the test and thankfully, it turned out just as intended. Everyone seemed to enjoy the activity and have something personal to take home.

Another popular activity for the kids was playing on various gaming devices.  We brought our DS for the long drive, but the kids didn’t use them during the reunion.  Jason enjoyed watching the other kids play though.

My brother Lee is an avid outdoorsman.  He volunteered to take any interested kids on an overnight backpacking trip.  Abigail was really excited to go.   Monday morning Lee made sure the kids had all the equipment they would need.  We borrowed a backpack from our friends that worked out perfectly for Abigail.  The backpackers left the cabin shortly after lunch and didn't return til the following afternoon. 

Packed up and ready to go!

Back at the cabin things were MUCH quieter without all those tweens and teens.  Justin and I watched a movie with Brenda, Robyn, and Cammy after preparing a simple dinner.  I loved that there was always someone willing to hold Drew or help Katie if she needed something.  Here Robyn is entertaining Drew with a little Baby Einstein on her iPad while Justin and I got dinner ready.

It was so fun to watch Katie and Brooklyn together.  Besides church Katie doesn’t get a lot of interaction with kids her age.  She loved Brooklyn the moment they met.  Brooklyn would walk into a room and Katie would run to her with open arms.  I love that they had each other to play with all week!

Apparently the backpackers hiked about a mile and a half along the river near Mesa Falls and then set up camp.  Lee packed in hot dogs and s'mores for the night and each of the kids packed a small and easy breakfast.  The kids were all excited and stinky when they returned to the cabin while the adult campers seemed to be exhausted.  I'm so grateful that Lee was willing to take on all those kiddos and let them get a small taste of something he is so passionate about.  Abigail has already talked to him about wanting to do it again at the next reunion.

We had just enough time after the campers got back on Tuesday to head down to the lake for a few hours before our evening plans.  Justin and I were able to sneak out on the two person kayak for a little while and both Katie and Jason went out on the kayaks with Justin as well.  The lake was so low that Justin and Jason were able to make it across the lake.

After showers we all headed to Mack's Inn for the Cowboys & Petticoats dinner show.  Most of the kids wore their reunion shirts but unfortunately I never did get a picture of all the kids wearing their creations.  I did get this little gem…

Can you see Fox’s determination in the middle?

The show was lots of fun and I loved looking down our long table and seeing so many of my family members.  

Abigail was singled out during the show by one of the actors when he asked for her number. Oh my, she was embarrassed! But I think she also loved it.  I'm sure before I know it boys really will be calling on her.

Abigail’s admirer on the left