Island Park 2012

This last Christmas my parents told us that we were heading to Island Park for 8 days! I so love looking forward to a trip and all the planning and prep that goes into it. I honestly think that is half the fun. We stay in a 3 story cabin chuck full of a lot of personality. We had done this trip before, three years ago, so we knew what to expect and knew how to make the most of it. This time my parents invited some friends to come on down from Washington State and spend the week in the next door cabin. It was so fun to catch up with the Kretzer's. They are our old neighbors and moved out of state when I was like 4 years old. Since then my parents have kept in good touch and they take turns visiting back and forth with them. Last time I saw them was 13 years ago. We went up for their oldest daughter Jenny's Wedding.  I did not get my camera out enough and only got pics of her two kids.  I totally forgot to get pics of their whole family. Jenny is my brothers age and has two kids with Lincoln. Jacob is my age and he is a butt and did not come. Then their is Christopher who is my sisters age and he came with his cute new wife Alicia. They are seriously a super funny family to hang with and we had a great time hanging with them.

So first thing Monday we were so excited to get back into Yellowstone. We spent two days in the park caravanning with my parents and Bryan and his kids. I think the hi-lite was swimming in Fire Hole with Bryan and hos kids. Bryan had been several times and knew of the spot to cliff jump. Well Bryan, Rich, Zoe and Kaleb cliff jumped and got all the onlookers cliff jumping. It was so fun! Then some "fun hater" came and said it was illegal and he was gonna tattletale on us to a Park Ranger. Just as we were leaving sure enough the Park Ranger showed up. Again, no pics. I need to steal my parents camera they got all the good shots.

Tuesday picnicking inYellowstone look what Logan found across the street:

 Then you give a kid a camera and what does he do??? Yep, takes a picture of the pooping buffalo!

Nicole and Rob joined forces with us after lunch and we explored and tried to solve a still unsolved mystery of Rich's. He swears that when we visited Yellowstone in 2007 that he went to some lodge that had a baby grande piano playing with big picture windows of the sunset. For the life of us could not figure out where the crap this lodge that he is talking about is.  He even had Park Rangers helping him solve the mystery. So after striking out at another lodge and dragging the caravan a little further than I believe they wanted to go we headed back to Island Park to get back for dinner at the cabin. We then got caught in a traffic accident for 3.5 hours.

Two girls stuck in traffic:

Boo hoo what better place to be "stuck" than in Yellowstone. Rather than go with stop and go traffic for that long we pulled off and Rich and Logan took off down to the river to fish. They were so excited. I was left with Demi, Zoe and Nellie. We started watching a movie, which then killed the battery. So then we walked down to some water falls just right up the road and saw the sights. We got lucky and found a bathroom too. Luckily I had an emergency water stash in  the car and left over granola bars which held us over since it was dinner time. I don't think we got back to the cabin until after 10 pm. But before we knew it traffic was moving and it was all a good memory.

Movie time in the car:

Wednesday we did an all day fishing trip. It started at a "kid fishing pond" and ended up being horrible with no results. So after 2- 3 hours we threw in the towel and headed for a good picnic spot.

On the fish day I myself enjoyed my book and played with Nellie. I am not much of a fisher and just enjoyed hanging with Rich and the kids!























Rich stopped to get some ideas on renting a boat and where to fish. The kids and I took advantage of this photo opp























The picnic spot was Mesa Falls. This was the moment that Nellie had had it. I think with all the driving in the car she was done. We were wearing her out.  After much coaxing we got her out of the car and carried her on a short walk to the falls and an old Lodge. I love visiting these old sights with the old lodges and reading up on the history.

I love this picture of Logan taking in the waterfalls, what is he thinking?
















 Rileigh and Rich
















Logan and Rich
















Thursday was a down day and we spent some time at the cabin. Some of us went four wheeling, mtn. biking, played bocce ball and took in a run. While the rest of us just enjoyed a good porch sittin' time. The kids played badminton and horsehoes. Friday we swam at the Island Park Village pool with the kids while the men played frisbee golf.(Again no pics)

Saturday we went into West Yellowstone and took a visit to the local Museum. Again, I so loved reading up on the history and watching some video clips. The fire of 1988 was unreal to watch the video as it took over the forest right near Old Faithful Lodge.The footage on tape was taken by the firefighters and you can hear the panic in their voices.

 That night we celebrated Logan and Rileigh's 9th Birthday.

I started making this blasted pinata' on Tuesday and it was all worth it. The kids helped too of course. I love watching them get so excited to break the stupid thing. Rich had them blind folded and was standing on the deck moving it up above their heads so they barely could get a good crack at it!

Nellie at a chance to smack the pinata'

 Logan the Birthday Boy!

 Rileigh the Birthday Girl:

 This was Nellie AFTER we started singing Happy Birthday to Logan and Rileigh. She had a major melt in the middle of the song and wanted it to be her Birthday too! She does not understand why Logan and Rileigh get a Birthday together and not her too!!! So we abruptly stopped singing to give her a candle too. Ooh what a happy girl!

 Happy Birthday to You and You!

 Rileigh asked for an easel, pictured below and Logan got a remote controlled helicopter (no Picture).

 Phew it was a whirlwind of a week and I am sad it has come and gone. Thanks Mom and Dad! Can we go to Costa Rica and sit on the Beach next time?  wink wink!