Moving Camp

With how big and with the few roads that do run through Yellowstone, getting from one end to the other can take forever.  So since we had seen pretty much everything that we could do with small children at the southern end of the park we decided to pack up and move camp to the northern end this morning.

 

We scouted out a few different camp grounds and picked one that we thought would do for a couple of days.

We just kinda lazed around the camp ground today...setting it up, eating lunch, and playing games.

 

Then the kids started to bug us about going to see some things at this end of the park.


So we piled in the car and went for a drive.

Spotted a Bison...

 
..... some hot pots....

  

 

 
 ....and then a storm rolled.  And with it colder weather.

So we went in search of a place that I had read about on the internet.  (I believe it is called Boiling River).  It wasn't marked on the map we had and we didn't see signs for it anywhere.  But we managed to find it...yea!  We were all cold with the the cooler temps that the storm brought with it and so it seemed like the trail to the boiling river was taking FOREVER.

  

But, alas it came into sight!


It's like a natural hot tub. Found halfway between Gardiner and Mammoth.  It is where a hot spring named the boiling river flows into the Gardiner river. And it is one of the few places in the park where you are allowed to swim.

 

There were waterfalls of hot water pouring into the cold water and rocks have been placed around it to help create this hot tub.

There were spots where the water would be cold, but you would just have to take a step to the side and it would be warm or hot or, if you got too close to a waterfall, boiling hot.

But it was SO perfect for a day like today.
(I'm kinda glad there weren't any signs for this place.....it would have been not fun to have it overcrowded)

 

When we felt like we were turning into prunes we started to head back to our camp.

It was getting late so we stopped in Mammoth on the way back to grab some dinner at one of the few restaurants in the park.  While we were eating is started pouring again. Boo!

Well we had a surprise when we got back to our camp site.  Our site had pretty much flooded while we were away.  Some nice camping neighbor came and moved the kids tent up onto higher ground and saved our canopy and camping chairs that were getting blown away.  My tent was kinda wet but not too bad, but in the dark of the night we moved it up next to the kids tent just in case.

But we were able to laugh about it once we got settled down for the night.
All part of the adventure.


I am thankful for nice warm water.

Another Day at Yellowstone

If  you have been to Yellowstone before then you will understand when I say that a lot of the things to see there are very similar....so for little kids it can get boring.

So we went and saw some more of the awesome creations from Mother Nature...

 

Had Baby Ponyo almost run/fall off this board walk a few times...

  

Saw some really colorful lake thingies

  

 

And then we went to the swimming hole.

  

It was a neat little spot... the water was a little on the cold side, and out in the middle there was a current, but all in all we had fun playing in the water.

  

  

  

....until the kids got too cold.

  

 While the wee ones were drying off and warming up, Weston and I went for dip by our selves.  Lets just say that I haven't laughed so hard and felt so dumb!  The swimming hole is kinda formed on one end by a small row of rocks which is in turn a small waterfall.  Well we swam over by the rocks and Weston was pretending to get swept down the little fall....but in the act of pretending he actually went over the fall.

And then 2 seconds later a teenager that was near us got sucked down it too!!!

At first I was freaking out a little because I thought he was going to get swept down stream.....and a little ways down that stream is a HUGE water fall.  But luckily the water was very shallow on the other side and didn't have much of a current.

Well when I see he's going to be ok we both start  laughing so hard and then next thing I know I am all of the sudden sucked down the water fall also!

We got banged up a little from landing on the rocks but it was really such a funny site!!!  I am just SO grateful that it was a tiny fall and that it was so shallow on the other side.....don't think I'll be swimming near a waterfall again

I do wish we had it on tape.....and our kids didn't even noticed what had happened. lol

Well we then head back to our camp site and after dinner the older 3 and I head down to the lake near our site.

 

 

We had fun seeing who could throw their rock the farthest, who could skip a rock, then we watched all the fish come to the surface to much on the bugs that were landing on the water.

  

And then we just watched the beautiful sunset...

 

....until it was almost too dark to find our way back.

 

 I am grateful that no one got hurt today.

It's the 4th!!!

Being the 4th we got to celebrate our Nation and my Hubby's birthday!

First up......a parade that Baby Root Beer was in.  She played the cymbals for the parade.

Then later in the day we headed to my in-laws house for a 4th of July BBQ swim party.

I am thankful for the freedom that I have......and for my cute hubby!

sigh

I'm a little bummed that the swim season is coming to an end.

I am grateful that Little A caught on to swimming by herself toward the end of summer. =)

Splish Splash!

I am thankful that my hubby was home today so the kids could go swimming....and so I could just lounge by the pool relaxing and enjoying the weather.

One brave girl

She is a lot braver than I was at her age.

I am grateful that swimming comes naturally to her.

One last hurrah

We all got together for one last party before my brother-in law's family left.

My hubby had the pool all to himself.....well all to himself with all the little girl cousins (All but my oldest). They had a blast with him toting them around like a train.

I am grateful that I got to get to know them better and that I could create some memories with them.

Splish Splash

Another hot day. Another dip in the pool.

I am grateful for goggles that don't leak.

Come and put your feet up with me.

I am grateful that I have had a lot of relaxing days this summer.

One silly pup.

As soon as we get there, this guy runs to the pool waiting for us to open it. He just LOVES to be in the water with us.

I am grateful that I never see any of his hair floating in the pool....cause that would kinda make me not want to swim.

Fun in the sun

There was a father's day pool party today. It was nice to be able to laugh and have fun and it was such a nice day to honor my FIL, and I am grateful for all of that.

Two little mermaids.

I think this picture sums up the summer for us. Almost everyday was spent getting wet and enjoying each other's company.

To see how others spent their summer visit I Heart Faces.

Sum Sum Summer Time!

Couldn't ask for a better day. It is Saturday. My hubby actually has the day off. The weather is nice and warm. And the pool water is the perfect temperature. I am grateful for all of the above.

Water logged.

Goodness, I think I am starting to get a little bit water logged. But it has sure been fun!

The girls begged to go swimming after school today. Hope you guys don't get too tired of all the pool/swimming pictures that are going to be on here!

I am thankful that my 6year old is starting to remember all the stuff that she learn in swimming lessons last summer.

Just like the big kids

Today we had a get-together-swim-Mother's Day-BBQ party at my in-laws house. Food, fun, family, and water....what more could you ask for.

For this little one, it didn't matter how fogged up they were or if they were falling off or if they made it so her eyes could barely open....she insisted on wearing them as long as she saw the big kids wearing them.

I am grateful for heated pools.

What am I going to do with her.

Well, Acadia is turning into a water baby. Our city pool has 2 water slides and a little water 'park' play area at it.

One day during swimming lessons a little girl came up to me and said that she liked my towel. Well in the time it took her to say that and for me to say thank-you Acadia had took off....I was looking around trying to find her and some movement at the top of the water slide caught my eye.

Yup, it was Acadia and a swim lesson instructor (that happen to see her go up the stairs) that was trying to get her to come down. I couldn't believe how fast she was...we weren't sitting close to the slides. It made my heart jump to my throat! Knowing her love for water AND slides it could have turned ugly fast.

So from then on I made sure to stay FAR away from them and have been distracting her with the little water 'park' area.

I am grateful that the swimming pool lets little ones play in the water 'park' while the others are in swimming lessons.

Look what I can do!

I am grateful that I was able to hang out with my brother and his family again. They are so cute and it is fun having a sibling close by now. We had a bbq and then swam and then went to a fireworks show that was right by their soon-to-be house.

And here is one of my nephews saying 'Aunt Carrie! Look what I can do!'

Ooohhh! I just love how they can make me laugh!

A day off

I always love it when Weston gets a day off. Today we worked hard around the yard, took the girls to swim lessons, and then decided to head out to a lake.

I have come to learn that I would never survive in a state that doesn't have a beach of some kind. And it was such a perfect day.....at least for about 3 hours. And then all of the sudden this huge dark cloud rolls in and then it got super windy (peoples canopy/tent things were blowing away) and then slowly the rain drops started splattering on the ground. So, we decided that it was probably a good time to head home.

I am grateful for inexpensive mini-retreats.