A DAY OF FUN AT YELLOWSTONE PARK

DAY 8

                 We slept in this morning, the first since on the road. It got cold last night but that just makes me sleep even better. Paisley was running a small fever last night, but she woke up sticking her tongue out at everyone and laughing like crazy. We checked out around 10:00 and headed back over to the spot where Mitchell fished yesterday. We probably broke the law, because we got out the griddle and cooked bacon and eggs. We left some bacon grease for the animals to eat. Again, Mitchell had no luck fishing but Kali and Paisley played in the sand  and we had breakfast with a view. We headed out to check out the rest of Yellowstone. We saw a wolf on the side of the rode.

 The first stop was Old Faithful. We arrived at the perfect time. It was only 30 minutes before it was about to go off and we got front row seats. Paisley was still asleep so Thad stayed with her until she woke up and then they showed in perfect time to see it blow.

Kali was pouting because Alexa wouldn't let her stand in the back where you couldn't see her.

It seemed like forever that we had to wait to see it explode, but it was worth it. The kids were taking pictures and video. They seemed to enjoy it.

It was so funny, it shot up a few times just a little bit before it actually went up really high. Kali said is that it? We saw someone with ice cream so we decided to get some for the kids.

I think Paisley liked the ice cream the best...

We stopped off at Fountain Flatt so Thad and the kids could ride bikes. That worked out perfect because I was ready to eat. I skipped the ice cream for real food. Paisley was ready for another nap and I liked the idea too.  We looked up and a buffalo walked within 100 feet of the camper. Paisley was saying BUFFALO and looking out the window.

I woke up from my nap just in time for the kids to come back. They told me about all the herds of buffalo that they had seen. Lawson was worn out so I told him to go lay in the back. We started to see lots of wildlife.

This was a traffic jam.... People told us they waited in traffic for 30 minutes and were asking us what happened and it was a herd of buffalo in the middle and the sides of the road. I was glad they chose the other side and not our side of the road....

Here are some falls we saw along the way. We ended up seeing elk, mule deer, and a bear before weleft.Yellowstone. After we left, we entered a town called Gardiner, Montana. We saw a mama elk standing in the middle of a resort.

 Then 2 baby deer ran across the road right in front of us again. The kids are loving all the wildlife.We are driving around 30 miles to a small town called Emigrant, Montana. It is almost 7:30 now and we are ready to be settled for the night. We are still an hour ahead of TN time so I get sleepy early.  We love this campsite. It is called Yellowstone's Edge RV Park it has water, electricity, and wi-fi. The facilities are so clean and Thad says that the people are so friendly. We had supper, showers, and then bed. 

 Bro. Perry, Thad is holding up well. We never drive late at night, we are always at a campsite before dark and he said that his knee hasn't hurt him the entire trip.

HEADING TO YELLOWSTONE PARK

DAY 7

    Once again we woke up early to do laundry. This time I asked for volunteers.  Mitchell and Sissy  decided to help so we had Lawson cleaning the bathroom and taking out the trash. Thad is walking around the campsite making more friends. We did find out a little about this town... the town only has a population of 304. They had 5 seniors to graduate last year and none the year before. The kids thought that was so crazy. It is 10:10 now and we are heading towards Yellowstone.

     I forgot to tell you, Kali had a chore as well...she had to bury Fishstick. He has been looking a little sick and he finally bit the dust. I finally got Emily's number and left her a message to call Kali. When she called, Kali was so excited. I don't think that she talked but 1 minute but it made her day. We just saw antelope chasing a coyote and then the coyote chasing them. They were right on the side of the road.

 We went through some pretty hard rain for awhile but thankfully it stopped. The views here are great..we went through some more canyons and some snow covered mountains. We went through a town called Cody, WY and a deer ran right in front of our RV in the middle of town.

These pictures are the views that we saw on the way to Yellowstone.

These pictures are from Buffalo Bill State Park

This is called Chimney Rock

                                                                 We made it to Yellowstone

 

         We made it to Yellowstone and the views were great until we got to our campsite. We stayed at the primitive site because that was the only one that would let you have a campfire. There are alot of rules here, almost everything is illegal. Like, you can't yell calls at the animals, you can't feed them, and you could only ride bikes in certain locations. I know these rules are to protect you but we came here to have fun.They did give the kids a paper with animals on it to check off when they saw them. We decided that we would stay the night but only one night..Thad and the kids went for a bike ride to check things out and he found a nice spot for Mitchell to fish. We all decided to go over and check it out.

 

 It was such a pretty view, it would have perfect if it wasn't so cold. I took a blanket and I was still freezing. Mitchell started fishing and it didn't take long for him to get his lure stuck. He finally got it loose and tried again. Guess what, he got it stuck again. This time not so lucky, he lost his lure. We waited for him to go get his tackle box and try again. After several more attempts, he had no bites and I was tired of sitting on rocks and freezing. Mitchell agreed , he was tired of fishing also. We headed back to our campsite and in the RV I stayed. It was COLD. Thad and Lawson were the chefs for tonight. We had hot dogs and chips and salsa. Thad was tuff, he stayed out by the fire until dark.  After a shower, I was ready to call it a night. We are going to spend the day in the park.  

 

                                         This was the only fun thing close to our campsite....snow.

 

Bighorn National Forest

DAY 6

We woke up early this morning to go see Devil's Tower up close before we head out. All the kids were telling me about the dreams that they had last night. Kali said that her pa put her on the couch at our house to go to sleep and I got up to got up to get me a coke and a monster grabbed me. Then she up. She is so funny. They had a paved trail all the way around Devil's Tower so we started walking around. All of the climbing that Kali has done and she trips on a flat path and lands on a rock. She looks awful..



 

She cried for awhile and then was ready to start climbing the mountain. We gave her some Motrin and she keeps saying that she is better now. She looked over at me and I hope that Jett misses me. I told her that I was sure that he did but that I would ask Robin to be sure. She has something that she is dying to give him and Emily. I tried to explain to her that it would be awhile before we get home and she doesn't really understand. She said she is having fun but she wants to go home too. I sit at the bottom of Devil's Tower while Thad and the others climbed up boulder pass as far as you could go until you have to get a permit. Alexa and Lawson actually went a little past that.



 

The path around Devil's Tower where Kali tripped over her foot.



The top of the tower



The bottom the tower- where the trees grow at the top of boulder pass where the kids climbed. That is as far as you can go without a permit and Alexa and Lawson went a bit further thatn that.





This is where the boulders start at the beginning.

A picture at the bottom.



Them at the the top of Boulder Pass before the tower starts if you look hard you can see them.



We headed to the camper and parked on the side of the road on the way out of the park to have some lunch. We watched prairie dogs running everywhere right outside the window. The kids were convinced that they could catch one but we told them that they were crazy. Next, we went through Big Horn National Park. The kids loved seeing the snow on the top of the mtns.


Big Horn National Park



They really started yelling when they started seeing snow on the ground.... We went through Powder River Pass and snow was on the ground. They were amazed since the sun was shining. Kali was begging to stop the RV. We got out and they understood why the snow was on the ground..it was cold. Kali started throwing snowballs, Alexa built a snowman, Mitchell took of running down the hill, Lawson stood in the snow up to his knees with crocs and shorts, and Paisley wanted Thad to pick her back up after the snow got in her crocs. None of them wanted to leave.

We went thru Tensleep Canyons, which was Thad's favorite part. Then we found a nice little campsite called Ten Broek RV Park. It is a cute little place and I am happy to have electric, water, and wi-fi. The kids are riding bikes and hitting the volleyball. I am trying to update the blog and of course I am eating again. Tonight is a free for all... eat whatever you get out of the camper. I had chicken noodle soup and chips and salsa and I couldn't be happier if I had a big steak. Clete, do you believe that?  Mitchell is getting in his running for football, so all the kids decided to join in as well.

Mitchell running

Alexa and Kali running

Paisley has had enough and wants some popcorn.

Well we are heading for the showers and then the kids are going to working on their journals and watch a movie before bed.

Ray family, Mitchell says hi and he loves you.

Grant, Lawson says hi.

Kandi, please get Emily on here because Kali wants you to tell her hi,she loves her, and she has her a present.

Lake, Sissy says hi.

Thad has just scared us to death..he called from the shower to say that he forgot a towel. I told Mitchell to take him a towel and tell him to shake it off next time. He scared the crap out of me...I thought something was wrong. He had been in there awhile. He said he was shaving and of course he made a friend. He was trying to find out good places to go. We are heading to Yellowstone tomorrow. Have a goodnight.