First Day in Yellowston Driving to Canyon Village

So after all the meeting were done we drove up to the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone. Although we didn't see much of the Canyons we did get to see lakes, rivers, waterfalls, cool trees, bison, deer, a bumblebee, and mud volcanoes as we drove past which were cool to look at with the bubbling mud. Then we ate in Canyon Village before we came home. It was a nice excursion and the kids had fun seeing the bison and Waterfalls. So this post has lots of scenery shots. All of my favorite ones. I guess it is a safe bet to say that there are a lot more pictures if I only narrowed it down to these ones. But rest assured there are some of us as well.

So this is the view of the Grand Tetons as you are about to enter the south gate of Yellowstone.

We even saw a Bald Eagle land in these trees and I was lucky enough to get a picture of it as it was flying.

So I thought this was a cool tree stump. I am personally not a fan of guns, but this trees totally looks like one to me. The ones below were taken at Fishing Bridge.
Roots above the ground. The pattern of the roots is very cool.
Here is my friend who was kind enough to come along and help us watch our kids while I went with my husband to the annual dinner. It was nice to have her along and I hope that she had fun with us married people with kids.
As we were walking back to the car I saw this bee. I feel like I was lucky to get this picture.
We found the restrooms after Fishing bridge that I thought was a fun place to get some pictures of the family. Although my son did not cooperate very well and the pictures of him are blurry so I didn't post them here. But later I get some of him and somehow managed to miss taking any of my daughter so I figure it is fair.
I took this picture by hanging the camera in a tree using the timer. I liked the angle and thought it would be fun to say I took a picture from a tree.
My friend helped us out with this one. Here are some Bison we found near where the mud volcanoes were. The sulfur smell in the air was very strong. As we drove by we saw some right next to the road.
Here below we have made it to the Brink of the Upper Falls. This is the water flowing down into the waterfall. This area was gorgeous.
The best picture I could get tat this point of the falls. Although I think it is a cool angle that I would have probably never thought of if it weren't the only option.
I love this one of my husband and my daughter.
Here is the one of my son I promised you.
My husband with the kids.
Me with the kids.
The kids. I love their faces in this one.
Some family pictures my friend helped us with.
There were a few deer among these fallen trees. But I only got this one.
Below is at the Brink of the Lower Falls. It was quite the hike down and back up. The first picture is actually of the Upper Falls as you can see it from the beginning of the hike to the Lower Falls.
It is amazing how beautiful nature can be. And to think that all this Heavenly Father created for us to see and know that he is God and that he loves us and is mindful of us. The hike was well worth it for this view.

Mangy Moose Saloon and Restaraunt

So yes we went to a Saloon to eat. OK we went to the restaurant portion of it.

This place had taxidermy and random items all over the walls and ceiling to decorate. It was a great place to play I Spy. They had some fun items.

This was a nice antique washer. The red sign was amusing for all the parents to read.

Of coarse what do you get your kids to eat when you go to such a place? You get them Macaroni and Cheese.

What did I say about cheese?

They also had this cool chandelier. The thing I felt was irony was that there was a moose head looking at it. I couldn't help but wonder if the moose was alive what he might be thinking. Feel free to take a guess yourself at what a moose head would think of while looking at a pile of antler hung as a light fixture.

The Tram Ride to the Top of the World

So while we were in Jackson Hole we went on the tram ride up to the Top of the World. I really should have taken a picture of that sign huh. So when I went I made sure to have my windbreaker and coats for the kids thinking it would possibly be windy. Somehow I didn't think it might be cold and have snow at the top. Of coarse if I knew it was the top of the world maybe I would have realized. ;) So yes my daughter is wearing shorts that she insisted on wearing that day and I didn't fight it because like I said didn't expect it to be cold. Luckily her daddy has a very large coat and he is very skinny. So he just zipped her up in the coat with him till she wanted to be put down. And then we hopped back on the tram as soon as it came back up. It was beautiful up there. Next time we will have to be better prepared. You know if there ever is another time.
So we went all the way to the top of that there mountain!

Getting ready to ride the tram. At this point she is happy and excited.
Here everyone is piling in that was there for the Annual Mtg. It got even more crowded in a moment after this picture.
Starting our journey up. This is a view of our hotel from the tram. I know you all wanted to see this picture.
Watching out the window.
He was so fascinated he only looked up for a moment. Then he was staring out the window again.
I thought this was a gorgeous view.
Yep it's the Grand Teton!
She was still a little OK at this point but quickly getting done with the wind and cold.
I had to take a picture of him in front of this Wheel that works the pulley for the Tram. He got so excited whenever he saw one.
Closer view of the wheel
Yes here she is miserable but wanted to be down and waking for a second. Luckily the Tram was back right after this picture was taken.
Here he is trying to be big and hold on.
So proud of himself!

Around the Hotel Terra In Jackson Hole

Remember this letter to daddy last year while my husband was at his company's Annual Mtg? Well daddy made sure that we all got to go with him this year and make it so that the kids wouldn't miss him. Isn't he the best daddy ever! So needless to say we tagged along up to Jackson Hole and Yellowstone and enjoyed the benefits of tagging along. Granted not all things were provided but a place to sleep and a chance to get away and see something new was. So we gladly and gratefully accepted such a trip. I will need to break up these posts into categories since there are so many pictures and well I want to do this trip justice. So we begin with around the Hotel.

Here is the view as you drive into Teton Village where the hotel is.

This was what you saw as you first entered the lobby of the Hotel. I loved it!
Don't you love that they always provide paper and pens at the hotel? Then if you're lucky it will have a picture watermarked onto it. Then if you are even luckier your daughter will use her artistic abilities and draw faces on said watermark. She says this one was Pop Pop.
She said this one was her.
OK note to all Hotels. From now on you are all required to have a pool like this one. Please included the jets on the side with a seat for parents to sit on and keep heated. Make sure that it is large enough that the kids can swim and have fun while parents can feel like they get a massage while enjoying the jets. Really my kids and I loved this pool. My son enjoyed it so much he would fall asleep while laying back on the headrest of his life jacket. So I held him and my daughter played with the other kids that came with their dad to Annual Mtg.
This is right before he fell asleep. I tried to get out with him and he would wake up. So instead I enjoyed sitting at a jet and he enjoyed the warm water and being cuddled by mommy.
Just in case you think that this was all play for the family. Here are some pictures I took of my husbands meeting. This is his boss starting the meeting.
My husband is in this picture I promise. Ten points if you can spot him though. Here's a hint all you see is his head and back.
Isn't this great giant green cotton balls to clean the moose's antlers. Really I thought this was a nice touch to the room.
Here are the rock hard beds. Did I mention this is an Eco-friendly Hotel and totally organic. What they fail to mention in the brochure is they made these beds from some rock they found in the mountains. It truly was an earthy experience. Seriously they were your typical bed just a very stiff mattress. The common complaint among those there for the meeting. At least they had a heated jetted pool for you to get rid of the morning aches. OK all better. :)
They had a very fun playground for the kiddos to play at. My kids also loved coming here to play.
The grounds on the Hotel/Village were stunning. They had flowers, a pond, fire pits, and little stream, and lots of grass to run around on. And lots of photo opts for what I consider the cutest kids in the world.
They also had shops galore just there for you to shop at and waste your touring dollars. Here we found an ice cream shop and the kids enjoyed their ice cream.