My friend Kady updated her blog today with pictures of her Yellowstone trip and it inspired me to finally post pictures of our trip and finally catch up on our blog. We took a much-needed vacation to Island Park and Yellowstone in August. We rented a cabin with some good friends of ours in Island Park. I used to go to Island Park as a kid, and I had such fond memories of my trips there. In fact, the minute we opened the front door to our cabin, Allen and I promised each other that someday we would have property in Island Park and a place where we could take our family and spend long, lazy summer days, wasting away by the water watching for moose. It's such a fantasy, but it doesn't hurt to dream, does it?
This is taken at one of the falls (upper or lower?). What a beautiful, yet terrifying place. I was trying to enjoy the beauty, but I was so fearful that one of my children would take a spill over the edge, never to be seen again.
This was one of our absolute favorite parts of the trip. I remember swimming Firehole Canyon as a teenager, but I couldn't quite remember all the details, so we decided to give it a try. Up the river from this point is a little pocket of rapids that you jump in and then let it float you down to this calm area. Hannah and Porter both tried it with Allen and I. Again, it was so fun, but terrifying as well. (I think I'm starting to see a pattern forming. My mom warned me of all the dangers of Yellowstone with kids, and I'm only starting to see that now.) We jumped in the rapids, popped up, and floated, but there were a few moments where it felt like the water might suck us back in. We probably didn't use the best judgement as parents, but we all survived!
This is was taken by Mack's Inn on Henry's Fork river. The kids had a ball wading in the water and throwing rocks. We also rented canoes and tried to canoe the river going upstream. I'm a terrible canoer and I think Allen was ready to toss me in. I think we canoed at least nine miles, but only went about a mile upstream. We just went back and forth from one bank to the other. It was fun though, and actually not terrifying.
We took our bikes and were able to bike some of the trails and roads around our cabin in Island Park.
Here we are at Mesa Falls somewhere south of Island Park. We stopped there on the way to the cabin and I highly recommend this little hike to anyone headed to Island Park or Yellowstone. It was one of the most beautiful waterfalls I have ever seen. It was so lush and green, I felt like I was in a rain forest.
And now I was going to add more pictures, but I can't seem to get it to work, so I'll include a few more photos on the next post with far less commentary this time.
Porter sure does love his Colorado Rockies!
Love the Daniel Boone hats.
This day was freezing! We weren't quite prepared for it to be this cold. Brrrrrrrr!
You can't leave Yellowstone without this picture. 
This is taken at one of the falls (upper or lower?). What a beautiful, yet terrifying place. I was trying to enjoy the beauty, but I was so fearful that one of my children would take a spill over the edge, never to be seen again. 
This was one of our absolute favorite parts of the trip. I remember swimming Firehole Canyon as a teenager, but I couldn't quite remember all the details, so we decided to give it a try. Up the river from this point is a little pocket of rapids that you jump in and then let it float you down to this calm area. Hannah and Porter both tried it with Allen and I. Again, it was so fun, but terrifying as well. (I think I'm starting to see a pattern forming. My mom warned me of all the dangers of Yellowstone with kids, and I'm only starting to see that now.) We jumped in the rapids, popped up, and floated, but there were a few moments where it felt like the water might suck us back in. We probably didn't use the best judgement as parents, but we all survived!
Here we are at Mesa Falls somewhere south of Island Park. We stopped there on the way to the cabin and I highly recommend this little hike to anyone headed to Island Park or Yellowstone. It was one of the most beautiful waterfalls I have ever seen. It was so lush and green, I felt like I was in a rain forest. 
We took the greatest road trip over the weekend. We went to Denver to see the Rockies play the Cubs. We especially wanted to take Porter to a real major-league game. He loves the Rockies and there is nothing like a night at the ball park. We were lucky enough to get tickets to the game against the Cubs. Allen just happens to be a huge Cubs fan, but he was kind enough to root for the Rockies that night. 
Coors Field is beautiful! We had great seats pretty close to left field, and what a night it was!
I don't own much in the line of pioneer clothing, and we all know that I don't even know how to sew a button on, let alone whip up a pioneer dress for Hannah. We did the best we could with what we had, and I think the kids ended up looking okay. Definitely not authentic pioneers, but close enough.
Tate is best buddies with our next door neighbor, Josh. They rode in the handcart for awhile and then I pulled them in the wagon. I feel sorry for all of those pioneer women who had to coax their three-year olds to walk on the plains. It may have been cheating, but I called Allen and had him pick us up at the park so we wouldn't have to walk home. I guess there's a reason I wasn't born a pioneer.
Here I am finishing my 1st leg. It was a 4-miler through Eden and Huntsville. It was also my easiest leg. The grueling runs were saved for later when you're utterly exhausted and feel like you can't move another muscle. 
Here is our team at the finish line. I was so inspired by these women. They are all incredible runners, but also incredible women! I'm so happy I could meet all of them.
My cousin Amy was the most incredible of them all. She did all of her runs, which were not easy, and also did an extra run for one of our teammates that had to go home because of the stomach flu. She ran a total of about 24 miles throughout the 31 hours. And her last run was titled "You Gotta be Kidding Me", and it was named that for a reason. It was straight uphill for 4 miles. It was insane and I still don't know how she managed to finish it. Amy, you're an inspiration to me! Maybe someday I can run like you!
Tate playing at the Treehouse Museum.
Hannah played Concerto in A Minor at her piano recital and it was amazing! I'm amazed at how good she is and how beautiful she looked!
Porter had to make a diorama (spelling?) of an animal habitat. He chose the anaconda as his animal and the rain forest as the habitat. His diorama was voted as the best by his fellow classmates. I may have helped him just a little bit on this project.
Hannah just finished up her first season of girls basketball and it was so much fun to watch her. She scored consistently in every game and her team finished the season as the undefeated champions. With her height, she may have a real future in basketball.
The men danced to "I Like to Move It", from Madagascar. They were so hilarious to watch!
Tate didn't do much dancing, but he sure had a good time! 
The kids on the Sunday after Christmas in their new church digs. 
Christmas Eve was spent with Allen's family. All of the family was there except one granddaughter, so we couldn't resist the chance to get all the kids together for a picture with their grandparents. Allen's sister Heather and her family were visiting from Kentucky. We hadn't seen them in over two years, so it was so fun to see her and her family.
Another tradition, jammies on Christmas Eve. I love new jammies!
Three wise guys! This quickly became a favorite game for the kids over the Christmas break. It's amazing how their imaginations work. 
