Two Wheels!

We took Ammon's little red no pedal bike (old video of red bike) to Utah this summer and it got left accidentally in my dad's garden.  This has made Ammon take a different look at his other green bike with pedals, previously quickly pushed aside.  Justin promised him a trip to the ice cream store.  This was all it took.  This video is him just starting.  Pretty good start, if I do say so myself.

Isle Royale

This year, Jacob was old enough to go on the wards high adventure which was to Isle Royale in the Lake Superior.  (This will be my take on what Justin told me.)

After many kinks and dilemmas the trip was able to proceed even though they had to drive seven hours to Michigan to board a ferry.  There were two groups going:  "slower" group going less miles, and the "faster" group, which Justin and Jacob were in (along with Matt, Mark, Joe, Noah, and Tyler).

Justin's pack.  Weight: 45lbs

The "faster" group.

They found a tasty treat of blueberries along the trail.

Jacob having a rest.

Tyler and Jacob eating breakfast.  Jacob has  learned to love oatmeal from his many camp outs with Dad.

 This is my personal favorite picture from the trip.

Littlest island on the second biggest lake on the biggest island on the biggest lake IN THE WORLD.

 Another picture of the littlest island on the second biggest lake on the biggest island on the biggest lake IN THE WORLD.  Justin, Matt, and Noah swam out to the island, narrowly avoiding the leaches.

Also munched on thimble berries (tart).

 Justin noticed a fox taking off with one of the tent pole bags and chased after it.  I guess it dropped it on the trail.

After...they all survived with no casualties or broken bones.  A few extra large blisters have been reported, but all in all, a success!

Yellowstone!

We woke up and got out of our campsite early (7am thank you very much) with hopes of getting a camp site in Yellowstone.  We stopped to glance at a few elk, then tried to talk to a ranger at Great Basin, but it was closed.  I've actually never been to this thermal area.  Weird.

Drove like mad people to make it to a campground, waited in the stupid construction traffic to get there, and of course to find out that not only was this camp ground full, but ALL the campgrounds were full.  Oh great.  Since I didn't have another adult to bounce ideas off of, a decision was never fully made on where we would stay, so we meandered back south to see Old Faithful.

Which meant we were blessed to sit through that fantastic road construction once again, but this time it was even MORE exciting of a wait.  Over 30 minutes sitting in the car.  What a way to spend your one day in Yellowstone.

I love that this looked like a bathtub.  The water was even the perfect temperature too!

We needed to take a stop after sitting in the car so long, so we visited the most exciting  place I've seen in Yellowstone.  I can't tell you where it is or I'd have to give you amnesia.  It's top secret.  We found this place many years ago with my dad on a leisure hike and have been back twice now.  It's my fave!

We had to brave a nasty water crossing and sadly Ammon slipped into the muck.  He was so cute about it.  Instead of his normal freak out he said in a sad little voice, "I want to clean myself."

Oh yeah.  Perfect.  Recognize this Dad?  Still perfect.  There is a geyser/hot spring behind me that sends off steaming hot water that is mixed with the rivers cold water making it a blissful afternoon soak.  The bugs were a little intense.  Holy deer/horse flies.  Jacob was totally irritated by them and wouldn't come in the water.  Funny part was that they didn't bug us in the water, so Jacob sat there swatting himself like a mad man.

On to the next awesome part of this secret location:

Mud pots!  And good ones!  The best I've ever seen!

This bubble is at least 18 inches.  Probably bigger.  

On to Jacob.  Remember the bug freak out?  Check out this movie.  It makes me laugh every time I even think about it.  I really really really want to make it live on youtube.  Poor Jacob.

...Tetons...

We got the inside scoop on a secret campground (only $5), which was nice because they were all full except one which was $37.50.  Hello!!!  This is camping!

We got to drive over this cool stream to get to it.  After our campground was set up, we walked back to play in it.  Hot day!

Later we drove on a road across the street to explore more and guess what we found!  Super Super secret campgrounds that were awesome and free!!!  Oh well, next time.   I s'pose there were lots of mosquitoes, just to make it not as awesome as it looked.

Polecat River

Snake river

...Tetons...

Driving on we stopped at Jenny Lake.

What a cute fire hydrant!

The kids worked diligently on becoming a Junior Ranger (later succeeded that day).

Jacob's bruised foot after about a week.  It's looking MUCH better here, poor guy.

The kids getting their Junior Ranger paper signed.  Ammon's the closest to the Ranger in the shadow.

Drove down the road a bit and the buffalo were right next to the road!  I told the kids this would be their best viewing of them....ever.  Plus there were no people or cars around.  We had them all to ourselves.

This guy seemed to be a leader.  He walked around with his tail in the air.  His face had a strange profile. Notice his tongue cleaning his nostril.  Jacob was freaked out because I had the van door open where he was sitting.

We stopped and explored Mormon row and had a fantastic time looking around at old buildings.

All four kids saw this from afar and thought it was an outdoor toilet (paper towels for tp).  We had to walk closer to show them it wasn't a toilet.

A true out-house.  Someone had put buffalo chips in there.