...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.

In the Tetons!

Oh so beautiful!  We saw a moose on our drive through the Tetons and after some confusion with the map, finally decided and made our way to Shadow Mountain to camp.  Justin and I had camped there many, many years previously so I knew where we were headed.  

We stopped to look at the buffalo a few minutes then headed up the dirt road.  We took the first camping spot and the boys got the tent set up.  I had bought canned heat at Wal Mart and proceeded to warm up chicken noodle soup.  The sun set quickly in the shadow of the Tetons.  

I had to get after the kids several times for playing in the dirt.  Holy fluffy dirt.  Plumes surrounded their bodies.

It did start to rain right as we went to bed; me, Allison, and Ammon in the tent, and proceeded to be a pretty good rainfall.  

Next morning, got everything put away and enjoyed donut holes for breakfast.

Bye Logan!

Ammon giving Cousin Corinne a goodbye hug.

I planned on leaving Logan around noon on Monday, but of course things happen, like buying food, airing up the tires, and one last stop of tiny spicy chicken, so we didn't actually take off until 3.  Not too bad.  

The plan was to drive to the Tetons that night.  In Logan canyon, Ammon was whiny so we drove up Swan Flats and explored a fun area we found last year.  It was great to hear the kids excitement "Oh I remember this place!  Remember....." 

Hike

How can I visit Logan and not get in at least one great hike?

I woke early one morning and asked my dad if he would like to go on a hike.  He said sure, so I got Isaac up to go with us (Jacob had totally bruised his foot).

We headed up to right hand fork/girls camp/camp Lomia and hiked on the Maughn Hollow trail.  Started off cold, and stayed relatively cold for over an hour in the shade.

This picture = my dad to a T.  This is one of the many reasons I love my daddy so much (even though I never tell him enough).  I LOVE to hike with my dad.  He is so smart and knows so many interesting things.  He never rushes and takes time to enjoy the incredible beauties God has made.  

In this picture he is examining what might be fossilized waves.  

Isaac and I also got the low down on ergot.  Yes.  Ergot.  Isaac got slimed by something, so Dad investigated what made the gross mess, and found... ergot!  An ancient fungi found on rye that used to make people sick and could die from.  It's rarely found anymore.  Who knew?  (I just googled ergot and my dad is so smart!  He knew most of the information on Wikipedia).

Dad was sneaky and knew if we went off the trail it would circle back to the other trail and we could make a round trip.  It seemed a bit sketchy at first, but it worked out great.  Many cow pies, a few humming birds, fun explorations, and one maggoty dear.

We stopped on our way back to town and watched two helicopters take water from second dam and dump on a nearby forest fire.

Girls' Night Out

All female Thomson relatives were invited to our first annual Girls Night Out.  We first hit up Sizzler for some quiet (NOT) dinner conversation.  Holy cow.  Could it have possibly been any nosier in that room???

What's up with Western Family ketchup in a Sizzler.  I mean Jeesh!

Happy girls!

Then we went to Stefanie's house for a rocking good time with a Wii game called Just Dance.

Even got Mom to do one dance.

Jacob and Isaac did this a few days later.  What cracked me up was that Jacob was great at it!