Yellowstone! The Granddaddy of Them All!

Wilson Reunion Part 3:

 

Once the Wilson Reunion was over, the Reeds and our family stayed an extra night so that we could visit Yellowstone National Park with the kids.  After we have talked about our past visit, they were excited to see the beautiful country, bears, wolves, elk and more.  Little did we know the weather would be so dark and that the animals would be so bashful.  We had a fun time nonetheless. 

 

Sadly, this was the only wildlife we saw.  A herd of bison from afar.

 

Dax apparently thinks his shorts resemble a parking garage as he stuffed all
of his HotWheels up the leg of his britches. 

 

While Yellowstone borders Grand Teton National Park, it is quite the drive
from Star Valley, WY, to Old Faithful of Yellowstone National Park.  The
kids traveled well though and enjoyed their cousins as they rotated in and out
of our truck along the way.

 

We found a break in the weather long enough to have a nice picnic lunch. 

 

 

 

Leah was excited to be out of the car.  What a nut!

 

The Reeds as we entered Yellowstone National Park

 

 

One of the 25 National Parks I've been blessed to visit. 

 

 

We stayed ahead of the weather for the most part, but whenever we stopped, it
caught up to us.  At one point, a national weather service announcement
interrupted the radio station to announce "severe weather" with accompanying
"lightning that can kill" and that we should "expect vehicle damage as a
result of hail".  You can imagine how this message put the kids' minds at
ease.  NOT!

 

We finally arrived at Old Faithful and we were well ahead of the storm. 
Elijah and Dax

 

The main attraction, Old Faithful.

 

While we waited for Old Faithful to do her thing, the weather caught up with us
and was throwing down lightning bolts all around us.  We endured the rain as it
was mostly sporadic, but the kids were pretty spooked by the lightning and
claps of thunder.  After debating if it was safe or not to stay out, Mother Nature
helped us with our decision by dumping rain on us in huge quantities.  We
bolted for the Inn for cover.  Old Faithful would have to wait. 

 

Waiting for the weather to pass.
Watching Old Faithful from a distance and under cover.

 

My nutty girl waiting for the rain to pass.

 

Sarah and Dax taking shelter in the Inn.  We bought some hot chocolates and relaxed in the
historic inn.  If you haven't seen it, you need to.  I didn't get many good pictures with the
only camera we had on hand, but I'm sure you can see some of our past photos or Google it to
get an idea of how majestic it is.

 

The cousins waiting for hot chocolate

 

We got to watch Old Faithful go off several times.  The first time from the
comfort and safety of the Inn.  The second time once the weather cleared and
a third time while having dinner in the cafeteria nearby. 

 

As we waited atop the Inn on the patio, Dax enjoyed watching the cars pull up
and leave, dropping off or picking up their tourists. 



Dax loved Yellowstone.  Perhaps it felt familiar to him as he saw the old
Yellow Cars or the Lodge.  He seemed to light up when I explained that
Yellowstone was the park that they used as a reference when they made the
2nd "Planes" movie. 

Proof they were there. 

 



Finally we could watch the old lady go off from up close.  The kids loved it.

 

Proof we were there too!

 

Dax and Dad.  It's the Daxie Taxi!

 

Elijah, Duane, Jacob, Cole and Dax. 

 

While Sarah, Molly, Leah and Emerson went shopping at the gift shop, Duane and I took the
boys on a hike around all the local geysers. 

Dax enjoying the geysers up close.  Every now and then he would get a whiff of the sulfur
smell coming from the geysers and ask loudly, "Who Farted?!"  The other tourists walking
by thought it was hilarious.

The Old Faithful Inn. 

 



On our way back to Star Valley, we stopped to get another picture of us by the
  GTNP sign.  We love our National Parks!



Each National Park has it's own beauty.  While Zion is my favorite NP, I
think that Yosemite and Grand Teton National Parks have to be the most
majestic to photograph. 

 

Goodbye Yellowstone.  Au Revoir Grand Tetons.  We will miss you, but will surely visit you again.  Thank you God for giving me such a beautiful planet to partake in.  Thank you for giving me such an awesome wife and family with whom I may enjoy it.