First Family Trip to Yellowstone

A couple of weeks ago we ventured out to Yellowstone for our first family vacation there. Tim has told me many stories of all the times he and his family went there as he was growing up. Our kids have been taught by their grandparents to LOVE elk, moose, bears, eagles, and just about any other wildlife animal, so needless to say they wereVERY excited to go. We decided to try to make all the stops Tim and his family would make during the trip. First we stopped at Big Springs and fed the fish.

Then went to Gusher's for pizza in West Yellowstone and walked around the town and stopped at all the shops, then got ice cream before returning to our hotel. The next day we set out into Yellowstone Park, our first stop was Canyon Village. They have a newly completed visitors center, with a lot of cool things to look at. Next we went to Mammoth Hot Springs, we got to see A LOT of elk just hanging out relaxing on the lawn in the middle of town.

Bowen really wanted to cross the barrier and walk right up to them, he was sad when he learned he couldn't do that. We got the kids binoculars and they were sure excited to use them, even though I guarantee they couldn't see out of them{ I could barely see out of them}.

As we were leaving Mammoth Hot Springs, a buffalo came real close to the truck and Bowen nearly jumped out of his seat, he was very excited, and a little scared. I think he thought it was going to come charging at us.

The boys loved trying to skip rocks on the lake

Had to stop and take a few pictures, so BEAUTIFUL!

Checking out what is in Yellowstone Lake (water was freezing)

We saw LOTS of buffalo, a few deer, and a few elk. We were really hoping to see a bear but didn't. We stayed in the park at Lake Lodge the 2nd night of our trip. I sure won't forget about that night, we had all gone to sleep by 11 PM, we were staying in cabins, 4 cabins to a unit. At about 11:30 there was a BANG on the door, I woke Tim up, told him to see who it was. By that time the person started to BANG on the other three doors next to ours, then back to ours. He just told me to go back to sleep and don't worry about it. Lets see... Out in the middle of a forest, with no form of protection{knife, gun... bat?} No form of communication to the outside world {cell service, landline phone to the lodge, FACEBOOK!} And some random stranger banging on our door repeatedly. Go back to sleep... sure, no problem honey, I'll get right on that!! FINALLY, he got up and went to look through the peephole to see who it was. It was just some guy in his 30s maybe, in shorts and a coat just knocking on the door. This went on for 30 MINUTES. The most terrifying 30 minutes of my life. He eventually gave up and the knocking stopped, thank goodness. We found out the next morning from the front desk in the lodge that the guy was a guest, who apparently had too much to drink and didn't know where he was. Of course it could have been much much worse, but it sure was a scary experience for us. Don't think we will be staying in cabins ever again.

After that lovely experience, we woke up and headed to Old Faithful!! Bowen calls it gooey geyser, not sure why?? It's cute though. :) They had a pretty cool kids area in the visitors center that the boys really liked.

Bowen doing some exploring at the Old Faithful visitors center

The boys loved looking at the different animal tracks

After Old Faithful, we headed to Jackson Hole. It is a Brendle tradition to stay in a condo during General Conference in October. We go looking for elk, eat, enjoy each other's company, eat, play games, listen to conference, and eat some more :) It is my favorite time of year!

Glimpse of the Tetons

We got to see our bear!

Bowen and his cousin Taylor

What good looking kids!!

We took lots of pictures with animals, this one was my favorite!

I hope the boys had a good time during their first experience with Yellowstone. I love making memories with my family, hopefully ones they will remember and want to do every year. So blessed to have these little guys as my kids. They are so much fun!