Yellowstone!

In October, we did finally make it to Yellowstone; at least some of us did.  Our family, along with my parents, and the Eyres decided it would be fun to go over conference weekend.  It sounded so peaceful and relaxing to sit in Mindy and Marty's new trailer and watch general conference without all the distractions from home. Boy, were we wrong!  Trying to watch conference with eight kids running a muck in such tight quarters was not quite as picturesque as we'd hoped.

However, it was a very memorable weekend and it was so fun seeing Yellowstone in the fall.  I would love to go again in the fall, just not over conference weekend.  The scenery was as beautiful as ever and we saw plenty of elk.

When we weren't driving around Yellowstone,we spent most of our time inside the trailer. I think my favorite times were after the kids had all fallen asleep and the trailer was quiet and us adults could visit, play games, and eat ice cream.  Despite the freezing temperatures, the kids thoroughly enjoyed the campground park that was just a hop skip and jump outside the trailer door. The men chaperoned while us women stayed inside where it was nice and warm.

We didn't get to see any bears inside Yellowstone park, but we did spend some time on Saturday and Sunday at the Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center.

    

My mom did not disappoint for Sunday dinner.  Most people would use this kind of getaway as a reason to simplify, but we still had a full-fledged Sunday feast, complete with ham, potatoes, and homemade rolls. She had several helping hands though....whether she wanted them or not.

We usually stay a little farther outside Yellowstone, in Island Park.  This time we were right inside West Yellowstone and a mere minutes from the park entrance.  Since we were so close, we made one last trip into the park after dinner on Sunday to watch the sunset - something we had never done before.  It was beautiful.
 

We actually didn't all stay in Mindy and Marty's trailer.  Me, Brian, and our kids stayed in a small cabin at the same campground. It was a cute, little one-room cabin with restroom facilities nearby.  

Even though the conference part of our weekend didn't quite turn out the way we wanted, it was still a wonderful little getaway.  I love Yellowstone and never tire of its beauty.  Brian and I actually wrote a little song about it..I know, we're nerds.  It goes like this:

(to the tune of Love at Home)
There is beauty all around, when were in Yellowstone.
Bears and buffalo roam the grounds, here in Yellowstone.
Trees a plenty, streams flow by. Bubbling mud pots on every side.
Oh, how we enjoy the ride, driving through Yellowstone.
Yellowstone, Yellowstone.
Oh, how we enjoy the ride, driving through Yellowstone.
We come here almost every year. Yes, we love Yellowstone.
Roasting hotdogs in the rain, oh we love Yellowstone.
Moosen, elk, and big horn sheep. Geysers, steam, and a hole that's way deep.
Does a rock beaver run, prance, or leap?
Oh, we love Yellowstone!
Yellowstone, Yellowstone.
We come here almost every year. Yes, we love Yellowstone!

We'll be back!