Fun times in Yellowstone

Yellowstone May  2009

After looking though the 600 pictures I took in Yellowstone, and finishing the previous posts about more specific events, this is what I have narrowed the randoms down to. I have to say this was one of our favorite vacations, so narrowing it down was kind of hard. 

Hannah's favorite hang out spot....on "Daddy's head"

After swimming in what they considered to be a cold pool, they all jumped into the WARM bath.

Hannah and Anna play with dirt and sprinkle it in each others hair......

while the rest of us watch a bear. Daddy and Jim show off the only form of defence you are allowed to use in Yellowstone.

My cute little tree climber.

I had to add this because Caden was so excited to find "Bison fur". He took this picture.

The girls happily skip along at yet another stop to see a bear that has been spotted.

Caden really enjoys a game of, "Good Guy, Bad Guy"

Caden and James get their only pair of shoes soaking wet in some snow they found to play in.

Sarah and Elizabeth are oblivious to the bear that is in the distance....and the people who are very carefully adjusting their scopes to watch the bear. It is way more fun to run around and giggle.

Mammoth Hot Springs

Hannah patiently waits in the car as we look for the bear.

Grizzly tracks

There were MANY stairs to climb at Mammoth. Scott got his work out in.

                       Animal Sightings

Almost just as fun as seeing the animals, was watching my boys get out their scopes and binos. Caden got really good at using Daddy's spotting scope.

Ants, ants, ants

For some reason Hannah really LOVES ants. The ants at this picnic spot in Yellowstone were HUGE so that made it nice for little fingers to pick up. 

Hannah watches as this poor little ant tries to wiggle free. 

Brother and sister join in

               Bison Jam

There were so many fun experiences in Yellowstone. We saw so many cool animals and we had so much fun!!!!! But this was one of my favorite experiences. We were driving along and were suddenly stopped by a HUGE "Bison jam". We were so lucky to be at the beginning of it so being stuck for several minutes was worth it. Bison would stop right in front of our car to feed their babies, some would even stop to use a car as a scratching post. The kids LOVED it. 

These two took their sweet time.

Babies right out Sarah's window.

Animals at Yellowstone


Bison are the most common animal seen in Yellowstone, but the kids still found it fascinating the first morning we went out by the visitor's center and their were Bison all over the parking lot.

They even run out in front of your car whenever they feel the need.

We went at the perfect time! The weather was perfect and mammas were out with their babies.

Elk



Antelope

Big Horn Sheep



Big Horn Mamma with her baby


Closest we got to a black bear. Just woke up from it's nap .

The grizzly we watched dig up roots for a very long time. He moved a few feet closer every few minutes. It was very funny to watch the antelope. They ran right by the bear then ran the other way, as if they had just noticed that they were running by a bear.