Yellowstone...

We hit Yellowstone at just the right time.  The Lake Lodge opened the very night we stayed there and it was as if the entire mountain was awakening from it's winter hibernation just for our arrival.  The mountains were green with all the moisture of a wet spring, and the run off of melting snows.  The Snake & Yellowstone rivers wound their way, full and happy, through meadows of bison and elk, who were vigorously feasting upon long, lush grasses. Steam puffed up like smoke plumes of Shoshone camp fires, but they were actually the vapors of various hot pots... 

(Our indian story was far more exciting for the little gents)

It was a magical land of emerald green, silvery waters & the smell of sulphur.  OK, that last part wasn't Dax's favorite... at one point he and his sensitive sniffer had just about had it and he said, "If we don't get outta here I'm gonna barf."  I get it, Dax.  Rotten egg smell can only be tolerated for so long.  :)

One thing I want to always remember is "Jeremy"... Days before our arrival at Yellowstone, a man had died in one of the hot pots.  I don't know the details, but honestly, I was so nervous that one of my curious cats would leave the safety of the Boardwalk and the rest would be tragic.  So we took a moment or five to emphasize the importance of the rules.  We talked about this rendering of someone who left the trail and fell through the fragile crust of earth to boiling hot water.  The boys were MESMERIZED.  When did that happen?  How old was that boy?  What was his name?  

Ryan and I dutifully filled in the blanks with fictional answers and somehow the name Jeremy came out.  Wouldn't you know it, Jeremy was six years old when he chose not to obey the rules and he didn't make it out of Yellowstone.  Holy Sobering.  Every single hole in the earth and every single pot of boiling blue water became a chance to holler out, "I bet THIS is where Jeremy died!"  "Oh Wait - That is it.  That is definitely the pot hole where Jeremy died!"  And often little hands would find their way into mine and I LOVED it so much.

A little fear never hurt anyone, you know?  But they might be scarred for life.  :)

I also want to remember when we arrived at our lodge at Yellowstone Lake and Mister Buff decided to circle around our cabin just to give the boys a thrill.  He was literally SO close and Ace, who was currently heeding all warnings given by parents and the rangers, said to us, "I don't want to go out by that buffalo!  Geez do you want to get us all killed?!"  Cue his nervous smile.  :)

My boys look right at home a "lincoln logs" lodge.  Pine trees out the window and plaid on their backs.  Total Perfection.

 Lake Yellowstone a.k.a "the ocean" lapped waves onto the beach and soothed our souls.  We were weary travelers, but the water entertained all of us for over an hour as we threw in rocks and sticks.  Then a class on skipping rocks was the obvious next agenda item. 

 Oh Yellowstone... You might be my favorite family vacay spot yet.

Thanks for showing us a good time.