Yellowstone

I have a lot of wonderful memories from this trip. My time with my sister-in-laws is one of my treasured one. We talked in easy, companionable way. We came from different backgrounds but shared one bond: we married a Chickles. Yet, we are alike. Especially now. We are all mothers now. Amy (in red cap) became a mom about nine months ago. She's going through what Jeanette (in pink shirt) and I went through when we became new mothers. We talked, discussed, gave advice and joked to one another. Amy and Jeanette are both smart,funny and beautiful. I am blessed to have these two great women as my sister-in-laws and as friends.

Here are more pictures from the trip:

The boys at Mammoth Springs:

This is Boiling River where 2 river systems come together. See the Danger sign? Yet, we still went in! I guess we're just fearless. Boiling hot water, be damned, I say!

328 steps down were easy with an occasional vertigo but 328 steps up were brutal. I imagine the climb was worse with a 25-pound baby on your back. August seemed to be enjoying the view of the Yellowstone Falls. August had it easy, Justin was another story. Lauren and Theresa counted 332 steps (those 4 extra steps are killers!).

August.

I made chili one night but it started to rain midway cooking. In the meantime the adults went into one tent to play cards and drink wine & the kids went into another to play Uno (no wine). Luckily, the chili cooked well under low heat and the corn wrapped in foil over the fire grate kept the flame nice and dry. The pot was empty and the corn consumed at the end of this dinner.

Lauren and Emma were wearing their hats the whole time during the trip. The sun at that altitude was very strong. Definitely wear hats and lots sunscreen. Besides, the hats were stylin' !

Emma was taking a spoonful of my Grizzly Berry ice cream even though she had her own cup! It was that good. She usually does not like fruity ice cream. She made an exception! We were seated on the deck of the Old Faithful Inn with a view of Old Faithful Geyser. We stayed 2 nights at the Inn to basically shower off the dust and dirt from camping 6 days (it took 2 days to get it off)!

Lauren in front of the Grand Geyser. The geyser erupted toward the end of a 3-mile hike in the Upper Basin. We were lucky to time it so well. It was a wonderful reward after a great walk. Lauren loved her red track pants (trackies, she called them). She paired them with her red hoodie sweater. We called her the walking buffalo target.