October 3-7, 2011: Girls Yellowstone Adventure

We have friends in Livingston, Montana who I really wanted to visit this summer.  They were unable to be home when we were through their way in June, so two weeks ago I decided that I could take the girls on a trip over to visit, and make one more trip to Yellowstone while we were so close. 

I was a little worried, being the first trip I've taken where I'm the only adult along for more than one day.  We drove 1300 miles and traveled 4 states, camping along the way, and we had a great time!

 We enjoyed our drive through the Mammoth area, and got to see the terraces and springs.

 As we were driving along, we spotted a beautiful waterfall and a spouting chocolate pot.

 We drove the Firehole Canyon drive.

 And stopped to hike along the Fountain Paint Pot trail.

 After watching Old Faithful erupt and the short videos in the visitor center, we checked out the kids discovery room.

 

 Love the Sinclair dinosaur!

Thanks Selena for taking a picture of me! 

After our fun day in Yellowstone, we went to the Chico Hot Springs with our friends.  We had a great time swimming in the hot springs.  It was our first time swimming in the rain!  

 

 On Thursday we drove back towards home and stopped in Missoula to visit some dahlia friends.  We had a nice visit and stayed overnight.  Friday, we headed for home, but just to do laundry, because we were on our way to go camping with Grandma Judy one last time!

June 26, 2011: Day 9, World Museum of Mining

World Museum of Mining

June 26, 2011: Day 8, Earthquake Lake and West Yellowstone

At the Hebgen Lake/Earthquake Lake visitor center, we watched a movie about the earthquake and the results of it.  It is scary to think about something like that happening to us while we are camping.  Whole families were wiped out by the slide.  A summary of what happened is... During the night, near a small lake called Duck Lake, a large earthquake struck.  This earthquake caused many changes to happen.  200 geysers and thermal features in Yellowstone erupted simultaneously and a large landslide flowed across the Madison River, damming it and forming Earthquake Lake.  Many families lost their lives, and it upsets my stomach to be here and think about it.  :(

 Earthquake Lake

After Earthquake Lake we went to the Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center.  We loved seeing the bears and wolves up close.  We got to watch a short movie about the animals in the wild, and the girls learned a lot.

 Grizzly bear