Island Park and Yellowstone

We planned a few months ago to go to our friend's cabin in Island Park and then Yellowstone over UEA weekend.  We love that area in the fall and knew it would be a great trip--that was until the government partial shutdown.  We were trying to think of things to do in the area besides going into Yellowstone.  Well, on Wednesday they announced that the partial shutdown would end on Thursday--yeah!  We traveled to Island Park on Thursday and then spent Friday and Saturday in Yellowstone.  We spent a little time in West Yellowstone, too.  We had a great time.  Our friend's are so generous to let us stay in their beautiful cabin.  We watched lots of movies, played some games and enjoyed no internet and no cable (well, not everyone enjoyed that part!).  We did miss a few MLB games--but we snuck into a hotel in West Yellowstone to watch a little of one of them!  Tanner was able to get updates on scores from his friends so we were good. 

The family at the falls

Kaden and Tanner

The kids at the Welcome Sign

Kids and Mom

Old Faithful

We drove all over Yellowstone looking for bears--we NEVER see bears when we go.  We were convinced there were none there until I saw a post on Facebook on my phone that a friend who was there at the same time saw a mama bear and her cub at Old Faithful about two hours after we had been there.....AAAGGGHH!  So disappointing!  We did get to see Old Faithful go off, lots of buffalo, some elk, a coyote way off in the distance, chipmunk, and some beautiful waterfalls.  We had a fun time.  It was a great way to spend Zach's 20th birthday weekend!