Despite the title of this post we did not in fact experience any natural disasters on our trip. Just the effects of them I suppose. This last week we went on a trip with my mom and dad, Hannah, my cousin Hallie, and my grandma Connie and grandpa Brent up to Island Park, ID. What a fun time we had. Colson and I hitched a ride with my cousin Kaylee over to meet my parents in Brigham City on Wednesday to ride up with them so Ben could work. He met up with us on Thursday. After getting to our campground and settled in (while avoiding damaging the trailer in the process) we took some time to walk around. It was immediately evident that Colson loved wandering everywhere and didn't mind one bit what the weather was like or where he was walking. He walked through puddles, dirt, wet grass and mud, over stones, and up hills. He also loved to stop and pick up rocks and pine needles and anything else he could find. I have an explorer on my hands. A very busy one. And I love it. Colson definitely did not like having to stay in the trailer during all the rain we had. Which was quite a bit. We still had a lot of fun though even with the rain. On Thursday after Ben got there we went to a place called Big Springs. A lot of natural springs come up around this area and make this gorgeous pond and river. It was so pretty. We walked around it to this little cabin that someone built around 100 years ago or so. It is now preserved for people to come see. Is was built by a little German man who wasn't even 5 feet tall. (But it wasn't like a weird short house.) He was a really good woodworker so it was cool to see everything that he had made on his own. After we saw Big Springs we went to a place called Earthquake Lake. Apparently in this area after an Earthquake near Yellowstone a big section of the mountain turned into a giant landslide. It completely blocked the river running by it and created the lake. Hence the name. The visitor's center was cool. It told the history of the area and had stories from people who survived the landslide and earthquake. Pretty terrifying and neat all at the same time. I am amazed at all the power and beauty in this world that is so dangerous at times too. That was experienced even more as we journeyed into Yellowstone National Park on Friday. I've only been once before, but loved it, and Ben hadn't been there before at all. So I was excited to take him and Colson for the first time. (Not that Colson will remember. We'll just have to go again when he is older.) I am amazed at the beautiful meadows, rivers, and forests of the area. And among all of that are the equally awe-inspiring geysers, mud pots and hot springs. (More like super-heated springs really.) And all the animals. We didn't see tons of them, likely due to the weather, but we finally did see some pronghorns, elk, and buffalo walking down the road on our way out. And a bear... or, oh, that was a rock. We also saw Yellowstone Lake. One part I had never been to before. And boy is it huge! We just saw one little thumb of it and it was big. And to think it kept going on even more. And right along the shore line are all the bubbling hot springs! It think it is so crazy how diverse and unexpected the land is there. Any time I see a place like that I can't help but get excited for the chance to learn how to create something like that when I get to heaven. And I can't help but be grateful to a loving Heavenly Father who has created this beautiful world for us to live and learn. Something I find truly beautiful is that all I learn here, I can take with me. I want to learn all I can about our beautiful earth and how it all works. I am glad that we had the opportunity to spend time with family and see such truly amazing places. Hopefully we'll have more adventures to come and more cool places to see and things to do. Actually, I know we will. That's the title of my blog right. Making Memories. You don't have to go very far to have adventures and create memories that will last a lifetime. I know I have lots of good ones right within the walls of my home. Because I have been very blessed with a wonderful family who brings me great joy each and every day. The adventure will never stop. Okay now on to pictures. Sorry, there's going to be lots.
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| Big Springs |
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| Ben overlooking the springs |
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| Waterwheel that powered the cabin |
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| Colson playing with Hannah and Hallie |
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| Most of us hanging out |
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| Colson wandering to catch up with Ben |
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| Squirrel! |
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| Colson likes to push now instead of ride |
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| We fed this bird and some of his friends |
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| Strollin' through the campground |
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| Love this cute boy! |
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| And this one. Ben's first time to Yellowstone. |
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| Cute Hannah |
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| Firehole Falls I believe this is called |
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| Luckily after this stop it stopped raining |
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| Beautiful blue hot springs |
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| Okay this sure looks like lava |
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| Old Faithful. Don't mind the random stranger's head in the next few pictures... |
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| Right as Old Faithful was finishing another geyser started behind it. So we saw 2 at once. |
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| Hot Springs by Yellowstone Lake |
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| It's so big! |
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| Bubbling hot pot practically in the lake |
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| Colson likes his new wolf stuffed animal from Grandma Connie and Grandpa Brent. Thanks! |
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| Bison by the road |
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| And some elk just hanging out too |
