Island Park vacation

Justin's family decided to go big for their summer vacation this year and we went in on a cabin in Island Park for 4 nights.  The Brown's drove down from Seattle and everyone else traveled northward so we could spend those days together.  We all arrived sometime Tuesday night, some earlier, some later.  The kids were able to see cousins and explore the cabin.  The cabin was awesome and came with 3 bedrooms upstairs, each with two queen-sized beds, and two bathrooms; the main level had a kitchen with 2 fridges, a well-stocked pantry (not food, but cooking needs), a gathering room, a normal bedroom with a queen bed, a bunk bed room with 3 or 4 bunks, and two bathrooms.  The basement had a play room, a bedroom with one queen bed, a pool table room, a TV room with 2 washers and dryers and two pull-out futons, and one bathroom.  Outside was a hot tub, firepit, volleyball net, and basketball hoop and court.  It really was an awesome place and just how I like to enjoy the outdoors...outdoors all day and hot showers and comfy beds at night.

Tiana, Molly, Lizzy, Andrew, Justin, Ivy, Gene, Rachelle, Grayson, Cameron, Evie, Stockton, Brett, Camille, Luke, Brynn, Jake

Matt, Justin, Brett, Gene, Molly

Jake, Cam, Evie, Grandpa, Brynn, Stockton, Sam

Molly, Riley, Eli-this bear costume was a hit and was out constantly.

Brynn and Matt

On our first day (Wednesday), we decided to drive in to Yellowstone to see a couple of the sights there.  It was more crowded that I have ever seen it!  We drove to Old Faithful first.  We walked around the museum, had lunch and then watched Old Faithful erupt.  We didn't have a front-row spot but were able to see it just fine anyway.

trying to find some shelter in the rain-Ivy, Justin, Megan, Brett, Stockton, Luke, Eli, Heidi, Cam, Sam, Gene, April, Riley, Camille

Stockton, Molly, Andrew, Ivy, Brynn

Brynn and Andrew-good cousin buddies, despite the age difference

Stockton and Sam

Micah, Grayson, Cam, Ivy, Brynn, Andrew, Stockton, Sam, Evie, Riley, Lizzy, Tiana, Kai, Molly, Jake

Andrew and Stockton

Justin and the other dads/uncles/grandpa had been to a place called Boiling River years ago on a camping trip and they wanted to show the rest of us what that was all about.  It took a couple of hours to get there so we made a couple of stops on the way.

Brett, Justin, Aaron

Once we got there, we changed into swimming suits and followed the trail down to the entrance of the river.  It's called Boiling River because there are some natural hot pots that empty into the river.  The water where the river and hot pots meet is quite warm and is a popular spot for sitting and soaking.  So that was a neat spot for everyone.

Andrew and Brynn

Molly and Tiana

After that it was time to head back to the cabin and get dinner going.  Molly rode with Lizzy and Tiana in Grandma and Grandpa's car and they managed to make one more stop while the rest of us the caravanned back to the cabin.

Tiana, Lizzy, Grandma, Molly

After dinner we gathered in the living room for some games.  Mostly just the game where you put those dental tools in your mouth and try to get people to guess what you're saying.  It can be pretty funny!

Tiana and Molly

Then it was figuring out where everyone was going to sleep (quite the process, I was glad most of our kids just wanted to sleep in the extra bed in our room) and go to bed.

In the morning (Thursday) after breakfast, some of our party decided to do a little exploring.  I stayed at the cabin to help clean up breakfast and get ready.  Justin, Brynn, and Ivy went with the exploring party.

Eli, Jake, Cam, Luke, Ivy, Brynn, Riley, Evie, Micah

Brynn and Jake

Riley, Cam, Micah, Grandpa, Luke, Brynn, Andrew, Eli, Ivy, Grandma, Jake

Riley and Brynn

Andrew, Riley, Brynn, Ivy, Jake

We spent the entire afternoon at the reservoir.  We had four full-sized paddleboards, a kid-sized paddleboard, and a kayak that kept everyone entertained for hours.  I loved seeing the different cousin combinations out on the boards.

Brynn and Evie

Andrew and Brynn

Lizzy and Molly

Ivy, Molly, Tiana, Brynn

Brynn and Grandpa

Molly and Rachelle

Justin and Eric always come up with random games that everyone loves.  This time the game was to line up all the paddleboards in a line and run down them as fast as you could.  We managed to talk everyone into doing it, kids and adults.  I have a video of everyone and they are funny!  You had to run really fast if you wanted to make it to the end and jump in the water.  Eric also stacked the paddleboards and some of the kids tried balancing on that.

Justin's turn

Eric, Tiana, Justin, Luke, Molly

We ate dinner outside that night and then a campfire was in order.  Tiana spent a while braiding Molly's hair.  I think she ended up doing 8 tiny french braids down the back.

Jake, Stockton, Andrew

Lizzy, Molly, Tiana

Brynn, Rachelle, Lizzy, Riley, Justin, Ivy, Stockton, Evie, Eric, Eli, Matt, Camille, Jake

On Friday, we decided to float the river.  Aaron and Rachelle rented a couple of rafts and we took the bigger paddleboards and the kayak as well.  The river was shallow and moved slowly so it was perfect for our large group with so many kids.  We were able to paddle the rafts and take turns with the paddleboards.  It ended up being blast!  Again, I loved seeing the different cousin/uncle/aunt/sibling combinations.

Cam, Lizzy, Rachelle, Luke, Sam, Grayson, Stockton, Evie, Brynn, Andrew, Aaron

Evie and Molly

Aaron and Brynn

Andrew and Molly

We took a break on the riverbank for some lunch-Grayson, Lizzy, Molly, Tiana, Ivy, Brynn

Jake, Andrew, Grayson, Micah, Stockton, Grandpa

Stockton and Brett

Megan, Cam, Stockton, Andrew, Heidi, Evie, Luke, Eli, Jake, Matt, Micah, Riley, Aaron, Sam, Lizzy, Molly, Brynn, Ivy, Camille, Kai, Brett, Gene, Tiana, April, Rachelle, Grayson, Justin, Eric

Lizzy and Ivy

After the river float, we headed back to the reservoir, just in a different spot.  We were all tired so we didn't last too long.  The rain came up and that sent us all back to the cabin for the rest of the night.

Rachelle, Ivy, Grayson

The next morning (Saturday) had us all busy packing up and getting ready to head home.  The Browns had to take off quick because they had the longest drive so goodbye's were said so they could head off.  Lizzy and Molly always shed a few tears but we knew we were going to be seeing them soon (in October for Sam's baptism) so it wasn't as bad as usual.

Rachelle, April, Camille, Lizzy, Molly

Cam, Brynn, Andrew

Luke, Lizzy, Grandpa, Tiana, Evie, Camille, Molly, Brynn

Justin, Ivy, Brynn, Megan, Evie, Eric, Jake, Heidi, Eli, Matt, Riley, Andrew, Micah, Stockton, Tiana, Aaron, Sam, Lizzy, Luke, Rachelle, Grayson; Camille, Kai, Cam, Molly, April, Gene, Brett

Camille and Brynn

We had heard from many people of a place that was a must-see in Afton, on our way out of town.  It was called Mesa Falls and it really was a must-see.  It was the most incredible waterfall, at least that I've ever seen!  I am glad we stopped and walked around here.

April, Riley, Eli, Micah, Stockton, Evie, Cam, Brynn, Megan, Ivy, Camille

Eli, Eric, Luke, Heidi, Tiana, Molly

Stockton was actually quite scared of getting too close to the railing.  This was as close as he got.

Tiana and Molly

We spent a little longer at Mesa Falls so we decided to all go get some lunch together in Afton.  On the way there I realized that I had left my wedding ring at the cabin, in the soap dish in the bathroom that we had used.  I felt sick to my stomach.  We were only about 30 minutes away, so while the rest of us ordered and ate pizza, Justin drove all the way back, got my jewelry and met back up with us as we were finishing up.  I am so glad they were still there!  The cleaning ladies had found them and wrapped them in paper.  I usually don't wear my wedding rings on vacations like that, I don't know why I did that!

Anyway, crisis averted.  Eric bought all the kids an ice cream cone after lunch and almost all of them chose bubble gum.  Look at those cute blue faces!

Stockton, Riley, Cam, Eli, Brynn, Ivy

After ice cream, we all headed our separate ways and made it home.  It was such a fun week and I am so grateful to have such amazing in-laws that have welcomed me so thoroughly into their family and I am grateful for the relationships our kids have with their grandparents, aunts and uncles, and cousins.  Love the memories we made that week!