Island Park!

I'm back...were you beginning to wonder. It is not often that I go longer than a week between posts. We were off vacationing and having an absolutely wonderful time. Our annual trip to Island Park with my Williams side of the family. Another great trip with some seriously wonderful memories. I love, love, love this tradition and am so grateful to be a part of it. I have got quite the collection of pictures (would you expect any less), so I warn you. It's gonna be a long one....and this is just part one.



We were going to be gone for 5 days...so I packed accordingly. Haha. I will be the first to admit, I AM NOT a light packer. No sirree, I take anything and everything with me. I do not like to be without something for myself or my kids. Thiago about died when he saw all that I was bringing with. However he is a good man, he just shrugged his shoulders and started working his magic on getting it all to fit in the car. He succeeded!!


Me and this boy were oh so excited!


These two weren't quite so obvious in their excitement. One stared at his toys, while the other slept. However the sleeping child, well that was a good thing.


It is a little over 4 hours drive. Not too bad, especially once we stopped for some food. (Mcdonalds for them, something else for us. Gag me.)


The rest of my family was already there. They left early Saturday morning and we didn't leave until Saturday afternoon. I had to work that morning. Once we arrived, we sang happy birthday to this girl. 27!


And then went and got ourselves settled in at the cabin.


All snuggled in and ready for bed. Happy as can be.


This one is pretty happy also. (Like his new smile, everytime I say smile..this is what I get. Look for this face in pretty much every photo.)


Day 2


River day. We always float down some little river up there. Don't ask me the name, cause I don't know. It is super calm and not very deep. Definitely safe enough for my littles. Here is my little crocodile hunter all ready to go. Doesn't he look delightful.


Oh, he is just the sweetest of all sweets.


Here are my other 2 just waiting for everyone to load up.



Lincoln was throwing rocks. At people. Even after being told multiple times to stop. He rarely listens. Its great.


Carson, Gehrig, and Brev were practicing there boy scout skills and trying to build a fire with sticks. Didn't work.


Here we are at the river waiting for our rafts. I didn't take my camera on the river with me, too risky.


I decided to stick the baby in this little carrier thing. That way I had a good grip on him, but it left my hands free for Lincoln and Carson. He enjoyed it.


I loved this picture. Drake looks like a little pup, ready to spring into action. Haha.






Things went pretty well on our river trip. Carson loved it. Chatted the whole time, dangled off the sides, snacking on treats. Lincoln was a huge pain in the butt. For some reason he was scared of his own shadow. He whined the entire time. He was scared, he was cold, he didn't like the water getting in his shoes, he wanted "sip" or in other words coke. He was pretty annoying. Finally settled down for the last 20 minutes, just in time for us to be done. The baby was good for the most part, got a little fussy near the end cause he was tired. Although for 3 kids under 6 on a 2 1/2 hour trip, I would say it went well. Good as expected.

Headed back to the cabin, showered and got ready. Had some dinner and then we headed into West Yellowstone.


We just cruise around the little shops looking at all the goofy little souveniers.




Carson always gets himself a big ol' thing of popcorn at the Imax theatre. Him and grandpa...they love their popcorn.


My dad "Papa Jeff" sharing his icecream with Drake. I was praying the few bites wouldn't give him a belly ache. It didn't.


Drakey bug, waiting on the next bite.


Drake and my cousin Markell. She had the magic touch, got him to sleep many times on this trip. Drake was spoiled. I have a lot of cute little cousins and they all loved to hold him.


Carsey boy and I..holding hands. Love that he will still hold my hand.


Tell me I am not the only one whose husband does this. I always find him staring at his phone. Texting, internet, games...whatever, makes me crazy. I am always threatening to take it away.



Now, onto day 3.


Cute boys all ready to go.

The weather was questionable. Rainy and quite cold. So we loaded up in the cars and headed through Yellowstone Park. Never my kids' favorite activity. They don't really care about seeing the animals. Thank heavens they had their movies or it would have been a long day.


Me and my honey on our car ride.


Linc...there is that smile I told you about.


Cars


And my view of Drake, little legs just a kickin. Haha.



Stopped and watched Old Faithful, and then got some lunch.


Had to throw these pictures in cause I don't want to forget this about my Lincoln boy. Loves to give five, then knuckles then the little finger thing with his dad. Here is the five.


Knuckles.


And the little finger shake thing. Look at his little tongue. Love it.


So does he.





Stopped back in West Yellowstone for a couple more hours to finish up our little shopping.




Candy store...my favorite.






We always let the boys pick out a prize or two. Cars chose these guns and the holster.


So did Lincoln.


And so did Brev.


From this point on, you will no longer see a picture of Carson without these guns attached to him. He took them EVERYWHERE. Everywhere. Sherriff Carson. He was obsessed.


Baby Drake chose himself some moose pj's as his prize. He was just begging me for them. He especially likes the little flap on the butt with a moose face. Too cute. I of course obliged and bought them for him. We are both extremely happy with our choice.


Grandma and Grandpa Williams. My oh my, how I love these two.



Back at the cabin, the madness continues. These boys are crazy.


And I shall end day 3 with this picture of Drake getting his sink bath. Our room had just a shower, which was fine for Carson and Lincoln they usually shower anyways. However Drake is a bather, so we had to make due with the sink. He didn't mind.

Whooo...we made it through. Long post.

Stay tuned for days 4 and 5!