Island Park...Conclusion

Next day was the river day.

Got our times a little mixed up. We all thought we were going first thing in the morning. So we loaded up the kids, loaded up our bags with drinks and treats and headed down where we dock. Wrong. We had to wait like 3 hours. So we hung around the waters edge for a bit and let the kids just splash around. Here is my baby bug, mid throw, throwing rocks into the water.

We stayed for about an hour or so and let the kids play. Figured they could burn up some energy here, rather than sitting around the cabin for the next couple of hours.

Went back to the cabin for a bit, then loaded up for the second time. No pictures while floating the river though, and its a good thing I don't take that camera, cause we get soaked. Three rafts to hold all of our family. First raft was loaded with a bunch of kids and a couple adults. They glided through the water cause they were a light load and were a good half hour ahead of the rest of us. Our raft and the other lagged behind with more adults. And boy did we have fun. We usually get in one, maybe 2 water fights along the way....not this time. I seriously lost track. They were relentless. My husband being the main problem. He didn't care that Lincoln was bawling his eyes out from it all, he just brought on one water fight after another. Near the end I wanted to kill him. We finally got smart and huddled me and my kids and my cousins little 1 year old beneath a tarp we found in the bottom of the raft. Then my other cousin would hold up a big umbrella on top of that. Kept the kids dry at least. It was exhausting and wet but crazy fun.

Got back pretty late in the day from that and just hung out around the cabin for the rest of that day.

Red, white and blue....4th of July. Fun day to be up there. The town has lots of fun little activites going on, and love seeing those American flags hanging from every shop. Small town, patriotic feel.

Did I mention my mama was there. It was such a special little treat. This is my dads family and as you know my parents are divorced. However, my mom has always stayed so close to the Williams', they love her and she loves them. Thats what is so hard about a divorce, she lost this whole family that meant so much to her. My grandparents and uncles are always reminding her that she is more than welcome to come to everything, they still always wanted her included. So when we found out my dad wasn't coming AT ALL. We jumped on the chance to bring my mom. Loved every minute of having her there. I know it meant alot to her too, getting the chance to be with her kids and grandkids and all of her Williams' family. It was really special, and something I'll never forget. Divorce is hard friends, I can testify to that. I always think to myself, well it happened 16 years ago, you should be used to it. I'm not. Still hurts. You never get over it. I'd give anything to have my family still together, if anything it makes me pretty passionate about my own marriage. That will never happen to me. I would never do that to my spouse, I would never do that to my kids. My mom never had a choice. We were all victims, and to this day, it still hurts.

Headed in to West for a little lunch and shopping for an hour or so. Kids and this popcorn. They love it.

Drake and baby Boston. Drake has been the youngest out of the cousins for over 2 years now. Now comes Boston, and soon to be Caroline (Jenny's baby due in October). I'm not going to lie, it was hard for me to pass that torch. Every day of Drake's little life pulls at my heart. He is still a baby to me. Can't stand that in reality he is not. Little boy now. I need a baby. Can't convince that hubby quite yet. Hopefully soon. My heart is starting to ache for one. Does that feeling ever go away?

We then headed into Yellowstone Park. Just the short loop up to Old Faithful, the longer loops are too much driving for young kids.

Saw a few animals on the way up, not much though.

We always stop in the visitors center, stupid souveniers such as flat pennies. Dumb. My parents used to let me do that when I was a kid, funny to see my boys get a kick out of it now.

And their big old icecream cones. These guys are so boring, chocolate for one, vanilla for the other...I can never talk them into the huckleberry.

My sweet Grandma and Lincoln boy. Hard to see her slowing down, makes me feel very sad. Love her dearly.

Later that night, after we had a quick dinner we headed to some local fireworks. No place to sit down, too many people, my kids were all over the place. Not my favorite firework show. Oh well, can't win em all.

And just like that it was over for another year. Cherish this trip, the family, the memories.
Til next time...

Family Vacation...part one.

Annual Island Park trip with my family. I look forward to two things every year, Christmas and our Island Park trip. Of course, other events along the way but this trip and Christmas are at the top of my list. Once again, it did not dissapoint. We left Sunday like always, but this year it happened to fall on our Williams family reunion in Malad, Idaho. So my big ol' Williams family stopped there first, ate super fast, visited for like 2 seconds and then our big old caravan was out of there.

I know most people kinda make fun of family reunions, but I actually kinda like them. Of course, I usually stay right close to my family, my aunts and uncles and cousins...we don't venture out much with the second cousins and all that. But I love the summeriness of it all, the coolers of pop, the tables filled with desserts, sitting on blankets and quilts and visiting with some of my favorite people while the husbands toss a baseball around and the kids visit the fish pond over and over. The pocket behind the drivers seat in my car is now filled with plastic necklaces, and parachute men, and cheap keychains and such...but hey, my kids love it. And I do too. Love the quaintness and simpleness of it all. Its the little things in life...

Before long we were back on the road again. In total it is about a 3 1/2 hour drive, but stopping for the reunion broke it up and it felt like we arrived to the cabin in no time.

Lil' sweeties. The cabin was their favorite part about it all. Me and my sisters have 9 kids between us and then my other cousins add another 5. So 14 little ones running around from room to room with each other. Staying up late, builiding legos, playing the old fashion Nintendo, dressing princesses, jumping on air matresses even though they were told countless times to stop. They loved it all!

Drake bug..the next day, hanging out in his diaper watching a little Mickey Mouse.

All ready to go. Forgot to take a picture, but every morning I would wake up early with my aunt and a few cousins and go on a run. That is my idea of exersise. 4 1/2 miles in the crisp, cool, air into the most beautiful clearing I have ever seen. I would run along the trail, surround by trees and even a moose one morning (freaked me out) and all the sudden at the half way point you would reach this beautiful clearing. The sun was just peaking through the trees up until that point, and then all the sudden you were drenched it. Seriously a good start to every day.

I am sure I am speaking as a biased mom, but oh my heck, these my boys of mine. I die from their cutenesss. Every morning it had to be documented. Stinking cuties!!

We started out at "Quake Lake". I guess there was a big earthquake many years ago and you can drive up here and see the way it shifted the earth. Their is a big ravine, and everything on one side of the ravine, used to be on the other. The quake moved it all. Crazy. The kids just liked throwing rocks down there.

Hey, that there is a dang cute boy!

Me and my little babe looking out at the great big world. Sure makes him seem small.

We then headed into West Yellowstone. Roamed the little shops and stores. Always starting at the IMAX. Tradition! Now I have the Fiddler on The Roof stuck in my head. Tradition!

He's All American...well, and a little Brazilian.

Candy store is a must. Particurely for me. My kids pick out a bag of crap, and I end up eating most of it. They like the idea of candy, but when it comes right down to it they don't eat much of it. Except Drake. He would if he could.

We always let the kids pick out a couple of souveniers. They each got a bag of useless rocks earlier in the day, and then they spotted these ninja swords. My boys and ninjas. Hand in hand. They battle it out everynight with the swords and guns we have at home, these new swords were a welcome addition.

Here we are later that night, watching all the kids take rides on the Ranger. My uncle bought one this year and we had a blast on it. Especially my Lincoln.

Drake wanted nothing to do with it, preferred playing on the trailer instead. Speaking of Drake...BRAT! Absolute brat up there. Scowled and frowned at every living person besides me and his dad. I swear, when is this kid going to learn some social skills. He is the most unfriendly little soul you will ever meet. He is downright embarrassing at nursery each week. Such a snot pot.

Lincoln boy was a delight though. Had everone wrapped around his cute, crazy little finger. Love my crazy boy.

Me and my love the next morning. Day 3.

Headed up to Jackson Hole this day. Of course here we are in front of the antlers. Tried to get a family picture, instead we had me smiling, Drake trying to run away, Thiago hanging on to his shirt, trying to keep him in the picture. Carson squinting and crying that the sun was too bright, and a sleepy Lincoln boy who had just woke up from the car. It was a great picture. You don't get to see it, it was that bad.

Good thing I can count on these 3 to sit still and smile. Got a cute picture with my 3 favorite girls! Wait techically 4 favorite girls, did I tell you I am going to be an auntie AGAIN!! Jen is expecting Caroline in about 3 more months. And its Caro-LINE not Carolynn, she is very adamant about that.

These kids could not concentrate until we made our way to the gigantic toy store. Its huge and ridiculously overpriced and we spent a small fortune in there...

But we left with very happy children.

Little secret...tell me I am not the only parent out there to do this. Carson of course picked out a Lego, which wasn't cheap. Spent $40.00 on that, Linc picked out some superheroes that were about $20.00 but he was happy. And we bought Drake a $7.00 ironman. He got the shaft big time. However he was happy and knew no different. I feel guilt.

Went for pizza at Mountain High Pizza Pie. Where it was 100 degrees inside. I kid you not, cooler outside than it was in. We were dying. Good thing the pizza was good, oh and Drake spilled a giant coke all down my leg and sandall. That was fun too.

These two had the cutest little friendship going on while we were on our little trip. Talk about an odd pairing, but they were loving each other. Trouble leading trouble.

And another candy store...I begged. Haha. Shouldn't it be the other way around....yummy salted caramel chocolates. Oh so good! Oh and cherry supremes....and raspberry fudge. Duh, I had to have this stuff....oh and cupcake flavored taffy, I mean come on.

How cute are these pictures....the answer is super cute!

Back to the cabin for some downtime and dinner. Day three was one of my fav's!