RV Adventure Day 10- Grand Tetons, WY

Route: Colter Bay Junction, Grand Tetons to Cheyenne, WY

We decided to spend the day exploring Jackson and then hit the road instead of staying another night at Colter bay. We weren't impressed with the RV park and got some good hiking and campfire time in early this morning so another day didn't seem necessary. Plus, an extra day to drive the long way home seemed like a good idea to our driver.

However, in true daddy fashion, we are pushing trough and should make it home in 2 days as planned. The road warrior lives on!!!

Activities:
1- Pudgy pies by campfire- we found the BEST recipe: Stone ground wheat bread, Nutella and sliced bananas. It reminded Justin and I of our days in Paris with the street side Nutella banana crepes. Yummy!!!
2-Hike to Jackson lake- some of the smog had blown away over the night so we were able to see the peaks of the Tetons over Jackson Lake a bit better.
3- Jackson, WY: pretty cool town with elk antler arches and a central town square where daddy schooled us in a good old fashion game of Red Light Green Light.
4- Loooooonnnngggg booooorrrrreeiing drive to Cheyenne, WY where we stayed at the WORST KOA yet. I mean seriously. There was not even a patch of grass, all gravel. Urgh!

Prize Bin

I packed this bin, over flowing on day 1, with trinkets and treasures for the girls. Two or three times a day they got to pick a reward for being good. This was especially motivating at bedtime after long days on the road and late night activities.

You see the loot is getting low. Hopefully it lasts through the drive home.

RV Adventure Day 8- Destination Grand Tetons

Route: West Yellowstone, MT to Colter Bay Campground, Grand Teton National Forest.

Tomorrow we have planned to stay at the RV park here in Colter Bay Junction, but it was full tonight so we got a rustic campsite on the shores of Jackson lake. It is AMAZING with hiking trails right from are spot. The fire pit is tucked back in the woods and the kids have acres of open woods all to themselves.

If there is one thing we've learned about our family and the RV it's that we prefer these remote, rustic, sites much better than the fully loaded RV parks, girls included. Although, having laundry facilities, a restaurant and a playground every couple of nights is nice too.

Activities:
1- Oatmeal and parfaits for breakfast
2- Playground and showers - we didn't have reservations anywhere tonight so wasn't sure when we'd see a shower again.
3- Grand Junction, Yellowstone Junior Ranger station- This is where the girls became "official" junior park rangers. They had gotten a book with various activities they had to do throughout Yellowstone. To earn the badge and title junior ranger they had to complete the book and turn it back into a ranger. It's a cute program that taught us all a lot. I highly recommend it.
4- Drove south to the Grand Tetons in search of a campsite for the night- we found one on the banks of Jackson lake in Colter Bay. This site is fully wooded, huge and extremely private. We LOVE it!!!!
5- Cooked out brats, hot dogs and beans and played Blokus.
6- Short hike down to the lake where the girls climbed around on beach wood, skipped rocks and splashed in the cold mountain lake.
7- S'mores and story telling by the campfire
8- BEDTIME!!!

Wow! What a day. I think this has been my favorite one yet. The Tetons are beautiful and even though the air is smoggy from the nearby forest fires the maintains loom over us at every turn. Breathtaking!

My morning view

Here is what I wake up to every morning- beautiful, isn't it?!?!?

(she now sleeps in bed with me- BAD mommy!!!!)

RV Adventure Day 7: West Yellowstone, MT

Route: No travel day- we spent the day exploring the cool town of  West Yellowstone in MT

Activities:
1- Eggs and bacon in the RV
2-Played at the KOA playground
3- Went into town for BBQ at Buffalo Bill's
4- Bought the fam some cowboy boots at Eagle's Nest, a 104 year old family business.  Had drinks at their original soda fountain which was built in 1910
5- Drove 36 miles out of the way to ID (come on DAD, use a map PLEASE) only to land right back where we started at the Bear and Wold Discovery Center- here the girls got to hide food for 2 Alaskan rescue bears- very cool!
6- Ate a quick meal of hot dogs and tortellini in the RV
7- West Yellowstone Rodeo- here the girls got to go onto the arena floor and chase a calf.
8- BED at last- 10:30 PM- wow these girls are troopers.

West Yellowstone, Montana Rodeo and Bear feeding

Good find Daddy!!!

Notice the girls are IN THE BEAR PEN EXHIBIT hiding food for two VERY LARGE bears.

RV Adventure Day 6- Madison Junction to West Yellowstone, Montana

August 21st: Yellowstone's northern loop
1-homemade campfire pudgy pies for Breakfast (Nutella, strawberries and bread- yummy!!!)
2- Hikes The Grand Canyon of Yellowstone and saw the Lower Falls- breathtaking. Daddy was too scared of the steep drop offs to join us.
3- Road side Buffalo sighting- super cool!!!
4-walked around and relaxed at Historic Ft. Yellowstone in Mammoth village
5- Explored the Mammoth Hot Springs- a lot were dried up supposedly because of the drought.
6- drove past Gillette Falls
7- Had some great wildlife sightings: Antelope Grazing in meadows; more buffalo; elk sighting across a creek
8- Crossed the state line into Montana- the fifth state of our road trip.
9- Checked in at West Yellowstone KOA just in time for some home cooked cooked BBQ- Ana tried a bison burger and loved it; Daddy had black angus; Me, a 1/2 rack of ribs; and Tay, a grilled cheese.

Less an infant meltdown and sibling rivalry that drove dad to "seriously" threaten heading back to WI first thing in the AM all were snug in bed by 10:00 (with some tears shed). As I've said before, "all's well that ends well!"

RV Adventure Day 5- Grant Village to Madison Junction, Yellowstone

Route: Western and Southern Rim of Yellowstone.

Today was a full day here in Yellowstone. I'll write more fun details later, but here is the list:

August 20th
1- Swam in firehole Canyon - mountain river with rapids
2- Old Faithful boardwalk hike with young scientist program and ice cream at the worlds largest log cabin
3- Drove Grant village to Madison Junction
4- saw 2 Buffalo
5- hiked to stream
6- met friends from Germany
7- cooked out by camp fire
8- S'mores by camp fire

Again, more pictures will come later, but here are a few from my phone to keep you happy:).

RV Adventure Day 4- Hill City to Yellowstone

Today was a full day on the road, about 12 hours total with just one stop in Cody, WY for dinner and some cowboy hats!

Everyone did great!

I have a lot more pix on the computer but can't get wifi anywhere yet so here is what I've managed to get on the phone for y'all.

Route: Hill City, SD to Grant Village, Yellowstone, WY ( by far out favorite campsite yet!!!)

Activities:
1- Driving, Driving and more driving.
2- Cody, WY for dinner and cowboy hat buying. This is a very cool "old west" town. Home of Buffalo Bill.

RV Adventure Day 3- Hill City, SD

Today was a full day at the Hill City KOA with one day trip to Mt. Rushmore, which I must add was a lot cooler than I expected.

Route: No travel day
Activities:
1- Gemstone Mining
2- Giant pillow jumping and bounce house sliding
3- Water sliding
4- Swimming and hot tubbing (what, are they teen agers already???)
5- Mt. Rushmore ranger walk where we learned all about the history and making of the carving: preservation, expansion, globalization, dedication and ???? is what the artist wanted you to think of when looking at the presidents.  We also learned that Jefferson has a hand on his lapel.
6- Horseback riding through the woods with a deer spotting by Taylor
7- Late night movie
8- Indian Dance show where Ana and Taylor got to join in.
9- Playing in the dirt and making a new friend from PN named Maia. Made us miss our Maia Mia!
10- Grilled out cheeseburgers and sweet potato fries- yummy!
11- Laundary- What the heck???? I though this was vacation!!!!!
12- Bouldering and climbing on rocks
13- Miniature Golfing (Taylor)
14- Running through the FREEZING splash park (Ana)
14- And finally, bedtime at 9:00 pm. Ana and Dad slept in the back. Taylor slept in the bunk up top the driver's seat. Mom on the couch with Emi an arms reach away in the pack n play.

Emi did better tonight. Dad helped out during the middle of the night feeding so I could get some shut eye.  I think he's learned that a well rested mommy is a patient mommy and therefore MUCH happier mommy who enjoys herself and other (and vice a versa) !!!!

RV adventure Day 2- Austin, MN to Hill City, SD

Today was a full day on the road with some cheesy tourist stops along the way. From waking up in a Walmart parking lot to see A palace made of corn, today was a day of firsts for all five of us.

Route: Austin, MN Super Walmart to Hill City KOA ( just down the road from Mt. Rushmore)

Activities:
1- Waking up in a Walmart parking lot and getting our forgotten supplies- a fuzzy baby sleeper for the COLD nights ahead of us and warm blanket and some coffee creamer. (It is true, you CAN sleep overnight at Walmart for free- crazy!)
2-Driving, driving and more driving
3- The Corn Palace
4- The Badlands National Park to hike around and climb some rocks.
5- All 3 meals in the RV- parfaits and sausage for breakfast and sandwiches for lunch and dinner.
6- A second late night dinner at a restaurant here on the KOA grounds. I has yummy ribs, the girls had Kraft Mac and Cheese and Daddy had some healthy smealthy wrap- blah!!!
7- Pulling into the KOA and hooking up and emptying the waste water for the first time- easy peezy.

We had a GREAT day but were all ready for day off the road. The next two days we'll stay put at the Mt. Rushmore KOA in Hill City. It's loaded with kid activities so should be fun.

Other than not sleeping much at night, Emi is doing great!!!!

(The Internet is not working here so pictures will have to come later- I'll ad them when I can. )

The best part of waking up,

is Folder's in your cup.
(especially when your cup is overlooking this!)

Brrrrrrrrr... It's cold

Thank goodness my big sister Taylor gave me this adorable hat!!!!!

Now, can someone PLEASE talk to my silly parents and let them know that heat is necessary on these cold SD nights. I mean really mom and dad, why didn't you turn the heat on last night!?!?!?