YELLOWSTONE Family Vacay-FAIRBANKS STYLE- "Hiking" with the kids

Here is most of our jolly gang, just before we headed out for Fairy Falls (?) Georgia and Uncle Whit Grandpa and John

Ruby didn't want to go on this hike, but Grandpa changed her mind and showed her all sorts of cool things...he is so patient with all of these little people!

Kirk, John, Rich, Grandpa and Ruby

MARSHALL

BEAUTIFUL!

Grandpa and Ruby again...thanks for encouraging her to keep going GRANDPA!

Kirk and Marshall

Hannah and Tatum (trying to pretend that the stinging nettle is BURNING their legs!)

While cruising through Yellowstone, we came upon this...I love this! This is ONE BAD A BISON, he doesn't seem to care that we have places to go and people to see. I decided that when I got home, I was going to walk down the middle of the street and just see what happens! Okay, maybe I won't, but it would be really fun! Just to see what people would do, they probably wouldn't pull over and take my picture huh? Oh well.

My neighbor just got home from Yellowstone for the first time, he told me, "Heather, I don't know why you keep going back, it is ugly up there!" I told him that I love it more and more each time we journey over to Yellowstone. The park is constantly changing. I love the thermal features, the forest, all the rivers, lakes and streams. (I didn't tell him this, but in the summer, it is just as much fun to watch the PEOPLE as it is the sights and animals!!) We love it there and can't wait to get back! How can you not think Yellowstone is beautiful? I admit it is prettier over by Yellowstone Lake than over by West Yellowstone, but it is so fascinating to watch the changes take place in the park. It is a new adventure every time we go!

YELLOWSTONE Family Vacay-FAIRBANKS STYLE-RIVER FUN

I just realized, this is my 100th post! WOW! We love to picnic at the same place every year...the name of it escapes me...anyway, there are picnic tables right by the river and the kids love to wade and play in the water. Here is Johnny, John John, having a grand time and not afraid of the water at all...SHOCKER! Ada, the FISH of the bunch, didn't like it all! This is my sweet Mother-in-law, Karen, having a blast with her grand kids

Ada was finally rescued by her Daddy, Darryl

Georgia and Tiff

Ada, telling her Dad that she wants to go back to the dry land!

Great-Grandmother and Landon...so sweet!

Marshall, the king of it all!

Kirk, WHOA! Is he actually smiling in a picture? I don't believe it!

Grandpa and his cool hat

The kids, oh they had a ball!

Karen and Tiff

Ruby

The spectators

Kirk, NOT SMILING!

Katherine and Landon

What a great way to spend an afternoon!

YELLOWSTONE Family Vacay-FAIRBANKS STYLE- campfire fun

Yes...it is now September and I am still trying to get through this Yellowstone vacation...I can't keep up. OH WELL. Several evenings, we were able to have a campfire for S'mores and fun in Grammy and Grandpa's awesome fire pit! We had a blast out there singing camp songs and laughing at Tatum and Hannah! They were hilarious and got us all giggling! OH TO BE A TEENAGER AGAIN! The pictures look a little hazy because there was lots of smoke from the fire... and i was sitting across the fire from them. Happy Hanny Landon, Katherine and Tatum Great-Grandmother Fairbanks

John and Roo

Daddy-O and Kirkie

Sweet Ada Lou

GRANDPA (everyone's BUD)

Whit with his boys, Marshall and Luke

Marshall, Luke and Kirk

Georgie and Grammy

Ruby, Georgia, Grammy and Tiff...isn't this cute? They were laughing at Hannah and Tate

Our entertainment that evening...they put on a GREAT show!

LOVE YOU GIRLS!! XOXOXOXO

YELLOWSTONE Family Vacay-FAIRBANKS STYLE-the RODEO

Our first night together we had dinner and then we all hit the local rodeo...I LOVE A GOOD RODEO!! I can't explain it folks, I just do...I LOVE RODEOS!! Small town or professional, I don't care... We had a blast, THANKS RICK AND KAREN!! What a fun evening! Although we were at the RODEO...no one could keep their eyes of this little man...HOW CUTE IS HE?? Sweet Landon, I could eat your cheeks!! (and tootsies too!!) Hanny and Tate...checkin' out the COW BOYS!! YEE HAW!

This is one cute DADDY-O!

In between events, they asked the LITTLE PEOPLE to come out to chase a calf???

There was a ribbon around it's tail...they were supposed to grab it...I couldn't believe it, but John, YES, MY JOHN, jumped right threw the fence and was ready for action! Ruby was in, so John didn't want to miss out!

Georgie wanted to go too, so Aunt Tiffy followed the leader!

Here they are warming up for the big calf chase! JUMPING JACKS!

Afterwards the rodeo clown gave them all a silver dollar! COOL!

John has never been so excited about anything in all his life!!

Seriously...CHECK HIM OUT!!

Kirk tried out the "BIG" kid version...FUN STUFF!

Smiling at those cowboys AGAIN!!

Auntie Tiff and Miss G

Ruby, Gram and Kirk

Tiff kissing on sweet Landon...or maybe it was the other way around!

Grandpa and Georgia, blowing kisses to the cow boys!

What fun! Uncle Whit went out and danced in front of the WHOLE CROWD! I will post his picture as soon as I get it from his wife!! HE MADE US ALL PROUD!!

YELLOWSTONE Family Vacay-FAIRBANKS STYLE-the drive

Now that the kidlets are in school, I FINALLY HAVE TIME to blog about our family vacation!

We set aside a week for a grand Yellowstone adventure with my husband's family. We all get together a couple times a year. It is difficult, now that we are all spread out...Whit and his family are in Dallas, Katherine and her family are just outside of Phoenix, we are in Idy-ho and my in laws still reside in Ogden...SO, we all make the journey to rendezvous at the family compound, in West Yellowstone, Montana. WE ALL LOVE IT THERE! It is great! No matter what time of the year it is, there are a MILLION ways to entertain yourselves!

We almost always spend Christmas/New Years in Yellowstone with all of the Fairbanks clan and usually hook up during the summer as well.

This year, we let Hannah bring a friend (since she has no cousins her age) to keep her happy and entertained! It was a grand idea. We brought her darling friend Tatum, who is the daughter of our dear friends, Sean and Dini...anyway, Tatum was a doll! I hope she had as much fun with us as we did with her!! WE LOVE YOU TATE!!

We left on an EARLY Saturday morning, at about 5AM, so we wouldn't waste the whole day in the car. I really thought my wild ones would SLEEP...but no, sleep was not to be had! We stopped for breakfast and Hannah and Tatum were a hoot! I knew instantly, IT WAS GOING TO BE A GREAT TRIP!!

GOOF BALLS! I am sure they frightened off a customer or two when we stopped for nourishment!

SORRY FOLKS!

John and Ruby thought Hannah and Tate were super entertainment, I was happy to have happy travelers! It was a win win!

*Kirk was in Utah, spending time with his Dallas cousins and my in-laws, so he met us at the cabin...just in case you are wondering were wild one #2 is in these photos!