Tetons, Bar J Ranch, and Wyoming

We packed up our campsite and decided to canoe the lake around the Tetons on Saturday.

The first island we visited was grassy.  We got to it by going over shallow 2" water that had a bunch of reeds everywhere.  It was my favorite.

Little boys love canoeing too!

POWER POSE!!!

Straight on to the Tetons.
Taylor was doused with water from a massive wave around this time, and got soaked...I think we switched places at the perfect time.  I just missed it. 

The river was so massive you could see if from where we where.

Little boys love holding sticks in the air, I guess.

All the wolf spiders on the second island we stopped off on reminded Taylor of that mean one in Yellowstone.

Taylor is showing me what it's like to be a wolf spider.

We headed to Jackson Hole and met up with my Grandparents Jensen at Bar J Ranch.

Taylor ate all his big meal...and got seconds!  So did Grandma Carlie...haha!

The love bench at Bar J.

And Taylor found a moose!

And Taylor found a way pass the electrical fence....BEAR HUG!

 Sunday we went to Sacrament with my Grandparents, and then came home and took Sadie for a walk around my Grandparent's meadow-like back yard.

Later that afternoon, my Grandma Carlie gave us a personal tour of the pioneer museum in Afton WY.

Some personal items from my great grandparents.

Taylor in awe of what Grandma Carlie is showing him.

Who knew Mickey Mouse would be at the Pioneer Museum?  I mean, seriously.

Thanks for the tour!

And thanks for the use of your shower after 5 days of camping!

Yellowstone Day 3 Friday

Just FYI, by now we haven't showered for 3 days...but Taylor didn't care.
And did you know why there's so much color in Yellowstone springs?  Bacteria!

Norris Porcelain Basin

Porcelain Basin

So many colors! Green bacteria, yellow bacteria, and orange bacteria!!

Storm clouds in the distance.

Norris Geyser

Matchy grey shirts!

The Terrace.

The Swollen. Look at the pudgy hand!

The Tricep.

The Kelsey Eye.

The Storm.

And some other geyser at Old Faithful.

We also went to Biscuit Basin and the Grand Prismatic, but we have a lot of pictures of hot springs on this blog already.

Making kindling for dinner.

Our second camp at Madison.

Firehole River

Fire hot man.

It wasn't exactly really cold because of the hot springs that flow into it...but not a sauna either. 

Taylor and his heron friend, Bear.

Best friends act alike.

Yellowstone Day 2 Thursday

We went farther North and East than we went last year to see Mammoth Springs, and do the entire Yellowstone Loop.  The East side doesn't have as many active springs, mainly just a scenic drive.

Tuff cliff and tuff stuff! Nerdy amateur geologist had to get a picture next to a full cliff side of pumice.

Mountain that burned constantly because of all the hot springs.

Walking in a field of gold.

Our view from the car while driving.  We had to switch driving so we could both look.

Mammoth Hot Springs, or big melty ice cream cones.

Viewing the only petrified tree.

The pillars in the mountain side to hold it up...just kidding, Taylor knows the real geology. ("Columnar rocks formed by basalt lava flows thousands of years ago, and rapid cooling of the lava.  Like the Devil's Postpile in CA, or Bryce Canyon." -Tay)

Viewing the Grand Canyon

Eating lunch across the river from a sleepy bison.

They're just grazing, we're just gazing.

Witches brew:  "Boil, boil, toil and trouble" stuff.

The last dragon on earth lives in this cave, snoring away.  He's very loud, and very steamy.  Puff just hasn't been the same since  little Jackie Paper left.

Also, this is Taylor's spider bite after 24 hours.  He got bit while putting up the tarp, we assume.  His hand starting itching after dinner on Wednesday.

The Madison River we camped next to.