Our 2008 Family Trip

Our family's guide to Yellowstone. (warning this is a travel log and it is very long, but I didn't want to forget anything) Yes, it is hard to believe, but there are even more pictures to see. So if you want check them out here.

Okay, so our trip for 2008 was in September but I am just now getting to blogging it. Every year we have made it a goal to go on at least one formal family vacation. I have mentioned on my blog before, our family Christmas stocking tradition, but since we lost some of it I will fill you in on the tradition. We plan a trip and announce it with a picture or fun little objects that we put in this big stocking on Christmas morning. Then we get a memento from the trip and pin it on to the stocking. That way it will be filled with fun memories. This year we decided on a simpler "less expensive" trip...YELLOWSTONE.

Our family in front of Yellowstone Falls

We stayed in my parents cabin in Island Park about 30 miles away form the west entrance into the park. Even though we are so close to Yellowstone we don't go there often. We find plenty to do around our cabin. Andre had only been there once before and I am sure he does not remember it.

Well, for those of you who have been to Yellowstone you either love it or you hate it. It is one of those places that you have to look for the fun, But we found it and I will say that we had a blast. There was a lot of driving but I made coloring books for the kids and snacks. I also gave them there own little buckets filled with activities. Plus, we got out and explored (another trick to Yellowstone) get out of your car and be one with nature.

Don't you just love camera timers!!! The picture of us is not the best but the background is beautiful. This is on a bridge by my cabin in Island Park.

The first day of our trip we just spent hanging around the cabin and going on four-wheeler rides.

We spent two day in the park. The first day we stop in West Yellowstone at the Grizzle Discovery Center. There we got to see grizzly bears and wolves. Andre was able to become a keeper kid and go into the bears den (no bears present) and hide food for them. Then when all the kids were out safe and sound we got to watch the Bears hunt for the food. Andre was a little nervous at first but loved it. They feed the bears lettuce and other veggies, berries, and dry dog food. It was very interesting to see how good there dexterity was turning over rocks to look for the food.

Yellowstone is made up of one big loop that is divided into two smaller loops. We planned one loop a day to let us sight see and play around. Our first excursion was the painter pots. Which was a nice little walk that led to...well, I am not really sure what they were, but none the less we went, we saw and decided not to conquer and climb all the way to the top.

We had a nice little picnic at Mammoth Springs and saw a lot of elk. The elk are like residents of this small little village. They park themselves right on the lawns. Watch out for the elk poop.

After a relaxing lunch we headed for a place that I had never heard of until our friend Bettie told us about it. It is a little hidden and off the path a little. I think it was called the boiling river. It is just past the Montana border. It is were the chilly Yellowstone river and a very hot hot spring merge. Leaving a very warm pool to soak in. It felt very good even in September. The small hike back to the car wasn't so soothing, but was well worth the experience.

On our way back through the loop we saw lots of elk and buffalo. I think that this picture is so funny "be prepared to stop." This sign was for the road construction down the road a bit, but I am sure it could apply anywhere in the park because those animals are not afraid to cross the street and are in no hurry. We even saw a buffalo kick a car that tried to go around it. We planned to go horseback riding, but we were one week to late. The lodge said that they stop horseback riding shortly after labor day. Bummer oh well. There was still lots to see.

Every year we have the kids save change through out the year and then they get to spend that money on souvenirs. We took the kids to some shops to look and as soon as Kendyl saw this pink gun she said "MINE" and never let go of it. Andre pick out a gun too (big shocker). After shopping we ate dinner and this yummy dinner in West Yellowstone and head back to the cabin.

Day two

The second loop we began with a drive along the fire hole river then stop at one of the several geysers. I am not sure what one it is called. There was really pretty deep blue springs and fun boardwalks to walk on. Great photo ops to bad the sun was blazing.

Our Next stop was Old Faithful, a Yellowstone staple. As Old Faithful blew Kendyl yelled, "water, water." I swear she is so smart.

I found out that kids can become Junior Rangers. So on the first day of the trip we stopped by a ranger station and picked up the packet. They are age appropriate and they have the kids go to places all throughout he park. They do tasks that have to be passed off by rangers, they record animals they see and color pages. Andre sure had a lot of fun doing it and it kept him busy in the car. After they pass off five things, they find a ranger and read the ranger pledge, then they are officially sworn in as a junior ranger and then they get a wolf patch. Here he is becoming an official junior ranger.

Next stop was to this biking trail that I wanted to go on called Lone Star Geyser trail. We unloaded the bikes and set out on the 5 mile ride. It was a beautiful trail. This was probably my favorite thing we did. It was nice to get off the beaten path and it was so quiet. The trail ran along the fire hole river and ended at yet another geyser. We were told we missed it going off by 2 minutes. The geyser goes off every three hours, oh well, it was a great ride. And if you have seen one geyser you have seen them all. Andre rode his bike the whole way and never complained. It was great!

Lunch time! Or should I say momma needs a Diet Coke time. We found a nice Picnic area somewhere between the bike trail and Yellowstone Lake. We just relaxed there for a bit and let the kids explore. They found this bird that apparently loves Dorito chips. The kids were so intrigued by feeding it.

Here is a funny story. While we were exploring we found this creek. As Andre was crossing the creek on a log, being the photo obsessed women that I am, I yelled, "hey Andre look back for a picture." And being the great poser that he is, he looked back, and lost his balance and fell in the creek. I wish that I had capture that moment on the camera but instead I was a good mom and rushed over to help him out of the creek. I thought for sure he would start bawling, but surprising he was laughing and then we all busted up. One of the few times that he does what I asked and he falls in a creek.

This picture cracks me up. Look closely at Andre he is holding his gun to Wes. I think that it could tell you what they were playing. I didn't even notice that until I was looking back through the pictures.

Next stop was along the beach of Yellowstone lake. It is a beautiful drive along the lake. We got out and played on the beach and threw rocks into the lake (a favorite activity of ours). Something cute Wes always does is find a heart shaped rock to give to me. This year he found one and gave it to Kendyl. He also found this awesome drift wood and gave it to me. It is now on my kitchen table. I love it, thanks honey. He knows exactly what I think is cool. The weather was actually in the low 70's by late afternoon so ours kids dipped their toes in the lake.

They next place was a drive through Hayden Valley, a Bears favorite place to hang out. Although we saw no bears we saw a lot of buffalo. The rangers told us it was too late in the year to see bears. They were already up in higher elevation getting ready for hibernation.

***A little info in one of the pictures in my gallery you can see buffalo hoof prints in a hot spring. I asked a ranger how they don't get burned. She said that some springs are hotter then others. The buffalo love to stand on the warm ones in the winter. I asked how do they know which ones are safe and what ones to avoid. She said,"Their mothers teach them." How beautiful is that. A mother's role is to teach their children things to avoid and things that are okay. I love the fact that motherhood is instinctive. She also said that some push the line and still get too close to the hot ones, no matter what they have been taught and end up getting hurt or die. Isn't that a great metafore! How often do we all ride the line.

Next we came to, I think the stinkest place on earth. Mud Valcano. As soon as Andre heard the name he wanted to go. When we got out of the car the stink hit us like a parachute fart. It was pretty cool if you could hold your breath. I swear the steam seeped into our skin and we smelled like it, or maybe it was just stuck up in our nostrolles.

Our final stop was at Yellowstone Falls in Canyon Village. There are two water falls. One you can hike down to. We hiked down all 328 steps not including a few switch backs.

This is about half way I think I was a little dillirous.

I was lucky enough to have Kendyl straped to my back. Think of all those calories I burned. Kednyl fell asleep about 50 steps in. Dead weight, even beter. It was well worth all 328 steps.... Untill the 328 steps back. Thanks to Tiffany for letting me barrow her moby wrap.

Side note: Our heater convenietly went out in our car so in the morning we were all freezing wrap up in blankets and by after noon had to roll down the window because we were hot.

We had great time. I realized that it does not matter where you go on vaction. If youf family is together it can be a blast. Some place you have to work a little more to find the fun but we tried to have fun no matter what. I can safly say we had fun.

Can I tell you a secret......

......I don't wear diapers anymore.

Thats right we have reached another milestone in our house. This one is a doosie. Kendyl is now potty trained. She has been diaper free (except at night) for about two weeks. I can not believe how easy it was. Night and day compared to Andre. I really do think that what they say is true. Girls are easier to train than boys.

All it took was a few days of practice, a trip to the store for princes undies, and a few bribes with fruit snacks. Actually, I need to be giving a lot of thanks to Wes. He was the one who got the ball rolling. To tell the truth I think that she has been ready for a while, but I have been putting it off. I think it was because of the flash backs of Andre.

We are ecstatic!!!!

What do you get when you have a happily married mom of two, a hot single sister, a room full of hot celebrities?.......Me and my sister last Tuesday night!!!!

Thanks to my sister for having her camera. The time I am camera-less I have a night I don't want to forget.

It is not secret that I am a huge fan of Dancing With the Stars. Last year I did a post about meeting Louie Van Amstel and Julianne Hough. As exciting as that was I can now top it.

Tuesday night my Dad had bought my mom, sister and me tickets to see the Dancing with the stars tour. We brought my great mother-in-law along who loves the show just as much as we do. The show was great, but the after party was what really got me squealing like a little girl.

After the show we got to meet a dancer and the host Fabian Sanchez. By the way, apparently me and my sister didn't talk about what we were wearing or else we would have not dressed like twins...Embarrassing!

After the show we ran in to one of my sisters oldest friends. She informed us that my favorite dancer, Derek Hough, was playing with his band at this after party thing. She invited us to go with her. We just had to go, but looking at my mom and Mother-in-law, I didn't know what to do until my sister's friend, Britney, told us we could hitch a ride back with her. I dialled up my husband, who told me to go have fun. We ditch my two moms and headed to the concert. Sorry mom and Becky, I love you, though.

This is my sister and her friend Brittney at the concert.

We got to be VIP's and get right up to the stage. The band was great. Mark Ballas, another Dancing with the stars guy, is also in the band. It is called Ballashough band (Original). There album is coming out in March. While we were head bobbing around we notice that Lance Bass and a bunch of other stars we there to see the band too. I am not a shy person, as you all know, but for some reason I was so scared to talk to Lance Bass. Finally, after standing right next to him, pretending to be all into the band I got to introduce myself. I totally was lame and gave him a hug. He was probably, "get off me you lame fan." He was very gracious and was willing to take a picture with us. He is not as tall as I would have thought. Anyway here are the pictures from that night.

This is Lance Bass for those of you non Boy band lovers out there. Just kidding, there is no such thing as non boy band lovers just those who deni it. I have heard that 70% of people love boy bands and the other 30% lie.

Jake (Brittney's friend) Shannon and I with Lacey Schwimmer a dancer on the show. She was also on "so you think you can dance."

Maurice Green, once named the fastest man on earth. He is a gold medalist and was a star on the show. He was very cool and easy to talk to. So apparently, I was so excited because it looks like in all my pictures that my eyeballs are going to pop out of my head. Seriously could my eyes get any bigger.

My second encounter with Louie Van Amstel. This time he gave me a hug and a kiss on the cheek.

If you ever want to feel ugly about yourself, just have your picture taken with a celebrity. This is me with the beautiful actress Shannon Elizabeth. Derek Hough's girlfriend.

Mark Ballas Dancer and Singer.

The picture I was waiting for all night. too bad I look like a major "UGO". It is not that great of a picture of Derek either. He is much cuter in person. He was so nice. He just stood there and chatted with me an my sis like he new us.

We got invited to go to another after party thing. I guess rock stars have after parties, after, after parties. We decided since it was 1:30 in the morning and reminding myself that I had kids to take care of in the morning, we call it a night. We finally strolled in about 4:oo in the morning. I hadn't seen four in the morning since I was nursing Kendyl...I know really glamorous. I have secretly wanted to be a rock star all my life. I am not sure I would want a rock star life. I am pretty happy with my Jammie's on at 9 and curdled up on my sofa with my hubby. (or blogging till 11 haha).

Another Year come and Gone...

Here is how our Christmas went.

The Kids got to visit with Santa this year at the my Udy family Christmas party.

What, you say, Andre is actually sitting on Santa's lap. If you remember, my last years Christmas post, Andre was still scared of the big guy and wanted nothing to do with him. I guess a year makes a difference. Or maybe was just trying play cool.

Here are most of my girl cousins on the Udy side. What bunch of fun girls they are.

Christmas Morning...

Last year Andre wanted a nutcracker so bad so I got him one. So this year I gave one to Kendyl. This is Andre giving Kendyl very specific instructions on how to it works.

Andre has been bugging me to get some Heely's for ever. Since I think they are the ugliest shoes I have never got him some. This year I caved and surprised him with them. He loves them but can't quite figure them out yet.

Wes got the kids Skateboards. Yes, even Kendyl. Of course they loved them and yet again, Dad wins the best present award. They always love what ever he picks out. Well, I guess it isn't that hard to come up with only two cool gifts. When your wife pick outs all the other presents for everyone on their Christmas list.

We just might be raising our own future Pro skater. Who would of thought that she would love this. My girly girl-Tomboy.

I guess when you have dimples like these Who needs to worry about the naughty list.

Kendyl and a Star Wars clone.

Oh what, it is just Andre!

We had a great Christmas and a wonderful New years! Hope you all did as well. I can't believe it has already come and gone. I am a little sad this season is over. Now all that we have left is cold weather and snow. I don't know about you but I am so over the snow already. The first few Snow falls are always fun and magical but now that we had our White Christmas bring on spring. Oh wait is only January, shoot.