Happy Fourth of July! Mammoth, Yellowstone - Wildlife!! Up close and Personal!

What a great little boat we were on for our tour of Lake Yellowstone at Fishing Bridge! We had a great Ranger who was from CA and this was her first "season" as a Ranger. Alexander (left) and Bobby (right) are SOOO happy that it isn't so cold anymore after the boat trip on Lake Yellowstone!!! (Bobby's actually happy he could buy a heater for Rubio!!)

 

 Mugs and Kendall are enjoying lettuce wraps for lunch RIGHT before icecream (from Grandpa) at the oldest General Store in Yellowstone. Kendall is trying a new food with every meal thanks to JJ and Alexander's encouragement.

This is the most beautiful view from Artist's Point at the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone. The yellow rock is what gives Yellowstone its name. Moran is a painter/artist whose sketches and paintings helped convince Congress to make Yellowstone a National Park. Alexander shared his insight after waiting for awhile for the rest of the crew to arrive with the following quote, "Same falls, different water."                       

One of the MANY times we crossed the Continental Divide in Yellowstone. This is on our way headed north to Mammoth on our last day. CC was surprised the Continental Divide wasn't straight! :)

HOLY BUFFALO!!! This was on our way to Mammoth and there was a Bison walking down the yellow line....He actually was about 3 feet from our truck window! Kendall thought he really looked like two people inside a costume. What a treat!! Soooo cute!!!         

Mammoth terraces....beautiful! So many colors...so little water....

Bobby got this picture of an elk walking down on to the Mammoth Terraces to get a drink. There was a herd of elk, about 20 or so, next to the Visitor Center lounging about in the shade and nibbling the grass.

Here are the 4 "kids" getting their Bear Junior Ranger Patch from Mammoth, Yellowstone. Yeah!! Hooray!!

The Roosevelt Arch, North Entry into Yellowstone....Very inspirational...

What GREAT kids at the arch!! Right after these pictures we had a fabulous picnic of Deviled Ham, fruit and veggies overlooking the arch then headed north to Great Falls, MT!!

This is the Montessori School Alexander and Jordan attended while in Great Falls...so cute!

Aha! The Great Falls!...cool dam breakers...

Alex, Alex, Andrew... aka Duck, Duck, Goose!

On the Great Tour of Great Falls!

Camped in the Erpenbach's Driveway :) Great showers, food, fireworks! "Best Dam Fireworks Ever!"