This is a big one so get cozy... we just got back from our mini vacation, had so much fun and took so many pictures I can't hardly sift through them all. I thought I would get them up here before all the fun Alaska pictures came in. When we loaded up our Suburban with 4 children and 2 dogs, I knew 1st... that we were completely insane and 2nd... there was definitely going to be some memorable moments... good and bad.

We started out by driving to Cody. There we camped in a TP. The kids thought it was so fun and the best part... it was right next to a Dairy Queen, yes!! Our TP was called Running Bear.

This is us hiding out in the TP during a rainstorm. Another rainstorm hit that night, and the TP doesn't close all the way at the top. I happened to be sleeping in the middel of the TP and got rained on. All part of these experieince. :)

We watched an old western gun fight in the middle of town. Isaac was terrified but Eli though Wyatt Erp was the best!

On our way out of Cody to Yellowstone we stopped at this beautiful Dam. It was amazing!

I just put this picture in because I love my dog smiling in the back

We drove through Yellowstone. As usual we saw lots of wild life including buffalo, a coyote, elk and this time we saw two bears!!

We stopped for a picnic, climbed on all the trees and got eaten by mosquitoes.

My little girl likes to pose

So does this little girl


We stayed in West Yellowstone that night at the Days Inn. It had a water slid which "was like the best thing ever!"

We forced Isaac down the slide, because we are "those" kind of parents. If were going to pay that much for a room all must have fun!! :) He liked it after he got over the screaming.

The next day we drove to Rexburg to see Darin and Danalynn. We went to Big Juds, a place Lance and I went to when we were in college there. It serves 1lb burgers. Eli thought he could actually eat the whole thing... he ate about 1/8th of the burger.

This is their reaction to the burger. We shared the whole thing and everyone was full.

We went to the 4th of July parade, of course!

And the fireworks that night in Idaho Falls

I tried to get a picture... difficult so I gave up and settled for this one. I love the parking sign in the way.

While we were there we went to the sand dunes. So much fun. The kids kept saying... we're at the desert! They would climb up the dunes acting exhausted saying 'water... water.. I need water" Nutty children.

This is Eli running full spead down the dune.

Lance and I actually had some fun times at the dunes in college. We went sledding and had bon fires out there. It was fun to come back and rehash the "good ol days."

We explored an ice cave... it was cold and dark... go figure. Exploring with 6 children and two dogs we didn't make good time and didn't get very far before we had to turn around but it was fun none the less.

Then we had to head home... Eli actually asked if we could fly home, too long of a drive. :)

Since it was long we stopped to pick some flowers.

We wondered around Jackson Hole

And looked at a little real estate just out side of Jackson. Its not much but has a great view!