Yellowstone

From May 15-18 all the Utah Hibberts went on a Trip to Yellowstone. There were 25 of us total with 11 adults and 14 kids under 10. Here are all the kids when we liked them the most, all tied down in the cars.
Melody, Ethan, Wesley, Hyrum, Joe and Abi Wride
Mikey, Sam, and Conner Hibbert
Conner, Kelsey, Ashton, Emma and Mallory Smart

Yellowstone is a special place for the Hibberts because both Kim and Linda used to work there during the summers and that is where they met and the Hibberts began. It's my first time being there and it was great. I totally didn't know what to expect. All I knew of Yellowstone was that there were animals and Old Faithful but boy there is a whole lot more to see. It was amazing to see all the wildlife in their natural habitat instead of a zoo. On our first trip into the park we were driving along and the cars in front of us were slowing and I wasn't paying attention and we turn a corner and I look up and out my window and came face to face with this.
I totally screamed which Neil thought was funny. I wasn't expecting it at all and I could have touched this buffalo if I would have reached out the window. I didn't know the animals would be so close.
We also saw some elk, beavers, muskrats, coyote and best of all a bear. Thank goodness it was across a little river but it was amazing to see the big brown bear and with binoculars it was as if it was right in front of you. Neil has been to Yellowstone a dozen times and this was the first time seeing a bear.

Our first stop on the way to Yellowstone was Idaho Falls to see the falls. It was a nice stretch break for the kids. I'd never seen them before.

Once we got to Island Park we went to see Johnny Sack's Cabin. The kids fed the fish.


Neil was rarely without his camera documenting the trip
Sam at Yellowstone Falls. He made me so nervous climbing on everything. Notice the hood. It became his leash.
Waiting for Old Faithful to go off.
Mikey in his corner
Dinnertime at the cabin. The cabin we stayed at was awesome. It slept 32 in beds and each couple got their own room, although I think we all had a kid or two sleeping with us in the second queen bed. We cooked hot dogs and smores over the campfire one night. This is the first time Jared ever had had one. We sent the kids on a scavenger hunt on the last night. Kim and Linda held a family devotional on Sunday and we were all able to hear their testimonies of the gospel so that was priceless. Jared also put together a slideshow of our trip that we were able to watch our last night. There was still some snow on the ground so whenever the kids saw some the would start throwing snowballs at Grant and that happened the whole trip. He was a good sport and got even mostly.
I became the Bathtime Nazi and think the Wride kids are still scarred.
We had a great time on the trip and hope we can do it again in a couple years but hope next time the Scotts and Reads will be able to join us! I think the best part was for my kids to be with their cousins for 4 days. They really had a good time playing with them.