If I hear a song that I LOVE, I want to listen to it over and over again until I'm sick of it and then I'll listen some more. If I don't own it then I will go far and wide to get it.For example: Way back in the 80s I loved watching the show Family Ties and when Alex P. Keaton and Ellen broke up I was heartbroken (All you Family Ties fans should remember that episode) and what made it even more heartwrenching was the song they played during their break up - 'What did you think, I would do at this moment, when you're standing before me, with tears in your eyes... ' After that episode and over the next few years I would periodically remember that song and want to hear it again (to relive the drama I guess?). I eventually started scouring the music stores to find that song (this was pre-internet days). Any music store employee I found I'd explain where I first heard it, and at times I'd even try and sing a little of it to them. After many music stores later I actually met someone who knew what I was talking about. The name of the song was At This Moment by Billy Vera and the only way I could get it was by ordering it on a 9 inch record (this was in the cassette days) which of course I did.
Another example: In high school, Brittany and I drove to Napa, CA (about an hour from where we grew up) and listened to the same song, Come On Eileen by Dexis Midnight Runners, THEE WHOLE TIME - there and back - that ONE song. Its so good to find a friend who loves a song as much as you do isn't it? So the point is, in case you haven't noticed, I can get pretty obsessive about a song I REALLY love. Luckily for me, the internet has made it a lot easier to find songs I'm looking for.
This is where Ethan comes in: When it comes to music he is SO like me. For one, if he likes a song he wants to listen to it over and over and he wants to listen to it loudly. He will also notice a small part in a song and want me to rewind that little part over and over again - That is SO me.
A quirky example: Back in my Ricks days, I was grocery shopping with a friend (Brittany should remember this) and anything he pulled off the shelf he always pulled from the back, he never pulled the front package and we asked him why he did this and he said "because it's been looked at too much." That always stuck with me, which means that I too always avoid taking the front package cause, well, 'it's been looked at (and handled) too much'. Weird, I know. Hopefully I haven't tainted anyone who may be reading this. SO that brings me to Ethan. The other day at the store he grabbed some ice cream bars out of the freezer and he avoided the front box and grabbed the box behind it. Chad and I looked at each other and laughed and Chad goes, "Wow, mom has really taught you well." And Ethan says, "What? That's what you guys do." I never even knew he noticed.
It makes me realize how much our kids are watching us and makes me want to be and do better.
If you haven't been there as an adult, you should make the trek out there, it is just so amazingly beautiful. Seeing these thermal pools throughout Yellowstone was really cool. 
The highlight of the trip for me was seeing all the wildlife. Its one thing to see animals in a zoo, but to see and watch them in their natural environment is just amazing. Here's a synopsis of
The trick to seeing a lot of wildlife is to go really early in the morning or stay til dusk. We chose to go really early in the morning, leaving our cabin around 5 -6 in the morning. The north loop, in particular Lamar Valley, is where we saw most of the wildlife. The south loop is where you see all the geysers and thermal pools. So if you're planning a trip make sure you leave enough time to do both loops.
Thanks family for such a fun and memorable trip!! Wish you all could have made it.