The Biznards

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

America The Beautiful... That's the song that's running through my mind right now as I'm looking through all these photos we took on our trip to Yellowstone and the Grand Teton National Park. (The photo below is a picture of the Tetons).

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
what we saw: 2 eagles, 8 bears (including a cub and his mom - my favorite sighting), 1 herd of pronghorn, 3 coyotes (one who walked within 10 feet of us), 2 wolves, 8 moose, and many bison, elk, deer, and crows.

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.

12 comments:

kami @ nobiggie.net said...: So many great pictures! How fun for Ethan to see all the wild life.; Wednesday, July 16, 2008 10:41:00 PM
Kate said...: Wow. Those are some amazing sights!! I've never been to Yellowstone ... we'll have to take the kids sometime.; Thursday, July 17, 2008 2:43:00 PM
Emily said...: Those are amazing photos! Sounds like a great trip.; Thursday, July 17, 2008 5:27:00 PM
Laura Smith said...: L-O-V-E-D, loved your photos!!!!! It ia amazing how beautiful the world is!!! Thanks for sharing!!

PS It makes me feel so good that we were added to your friend list. Thanks, friend.; Thursday, July 17, 2008 8:40:00 PM
Emily said...: Wow! What gorgeous pictures! I have never been there, but now I want to!!; Friday, July 18, 2008 12:04:00 PM
Tamara said...: Amazing! I have always wanted to go, and now more so. Thanks for sharing these pics, someone is a great photographer!; Friday, July 18, 2008 6:10:00 PM
HeatherK said...: I loved, loved loved all your pictures! wow, that looked so FUN! I can't believe you got to see so many animals! We need to plan a camping trip and we'll meet you guys half way or something...!; Monday, July 21, 2008 3:22:00 PM
Holly said...: I can't believe you saw bears! You know, I worked in Jackson Hole for a summer after high school and in my many times through Yellowstone during that time, I never once saw a bear. ...of course I wasn't driving through at the butt-crack of dawn either...
Love how you laid out your pictures. I'll probably copy for my next post. Just letting you know that :)
Glad you had a good trip!; Monday, July 21, 2008 3:22:00 PM
The Barney's said...: Those pictures are amazing!!! Glad you had such a great trip but I am glad you're back!!!; Tuesday, July 22, 2008 6:30:00 PM
Sam and Jill Family said...: Wow, you took some great pictures. It truly is so beautiful around there. It has been a while since I have been to Yellowstone and seen the Tetons that close. It is still beautiful. And how fun to see so many kinds of wildlife.

What is your camera?? Because those really are some great pictures!!; Wednesday, July 23, 2008 10:39:00 AM
Dawna said...: I am so jealous! I love Yellowstone and don't think I've missed going a single year since I was about three. I'm really hoping we can still squeeze in a visit this year. Every time I go it makes me realize more and more how amazing our Heavenly Father is.

Your pictures are beautiful! Sounds like a great trip!; Saturday, July 26, 2008 10:21:00 PM
AnnieB said...: What incredible pictures! Wow! Yellowstone is on my list now! Went when I was a kid and haven't been back. My dad took us--we just hopped in the car and went. It was pretty memorable!; Friday, August 22, 2008 12:29:00 AM

Ethan & Gavin Quotes Worth Repeating:

The best is when Gavin tells me, "You're my best mom!" And when he comes out from his nap and says, "Mom, I still love you." (I love the "still" part - I'm just glad his feelings didn't change during his nap).

This morning Gavin saw the medicine cups on the counter and said he needed medicine. Since he's not sick, I said, "You don't need medicine, you're not sick." He goes all whiny, "but I am sick! I'm sick of cereal." (January 6, 2015)

Today I shared half of my cookie with Gavin, he very politely replied when I handed it to him, "Thanks mom! Good job sharing!" (Sept 20, 2014)

This was told to me by my neighbor while Gavin was at her house playing with her daughter, Emma.
Emma tells Gavin, "I have a bum."
Gavin: "I think I have a bum too."
All the while looking behind them trying to get a peak at their own bums. I love conversations between three year olds! (Sept, 2014)

I was talking to Ethan about my on t.v. interview the next day. He was a little nervous I'd embarass him and goes, "Mom, I really don't want you to make a fool of this family!" (July 11,2013)

On Friday we took Ethan and 5 of his friends somewhere for his birthday. We borrowed my brother's car since its big and it could fit all of us. When we all got in the car the boys were saying how the owner of the car must be rich because the car was so big. They were informed that the car belonged to Ethan's uncle. They were still in awe of how rich he must be when Ethan exclaimed, "He's a redhead, of course he's rich!" Hmm...if only I were a redhead. (January 14, 2011)

Ethan gave Tito a little kiss on the head. After he kissed him he was wiping Tito's head off and said, "I'm wiping the wetness off, but the love's still there." So profound. (October 10, 2010)

My sis-in-law Mel and I took our kids to a pool to swim pretty far from our house. They'd been in the car probably for about 30-45 min. I hear Ethan in the backseat ask his fellow cousins, "Are you guys having fun? I'm having fun just talking!" (October 7, 2010)

One morning as Ethan was requesting some breakfast, he said, "Hey, you're kind of like my servant!" He was quite pleased with that discovery. (May, 2010)

At dinner Ethan says to Chad, "Dad, how do you eat in like two seconds?!"

Chad: "Cause I'm a pig."

Ethan: "Pigs don't eat THAT fast!" (March 4, 2010)

Ethan Quote Archives

My Mom was telling Ethan about how she remembers her 1st grade teacher. She paused for a moment to think of her teacher's name and Ethan took the opportunity to whisper in her ear and inform her, "She's probably dead." (January 26, 2010)

Ethan, analizing why the spider was crawling on his leg the other night. "I don't think that spider was TRYING to poison me." (December 18, 2009)

"My friend want to write Santa to tell him what he wants. I want to write Santa to thank him for all that he does." (December, 2009)

From the backseat Ethan says, "I have my pinky in my nose. I'm not picking it, it just kin of feels good!" I looked back and sure enough, his pinky was in his nose. And in all honesty, he's really not a nose picker so I know it wasn't just an excuse. (August 14, 2009)

Chad and I were talking about how my sister-in-law, Mel is going to be the president of Ethan's old preschool. Ethan must have missed the "preschool" part and he goes: "What!? Mel's going to be president? Its not going to be Barack Obama anymore?" (August 9, 2009)

While Ethan was coming home from school with my friend Cathy and her two boys, apparently her two year old was being really loud and Ethan says, "I always wanted a sibling, but I didn't know they could be so anooying!" (May, 2009)

While we were at the park with one of Ethan's friends and his mom, Ethan's friend realized he lost one of the toys that he brought. As he and his mom started frantically looking for it, Ethan quietly, yet knowingly says to me, "And that why I don't bring toys to the park." (March, 2009)

During church Ethan plugs his ears and says, "I don't want to listen anymore."
Me: "Why?"
Ethan: "Because I don't want my eardrums to run out of hearing." (3/15/2009)

Ethan and I were looking through a book about bodies and we were talking about kidneys and where they are located in the body.

Me: (Pointing to the small of his back) "So this is where your kidneys are."
Ethan: "So does that mean you have adultneys?"
Get it? Adult-neys? He's got kid-neys, so I should have adult-neys right? And he wasn't kidding. (1/20/2009)

Me: "Ethan, do you love Tido?"
Ethan: "Yeah, I love him...The only thing I don't like about him is that his butt is always in your face." (1/5/2009)

As we were talking about going to Costco and getting some lunch, Ethan exclaims, "I just love Costco food! Its just so good! We should get their recipe and their autograph!" (1/2/2009)

I'm a little more familiar with the area where we live than Chad is, so sometimes I have to tell him where to turn while driving. One day while I was telling him where to turn left and right, from the backseat Ethan says, "Mom, stop bossing dad around!" (a while ago, 2008)

Aunt Courtney asked Ethan what his favorite part of kindergarten is, he replied, "going home." (9/1/2008)

Ethan: Dad, when you got married did you have a wedding cake?
Chad: Yes I did.
Ethan: Why didn't you save any for me?...Well, its ok cause I guess you didn't really know about me then. (8/12/2008)

While putting Ethan to bed tonight he told me, "You're the sweetest parents I ever had." (6/11/2008)

The other day we were at the store and there was a shirt that Ethan wanted that we didn't buy for him. The next day while he was getting dressed he comes up to me and says, "Mom, I'll give you a choice, either you buy me that shirt or I won't wear any clothes tomorrow." (6/8/2008)

Today during testimony meeting Ethan says to Chad,
"Oh gosh, why does everyone have to say the church is true?"

Tonight as Ethan and I were sipping out hot cocoa, I asked him if it ever made him sad that he didn't have any brothers or sisters. He replied, "No, I have a good life."

While driving in the car I was telling Ethan how he was going to play with his good friend Hayden the next day. Ethan hesitates, "Well. . .I was going to do some research tomorrow." "Oh really, well what are you going to research?" "Oh, I was going to do some research on my mission." (3/13/08)

One Sunday during the Sacrament Ethan whispers to me:
"I can't think of Jesus, I can only think of Superheroes."

"I want to be a cow so I can poop in a field."

"When adults tickle kids they pee a little bit."

Ethan: I want a new mom.
Me: Well that makes me sad that you would say that. Why do you want a new mom?"
Ethan: Because you're so old.

Me: "Ethan, I'm so glad you're my son."
Ethan: "Don't talk about son, child, married, or pregnant. That makes me nervous."

As Ethan was looking at Courtney's parakeet and the bird was looking back at him with just one of his eyes, cause that's just how birds look, Ethan demanded, "Look at me with both eyes bird!"

Today while driving in the snow Ethan asked me if snow is white. I told him that it is and he said, "Oh good because I was worried that I be blind color (aka color blind)."