Island Park

This is so something my grandma Olsen would do! I laughed when I took the picture of myself!! A paring knife and an apple!

Here we come Island Park!

Ben Becker, Avery, Aubrey and Shey Grossen, Jaymie Maines, Angie Olsen, Mikaylee, John and Beckee Becker...and Mark Maines

Sisterly love!

Moose watching 

It has felt like we have celebrated Avery's birthday all month! This would have been the third party for her! I wanted to do something fun for her while we were out of town, but we got busy doing other fun things. Finally, at about 8 o'clock, I whipped out the brownies and we sang to her. We were all so ready for all the kids to go to bed. They had a brownie and then brushed their teeth. She was a good sport about everything and loved blowing out the candles.

We then headed to....guess?....YES!! YELLOWSTONE! My most favorite place on earth!! :) I joke about going to Yellowstone because it's my dad's heaven. He loves it, and growing up, that was our family vacation. It seemed like we went every year, although, it wasn't every year, but we did go a lot. Now that I have kids to share the experience with, it's not so bad. (I mean really, how many times does Old Faithful surprise you?!)

Having a picnic in the park

Avery and Hadley Becker

At the Geysers

Avery was so cute. Rylee had fallen asleep and she was holding her head so it wouldn't bob. Such a nice sister.

 The two elk we saw. We came right up to them and they didn't even care. They were massive.

Rylee loves the four wheelers. She loves to be outside.

 The boys said they were going to go fishing and I immediately said the girls needed a day to go "fishing" too....Here we are..."fishing"!! We went to the lake and then headed into West Yellowstone. We got laughing so hard. It is so fun to be with these girls, I can't even tell you. It is so fun that we can all get together and laugh. We definitely can get on each others nerves and I'm usually the one that says the wrong things, but for the most part we get along 99% of the time. I honestly couldn't ask for a better family.

 We also went rafting down the river. Let's just pretend that there were rapids, because it sounds so much better. There weren't. In fact, last year, the guide told my family "that if you feel like you are going to drown.....stand up"!! For some of the ride, we actually had to push or lift the raft up over the shallow part of the water. There are definitely parts that can get pretty deep, but its a very, very lazy river. Avery did fall in head first in a deep part and she wasn't very thrilled, and she was wearing her life jacket, thank heavens. She hates to wear it and you can tell she was really happy to be out on the raft!

I love this kid. I love this picture. I think it is so hot of him!! MMMMM!! :)

Can you tell who is a safe mom and who child just fends for themselves?!
Rylee and Haylee Maines

Avery out on the kayak

Jake and Mark Maines

Roastin mallows with ma' dad!

 Thanks Mark and Jaymie for letting us come stay and be crazies. It is so much fun and we love the tradition! Here's to next year!