Yellowstone is for lovers (long, and lots and lots of pictures!)

Hello friends,

We're back from the annual McLean family Yellowstone trip!

........& It was a blasty blast! 

This was my 3rd year attending the annual McLean family trip to yellowstone, but this year.. I was a McLean! How exciting! Not only was a I married but I got to share a tent him him all by myself! I know, super exciting :) But it was, for us. Yellowstone was a blast. Freezing cold, but a blast. I am beginning to think I have a problem with my circulation because everyone else was sweating at night (the temp was truly 32 degrees, so I am calling everyone on liesies) but it was a grand ol' time anyhow. I can't believe how much I love my family! I guess we could start with the car ride up. Poor little feather, was stuffed in the back with Kaylee bug. Luckily both of them are tiny so it worked out ok. I am sure at the end of the 6 hour car ride Heather was ready to end it all though. Bless you sister, bless your cotton socks!

Dispite being squished in the back with Mommy, little Kaylee bug an angel practically the entire time. She is just the most perfect baby, and I love her to bits. She was just a bit fussy after every couple hours which was no problem at tall. We just took a rest, in Idaho Falls. While in ID she did have a bit of a hard time though when Heather needed to change her. She just didn't want to! She was crying up a storm and me being the obsessed Aunt just couldn't wait to help Heather out. Uncle Tanner got a try at dealing with a crying baby too. I just love watching Tan with Kaylee. He just loves to stare at her, and I just love to stare at him while he does.

I got my turn trying to cheer her up as well. My gosh I just love this little one.

But alas! We arrived. We have the same camp site every single year as they have in their family for the last 10 years! Tyler (brother in law) had been up there for a couple of days already, by himself! Can you believe that? He's a brave one, I could never sleep outside in yellowstone alone. Way too scary. But yes, of course when we got there we determined what we would do first. Molly and Rich (sister in-law and soon to be fiance) had not arrived yet, along with Rachel and Jake (friends) so we were taking the time to just relax and take in the out doors. Tan and Ty set up our tent (big thanks to Becky and Nolen Mendenhall for lending) and it was a bit of a challenge for them :) in the end it was all set up and we also bought a double decker blow up mattress for my high maintenance needs ha ha. I'm a total girl, and can not sleep on the ground. We got our bed all set up and unloaded. Tanner and I took the dogs for a walk with Tyler and my mother in-law Christal and we finally got to meet the new pup, Sammy! I didn't take a picture of him, i'm sad. But he is just daring. We call him sidewinder Sammy because he runs sideways, it is the funniest thing. He is just a playful little pup and he is so cuddly.  Mol and Rich & crew didn't arrive until around 11 that night, just when everyone was turning in the for night. Everyone but me that is. I begged Tanner to stay up with me every night just to postpone the sleeping in the frigid night. I'm pretty sure I woke up mad plenty of time that night, crying in fact.

The second, third and fourth days consisted of the same things they do every year. Same hikes, same hot pots, same card playing at the lodge. Isn't it crazy how tradition is so much fun. We did a 1/2 mile (not even close to a half mile, try 4... thanks ty haha) hike the second day. When entering the hike there was a sign that that as of Aug. 16th bear frequented area. Great! I was terrified. But we didn't see a bear, not a single animal in fact and we did get to see beautiful yellowstone. We took turns holding Kaylee throughout the entire thing. She LOVES hiking. She just sits in her little backpack chair in her little hat and smiles ear to ear. Oh my gosh I know everyone says this, but my niece is the cutest.

Are you kidding me? Look at her hat! She loves Yellowstone

dirty hair+dollar store sunglasses = not pretty wife.

That was a great day, and it was really warm too.

The third day we did a few hikes to more tradition spots and they were just wonderful. That night we also had a birthday party for Molly and Heather! We have one every year. I'm wishing that one year the family will be together on my birthday so it can actually be celebrated ha ha.  We had AMAZING cobbler that Christal makes over the fire. It was truly delicious. We also went swimming in the firehole. And by we I mean, not me. I decided to sit out this year to take pictures. The sad part is, if i'm not snapping pictures constantly, none will be taken. Hence why you hardly ever see me in photographs :( isn't that sad. But yes firehole is so so fun. It's a super strong current and if you can make it up, jumping off the rocks into the current  "shooting the shoots" is a blast. Ty racked his leg this year on some of the rocks under the water and had a pretty big gash. ouch!

Tyler is the one here with his head back, obviously trying to fend off the pain. He really did hit it pretty bad. It wasn't a pretty sight I must say.