Yellowstone and Bear Lake (Great Northern Adventure)

Yellowstone's beauties. What a treat it was on our path.

Little excursions into the unknown.

The ranger gave our kids this wildlife spotting game at the entrance gate. I thought we'd have a bunch of disappointed kids when we saw only two or three. But we got lucky! Even the regular old squirrels felt fun when we got to check them off. We saw an elk, a chipmunk, a ground squirrel, a yellow bellied marmot, some bighorn sheep, bison, and then to top it off we saw a bear! A little black bear was ambling alongside the road as we drove by. I was pretty excited about that, probably more than the kids, ha! I felt like we were on a mountain photo safari. We soon realized that anytime there was traffic ahead there were animals being sighted. (The traffic was actually worse than it is in the Bay Area, so that was hilarious.)

Such a varied landscape. The place is stunning. If only we weren't one of the massive hoards of summer national park goers! I think my favorite spot was the rainbow colored steam hot spot. I'm sure I could look up its proper name, but too lazy.

We waited for about twenty minutes for Old Faithful, eating our lunch in the shade pretty far back from the crowds and the actual action. I loved how the kids kept asking, "Is that it?" with each little anti-climatic spurt. We kept reassuring them that they'd know when it happened. And they did!

Jackson was a fun stop over for dinner and a walk around some expensive retail establishments.

Then on to Bear Lake! Last stop before grandparents. We were all anxious to get 'home' but I was also looking forward very much to the last night. Collin found a fabulous glamping place and booked it, knowing how much I've been wanting to taste the delights of the glamping life. We slept in a big covered wagon (that incidentally rocked and creaked every time someone rolled over in the night!) after we had s'mores around the campfire and sang songs and looked at the stars. My brother and sister also came up to meet us and hang out. That added substantially to the kids' (and our) enjoyment. We played lawn games, rented a paddle board to try on the lake, and generally had a relaxing, fantastic time. Glamping lived up to my hopes and expectations.

Last last last stop before heading toward Orem and a long pause in travel. Aggie ice cream. Living up to the hype one scoop at a time. I think this was a single, too?

Calgary and Glacier National Park (Great Northern Adventure)

I think the kids will remember the luge in Calgary best of all. Collin and I try to mix up our family trips with 'some for us, some for them' with an emphasis on 'this is for all of us'. I was sure this was for the kids, but really it was for all of us. It was a lot of fun to go zipping down the track in little carts. Faster, faster!

Eliza wore a pair of jeans I remember loving as a little girl. They have that hippie vibe.

Stopped near the Calgary temple for dinner. Anytime we got out of the car those last days felt like freedom. I love a good road trip, but this one was a doozy.

'Behind the scenes' of all the glamorous locations we are lucky enough to visit is the reality of travel. Messy, exhausted, tetchy, squashed. Still squeezing big kids on one bed sideways. Each time we look at them and say it's the last time we can manage and each time we do it again. I think in some respects they like it, all curled together like little lion cubs. Henry did better than I feared. We were able to drive mostly during his usual nap times, plus he quickly learned to cope by just falling asleep. When he wasn't asleep, Eddy was next to him handing him toys and little snacks and playing with him. Lifesaver.

We re-entered the US (with a trunk full of Kit-kats and maple cookies!) for a stay at a ranch overnight and a drive through Glacier NP.

I had zero expectations of Glacier. Davy's 4th grade Park Pass got us free into it, it was on our way, why not? I was blown away by how stunning the drive along the Going to the Sun road is. We were snugged up right against the cliffs with waterfalls coming down on the road right next to us. I could touch them with my hand out the window. The vistas of mountains and glaciers and wildflowers around every bend kept us rapt.

The morning was supremely foggy. We could barely see the road in some places, and it rolled over our car in thick waves. But then the clouds would clear and we could see for miles. It was very exciting. I would love to go back someday and walk more outside.

Rest stops with kids. More playgrounds and shakes, please!