Jackson Hole, Wyoming

We had planned a family reunion about 2 years ago and the plan was for everyone in the family to meet up in  Wyoming for an awesome week of camping. Chad had the genius idea to do it over the 4th of July (which helped us so Brian only had to take 2 days off work) but it was so crazy up there! Then Chad and Candi weren't even able to join us. We always camp at Gros Ventre, just a family tradition I guess. It's a nice place though. We had no problems getting there other than I missed a text that said everyone else was getting off for a potty break. I just kept on driving. We wasted a little time meeting up again, but it's ok. Brian wasn't able to go up with us on Sunday so I was caravaning with Cindy and Carl. Everyone helped everyone get tents set up and we enjoyed a nice meal of tinfoil dinners.

 My cousin Ben and his family came up as well. Ben told us about a lake where we could take the kids swimming and there was supposed to be a hot spring. So we all hopped in our cars looking for this lake that was just minutes up the road. We didn't find where Ben was talking about so my dad took off on this dirt road in his nice SUV and we did all we could to bounce along behind in our vans. After quite a drive on a very bad road, we found nothing so we turned back. On the way down, we heard this awful noise! Thinking it was Carter banging the window, I yelled at him to stop. He said it wasn't him. It could only be one thing. I pulled off on the side of a skinny, steep, dirt road to find my tire was not just flat, but completely shredded! My awesome Dad, and brother and brother-in-law helped change it and we just headed back to camp as I was now driving on a skinny little donut tire. We then spent a few hours driving around trying to find a place to get a new tire in downtown Jackson. We finally got into a Big O with just 40 minutes to closing time and got 2 new tires. 

My Heroes! That thing was a bugger to get off!

We got up Tuesday and had a yummy breakfast of grandpa's famous blueberry pancakes with the secret ingredient, except that we forgot the secret ingredient. But they were still yummy! We goofed around for a while, then decided to head to Jenny Lake for a nice hike to the Hidden Falls. Being the 4th of July week though, the parking lots were a nightmare! We all finally found spots to park when we got a call from my dad to head up to the North Jenny Lake junction where there was much more parking. So we all piled back into the cars and went north. Somehow we lost Jason and mom though. They ended up on some one way loop and couldn't get off. After a quick lunch, we got hiking. We had to start at String Lake then meet up with Jenny lake. Since Brian wasn't there, I had to carry Kemery on my shoulders for much of the hike as she complained that her feet hurt. I made her just walk though since my shoulders were dying. We were really spread out over the trail and Cindy and I brought up the rear. Close to the top, Jason ran back asking if we had Marissa. We hadn't seen her, but came across her hat on a log. Let the panic begin! No one had gone up to the falls because they were thought to be behind everyone. Carter and I dropped everything and cruised to the falls where my mom was just coming back with Kaden and Marissa. There was a little drama and then most of us headed back to the falls to take pictures. 

String Lake

Cindy's Family

Hillary & Carter still smiling

Carl's Family (minus Emma. She stayed with grandpa)

Some of my family. Whitney stayed with grandma and Brian was still driving from Utah.

Grandpa carrying a very tired Kaylee

Marissa & Kaden

Chari hauling the kid and the backpack

Cindy, Kaylee, and Whitney

Grandma and Grandpa with all the grandkids

When we got back to the bottom we decided our tired feet needed a break at String Lake. When I took off Kemery's shoes, I found enormous blisters covering both her heels. I guess her shoes really were hurting her feet. I felt so bad! I carried her the rest of the night!

Day 4, the 4th of July! The plan was to go run the Snake river so we just lounged around for a while, had a delicious breakfast of french toast with blueberries and whipped cream. You can't camp with my family without that meal. We went into town and got Kemery some new shoes, left Cindy at the park with the kids that were too small for the river run and headed out for adventure! It was a lot of fun! Hillary even got to paddle for her first time! It's just a really fun event and everyone loved it!

Running through Lunch Counter on the Snake River

Since Cindy was pregnant and couldn't run the river, she got saddled with all the kids who were too small. They played at the park and did her hair for 4 hours. She's so awesome!

Thursday we headed up to Yellowstone. None of us had ever been there so it was all new. It was really neat to see Old Faithful and all the other hot springs and geyers. 

Old Faithful

Hey, Anyone seen the Nelsons???

The Swensen Clan

Mom & Dad

Marissa, Hailee, Austin, Whitney, and Carter

 In the gift shop, we let the kids choose something they wanted. Carter chose a pocketknife with his name on it. He put it in his pocket then ran out to play in the field by the campsite. It fell out and was lost! We sent out a massive search party, but nothing was found. The next day Brian spent some time just combing the field and suddenly he found it! Amazing! Carter had been praying that it would be found and his prayers were answered!

The massive search party looking for the lost knife

The hero finds the knife!

On the way back from Yellowstone, we had to stop for a bison crossing. They took their time getting out of the way! But it was neat to see them up close.

On Friday, we just hung out, played some games, went on a bear hunt, did a nature scavenger hunt, and enjoyed each other's company in camp.

Grandpa made Marshmallow Shooters for all the kids. It was fun to watch them try and hit the targets

Going on a Bear Hunt

Crossing the lake on the bear hunt

We tried to make glow in the dark bubbles using glowsticks,  but it didn't work very well so we just blew plain bubbles.

After a nice day at the campsite, we decided to head over the String Lake and do a little swimming. It was hot, we all stunk and we needed to cool off. It was all good until I pulled a leech off Marissa's swimming suit, but that didn't stop us from swimming more.

Lacey, Autumn, and Serina

Hillary & Christi swam all the way out to the middle of the lake

Emma had a ball and didn't want to get out

Carter and his new friend Jayden Cox

Hanging out on the beach

Kemery loved the water!

String Lake

Overall, we had a fabulous trip! We had wildlife in the campground, saw things we had never seen before, and just enjoyed being together as a family.

Chris and Charlotte joined us for a few days

Aunt Jean

Hailee loved the lake