Family reunion awesomeness

Nothing says Summertime like a good old trip to Yellowstone.
Actually, we'd never ventured there until now.
Kids were dreading the anticipated hours and hours of driving.
Lots of driving, yes....but, all in all I think it turned out to be a fabulous vacation.
Time with Cousins.  Time with each other.  Time away from the responsibilities and scenery of home.
Not that home isn't where your heart is or anything.
But sometimes it's just nice to get out of dodge, if you know what I mean.

The Nelson family reunions aren't really a bonafide family reunion per se.  There's no get-to-know-you games.  No talent show.  No big speech about family history.
Just a trip together with siblings and cousins.
'Family reunion' just sounds more official.


So.....an hour before we were scheduled to leave for this trip, the 2 teenage boys said they needed to run out for a few minutes.  They came back with these doozies.  'vacation shirts' they call them.  A quick trip to D.I. and they were officially 'ready' for the drive.
I think they did it to embarrass me.  They wore those little
beauts everywhere!

In front of Old Faithful.  Quite an adventure that one was.  Blistering hot.  Until we got to old faithful.  Our timing was less than perfect.  We had to wait an entire hour before the geyser would perform again.  Then came the rain.  Then came the hail.  Ill prepared for that weather we were, I'm afraid.  The kids made the best of a less-than-pleasant situation though, and although youngest child wanted to abandon the whole idea (after all, how great could a geyser possibly be???) - we stuck it out, and it Old Faithful was pretty darn impressive I tell you.

I don't know if it was the Little Grand Canyon that was so beautiful, or those fabulous shirts in the picture!

 He's still just as handsome, more than 20 years later.

 Emma wanted to try a little trick photography.....so she had dad 'hold' the waterfall.  ........

 ........6 year old didn't quite understand.....she hollered at Em to quickly take her picture.  Not quite sure what she's holding though!

 Swimming at the firehole most definitely a highlight!

 The picture doesn't do it justice, but there's a place to jump into the rapids, and float down the river a ways to the swimming hole.  Awesome.  40 year old me even did it.

Cousins are the best.

Roasting marshmallows with them even better.

Floating down the snake river surely one of the best and most beautiful things we did.  Loved every last  second of it!

Other highlights.....the wildlife, the beauty, and definitely the sunsets.

Yes....Families are awesome.  Not perfect.  But awesome.