DO stop at a pullout to take in the view of the Teton's. Them are some amazing mountains. Wrap your arms around your sweetheart and hope that your eight-year-old photographer actually gets the mountain peaks in the frame...good job Leah!
DO take pictures of all who were in attendance so when they come to me in five years and say they want to see the beauties of the earth (because all teenagers and children ask their parents for that privilege, don't they?) I can show them they did go somewhere beautiful once.
DO let the kids enjoy the adventure with cousins whenever possible. And most definitely DO pack a decent lunch (with lots of treats and water) to keep the kids occupied while you wait one hour for Old Faithful to erupt. Or DON'T wait one hour for Old Faithful to erupt...take a walk instead and remember that you don't have to sit on the front row of the bleachers to get a decent view.
DON'T ever, ever, ever take your dog to Yellowstone National Park, no matter how beloved a creature he may be. Unless you enjoy taking turns with him in the parking lot while everyone else explores the trails. But DO take along a cowboy. A cowboy = increased fun and enjoyment on any Yellowstone vacation (even if he's just part-cowboy).
DO let daughters kiss a fish or two...
...share some ice cream with a bear...
...and hug the wildlife whenever possible.
DO make everyone get out of the car and walk down into the beautiful meadow, but DON'T do it if your two-year-old screecher is sleeping in the back seat. In that case, just keep driving...just keep driving.
DO go for a little walk with your two-year-old cutie pie in the rain. And DON'T ever deny her that binky when she wants it. Life is just more pleasant that way...even if she does look like she's four, she's still just TWO years old, people! And I'm her mom and I get to decide when it goes away...which may be high school for anyone who's wondering.
DO go inside the Visitor's Centers. DO encourage the kids' fascinations with volcanoes and lava.
DO allow a hands-on experience, even if that's not what it's designed to be.
DO venture out on a hike to see the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone. DON'T take the kids if you want to hike to both sides. Next time take the north instead of the south.
DO encourage the girls to wear their hiking boots in lieu of flip flops next time. DO let your two-year old hike a gazillion switchbacks in her sandals if that's what she wants to do.
DO praise the child who chooses to get out of the car and admire the huge bison just down the hill. DO NOT belittle, criticize, or otherwise hurt the feelings of any child who chooses not to do so (and then gets out anyway due to unnecessary pressure).
DO encourage participation in the Jr. Ranger program - just get the materials sooner next time and don't sweat over the way "overzealous ranger lady" quizzes juniors and reviews the sloppy kid's materials, insisting that she spend 15+ minutes fixing her errors.
DO try to mix in some fun after kids have been on the closest thing to a survival trek they've ever known...walking all day in the heat with little food, no TV, and the exclusive company of annoying family members. DO take better food or plan meal stops more strategically for those all-day expeditions.
DO give her whatever she wants to make her happy. Even if it only lasts for a minute or two.
DO insist that bookworm put down the book for exactly 2.0 seconds to observe the wildlife RIGHT OUTSIDE HER WINDOW!!! And when the other child continues to say, "What? Where? What are you looking at? What did you see? Oh, what was it?" then breaks down because she can't spot anything, just stop pointing out the suckers and take a photo for future reference.
DO take necessary measures to make your husband stop dead in the middle of the road so as to take a photo of the bison that could sit on his lap if it wanted to. Never mind if hubby is nervous about all the traffic behind him...they're just as excited as wifey about the spectacle.
DO remember that when the kids are in tow, mega-days can be kinda challenging. Still not a good idea to turn to cowboy Jared and remark "This is the worst trip ever." Every road trip has it's challenges. And this one was admittedly a hard trip, mostly due to long days and inflated hopes and expectations Jared and I had of exploring the entire park in a short timeframe. Things got better once we chilled out a bit and rolled with the punches. Challenging? Yes. Glad we went? You betcha. Do it again? Sure...just without the kids next time please.
2 comments:
You know, as I was looking at the pictures, I thought it looked like yet another perfect vacation for the Jared & Rachelle Family. THen I read the end of your blog post and realized that you guys have the same challenges WE ALL DO! Kids ruin everything, yet they make everything incredible! We have had a baby/toddler for the past 6 years who will non-stop cry and scream in the car. There have been several times when we've chosen not to go anywhere because the trip is so miserable.
So glad you went and got to see the sights. The girls are just beautiful. My favorite picture? Jared and his girls jumping at the same time. Darling!
XOXOJody
Sorry, but I forgot to comment on Cowboy Jared and his hat. HOT. Super hot, Jared! Personally, I love it.
I expect to see a picture of it at the next BYU game.
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