We got to Jackson Saturday night and camped at Station Creek, just South of the Lower Canyon boat launch "West Table." We got to see rafts float by all day getting ready for their trip down lower. Our spot was beautiful, the best in the campground if you ask me!
Stacie & JJ and their little boy Ozzie (six months old) came with us. Stacie and Mom used to work together in Jackson, so it holds a lot of fun memories for them both.
On Sunday we took a hike to Hidden Falls. You hike around Jenny Lake to get to Hidden Falls. We usually take a Ferry Boat across the lake, but this year we actually hiked to the falls (and then road the Ferry back). We were so impressed that you made it on the hike. It was very hot that day so it was especially a difficult hike! The water levels this year are unusually high for this time of year. It was a very wet winter, and it rained a TON in the spring, so the snow didn't get a chance to melt like it normally does so the water levels are basically at flood levels everywhere (even here close to home!). It has been a record water year. So the trail to Hidden Falls was covered with water at times and we had to take little detours to avoid swimming in the Lake!
We took a little break and threw some rocks in Jenny Lake.
This shows how powerful the water was coming down the falls.
Here we are at the top having a drink and eating some snacks before we head back.
Stacie, JJ & Ozzie
This is one of the bridges that was out due to water damage.
Here we are on the Ferry heading back to the parking lot.
We went on a picnic to String Lake, and on the way there we saw a heard of elk just outside the picnic area.
This is Mt. Moran. It is a beautiful Mountain that dad has been on the top of! Mom has tried to climb it twice but once the weather was too dangerous (lightening & snow) and the other she got altitude sickness.
We saw some buffalo on our scenic drives around Teton National Forrest.
Amber was looking at the buffalo. We had a hard time all sharing the binoculars! Aubrey kept screaming "nakulars!"
Dad took uncle Aaron and some of his friends down the river. The water was running SO incredibly high, 23,000 cfs (cubic feet per second). We are used to running the river at a much less powerful state, typically 10,000 cfs or less. So this was a very high and dangerous time to be running it. The rapids are very high, the water is very fast & super COLD! Mom fell out at a rapid called "million dollar fishing hole." It spun her around a bit and she got stuck under the raft for a little bit but came back up with her hat still on, so that was good! Uncle Aaron when in at the rapid "lunch counter" and was under the water for about 30 seconds before he popped back up. It was super scary, and we were worried he wouldn't come up again. He was really scared too. We had a really great run and Dad did an EXCELLENT job guiding. We kept telling you kids that when you were older you could run it with us. You need to be an expert swimmer and bigger so you can handle the cold and stressful situations (like if the raft flipped). We almost flipped on lunch counter, it was a close one! We were really lucky that we didn't!
We went to the fireworks on Monday, the 4th of July. You all enjoyed the fireworks so much. Aubrey was really scared at first. Aubrey you don't like loud noises, they make you nervous. During thunderstorms you scream and cover your eyes. You did this at first but then realized that fireworks were cool so you watched them without crying! Jackson really does put on the best firework show around!
Grandma, Uncle Aaron, Louis and Max
Parker and Grandpa
Cute little baby Zach
We went to Yellowstone on Tuesday the 5th. We went to Old Faithful first and walked all around the board walk. Everyone was such troopers hiking. It was really hot, but the hot pots were really exciting for everyone to see. Parker, you were fascinated with them all. You were excited about every single one and had a million questions. You loved the fact that they were "boiling lava." Everything was a volcano to you. It was really exciting to you Parker. 
Here we are waiting for Old Faithful to go off.
Amber you and McKenna became little buddies on this trip. You really loved riding in their RV they rented. Parker you got to take a ride in it too. Amber you rode in it from Jackson to Yellowstone. I had a feeling you'd get really car sick, and sure enough when I saw you get out of the RV you were as white as a ghost! I felt so bad. I'm glad you didn't throw up. I think you would have been really embarrassed about it! We had to limit the RV rides from then on, but you really like handing out with a friend.
We saw a TON of buffalo, but not much else!
We stayed in Canyon Village in Yellowstone one night. You kids were OUT OF CONTROL hyper! You were bouncing off the walls. The cabins there are very small and packed tight so we are SO close to other vacationers. It was hot (there isn't any A/C) so we had all the windows open. You three were being so loud and crazy, we had to get mad because we knew you were keeping everyone up around us! You were all so excited to be in a fun place.
Aubrey you did NOT want to sleep in the port-a-crib. You are getting too big for it! You really wanted to sleep with Dad and Mom, but we didn't have enough room in our tiny little bed. You screamed quite a bit "daddy's bed!" but finally you calmed down and fell asleep after Mom told the story "If the Log Rolls Over We Shall Die we Shall Die!"
We took a hike Wednesday morning to Yellowstone Falls. It is a beautiful hike! The Waterfall is incredible!
Fitriah and Zach
Little Louis!
Dragon's Mouth
Mud Pots
Stinky!
We saw a cyote on our way out of Yellowstone. All in all we saw buffalo, elk, one deer and a cyote! We did see a bear in Teton National Forrest, but it was so far away we couldn't even get a picture!We all had a great time. It was a really fun vacation. We really want to make it a tradition to go there every 4th of July. We wondered if any of you kids would want to be river guides like us when you're older. It was a really fun thing for us. We loved every second of it and hope you love Jackson as much as we do!
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