We got kind of a late start to our day...making breakfast, doing dishes, and then packing a picnic lunch for 23 people seemed to take an eternity!! So it wasn't surprising that our first stop once we got into the park was for lunch :)
Shiloh giving Renae some love...which meant licking her face...ewwww!
There was a river running by the picnic site. All the kids went wading.
Even Baby Eli couldn't resist getting wet.
All the grandkids...sitting like a bump on a log
cute cousin shots (there are 50 more where this came from!)
***
Our first REAL stop was a hike into Norris Geyser Basin. We wanted to do the Artist Paint Pots
but the parking lot was full. This wasn't a bad walk/hike but it was HOT
and the kids got a little tired and whiny by the end of it (and some of the adults too).
* * *
Next stop was the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone.
Sadly, the reliable tour guides (Eric & I) didn't have us stop at the right place so we never got to see the famous, amazing view. But we still had some good vistas.
We decided to take another "short" hike.
Half way down there was a split in the path.
One half of the group (the dads and the more adventurous kids) decided to take a really steep trail
down to the rim of a waterfall. They all said it was well worth the hike.
The views were spectacular.
The other half of the group (the moms, Grannie, Pops, and the other half of the kids) took a more gradual trail. But we soon realized that it was going to be a VERY long hike.
The kids were hot and tired, so after MUCH debating and discussion
(Williams family style) we called it quits and just rested in the shade
until the other group caught up with us and then we headed back. 
In the parking lot we had a very close encounter with a buffalo. He was relaxing in the shade next to the restrooms. You had to get within a foot or so of the buffalo to use the restroom. Cool...and creepy!
***
We made one final stop at the Mud Volcano (one of my favorite areas).
I love the Dragon's Cave and the short but beautiful hike up in the hills.
Only a few of us crazy, hard-core Yellowstoners went on this hike,
everyone else waited in cars or headed home.
A cute shot of our little hikers. They were really all quite good troopers.
We were able to get off the beaten path a bit and see some different sites.
But everyone was tired and ready to go back to the cabin after a long, hot day.
Yep....REALLY tired!!!
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