We stayed in the Colter Bay tent village which is made up of basically some outfitter-style tents with bunks. It was nice to have the camping experience without having to haul the tent or having to sleep on the ground. Bonus: They were available on fairly short notice and there were bathrooms and a general store nearby.
The kids enjoyed roasting marshmallows (and by "the kids" I mean... all of us) and we hit up the park restaurant one morning for a better-than-average in-park meal. We had planned to spend two days in Yellowstone but, as I said, it was hot, and there are only so many "thermal features" that can be enjoyed when we were already boiling (and already smelled fairly sulfurous thanks to a few too many from-the-convenience-store meals *ahem*). So, we spent one long day doing the full "lower loop" of Yellowstone and decided to leave the upper loop (including Mammoth) for another trip when the crowds were a little less intense. Since the last time we visited (about 10 years ago), a lot of work has been done to update and improve the fairly "lived in" facilities in Yellowstone - especially around Old Faithful. We saw lots of bison but, once again, I failed to see any bears... someday!
We spent the rest of our time in Teton and reveled in the lighter crowds, beautiful scenery, and cool water. It was a great chance to slow down after a fairly wild schedule of 6:30 a.m. swim team since the beginning of summer as well as all kinds of musical activities.
On the way there. we stayed in Lander, WY for a night where Mr. K and R went to see Spiderman in the little one-screen theater just down the street from our motel after some mighty delicious chokecherry shakes.
On our last day, we drove through Jackson Hole and stopped in Teton Village for a tram ride. It was fun but a little bit uncomfortably ritzy for my tastes - I'm more "tent cabin" than "mountain chalet" - unless it's winter, and then bring on the ritz and the toastiness!
Since we've been back, we've been enjoying a more relaxed attitude along with the last swim meet of the summer season (and the kids are now happily sleeping in all the way 'til 7), while C wrapped up a week at jazz camp where she played piano for the top big band. That kid's going places... well, jazz camp, at least! We missed her while she was gone, so much so that we all smiled through her 2 1/2 hour "wrap up" concert in 105 F heat. I think I left about 1/4 of myself in a puddle on the grass - yikes!
Now, R is going to beginning orchestra every day to get ready for the rigors of middle school musician-dom. He's playing the bass and I'm hauling the bass - I think it's been far more challenging for me than for him. I've been working on building a calendar for the Fall that will hopefully keep us semi sane but it's not easy to do with the 4 afternoons/evenings a week devoted to school-sponsored music activities, plus a piano lesson, a percussion lesson, and hopefully, swim team... and that's just C! This high school stuff is no joke, y'all! C's thrilled to have so much music in her life but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't just a smidgen worried about how she'll fit in all that pesky schoolwork, too.
Time will tell.
A is her same wonderful (and slightly evil) self. After signing her up for swim team as a sort of "the other kids are swimming so we might as well dump her in the pool, too" lark, she had the most successful summer season, barely missing the state meet qualifying time.
We have a little less than a month of summer left. We're trying to spend it wisely and to soak up as much of each other as we soak up the sun. As of today, we're feeling tan, rested, and ready. Bring it on, August!
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