The Hegstrom Family: ~Yellowstone~

The Hegstrom's

The Osborne's (-2)

Josh, Oakley, and I went to Yellowstone a couple weeks ago for a little vacation with The Osborne's (Jesse, Tara, and Tyler). It was our last little getaway before Baby H makes his grand appearance into this world.

We had a great time even though it rained on us all week. I booked this trip last summer so my thinking was since it's spring time in SLC it'll be spring time in Yellowstone and that would be a good time to go (you know not too hot). Yeah, not really. Now don't get me wrong I'm not complaining because as you all know I love the cold weather; however it does make it a little more difficult to get out and see all the sites with a 20 month old when it's hailing on you. It also helps to go when all the roads are open. This, of course, was something I didn't even think about when planning the trip because, again, it's spring time in SLC therefore it's spring time everywhere. Sad part is I wasn't even pregnant when I was being logical about this.

We took off Monday and had a nice drive up. Of course we had to stop at Jack In The Box for lunch. Apparently it was Jesse, Tara, and Tyler's first JITB experience. I'm not too sure they liked it, but Josh and I have our California indulgences that have to be met every once in a while. Thanks guys for going along. It was about the time we pulled into JITB that I realized I forgot to pack something. No, it couldn't have been my toothbrush that you can buy at the local grocery store. Nope, I forgot our cameras. Thank goodness for Jesse being the camera man that he is, between the 3 of them they brought 5 cameras and were willing to share. Faux pas #1, I blame on the inability

to remember anything while being pregnant. I probably shouldn't have been in charge of packing. After a beautiful drive we checked into our room and quickly decided that we would cook steaks for dinner. Let me add that our entire week of food was based on having a BBQ on our balcony to cook on. Faux pas #2, yeah we didn't have a BBQ because the resort was too close to a National Forest. This time I blame it on the inability to think straight while being pregnant. No worries, Jesse introduced us to broiling. Sad, Josh and I have never used a broiler nor would we know how.

Tuesday was fun as we headed into the park for Day 1. We decided we'd check out Old Faithful since the park ranger informed Josh that they don't turn it off in the off season so it was sure to be an attraction. Smart Ass! We saw a lot of bison and mule deer a long the way. Of course Oakley moo'd at the bison and hehe'd at the mule deer, you know because they look so much like cows and horses. He was cute and kept us laughing with all his pointing, oooing, and aaahhhing. That night we thought it would be a good idea to go down to the pool for a little swim. We were wrong. Oakley screamed and hollered like he was being tortured in a prisoner camp so back to the room we went to watch a little Monster's Inc. for the 50th time. I figured I'd give him a bath since he smelled like chlorine. My timing was spot on. As I was rinsing his hair from being shampooed the fire alarm started going off. There I

am 34 weeks pregnant hauling a crying flailing wet baby in a bath towel down the stairs and outside into the freezing cold. Thank goodness Josh had his head attached and grabbed the car keys so I could get Oakley out of the cold. Needless to say I was pretty ticked. Of course when I found out it was an inquisitive little boy that pulled the alarm in the hallway, I mellowed out because I quickly realized that it could be one/both of my boys that do the same thing one day.

Wednesday we went back to the park for Day 2. This time we traveled north to Mammoth Hot Springs. We had hopes of seeing bears because everyone we had talked to said they saw bears while on their way to Mammoth Hot Springs. No such luck for us. We did however see more bison and mule deer. When we got back into town we went over to the Discovery Center where we got to see live bears. Oakley liked the bears and wolves so he roared and woofed at them quite a bit, but his true happiness was being able to walk back and forth and back and forth and back and forth up and down a ramp. Who knew all I had to do was install a ramp in my house and he'd be entertained for hours.

Thursday came too soon and it was time to pack up and head home, but before we got on the road we stopped at the Discovery Center for one last visit with the bears and wolves. It was a nice drive home and of course we stopped at JITB for lunch one more time.