Day 2: Cody, Wyoming

August 20, 2011: Day 2 of our amazing Griswald Family Vacation 2011 found us leaving Red Lodge, Montana and winding our way up Beartooth Mountain via the Beartooth All-American Road where
we hit an elevation of 10,536 feet.

Our drive took us from Red Lodge, Montana in the upper right side moving to the right at the fork and turning left onto the Chief Joseph Scenic Highway down to Cody, Wyoming.

Winding our way up the mountains.  Love the views!

If you look very closely, you'll see a van driving east up mountain. It's on the lower left hand side of the picture.

If you know me, you know that I love flowers.  :)

 Joan loved these signs.  Because she loves the windey drop off the cliff mountain roads.  Not.

But it was far better to be us than them!

Welcome to Montana!

Gratuitous tourist picture.

We entered Wyoming halfway up the Beartooth Mountain Highway.

The glaciers melted and formed a pool of water.  Yeah.  It was a little cool. Elevation was around 10,000 feet.

For the grandparents.  :heart:

The snow was so thick that you could write in it. 

Down the long and windey road.

Owen said that all he wanted to see was cows.  

He can go home now.  :p

 The money shot.  The Blue Tooth Mountains.

Taking a left at the fork, we went down the Chief Joseph Scenic Highway on our way to Cody, Wyoming.

Joan was loving this.  tee hee

More lovely scenery.

A Western depiction of the Indians of the West.

Look, Mary Mayken.  Someone stole your daddy's Yukon!  Our ride for the week.  :)

This day also took us to see the Buffalo Bill Historical Center.  That is a post in and of itself.  :)

The Modern Day Cowboy

The modern day cowboy.

Day 1.

Location: Irma Hotel, Cody, Wyoming

A Summer Adventure

Go west, young man.

So we did.  We packed up the family (for about the umpteenth time this summer) and headed north to catch a flight out of DCA.  Headed for a Griswald Family Vacation.

Destination: Yellowstone. 

I love prop planes.  Not.

First stop::  Denver, Colorado.

Nothing more reassuring than a sign that notifies you where the tornado shelter is. 

No better way to pass the time with a rousing game of cards for the boys (and picture taking for me).

 And a game of hangman.  With Owen being the hanger.  And me being the hangee.  :/

Next stop, Billings Montana.  Yay!

 

First stop,  The Candy Emporium in Red Lodge, Montana. 

There must have been a car show or something going on this weekend.  Either that, or the people in the town are really into old hot rods.  

Kinda reminds you of the Adams Family.  :p

 Of course, Darrel would find one to point out.  LOL

 

And the girls either were dressed the part or are just stuck in the 1950's.

Had the most amazing dinner at Bridge Creek Backcountry Restaurant. 

And at the most amazing boysenberry salad.  Yummo!

And, of course when in Rome...

It was very good.

Oh.  Look.  People.  :p

And, of course, flowers.  Which I am super looking forward to photographing at Yellowstone!

So thus began our adventures out west.  Still on tap: Cody, Jackson Hole, the Grand Tetons and, of course, Yellowstone!

I wonder if the boys even realize how lucky they are to be on this summer vacation adventure?  Probably not.

They don't.  But I do.  :)

One Man Too Many

You know summer is coming to a close when you get the "pleasure" of back to school supply shopping.  There are so many choices for girls with notebooks with cute designs.  Boys get superheros or random sports.

So I was super excited when I found this football specific notebook for Owen.

I thought he would be excited too.

Instead he looked at me and said "I can't use this mom.  It's all wrong."

What?

He goes on to say that it's unacceptable because there is an extra man on the field so he can't use it.

Boys.  Sheesh.

Happy Birthday Shane!

Happy birthday, Sir Shane the 12th!