The Baranko Family: IL-->UT-->ID-->MT-->WY-->ID-->UT-->IL

Well, this is the farthest behind on the blog I have been since I started it over 6 years ago, but I am hoping to get back at it and get caught up. As I write this post for our mid-October trip, it is December 29th! So let me tell you a story about a time back in the Fall when the Baranko family took a trip out West to see Ben and Linda, it was amazing!

We flew into Salt Lake City and then drove up to Idaho, then decided to do a trip to Yellowstone and Jackson Hole! Ambitious itinerary, perhaps, for a glorified long weekend but definitely worth it. Such amazing sights everywhere we went. I hadn't been there since I was a pre-teen I think, and I can say that I definitely appreciated it a lot more this time around. Thanks so much to Ben and Linda for being wonderful hosts and tour guides.

And we're off!

Claire wanted to bring a backpack like Luke, but immediately lost interest in wearing it.

On the drive up to Idaho Falls, we stopped at a rest stop with a volcanic rock field/hike to stretch our legs.

We made it to Uncle Ben and Aunt Linda's house! Straight outside to see their garden and their neighbors' horses. Ben helped Luke pick fresh carrots to feed to the horses.

The guest rooms were all made up for us complete with toys and stuffed animals.

Snuggles with Uncle Ben

Playing with fun trucks and sawdust pellets

The next day we hung out around Idaho Falls all day. Luke was dying to rake leaves.

Aunt Linda helping him pick apples

Feeding apples to the horses

Checking out the empty swimming hole, in the summertime this is all filled up

Claire got to ride a horse bare back!

Hot cocoa time

Having a fun time at the Idaho Falls Artnasium, sort of like a Children's Museum for art.

Matt spied the cool music store that Ben and Linda shop at.

Late lunch

She couldn't stay awake for her food to come.

Ran into the World's largest Idaho potato (it isn't real, but sure looks real!)

Can't go to Idaho Falls without a visit to the Candy Cottage

Or the Dairy Farm for the BEST ICE CREAM EVER!! And I fell in love with this sweet calf.

Movie night by the cozy fire

Headed up to MT the next day to enter West Yellowstone. Stopped at Mesa Falls on our way, our second time there and it was just as amazing!

The last time Luke was here he was 3 months old. We took a picture similar to this one with the three boys.

Now there's another person in the party.

Love that Luke is taking a picture of Matt taking a picture. He was quite the shutterbug with our camera on this trip.

Now just the girls.

Lunch at the Slippery Otter restaurant in MT.

Ham!

Entering Yellowstone

Checking out the river and the fly fishermen

We saw so many bison, it was so cool!! Loved the steaming ground from the hot springs, the bison, the green trees and the blue skies. 'Merica!

Up close and personal

Super steamy boardwalk - we were soaked when we finished walking the loop

Watching Old Faithful erupt

Then we were lucky enough to see a Grizzly Bear, pretty special!

At the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone

Losing our light, but couldn't leave without seeing these waterfalls!

We made our way all the way back around Yellowstone Lake down to Jackson Hole where we were staying at the gorgeous Signal Mountain Lodge. It was their last night open for the season, so we got this big suite with an amazing view for a song! Even in the dark the Tetons were magnificent.