The Clampett's go to Yellowstone

Okay, I've never actually watched the Beverly Hillbillies, but anytime we do something my dad always says, "The Clampett's go here" or the "The Clampett's do this". Apparently he likens our family to the Beverly Hillbillies. At least he includeds himself in the bunch!

Actually it was more like the Cobbleys, Smiths, Huffs and Gluchs go to Yellowstone! It was quite a big bunch, but I think it was a good mix. Hopefully the others felt that way about us tagging along, but we had a great time! Gavin loved camping with Grandpa and Grandma and would wake up every morning excited to get out of the trailer and go to "Pompa's trailer." He was so funny! We really enjoyed having my sisters around to help entertain Gavin, especially Aunt Tay. She rode with us most of the time so we had some help with him in the car. And boy did we drive a lot! Between driving there and back, and around the park for 5 days we drove over 1300 miles! Gavin was a trooper for the most part, and of course was an angel in Grandpa's truck and not so much an angel with mom and dad! When he rode with my dad we got the 3 teenagers in our car and I just considered myself fortunate they still thought I was somewhat "cool" and wanted to be in my car! We saw a total of 14 bears (or rather, came across 14 bears, whether I saw them all or not is still to be determined...) and Gav's favorite was seeing the "Buffawo". He was so cute and I will add a little video of him at the end talking about the "Buffawo". It was nice to have a week away, doing something we're not always doing, and enjoying time with family and friends. Enjoy these pictures...we took a ton, but pretty much only of bears...and they aren't great posers :)

First thing we saw in the park..."Melk" (How Gavin says Elk for those who don't speak Gavinese)

Some "Buffawo"

"Smokin Hot, mom!" is what Gavin would say about the Hot Pots...unfortunately not about his mother :)

One of the rare shots I actually took with people in them....

The first bears we saw...2 cubs

This picture is crappy because the ranger wasn't letting anyone stop...this guy was too close to the road...about 5 feet from my open window.....

Baby Buffalo

Can't go to Yellowstone without seeing Old Faithful....

All 9 kids.....

This was my favorite bear...traffic was not moving so I got out of the car and ran up to get this one....he was probably 15 feet away and crossed the road. I was already heading back to the car as I saw him coming down.......yea, chicken, but I'm carrying precious cargo....

On our way out of the park for the last time we saw this HUGE grizzly across the river. I'm sure my dad has better pictures of the bears because he was using a telephoto lens on those far away ones.

And here is this "LOVELY" picture of us! This is awful of me, but the other ones Gavin and Keith look funny so I guess the majority rules on this one....

Here's Gavie being so excited about the Buffalo. And I'm not a bad mom...he's half buckled. He keeps wriggling out of those stupid carseat straps.....