The Best of Yellowstone, in Stories

Like I've already said, I spent time almost everyday in Yellowstone writing down funny things the kids said, interesting things we saw, things like that. What resulted was a couple pages of quick quotes and one-liners intended to trigger memories when we look back at it 10 years from now. So I give you The Best of Yellowstone, in Stories:

(Oh. Feel free to ask about any of them. Some of them--maybe a lot of them--I won't explain.)

"Bison is a funny name for buffalo." -Elijah, when Justin told him they were really bison, not buffalo (July 5)

"No. They're mine." -Teancom, when Collin asked if he could have some fruit snacks (July 6)

Upon just arriving at the park:
Jaden: "Are we there yet?"
Budge: "Yes. This is Yellowstone."
Jaden looks around and says: "I don't like this Yellowstone." (July 5)

"Yeah, I like it. Only, it's a little boring. All there is to do is walk." -Miciah, when I asked her if she liked Yellowstone. (July 7)

"Only 1 more animal and I win the battle!" -Elijah, arriving in park and counting animals with Miciah. Eventually we had to make them stop any contests, because they started "seeing" more animals than were really there. (July 5)

"Hey! There's a massive bull elk and its mate over there." -random stranger lady, to Rob and Budge, referring to 2 FULLY ANTLERED elk (July 7)

Elijah 15 feet away from a bison. (July 5)

An elk strolling through camp, 15 feet away, delaying our leave by 45 minutes. (July 7)

Same elk, slightly delaying our leave for the second day. About 7 feet away this time. (July 8)

Definition of tomatoes. (July 7)

Waggie Taggies and Wobbily Tobbilies (the best children's toy never invented!)

Kristina's husband has a great fire pit. (July 6)

Everyone saw the sign as Google Spring, when really it was GOGGLE Spring. (See, Google IS taking over the world!) (July 6)

Xander and Jaden throwing fire balls at geysers, Mario-style. (July 6 and 7)

Elijah peeing on the Continental Divide. (July 6)

Dylan. (24 hours a day, every day)

Kristina's butt. Then her eye. (No-see-ums) (July 7)

Teancom gets car sick. (July 5)

Dea trying to "steal" a rock from Norris, and the ensuing fight. (July 7)

"Who are you again?" -Elijah to Kristina (disappointed he wasn't with Justin and Katie) (July 7)

"Yellow-dtone." -Teancom. That's how he says Yellowstone. And every mountain is Yellowstone.

"Here, Mom. I don't want it to be taken by the ants." -Miciah, handing me the walkie-talkie (July 7)

"Let's go catch a rainbow." -Teancom, walking down to the waterfall, after seeing "rainbows in the water." (July 7)

Miciah's hives (July 8 - 12)

Miciah waking up in the middle of the night saying, "Dea's on my pillow!" and "Why are we sleeping sideways?" (Neither was true.) (July 8, 2 a.m., in a tent)

Stupid U-turn. (July 7)

People standing, walking, etc. only feet away from elk, and bighorn sheep. These are WILD ANIMALS, people!

Elijah dancing with Katie at the waterfall. (July 8)

"This is cool! Cool, and a little boring." -Xander at Fountain Paint Pots (July 9)

Rob: "Is this cool?"
Teancom: "Yeah. And stinky." (July 9)

Traffic for a herd of bison. Bison on hind legs dancing with a bear. (July 9)

Marmelaides. Marmites. Marmots. Whatever. (July 8)

Dogfighting bald eagle and osprey. Teancom's spy. (July 9)

The "hour-long" hike. (July 9)

Dylan crying so hard that she vomitted. (July 9)

Miciah telling stories in the van. (July 9)

The pooping bison. (July 9)

Rob: "What's been your favorite part of the park?"
Elijah: "The geysers. There was that one that was big, and then there was the one that was REALLY BIG!" (July 9)

Rohan running into a trash can, and the resulting goose egg. (July 9)

Dead Octopus Pool at Artists Paint Pots (Chad) (July 10)

ice cream with Grandpa O. (July 10)

"Wow. I just saw a purple snake." -Elijah, after we passed a blown-out tire on the road (July 10)

"Press play." -Jaden, asking to be swung again between Chad and Kristina (July 10)

Elijah and Rohan fighting to throw away Justin's trash. (July 9)

All 3 of Budge and Jana's kids falling down on the same day. (July 9)

Teancom walking in circles, index finger on cheek, trying to decide if he wanted "Justin water" or "Katie water." (July 9)

Dylan would rather hug a lantern than Justin. (July 9) (Justin was trying (unsuccessfully) to get a hug out of her all week!)

Elijah got in a time out in the car, right before it was time for ice cream. He had to sit quietly and fold his arms. I told hm if he wasn't good, he wouldn't get ice cream either.
Then he said: "Do I have to keep folding my arms?"
me: Yes.
Elijah: "Then how can I eat ice cream?" (July 10)

The End