First things first: today is Baby Drew’s birthday! Hard to believe he’s 2 years old already. I guess I can’t really call him “Baby Drew” anymore, although “Toddler Drew” has less of a ring to it.
I guess we needed to make it a little romantic, though. Maybe an impromptu re-creation of Lady & the Tramp would do the trick.
Gorgeous! (Or should that be craterous???)While I work on the next update, I found this photo of Grand Prismatic Spring that I took with my iPod. I think the colors came out a little better on this one.
First things first: today is Baby Drew’s birthday! Hard to believe he’s 2 years old already. I guess I can’t really call him “Baby Drew” anymore, although “Toddler Drew” has less of a ring to it.
Happy Belated Birthday Drew!!!
Is that maybe a little redundant???Oh look, Old Faithful is erupting again.
Very Cool! Right up there with the one Thomas Jefferson created at Monticello.I do know that the clock on the fireplace is largely original ironwork, with only a couple of pieces that needed to be restored over the years.
Well, somebody had to hit the HIGH notes.............Here you can see the Crow’s Nest, a series of stairways and platforms leading to the roof. In the olden days, musicians would often play from here.
As long as their last name is Wallenda???There’s also a staircase that leads up to the roof, where the flags of the United States and the states that form a piece of Yellowstone National Park fly every day. Each morning, a family is allowed by Bell Services to accompany them onto the roof to raise the flags over the lodge.
But you digress.............For example, you might remember our 15th anniversary dinner/evening stroll on the beach in Maui. For me, it’s not enough to just say “I love you.” I feel the need to demonstrate it.
So, we took a short walk down the road to eat a romantic dinner in the gift shop of Hamilton’s General Store.
And it just oozes from you two!marriage is not about what you get out of it. It’s about what you put into it. If your attitude is correct, you’re there to serve your spouse. You can make any moment in the world a blissful romance if you put your heart and soul into it. After 17 years and four children together, I have no qualms in saying that life is just one joyful moment of ecstasy after another.
I don't remember that scene being a threesome............I guess we needed to make it a little romantic, though. Maybe an impromptu re-creation of Lady & the Tramp would do the trick.
I can't believe he's already 2! Happy birthday, Drew!First things first: today is Baby Drew’s birthday! Hard to believe he’s 2 years old already. I guess I can’t really call him “Baby Drew” anymore, although “Toddler Drew” has less of a ring to it.
Tried to do that at the Wilderness Lodge but with no luck. Would have been cool.
Glad you had an enjoyable Anniversary and Drew was definitely eying that french fry.
Did notice that on FB.
It just felt weird wishing him a happy birthday on FB.
So I'll do it here instead.
'Cause it's not weird here, at all.
Still not old, huh?
I remember those days.
"Please Lord. Let her be asleep.... Dang it!"
Makes sense.
And I don't know why I didn't think of that before.
Of course it makes sense!
That's pretty accurate, considering it could be between 7 - 15 hours.
A sternly worded letter or email is in order!
Ha! Nope. Not falling for that one.
You said it was the tallest.
You'd have to go a heck of a long way to not be able to notice it.
pfft. Guess again, dude.
Cool. And Old Faithful is already impressive.
I would think that the two are connected so the same forces that cause one to go...
close one.
Wait... I'm thinking you have your share of baby doody anyway.
So all was not lost. Score!
That's a pretty common thing, actually.
I like that.
Never would've thought of that.
No thanks. I'll pass on that job.
Cool! Too bad you didn't get the chance to do it.
I guess not!
That would totally change the character of the building.
Ruin it, if you ask me.
Unfortunately, she's well within her rights to do so.
But, yeah. It rankles. Would it have hurt to ask?
Do that! Let us know what the answer is!
I'd be especially curious to know how he/she looks at you.
I remember.
Aww... that's so.... uh... what???
Depends who you ask.
If it's your kids, then the answer is "yes".
There's those smiling faces!
What a terrific shot!!
I believe both of those statements.
Well, the "idiots" part I only attribute to you.
Nicely said.
Okay! Okay! I believe you!
Sheesh. You ask one little question.
Really! Wow. I would've thought by now...
"Dad, can I have a phone?"
"No."
"Dad, can I have a phone?"
"No."
"Dad, can I have a phone?"
"No."
"Dad, can I have a phone?"
"No."
"Dad, can I have a phone?"
"No."
"Dad, can I have a phone?"
"No."
"Dad, can I have a phone?"
"No."
"Dad, can I have a phone?"
"I'll think about it, okay! Enough!"
"Dad, can I have a phone?"
"No."
Those trees don't grow on trees you know!
Seriously, next time, take several shots.
The more the people move in the background the better.
Easy to then combine them into one shot and delete all the people.
Best. Time. Ever.
Obvious.
Indigestion.
Great pictures! I love your TR.
Tornado Drew
Tasmanian Devil Drew
How did he get up There Drew
Houdini Drew
All acceptable for the toddler years.
Great shot.
Happy Birthday Baby Drew! What a great way to spend your anniversary. Its nice that you have a legal babysitter now.
Happy Belated to Drew though at his age what is a day or too late. Actually it is about 0.005 so I guess being a day or too late is a big deal!
I'd put my money on indigestion.
Gorgeous! (Or should that be craterous???)
Happy Belated Birthday Drew!!!
Is that maybe a little redundant???
Very Cool! Right up there with the one Thomas Jefferson created at Monticello.
Well, somebody had to hit the HIGH notes.............
As long as their last name is Wallenda???
But you digress.............
And it just oozes from you two!
I don't remember that scene being a threesome............
I can't believe he's already 2! Happy birthday, Drew!
How nice to have an anniversary stroll by Old Faithful! Quite a busy rest day, but worthwhile.
Sorry, I'm still here! Just got caught up on a couple of chapters. The report is still fantastic. Oh hey, did you see any geysers while you were in Yellowstone?
Love the french fry picture.
Nice beaver!Chapter 19: Since I’ve Met You, I’ve Noticed Things That I Never Knew Were There Before…Birds Singing…Dew Glistening On A Newly Formed Leaf…Stoplights…
Being as he’s entering that 2-4 range…First things first: today is Baby Drew’s birthday! Hard to believe he’s 2 years old already. I guess I can’t really call him “Baby Drew” anymore, although “Toddler Drew” has less of a ring to it.
Always abandoning people.When we last left you...
Don’t change the subject.Oh look, Old Faithful is erupting again.
With each wheel thudding as it rolled from one board to the next on the boardwalk…The good news was, the long walk would give Baby Drew plenty of time to get a good afternoon nap as he rode along in the stroller.
Likely, but asleep?Surely he was exhausted by now.
As I suspectedGuess not.
Wrong film…And stop calling me Shirley.
So… the geyser has to spend some time thinking about baseball too?A longer, taller eruption means a longer wait till the next one, and vice versa.
That’s why Disney replaces such things with animatronics and Imagineering.You know, sometimes these natural phenomena are very inconvenient. It would be nice if they would take our schedules into account.
You’re a good man.Not wanting to be That Guy with the screaming baby in a public area, I took him out of the stroller and started taking a walk with him down the boardwalk just to change the scenery.
That’s a lot of figuring, right there.I figured even I wasn’t dumb enough not to notice when the geyser started erupting.
What? Were you still talking?Aren’t you glad I can set up lines like that for you? I set it up, you spike the ball. Have fun.
Dang!Anyway, you’re all wrong.
So…I think Grand Geyser is actually a better show than Old Faithful. The eruption lasts about twice as long, shoots higher, and you get to sit closer. Old Faithful feels very stately and gentle as it shoots water into a long, flowing plume, while Grand Geyser seems more violent.
And you didn’t even get a Grand Marnier or Grey Goose slushy for your troubles.Our feet were as sore as they are when we’ve spent the day walking around Epcot.
Whew… that was close.I took baby duty (no, not that kind of baby doody)
Well, we all know just who the real winner was in this situation.I didn’t hear everything that was said. But at least I got some baby snot on my shirt.
Imagineering before the invention of Imagineering.And I know that many of the dormers (small windows) on the roof out front are fake.
I’ll be holding on to that for future reference.If you know your reservation dates, call directly to the Bell Services desk on the second Thursday of May (this is when the lodge opens for the season). Do not call the front desk—bell services handles the flags and reservations directly. Ask for a date during your reservation and they’ll try and get you slotted in for a morning on a first-come, first-serve basis. You can bet I’ll be shooting for this on our next trip. Good luck!
Or, just market it as a feature and charge extra for the opportunity.I’m sure it makes more economic sense to shut down for the winter rather than try and insulate the whole building.
What do you figure the odds are that he’d never heard that one before?I did not get a chance to ask the tour guide how they got the building to look so much like the Wilderness Lodge in Orlando. Maybe next time.
I’d never have been able to have guessed that this was the case.In any case, we absolutely loved staying here.
Which is why we hold you in such esteem.But we’ve learned something in our years together: we’re not fancy people.
Scattered, smothered and covered.At one point on our honeymoon, she made me take her to the Waffle House, for pete’s sake.
As the cliché goes, a picture is worth a 1000 words.After 17 years and four children together, I have no qualms in saying that life is just one joyful moment of ecstasy after another.
You got kids, sooooooo…What am I, an ATM?
Classy…I guess we needed to make it a little romantic, though. Maybe an impromptu re-creation of Lady & the Tramp would do the trick.
Those would be the hallmarks that make that such a great representation of every one of those seventeen years.I like how Drew is clearly trying to figure out how he can steal the french fry in that photo. And that Julie can barely tolerate being this close to me. Good times.
Well, at least one of you.Hey, what can I say? We’re idiots.
This should work about as well as attempting to get a shot at Disney without anyone in the background.And then I had an even more brilliant idea: if we waited there just a few minutes, with so few people around, it wouldn’t take long for the place to completely clear out. Then I could get their photo with Old Faithful by themselves—a rare opportunity!
Because it wasn’t about where they were…Not these ladies. They turned away, and took photo after photo of themselves posing in front of…a few trees.
Good burgers…I told my wife for the bazilliionth time in our 17 years together that I loved her, and would marry her all over again. She grunted agreement. Or it might have been indigestion.
Not at all! And thanks for the birthday wishes. I told Drew you said "Happy birthday," and he said, "French fry?"
I will have my secretary draft this at once! Now all I need is a secretary.
Well, I didn't get my username for nothing.
I'm sure that's the case, but it has a separate name, so I'm counting it as another geyser.
Yeah, that was a bummer. But now that I know the rules, I'll definitely try next time. That would be so cool!
Seriously. It's just a little creepy.
Next time, buddy. Next time.
Oh, good, that means I hadn't put you to sleep yet.
Cheap. The word you're looking for is "cheap".
Thanks! Because it really felt awkward.
I can dig it.
Usually I can point out that I'm on a government salary.
I'll have to remember that. I am a true neophyte when it comes to photo editing. I really don't know what I'm doing.
First things first: today is Baby Drew’s birthday! Hard to believe he’s 2 years old already. I guess I can’t really call him “Baby Drew” anymore, although “Toddler Drew” has less of a ring to it.
Oh look, Old Faithful is erupting again.
You know, sometimes these natural phenomena are very inconvenient. It would be nice if they would take our schedules into account.
I think Grand Geyser is actually a better show than Old Faithful. The eruption lasts about twice as long, shoots higher, and you get to sit closer.
Also, Vent Geyser is right next to it and usually erupts at the same time, so you get two for the price of one.
we calculated that we’d hiked over 6 miles to this point. Our feet were as sore as they are when we’ve spent the day walking around Epcot. So much for the “easy” day.
Since Julie was really keen on the tour, I took baby duty (no, not that kind of baby doody) and kind of wandered on the periphery of the tour group.
But at least I got some baby snot on my shirt.
And I know that many of the dormers (small windows) on the roof out front are fake. They’re largely decorative, and if you look closely, they’re not symmetrical, either. That was done as an artistic choice by the architect, Robert Reamer, to enhance the “rustic” feel of the lodge.
The lodge was built over the course of one winter, from 1903 – 1904, which is really astounding when you consider a) the massive size of the building and 2) how harsh winters in Yellowstone can be.
In the olden days, musicians would often play from here.
Naturally, when I learned this I wanted to see if we could experience that for ourselves. I visited the Bell Services Desk on the night of our arrival and was told that they were completely booked up.
I also learned that the reason the lodge isn’t open year-round is because although it was well-built (it had to have been to have lasted this long), it’s not well-insulated enough to allow for winter guests. I’m sure it makes more economic sense to shut down for the winter rather than try and insulate the whole building.
At one point, some older woman on the tour decided to take photos of him on her phone. That rubbed me the wrong way. I don’t care how cute he is, I don’t want random strangers just taking photos of my kids. I didn’t make a scene due to the tour, but still.
So, we took a short walk down the road to eat a romantic dinner in the gift shop of Hamilton’s General Store.
After 17 years and four children together, I have no qualms in saying that life is just one joyful moment of ecstasy after another.
I guess we needed to make it a little romantic, though. Maybe an impromptu re-creation of Lady & the Tramp would do the trick.
I like how Drew is clearly trying to figure out how he can steal the french fry in that photo. And that Julie can barely tolerate being this close to me. Good times.
On and on and on the photo shoot went. I don’t know how long we stood there, but it soon became obvious that this was a photo shoot on the scale of a supermodel opening a new fashion label.
Finally, we just gave up and figured we did the best we could. I tried another shot from an alternate location. It works well enough.
I told my wife for the bazilliionth time in our 17 years together that I loved her, and would marry her all over again. She grunted agreement. Or it might have been indigestion.
Nice beaver!
Being as he’s entering that 2-4 range…
Terrorist Drew might somewhat appropriate.
Always abandoning people.
Don’t change the subject.
With each wheel thudding as it rolled from one board to the next on the boardwalk…
Zzzz… <<thump. Thump>>
Zzzz… <<thump. Thump>>
“Whaaaa…” <<thump. Thump>>
Likely, but asleep?
That’s a different question.
As I suspected
Wrong film…
Just think about baseball…
you’ll get through it.
So… the geyser has to spend some time thinking about baseball too?
Huh, who knew?
That’s why Disney replaces such things with animatronics and Imagineering.
You’re a good man.
That’s a lot of figuring, right there.
What? Were you still talking?
What was it you were you saying, again?
Dang!
I knew I should’a checked the “all of the above” box.
So…
Faithfulness = G
Grandness = R
Got it
And you didn’t even get a Grand Marnier or Grey Goose slushy for your troubles.
Whew… that was close.
Good thing you clarified that. Lord knows what the result might have been otherwise.
Well, we all know just who the real winner was in this situation.
Imagineering before the invention of Imagineering.
I’ll be holding on to that for future reference.
Or, just market it as a feature and charge extra for the opportunity.
If folks will spend exorbitant amounts of money to spend the night in an Ice Hotel, then I don’t see why you can’t convince them to huddle under thirty blankets in some place as amazing as Yellowstone.
What do you figure the odds are that he’d never heard that one before?
I’d never have been able to have guessed that this was the case.
Which is why we hold you in such esteem.
Well, Julie at least.
Scattered, smothered and covered.
(Just don’t order the coffee)
As the cliché goes, a picture is worth a 1000 words.
Frame that one and hang I up in the entry way back home.
You got kids, sooooooo…
Yeah, you are an ATM.
Next question?
Classy…
No, really.
Those would be the hallmarks that make that such a great representation of every one of those seventeen years.
Oh, and by the way… congratulations.
May you not foul this up and succeed in keeping her from dumping you for at least seventeen more.
Well, at least one of you.
This should work about as well as attempting to get a shot at Disney without anyone in the background.
Because it wasn’t about where they were…
It was just about them.
Good burgers…
Awww, Belated Birthday wishes to little, well not so little, Drew. Remember those terrible 2's, but now I have teens, so I guess there's no tradeoff.
And, I must be a sucker, as my Sara has had a phone for 3 years now. I actually did it so that both my kids would call when walking home from school. Now my adult DS still calls me walking home from his last year of high school. You think the freshman DD does? No, just texts when wanted to be picked up. Best part, next time they want an updated phone, it will be on their dime.
Beautiful pictures. Watching nature blow her water is always enjoyable. That, although sometimes scary, as that means there's still a volcano under ya..
Very astute of him to discern that as a citizen of a dual language country that he surmised I might speak French.
Can I just have the salary that would allow me to hire a secretary?
Of course it counts!
It was just before I was nodding off.
I have amazing staying awake powers.
I would think you frequently do.
That should do it.
Easy. Take the shots. Ask your buddy pkondz for help.
Well Happy Belated Birthday Drew!
Cool. I can tell that it wouldn't get old.
Really. You've got a time schedule to meet!
Makes sense, I guess Old Faithful just has a better PR Agent.
I like that two for the price of one, what a bargain!
I'd have been gone by the first mile!
That was very nice of you.
Cool random fact.
I can't even imagine!
Sure stick it to the musicians!
Bummer.
Yeah. Who would want to pay all that money to freeze AND share a bathroom!
I can understand that. I would never do something like that without parental consent. I saw these twins dressed as Ewoks at Disney and asked the mother if she minded if I took a picture. Her answer was, "Well they're two, they're not going to pose for you or anything, but go ahead!" It seems rude to me taking pictures of other people's children without permission, especially with everything that there is to worry about today.
Nice building!
You two are so funny!
Either that or it looks like you had to do so many takes that Julie is having a hard time not cracking up!
That is so annoying!
I like pkondz's idea of photoshopping them out. I'm not that savvy yet, but if you can get the people against a background that is somewhat large, I use the "clone stamp" tool to erase them out of the picture!
Definitely indigestion!
OK, I'm slowly making less time for work at work and more time for disboards. I've been following along and loving your pictures and stories. They're really bringing back memories of my trip....that took place after your trip....so I'm not sure they can really be memories if they happen in the future. So I guess I'm enjoying the my memories of the premonitions that your memories are giving me.
Now I have a headache from thinking too much.
But he'll always be the baby of the family. Unless...First things first: today is Baby Drew’s birthday! Hard to believe he’s 2 years old already. I guess I can’t really call him “Baby Drew” anymore, although “Toddler Drew” has less of a ring to it.
No kidding!You know, sometimes these natural phenomena are very inconvenient. It would be nice if they would take our schedules into account
Ok, @Captain_ObliviousI figured even I wasn’t dumb enough not to notice when the geyser started erupting.
Good thing you had Drew with you to take care of lookout duty.Anyway, you’re all wrong. I did notice when Grand Geyser began to erupt, around 2:40-ish, and hustled back to watch the show.
So basically you're saying water spewing geysers are kind of like explosions... more is better.I think Grand Geyser is actually a better show than Old Faithful. The eruption lasts about twice as long, shoots higher, and you get to sit closer. Old Faithful feels very stately and gentle as it shoots water into a long, flowing plume, while Grand Geyser seems more violent. Also, Vent Geyser is right next to it and usually erupts at the same time, so you get two for the price of one.
I know I've said it before, but this is just fascinating and borderline unbelievable. Even today with the new technology and equipment, I'd be shocked to see anything of that scale built that quickly.The lodge was built over the course of one winter, from 1903 – 1904, which is really astounding when you consider a) the massive size of the building and 2) how harsh winters in Yellowstone can be.
Hmmm... that sounds familiar.Here you can see the Crow’s Nest, a series of stairways and platforms leading to the roof. In the olden days, musicians would often play from here. There’s also a staircase that leads up to the roof, where the flags of the United States and the states that form a piece of Yellowstone National Park fly every day. Each morning, a family is allowed by Bell Services to accompany them onto the roof to raise the flags over the lodge.
I knew I've heard of that before!!!!If this sounds familiar, they do the same thing at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge (or at least they used to), and now you know where they got the tradition from.
Cool, thanks for the info!If you know your reservation dates, call directly to the Bell Services desk on the second Thursday of May (this is when the lodge opens for the season). Do not call the front desk—bell services handles the flags and reservations directly. Ask for a date during your reservation and they’ll try and get you slotted in for a morning on a first-come, first-serve basis. You can bet I’ll be shooting for this on our next trip. Good luck!
Yeah, I wouldn't be real happy about that. I always try to be mindful when I'm taking pictures to avoid "creeper" shots. I'll let a photo op go if it means I might get somebody's kid even inadvertently.At one point, some older woman on the tour decided to take photos of him on her phone. That rubbed me the wrong way. I don’t care how cute he is, I don’t want random strangers just taking photos of my kids. I didn’t make a scene due to the tour, but still.
Scotty didn't ask that?I did not get a chance to ask the tour guide how they got the building to look so much like the Wilderness Lodge in Orlando. Maybe next time.
Um... well, yeah!Actually, we discovered that this place had pretty good hand-dipped ice cream and milkshakes. And this was a special occasion, so…milkshakes for everyone!
Fun picture, but Drew staring down that fry is the highlight!I like how Drew is clearly trying to figure out how he can steal the french fry in that photo. And that Julie can barely tolerate being this close to me. Good times.
And that's what it's all about! Finding your equal idiot.Hey, what can I say? We’re idiots. But we have fun. I continue to believe that I won life’s lottery when I found Julie. I get to wake up every day with a beautiful, low-maintenance, kind and sweet woman who is an amazing mother and loves traveling as much as I do. I wouldn’t change a thing.
But old is part of the name...And no, pkondz—it doesn’t get old.
No Wi-Fi???????? How does everyone survive????????We’re too cheap to buy her a phone, and you might be surprised to learn there’s no wi-fi here.
I'm sorry they wouldn't cooperate, but it made for a good picture, regardless.On and on and on the photo shoot went. I don’t know how long we stood there, but it soon became obvious that this was a photo shoot on the scale of a supermodel opening a new fashion label. Here you can see them in the background, the lady in red clearly facing away from the geyser and posing in front of what must have been the most special trees in the nation while my kids demonstrate what we were all feeling.
Sounds like a nice way to end the day. Happy Anniversary... you know... about half a year too late.I told my wife for the bazilliionth time in our 17 years together that I loved her, and would marry her all over again. She grunted agreement. Or it might have been indigestion.
We walked, and reminisced about our years by each other's sides. And Old Faithful erupted again.
Well, he is very advanced for his age.
You must, given the shifts you're being asked to work lately!
I am an excellent shoveler.
Frank Drebin would aprove.+1 But I'm starting to worry about the train of thought here...
That's the third toughest lesson there is...It certainly is an apt description. He's now at the age where he gets to start learning that you don't always get what you want. Most of us take a lifetime to learn that one.
Long conversations where the person driving is looking at the passenger rather than the road always work in the movies too.I said I'd be right back. It always works in the movies.
SQUIRREL!
Its like trying to nap in a moving vehicle of some type...So you don't think this environment was conducive to napping?
Well, BTMRR is my favorite coaster at Da'World...This is starting to be a runaway train of thought....
Feel free...Why, thank you! Don't mind me, I just need to cut and save this quote for future reference.
Must...My brain hurts.
Trying desperately to escape the meanninless life that was bludgeoning it into oblivion?Where was your mind yesterday, anyway?
You keep using that word. I don't think it means what you think it means.
That's the real trick, ain't it?Thank you, sir. I'm doing my best to make sure she doesn't realize how low below her station she married.
I'll give that one a 6.8 on the belch-o-metric scale.Burp.