Hello from the long lost Barkocys who by now are sure that no one is diligent enough to check our blog which is updated once in a blue moon :) But to start off the New Year, I have made the resolution to keep our family at least slightly in the loop of technology and changing communication. Maybe... just maybe... people might know what kinds of interesting things we have done if I take the time to update the blog -sigh- well someone has to do it and we all know that parents now-a-days need a little... well... assistance in the world of technology so here I go! Anyway, we were requested to display some pictures from one of our latest endeavors to Yellowstone National Park. I could reach the word limit describing in detail the overwhelming beauty and awesomeness of our vacation, but instead I will let the pictures do that. Instead, I will list the highlights and overall agenda.

We drove to Yellowstone with our small car packed to the brim and a moving trailer hitched to the back and were asked at one point where we were moving too! Even just driving into the park, we were already amazed at the views. Out our windows to one side were sheer cliffs with small rivulets of melting snow which turned into small waterfalls which cascaded down the stone, while to the other side we saw Yellowstone Lake stretching before us. (2nd to bottom)

Not much further down to road, we ran face to face with our first bit of wildlife...literally. The buffalo were right outside the window on the road and we could see the shaggy fur and hear the snorting as they moved slowly across it. (5th down) As we soon learned, where two or more cars were gathered, wildlife was outside the window and a Ranger was not far behind. This was only the first of many other close encounters that we can only say were miraculously lucky to experience. In the next few days, we saw a mountain goat and her kid trotting right beside us as we drove, a plethora of hungry and curious chipmunks and squirrels which we fed from our hands (very bottom), and most amazingly, a grizzly bear and her cubs which moseyed themselves right next to our car. As you can see in the picture two below, the car's shadow falls on them they are so close!

Wildlife was not the only incredible part of the park. The Grand Prismatic Springs (directly below) and the morning glory pool (very top) were my personal favorites because of the vividness of the colors and splendidness of the surroundings. We also saw the bubbling mud pots and Old Faithful (directly above), as well as descended hundreds of steps to the very edge of the lower falls. No words of pictures can describe the feeling of seeing and hearing the water crushing over the edge and falling in a swirl of mist down and down and down right below your feet. It is an experience I will never forget. From the gorgeous sunsets to the breathtaking views, it is a vacation that will stay with all of us forever and a beauty that can never be forgotten.