Good Times

Everyone is enjoying the summer, which seems to have arrived after a pretty hesitant start in early June. The temps can still drop, and we're not through with 50 degree days, but mostly we're in the clear. We've been fishing and camping on the weekends, and the kids have been terrorizing the street during the weekdays. Here's a few pics from our recent wanderings.

The kids have invited friends on our last two campouts. Here's Annie's down-the-street pal Tess.

Jacob preparing his lunch.

This could have been lunch, but we let him go.

Right now we have more photos than things to write about. I'll have to do a post of just pics next time.

Jacob the Webelo

Tonight we attended the final Cub Scout pack event of the school year. We're very active in scouting, and spend a lot of time during the week and many weekends planning, participating in, and cleaning up after the kind of activities that grade school-aged scouters enjoy. But amongst all the bowling parties and ski trips, the kids do spend quite a bit of time learning about scouting, and all that scouting entails: citizenship, responsibility, loyalty, recycling, physical fitness, outdoor skills, team work, and on and on. So tonight was a pretty special night for Jacob and his fellow Bear Scouts, who graduated into the rank of Webelos, the last step before becoming a Boy Scout. We'll be prepared for next year's journey.

Opening the 2013 Camping Season!

Hello all! We wanted to share a few photos with you from our Memorial Day weekend camping trip to Holland Lake. This is one of our favorite spots to camp. The scenery alone is worth the nights out in the cold (and it was cold at night!). The lake is nice for a paddle or a little fishing, the campgrounds are clean and quiet, and there is a little lodge with camp cabins where one can escape the campfire and enjoy a glass of wine or a beer.

We'll try and keep up the the blog a little better this year, mostly to share some photos, but also to let you know a little of what's going on with the kids. So enjoy a few photos for now, and we'll get the posts rolling as summer kicks in to high gear here in Missoula!

Yes, We are still alive!

Well, it has been a busy run since school started in August, and I am more than a bit remiss in my posting. For me, I have finished the last of my certification requirements, and I am currently teaching in a 2nd grade classroom.  The position is taking over for a teacher on leave. It is so rewarding, but it does keep us busy.  Jake is much the same - except taller with longer and browner hair.  He played flag football this fall, and he enjoyed it very much.  Brian was roped into co-coaching, and thankfully he had a great time.  I cringed a few times when I heard him yell things like, 'My grandma can run faster than that'. But no one seemed to mind, and the boys thought it was funny.  Their season ended with a Turkey Bowl.  Then he played on a basketball team, which he also enjoyed.  The games and practices for both kept us running in many directions, but it was fun to introduce him to those sports.  Annie is also much the same - except that she has grown slightly taller and is now missing two front teeth.  I signed her up for a small basketball camp, even though she didn't want to go.  Annie is very 'coachable' and follows all the directions, but she doesn't quite have a dribble down.   Both are taking a 6-week ski program this winter.   Aunt Annie came to visit for Thanksgiving and Grandpa John came to visit for Christmas.   So nice to see family!  We cut down our Christmas Tree in the Lolo National Forest, continuing a tradition we started in Arizona.  One of my new years resolutions - to take more pictures and keep the blog updated.   Happy New Year!

Aunt Annie's Visit - Glacier NP & Camping

Aunt Annie had a great 2 week visit - at least we thought it was great; Aunt Annie may have found domestic life with kids a bit much after the first few days!   We are hoping she'll consider coming again during ski season (Christmas??)   Anyway, we went to Glacier National Park for 2 nights of camping at Fish Creek Campground on McDonald Lake.   Aunt Annie and Brian trekked the entire High Line Trail, all 14 miles across the peaks of the park with views of Grinell Glacier.   Little Annie, Jake and I did a section of the trail and we walked right past a few mountain goats lounging on the rocks (see top picture).   Aunt Annie requested no additional pictures of her, which I honored, as I also don't always like to be in pictures.    The bottom pictures are from an overnight camping trip to Rainy Lake, where we canoed, camped, swam and fished - a last hurrah before school starts on Tuesday. 

Annie's Birthday!

Little Annie had a fun 7 year-old celebration.  It started on the eve of her birthday with a small family affair - presents, cake and the like.   Her namesake, Aunt Annie, is also visiting, which adds to the excitement.   On August 14th, she had a party with her friends.  We did some crafts, painted toe/finger nails, made tie-dye t-shirts and danced.    

Brian's Family Visit & Camping in the Parks

We had another, and last for the season, extended road trip.  We covered over 1800 miles on this one, as we worked our way to meet up with Brian's family.   We rendezvous-ed with them in Colorado, a half-point of sorts between Kansas and Montana.   All of Brian's immediate family came, and we settled into a nice townhome for our stay.    It was great to meet baby Jonah, whom Jake and Annie adored, and to let the cousins play and adults visit.   A long over-due visit, and we were glad it worked out for everyone.  On our trek to Colorado, we broke it up with camping stays at Clark Canyon Reservoir, MT and Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area, Utah.    Clark Canyon was typical, scenic Montana and Flaming Gorge is aptly named and was surprising in its unique rocky, steep, red features.   We also squeezed in a trip to Dinosaur National Park, where we were able to see an actual dinosaur quarry with real dinosaur bones.  Apparently it was a bend in a fast flowing river, and dinosaur carcasses collected there.    On the way home we camped at Grand Teton National Park, where we hiked, fished and swam.    We also saw the largest elk ever - it had antlers that were almost the size of its body, and it was quite majestic.    Then we travelled up John D Rockefeller Parkway to Yellowstone National Park.   We had to do the Old Faithful viewing, along with the masses of humanity.   Beyond the fascinating,  yet touristy, stops along the geysers, paint-points, and boiling waters, we hiked and fished some as well.  I got a true taste for the wild nature of Yellowstone when we walked off the beaten path, only to find a huge moose carcass that was spread across a small area.  Clearly killed and eaten by something stronger than it.   The footprints of various animals were all around it.  We also saw a coyote, tons of pronghorn antelope, bison and elk.    No bear, thankfully, though the black variety visit our backyard too much for my taste.   As always, the three national parks we visited did not disappoint.