Flat Head Lake, Montana--- our summer roady!

We had the best trip up to Montana. We landed in the Flat Head Lake valley of Polson. Our bro-in-law Aram is from there and we have been hearing stories for years, and thought it was time to taste of the beauty. We spent a lot of time on Flat Head Lake, swimming, skiing, playing... his parents house is a block off the lake and they have this great dock the kids could play and jump off of. We enjoyed their hospitality and then went up to Glacier National Park (only an hour away and ate yummy cherries all the way.)

Beautiful Glacier National Park

We had a great time at Glacier National Park. It was really a pretty place w/ hundreds of waterfalls cascading down steep green cliffs, fun highway going to the sun that makes you feel like you are going to fall off as you drive. So, so pretty. We went on a hike w/ the kids and saw a lot of Elk horn sheep and mountain goats. Fun stuff!

Many Glacier and Cardston

We loved going through Glacier... So pretty and then headed out towards Canada. We have passports and are strange about achieving places checked off lists, so we crossed the boarder so the kids could go to Canada. We went to the Cardston Temple to take a look, ate at a terrible pizza restaurant and couldn't find an available hotel in town, so we headed back towards Glacier. Luckily, at about 8:30 p.m. we came across a 1 gas station town Babb, and they had a cabin out back we could rent. We felt very saved!

Yellowstone and Jackson Lake

My mom's side traditionally goes to Jackson Lake (about a 1/2 north of Jackson Hole) every July. We have skipped out in the last few years but decided we were up for camping and the roady this year. We headed up through West Yellowstone, spent the afternoon fighting the crowds through Yellowstone and then came out South Gate. It was my first experience doing this. We then passed Yellowstone lake and onward to Jackson lake. It is so pretty on Jackson Lake. You are right there up against the Tetons. I got my long awaited waterski fix in... and even tried an air chair. The girls were wiped out daily and camped well, and I still feel like camping is a ton of work! But, we did it and survived... barely. We I also got to run the Snake river w/ my bro in law--Grant guiding us cousins and spouses down. It was a blast! Thanks to the grandma's for watching the kiddos!

Lava Hot Spring and Idaho Falls

We headed out on our big road trip to Jackson Lake via Lava Hot Springs, Idaho Falls and West to South Yellowstone. The first day was spent at Lava Hot Springs -swimming... and mom crazily tubing the famous river up there. Swimming was great as they have a huge pool and Blakely and Dad did some high diving and waterslides... Then mom went and rented a tube and latched onto a group of crazies and did the river. We started above the waterfall... which I fell out of my tube on. Then I continued to fall out of my tube before another large rapid fall, and got quite scaped. It was a wild ride. Then I went and got Blakely and took her twice on the mild section of the river. Baya enjoyed whatever food we threw her way on this road trip and traveled quite well. That night we got a hotel room on the Falls and were very impressed w/ the Temple view on the falls. The girls swam again and in the morning we headed into West Yellowstone.

Draper Days 24th of July Parade

Hot!!!! It was so hot!!! We went to the Draper Days parade w/ the Ras fam and Angie's girls and roasted in the sun... but the kids enjoyed collecting the hundreds of taffy's being thrown at them.

PIGS

Bry works w/ a guy who raises and breeds pigs up near Oakley. My girls have been wanting to go see the new baby pigs so we headed up for a closer look. They sure can squeal! Baya enjoyed a twinkie from the stash of pig food on our way home... it looks like we have our own little version of a pig going on!!!

Sunday night in the Canyon

We headed up to Moss Ledge for a Sunday night picnic w/ Grant and Lindsee and kids. We hiked around a bit, and enjoyed left overs from Famous Daves. It's always nice to get up in our nearby mtns. and see how pretty they are... and so close. The kids always love a chance to see their cousins.