Our Montana Trip - Monday - July 1, 2013

We headed out on our fun family vacation to Montana yesterday.  We ended up leaving a little later in the day than we had originally planned, due to me having to babysit all day Saturday.  The drive was long, but very fun.  Alissa asked Roger to tell us stories from his childhood.  The kids would tell him a topic (for example:Something embarrassing, scary, etc.) and he would tell us all the stories that came to his mind.  I get car sick when I don't watch the road, but I did my best and was able to write down most of what he told us.  We all loved listening to his stories and I didn't want to forget them.  It made the drive go much faster.  when we were falling asleep at Grandma's, I felt something drop on my head.  I quickly swiped at my head to see if something had really landed there.  I felt a spider or something.  I swiped it off and jumped out of bed so quickly!  Roger helped me find what had fallen on me.  It was a yucky black bug.  Yucky, yucky, yucky!  He killed it, then we climbed back in bed and went to sleep.  I had a really hard time falling asleep, but once I fell asleep, I slept well.

So, we had a goodnight sleep at Grandma Mathison's and woke up Monday morning ready to go out and play.  We planned to go to Apgar in Glacier National Park.  We were going to go on a short hike, eat huckleberry Ice cream, visit the gift shops and visitor center (to get more ideas of what we wanted to see while we were there), and play in Lake Mcdonald.  We were eating breakfast and getting ready for the day, when Uncle Johnny called and invited us all to go with them on their new pontoon boat at Ashley Lake.  We thought that sounded like a lot of fun, so that's what we did instead.

I've never been to Ashley Lake.  It was a very pretty Lake.  The kids were excited to get to see some cousins that they hadn't seen in a long time and for the chance to swim.  Here we are on the drive to Ashley Lake.

 Parker and Alissa stood up on a picnic table at the Ashley Lake Camp ground so I could take these cool pictures.

 The stream flowing into the lake had freezing cold water.  The kids had a lot of fun playing by it.

 The kids had a lot of fun playing in the water with their cousins while we waited for them to get the boat ready to go home.

We got home from Ashley Lake around 1:00 or 2:00pm.  We ate lunch at Grandma's, then packed up for a short trip to Glacier.  Roger really wanted to go on a hike.  He took the first turn out for a hiking trail that he saw.  The trail was called Apgar Lookout Trail.  We parked the first parking lot we came across, figuring that was were the trail head was.  We got out and looked around.  I didn't see any signs that would let us know where the trail starts, but we did see a hiking trail.  I didn't think it was the trail we were looking for, but roger thought it would be a fun adventure.  It was an adventure.  The trail was not used very much, so it was kind of grown over in a few areas.  There were lots of areas that felt like we were surrounded by deep forest.  It made me nervous.  Especially since we didn't have any bear spray.  We just made sure to be extra loud and talk a lot.  I kept joking that the trail was called Apgar "look out!" trail, because you really needed to look out while you were hiking.  I was pretty nervous and scared about bears.  Roger paid attention to where the sun was when we started and he new the trail was taking us in a circle, so he was sure it would take us back to our truck and we wouldn't have to back track through the woods to get home.  I was relieved that he was right.  It took us in a circle and we made it back to the truck safely.  

 At one part on our hike, we passed by this river.

 This is at the end of our hike.  We are heading back to the truck.  Montana was having record high temperatures.  The week before they were getting a lot of rain, so it was hot and humid this week.  We did a lot of sweating while we were out and about.

Brinley Lost Another Tooth - June 29, 2013

Saturday - June 29, 2013
We babysat again all day.  The kids really have a lot of fun playing with their new friends.  They have always loved it when I babysit.  They love having a lot of kids around to play with.

Brinley and Parker were playing a game and Brinley used her teeth to try and pull something off of one of their toys.  She said that her tooth just came out.  She was excited, because this time wasn't scary at all.  She hadn't even noticed that it was really loose, so she didn't have time to be panicky and worry about the day it would fall out.  It was on of her front teeth.

This is a picture of her in the morning, after the tooth fairy came.

Ice Cream at McDonald's - June 28, 2013

We didn't have to babysit today.  I planned to spend the day packing and getting us all ready to go on our vacation.  It didn't happen that way.  I got a few things accomplished, but not much.  I was feeling too tired and in need of a nice relaxing day.  In the evening, the kids and I walked to Mcdonald's for some dessert.  We each got an ice cream cone.  The kids love going to Mcdonald's to play in the play place.  I love Mcdonald's for the ice cream cones.  Parker was already in the play place playing, when I remembered to snap some pictures.  That's why he's not in any of these.

Come to Montana With Us

We will be in Montana all of next week and we think it would be much more fun if we had friends or family or both come with us.  We just realized about a week and a half ago, that Roger would have a lot of time off over the fourth and we would be able to afford this vacation.  Also, just found out that the family members who had planned to be there over this time, won't be able to make it, so we will have the place to ourselves.  So, I know it's short notice, but a spur of the moment vacation can be so much more fun than a planned for vacation.  So please, somebody be fun and come on vacation with us.

Pictures of the most beautiful place ever!  My Great, Great Grandparents homesteaded here in the early 1900s.  There is their original log cabin they built when they first homesteaded here, the home they built in the 1920s (I call it the "white house" or "the old house" - because that's what color it was when I was a child), and a house with plumbing built in 1978 (I call it "the cabin" - because that is where we usually stay when we visit).  There is also the barn and a few other old buildings on the property.

This is the view of the cabin from the road.  My sister, Kari, took these pictures when we were there the summer of 2004.

 Another picture taken from the road, but in this one you can see the old house and the cabin.

This is the few, sitting outside the old house.

 The barn is behind the trees and off to the left is their original home.

 This is a picture of Bowman Lake in Glacier National Park.

 A picture of the barn and other buildings.

 The old house and the fire pit.

 Another view of the original home my great, great grandparents built.

 This is the kitchen in the old house.  It feels like you are walking back in time.

 An artsy photo of Alissa and Parker in front of the old house.

 A few from the road.

 This is the road out in front of the property.  Roger and I encountered a grizzly bear in this area on Roger's first visit.  Roger remained calm and I freaked out!  I started screaming and ran for my life back to the cabin.  Roger, of course, had to follow.  Luckily, the bear ignored me and continued to walk away in the other direction.

This is Alissa on the driveway from the road to the cabin.

 The fire pit

 A view of the cabin from the window of the old house.

 Another view from the window of the old house.

 In the barn.

 The view from a window in the cabin.

 The front of the old house.

 Playing in the creek.

 Enjoying huckleberry ice cream at Apgar in Glacier National Park.

 Swimming in Lake McDonald in Glacier National Park.

Another day of Babysitting - June 27th

Alissa had so much fun painting yesterday, it was all she could think about.  She came with me in the morning to babysit, but ended up heading back home, shortly after to do some more painting.  She called her friend, Erin to come over and paint with her.

 The kids had a ton of fun playing dress up.  Brinley and Aliyah are friends, but when we go over there to babysit, Aliyah and Parker spend most of the time playing together and Brinley plays with Aliyah's little sister, Lily.  Aliyah likes to play rough and play more boyish games.  Lily enjoys the girly things like Brinley.

Babysitting - June 26, 2013

On Sunday, June 23rd, I met a new friend.  We were walking in to sacrament meeting when a little girl, walking past us, saw Brinley and ran over to her.  "Brinley!  You're here?  This is your church?  I bet we're in the same class!  I'm so excited!"  She gave Brinley a big hug, then walked off to where she was headed.  Brinley said that the girl was a friend from school.  Her name is Aliyah.

After all of our meetings, Brinley and her friend, Aliyah, were waiting for me.  They both told me that I needed to meet Aliyah's mom so that they could have a play date.

So, I met Aliyah's mom.  In relief society when she introduced herself, I had thought she seemed like someone that I would get a long with.  Also, she reminded me a lot of my friend Laurie, who passed away in November.  So, I was glad to get to meet her.  Her name is Lori.  She lives down the street from us.  She mentioned that she is newly divorced and was trying to find a babysitter for her kids, so we couldn't get the kids together to play until Friday, when she would have the day off.  I wanted to offer to help her with babysitting, but I haven't been doing any daycare, since we moved out of our house.  I didn't think Roger would like it and I didn't think it would be a great idea because we don't really have an outside area for the kids to play in.  so, I didn't say anything.

Later that day, I talked to Roger about how badly I want to start babysitting again.  We could really use a little extra income and this is the best way for me to help with out having to leave the kids.  He agreed that if I wanted to, he'd be okay if I babysat one or two kids.  No more than that, since we don't have a large house or a yard for them to play in.  I figured, that I wouldn't advertise that I am doing daycare again, but I will just keep my ears pealed and if I hear of someone looking for a sitter, I can offer to help out.

On Sunday night and on Monday, Lori kept coming to my mind.  I kept thinking that I should let her know that I do daycare and offer to help her out with her children.  I thought that might be weird because, we just met and she doesn't really know me, so I decided not to.  On Tuesday, the feeling that I needed to offer her help kept coming to me.  So, I did it.  I sent her a message telling her that I used to do daycare and that I am always at home with my kids, so if she needs any help let me know.  Then I texted, "If you're home, we can walk over and visit for a little bit?"  She texted back, "O my heavens!  You totally answered my prayer!  Please do.  I'm heading home with a quick stop at Kent's.  I will text you when I get home. ok?  Thank you and I will explain then."

We walked over to visit for a little while when she got home.  She said that she was getting them enrolled in a daycare, but she had to fill out some paper work and the daycare wouldn't start watching her kids until next week.  She still had 3 days of work this week and she didn't know what to do with her kids.  So, we arranged for me to come over to her house and babysit her kids for the rest of the week.  It was a little crazy, because it was so spur of the moment and I really needed to be a little more focused on packing and getting us ready for our vacation next week.  But it felt good to help.  It also felt really good to know that I had been an answer to somebody's prayer.  

 The kids wanted to paint, but I couldn't find any paper at their house, so we walked over to our house, to paint for a little while, before heading back so the little one could take a nap.  The kids had a lot of fun playing with their new friends.

It was a pretty long, hot, and exhausting day babysitting.  When we got home, it was after 7:00pm and I didn't have it in me to make dinner, so we headed to McDonald's.

Playing with Friends - June 25, 2013

We went to the Crozier's house to play today.  They had a cute little giraffe pool.  We played in that for a little while, before all the fussiness started.  Alissa got frustrated, because she was bored.  The pool was too little for her.  While we were setting it up, Heather read on the box that the pool was for kids ages 5 - 10.  Alissa wasn't impressed and didn't think that it would be fun for any 10 year old.  She was sad that she had come with us and hadn't arranged to go play with one of her friends.  

Before we left to their house, I told Brinley to bring a change of clothes, but she insisted that she only wanted to wear her swimsuit the whole time.  Mikenna and Brinley decided to take a break from swimming and play inside.  Brinley was too cold in her swimsuit.  I told her to come out in the sun and dry off, then play inside.  She didn't like that.  That started Brinley's fussiness.

Eventually the kids calmed down and we all went inside to eat lunch.  We had fun for the next 2 hours or so, then the fussiness started again and we knew it was time to leave.  Kids were fussy and whining on the drive home, then came home and went to their rooms to calm down.

After things calmed down, Roger and I let Alissa have a go at babysitting.  We left her in charge, while we walked down the street to Wendy's.  We enjoyed a nice little break from the kids.  It was a mini date.  It seems like it's been a really long time since we've gone on a date.

Roger had to work tonight, so the kids and I are just chillin'.  Brinley helped me make some brownies.  I like brownies made from a mix better than the ones from scratch, but we didn't have a mix.  We tried a different recipe, I hope it taste good.

Ward Party at Bothwell Park - June 22, 2013

Saturday - June 22, 2013
We went to a little ward party at the Bothwell Park.  Not a lot of people showed up, but it was still a lot of fun.  It was really nice to get to know some of the people in our ward.  We had a good time, except for all the mosquito bites we got.

Our Girls - June 20, 2013

Thursday - June 20, 2013

I read a tutorial about how to make eyes pop in your pictures you take.  It recommended that you don't use a lot of photoshop fixing on them (which was great, because, I don't know how to do that very well anyway).  It just talked about the lighting.  I don't have all the equipment that it mentioned, but I wanted to try out what I learned anyway, so I had the girls sit, while I kept trying to get a good eye popping picture.  I like to take pictures, but I get overwhelmed anytime I start reading and trying to learn how to be a better photographer.  I don't think I'll ever really get into photography, but I love to learn little things here and there.  I think Alissa's eyes look really cool in this picture.  I wonder how much better I could make these look if I knew how to do a lot with photo shop.

 Alissa was getting really bored and tired of posing for me, when Brinley came a long to save her.

Brinley really liked posing for the pictures.  She is really goofy and didn't want to take a lot of pictures with her just smiling.  She wanted to pose and make funny faces.

Just a Regular Day - June 19, 2013

We went to Sam’s Club to get some much needed groceries.  On the way back we called Jenny Springman to convince her to come on our Montana vacation with us.  Roger took the phone and did the convincing.  When he handed me the phone, Jenny said, “Wow! Is that how he got you to marry him?”  I thought that was funny.  After that and still on our drive home, we took a detour and drove over the scary bridge in Beaver Dam.  I call it the scary bridge, because it is long, skinny, and wooden, and it just looks a little like it won’t hold us.  I thought it was really scary when we went on it before.  It wasn’t as scary this time.  I think because the last time we went on it, was when it was starting to get dark.  In full daylight it is not as scary.

Shelley, Parker, Brinley, and I went to Ridleys to finish our shopping trip, while Roger went to sleep and Alissa played the Wii.

We got home from that, ate lunch, then the kids all went out to play.  I took Parker and Brinley to Brin’s friend Bethany’s house.  Parker asked if Bethany’s brother could play also.  It turns out they are the same age.  Parker had a lot of fun playing with them.  Bethany’s mom brought them home at 7:30 tonight.  They loved that!

Alissa had her friend Erin come over and play.  Erin’s parents agreed to let her have a late night, so Erin was here until 8:30 pm.

While kids were gone, I cleaned the house and made dinner.

After Roger left, Shelley and I watched some TV.

Parker's Prank - June 18, 2013

Tuesday - June 18, 2013
We had a barbecue for dinner tonight.  Roger grilled some sausage and I made macaroni salad.  While Roger was out grilling, I was relaxing in front of the TV.  Parker came in and said, "Mom, you should come outside and sit in your chair.  It feels really nice out there"  Then he paused and I could tell he was trying to keep a straight face as he said, "I didn't spray your chair with water."  He is such a stinker!  I think it is so funny how he tried to trick me.  What a goof!

After we ate, I was sitting on the couch feeling like it was way too hot in the house.  Roger had his water bottle that he was drinking from, so I asked him if he would spray a little water on my head to cool me off.  He came over and pretended that he was going to spray mu head, but instead he emptied his whole water bottle all down the front of me.  I should have known he would do that.  I was just so hot, it was a risk I was willing to take.  We all had a good laugh about that.  Then Roger suggested that we go play at a park.  We decided to go to the playground at North Park Elementary School.  The kids played on the playground and in the sprinklers there, while Roger and I played basketball.  Shelley sat on the bench for a while then got up and walked through the sprinklers with the kids.

We also spent a lot of time today planning what we will do on our trip to Montana.  We plan to do a lot of hiking in Glacier National Park.