Meadow Lake Resort

Last Sunday, shortly after Sam's early "Birthday Dinner" had ended, we received a phone call from a couple who John knew growing up.    They explained to us that months and months ago they had book a couple of Condos at the Meadowlake Golf Resort in Montana, but now none of their family could make it - and they were hoping to find somebody who could take their place.    

It didn't really taken much convincing for us to want to go.   I mean really - they had me at Resort;)    So...we spent the better part of Monday trying to clean the house, pack, and do all the jobs around the house we'd been planning to do throughout the week.    By later in the day though- we ALL were ready to hit the road!    

We were able to pass over Logan Pass just as the sun was starting to set and it was breathtaking!!    

I loved the feeling of riding on that road, while the evening Sun shone brightly with the windows rolled down, smelling in the mountain air....

This is a photo of "Lunch Creek" which is located just before you reach the top of Logan Pass.  John has told us so many stories of visits him and his family would make to Lunch Creek.   

The creek flows under the road and comes out of this tunnel below.   Off to the right, there is a flat rock bed where the family would always sit to ...well...eat LUNCH of course!!!

...Okay- that's it,  I want to go back!

We made great time, and got to the resort with still plenty of time left for the kids to explore a bit.    

This was the main building.    

We would often take morning and evening walks up to the main building because they had a beautiful pond out front that was full of gold fish.   The kids named them all, and dubbed them our "family pets" throughout the duration of the stay.    

One fish was named "Elle," and one was named "Freckles" if that gives you any idea of the type of names these poor fish had to endure while we were here;)

The first morning there, Sam woke up to a table full of presents, and a pile of pancakes with 7 Birthday Candles.   Of course, he felt extra special because he's the only one who has ever gotten a vacation for his birthday;)! 

For the next couple of days we kept ourselves busy by:

* taking care of our new found pets

* doing a teensy weensy bit of shopping in Kallispell;)

* Swimming at the indoor/outdoor pool

* playing at our favorite playground

* and enjoying some of the programs that the resort offered (the kids loved "Frog-a-rama" which was an hour of games in the pool;)    

On Wednesday night, they had a Cowboy dinner in the park for all of the guests.   We could cook hot dogs over the fire, and roast marshmallows for s'mores.   The kids ate very little, but played a LOT!   

While they played, John and I sat on the hill and listened to this cute local couple play and tell stories about the history of Montana.   Very Cool!

Oh now this picture really doesn't fit in- but I do want to remember this fun restaurant we ate at one day that Jewel and Kendall had recommended to us. 

  HuHot in Kalispell was seriously so much fun!    It was an all you can eat, Mongolian Buffet sort of a thing, and I am pretty sure I ate a weeks worth of food just because it was so fun!    tsk tsk.    

Luckily, the next day we drove up to Glacier and I was able to walk some of that excessive eating from the day before off;)!   

Trail of the Cedars isn't much of a hike, in fact it isn't really a "hike" at all, but rather a stroll.    However, it's the prettiest stroll I've ever done, and I never get tired of it!

Even though I LOVE Waterton, Glacier never ceases to amaze me either, and one day I'm going to do a controlled study to determine which park I like best of all!    The study will involve lots of fancy hotels, fine dining, and a lot of "alone time."    I plan to take it very seriously;)   

We packed a lot of fun into just a couple of days down there, and we are soo grateful for the chance we had to take advantage of the offer.    It was so great to just be alone with John and the kids for a few days, as this summer has been so full of wonderful, (but busy) things like ....camp, reunions, swim lessons, fence building, etc.  

I'll never turn down the chance for a little bit of resort...ur...I mean Family Time!

What I NEED - is a Watch!

Sam came to me a couple of days ago in absolute tears, angry at ME for the fact that he has to have a birthday in the Summer.   (sob sob)    His reasons?  

"In the summer, he doesn't belong to a classroom full of kids who would normally sing to him."

"In the summer, he doesn't get to take cupcakes to share at school."

"In the summer, ALL of his friends are gone- so he doesn't ever get to really have Birthday Parties."

"And in the summer there isn't anything fun to do - just like...boring stuff that everybody else is already doing."   

(I'm not sure that I totally understand the last argument there, but those were Sam's complaints nonetheless;)

Naturally, being the awesome Mom I am - I told him that it is not my fault that he was born in August, but rather that Heavenly Father is actually the one who decides when we all come to earth.  (who would dare argue with that?)   And THEN I set out to bribe him with the yummiest three layered rainbow cake ever! ;)

The recipe for this cake is in the Friend, as it's the cake President Monson's Mom would make for the prophet every year on his birthday.   Sam thinks that he is extra special now because his birthday is close to "President Moroni's!"   (Note: For some reason,  he totally messes up the names like that, and I've grown tired of correcting him;)


Our obligatory "Birthday Wall of Fame!"
(or ..."shame" depending on what photos you choose to notice;)

His birthday was made AWESOME when his Aunt Jewel gave him a Star Wars Lego Watch for a gift.   Sam is quite fond of watches, LOVES Lego, and is CRAZY about all things Star Wars, so naturally this is the perfect gift!   Naturally, I had to point out to him later that if he'd not had a "Summer Birthday" then he never would have gotten that awesome gift!   

(Which, of course, isn't true at all- but I just thought it would help him appreciate the month in which he was born a little bit more;)

Just a funny story:  After Sam opened this gift he was SO excited to put the watch on that he hastily began tearing through things trying to assemble it in a rush.    With helpful intentions, we suggested that he pause to read the instructions, to which he hurriedly replied- 

 "I don't need Instructions!  What I need - is a WATCH!!"   

Well- thanks to Aunt Jewel, Sam now loves his Birthday and would have been completely happy if this is the only thing we'd done do celebrate.    But it wasn't.     In fact, it's been a birthday WEEK for him with all sorts of gifts, and travelling and fun.   If you ask me, I'd say this kid has really been quite spoiled!    

Nope- I'm not buying his argument at all.  

Summer is definitely the BEST time for a Birthday!!

Parade Day!

Parade Day!  

Parade Day was made extra awesome by the fact that Chiam, Oscar and Walden came last minute to enjoy it with us!  Of course, their parents came too:)   I always love getting a chance to visit with my sister Crystal.    Oh, and our friends were set up nearby too, so the kids all had lots of company to keep them happy while they waited for the parade to begin.    

*Nate was content to just sit back with his one lollipop and watch everyone else madly dash for candy.

*Abby, Sam and Chaim one prizes!

* My brother in law Jeremy mastered the art of stealing candy from small children ;)

* And the parade floats were fun to see.   (I loved the horses!)

* This year the whole family stayed up in anticipation of the fireworks.  It was Nate's first time really seeing a fireworks show and he loved it.       

This Summer Moment.....Bear Watching!

I was just scrolling through our photos from the summer and came across these ones.    They reminded me of another summer moment that I want to remember.

Bear Watching with the American cousins!

Do you like how I specify that they are our..."American" cousins?  

I think I just get excited whenever some of them make it all the way up here.

These photos were taken as we were coming back from Red Rock.   The kids (ahem...and LUCI!) were SOO VERY EXCITED to see a Bear off on the side of the road.    Because it was lumbering through bushes it was often difficult to see it though, so the shorter kids had to get a bit creative!

Gosh, we sure miss "those Americans!"

This summer moment....Swim Lessons

The past two weeks have been all about Swim Lessons!  

Every plan we make, every place we've gone, every project we've tried to tackle....

it's all revolved around Swim Lessons!   haha

I'm happy to say that not only are the kids finished for another year, but they ALL passed!!!    

Jessica surprised me and was a fish.    Sam passed level 2 the first time, which is a big deal seeing as Level 1 was such a killer for him;) and Abby is moving up to Levels that actually challenge her quite a bit!   I'm proud of the way she pushes through hard things though;)   

Here's a photo I snapped of the three little ones while Abby was finishing up her lesson.   

For the record, this is usually precisely the kind of thing that happens whenever I say - 

"Now look at the camera and smile!"

Unfortunately for Abby, by the time she'd finished her lesson, I just didn't have it in me to try for another shot:)

I didn't dare!

This summer moment ... Thanks to the Spencers

This photo - I love!

And this particular summer moment- I adore.    

I love it so much I can even say it in French:

J'adore ce moment!!!!!   

   

It was just a beautiful brief second that happened on a rare calm evening, as the sun is going down, when everything seemed right in the world.   We'd been invited by our friends (the Spencer family) to join them up at their families land for the afternoon and evening.   This was on of the last photos I took, at the end of a perfect and fun day while we were on our way back from our hike to "Goose Lake."   I'd turned around to John and saw Nate happily perched high on his Daddy's shoulders and it made me so so happy!

Every body knows that a Happy Kid + A Setting Sun = A Perfect Moment...right? 

It's true.  you should always always ALWAYS grab your camera when the sun starts to set. 

Kids just seem so much more perfect and lovable when photographed against a setting sun, that's all there is to it!

Other photos from the day:

As we entered Mandi's families property we were greeted by these friendly Bovines.    My kids were so excited- but I guess in all fairness to them - it's not every day that they see a cow.  

 (Poor little town kids;)

As we approached their campground we drove down a road that was FULL of Saskatoon and Raspberry Bushes,  which of course, we had to stop and pick! 

As soon as we arrived the kids had to immediately get dressed in their swimsuits and head on down to the creek to play.     For the next few hours they swam, waded, dug, and fished!    They were in heaven.   I sat back and took in the gorgeous scenery.   

I was in Heaven too:)

At one point John and I finally clued into the fact that Nate had gotten himself ready that morning and had obediently "got his shoes on" just like I'd asked him to do!   

Yup- I'm a good Mom:)

After the kids had played and gotten as dirty as they were going to get - we started a fire and had supper!   John came up with an ingenious way to roast 8 wieners at one time using a BBQ rotisserie skewer, and I found and brought the yummiest ALL NATURAL pork sausages that were so GOOD!   

(and nitrate free if I might add.  ChaChing!!!)

I thought I was pretty awesome, what with my successful contribution of All-Natural hot dogs and all,  until Curtis pulled out all the stops and made fire roasted corn on the cob!
 Probably the yummiest thing I've ever eaten that was cooked over a fire.   Delish!!!

Here we are taking an after dinner stroll through the hills as the sun began to set.   

I like hanging out with Mandi.   She understands my need to take family photos and doesn't roll her eyes at me when I gather my family for "another photo" like a certain person that I know always does.   

(cough cough... ahem...JOHN!:)

My kids like hanging out with Mandi's kids too - especially when a fire, skewers, marshmallows, and chocolate covered wafers are involved!

It was pretty much the perfect summer day!  

At one point, Abby turned to John and I and said-

 "Okay.   Like, we just REALLY need to get us some land!"

Uh...yeah Abby.    We'll get right on that:)!

Pow Wow Baby

The other night- we all attended the annual Pow Wow, which basically consist of Native dancers coming from all over to compete in their traditional dancing.    

I LOVE it.   

The costumes are beautiful.  

The Drumming is powerful.

And the Dancing is - Spectacular.   And fascinating. 

This young Mom caught my eye, and I found myself wishing I had a little baby to hold in my arms. 

  

Lee & Sandy Paley

When I was little, my siblings and I would often watch a kids show on TV called Ballooner Landing, and whenever we would - my Dad would point to the woman (Sandy Paley) and say, "Hey! She's my cousin!"   

We would always respond by saying, "Yeah right...whatever Dad!" 

   No matter how insistent he was - we never did believe that these beloved childhood singers were actually family. 

This past week our local library hosted a Lee & Sandy Paley concert, and I was determined to take the kids to go see them.    I grew up knowing and singing so many of their songs and I wanted my kids to hear the same fun music.    

Much to my delight- the kids were SO EXCITED and they sang along and danced the whole time.  

Even better - I learned that all those years my Dad really was telling the truth, and that Sandy Paley is in fact his cousin.  They played together as kids and it was fun to get to know her better during those few minutes we got to visit.    

I'm kinda excited to hear my kids singing "One green Jelly Bean" around the house!

Summer reading stars

This summer- I've tried to do a couple of things to keep my kids off the TV just a little bit, and I have to say, for the most part it has worked pretty well.    For starters, I created a chore chart for each of them with a comprehensive list of things they must do each day, from making their beds to calling Grandpa and seeing if he has any work for them to do.      I really don't like "Chore Charts" very much but Sam seems to really respond well to it, and I think he thrives on the structure of it.   

Another thing we've been doing this summer, is our "I am a Reading Star" program.    

Now don't laugh!

(I got the idea off PINTEREST OK?!!;)

Basically, the kids received a bingo card like this at the beginning of summer and every time they read a book (for a specific amount of time) in any of the locations mentioned - they get a star.   For every row they complete they get a coupon to redeem whenever they want.   The coupons are good for things like "An ice cream cone at Dave's" or  "one pack of Bubblegum" etc.

Once they fill the entire card, they get to receive the "Golden Ticket" which is good for a much bigger and better thing, often a fun excursion.   For example- Sam recently earned HIS GOLDEN TICKET and it was valid for a day at BIG SKY water park in Kalispell!

(That may seem like a lofty reward- but it's more that I have figured out to "Reward" the kids with things we were already planning on doing with them anyways;)   Someone gave us Big Sky tickets two months ago-and I've been saving them all this time -  The kids just haven't clued into that yet:)

So far, the kids are LOVING it, and I am loving how motivated they are to pick up a book and read instead of turning on the TV.  Not that they don't still watch too much TV, 'cuz believe me - they do!   It's just that sometimes now, more often then before, I can look out my window and chances are pretty good that I might actually find one of my kids doing this:

You know, reading under a neighbor's tree in their pajamas!  

On this particular morning, I kept calling Sam to breakfast, only to finally notice him across the street determined to cross off the block that said "Read underneath a Tree."    

Thankfully, our neighbors were on holiday - so I just let him read away:)

Oh, and then there was this time, when I went into the back yard and found all three of the kids reading together trying to check off THREE squares at one time, by:

-reading under a tree

- on a blanket

- with a hat on

What multi-taskers!

When they finish a book - they get to color a flag and put it on their reading banner so that they can proudly show off all that they've read so far.   

I love these little banners!

Mostly, because when I see them - it makes me feel a little bit less guilty for the 3 hours a day they still do spent in front of the TV!    

I'm all about celebrating the small improvements though and this "Summer Reading Star" program does just that!  

Finally my Pinterest addiction pays off!

The storm of the Century

As mentioned in my previous post, while John's two brother's and their families were up here, we had come up with this fabulously fun idea to have an "Olympic Kick off party" with the kids.   We were super stoked about it and had grand plans of dressing up in "Team Canada" attire and playing all sorts of Olympic style games with the kids!   

Luci bought some Canadian prizes...

Jordan decorated Max's back yard with Red and White...

I had a couple of twin mattresses from our house laying in our van awaiting our high jump competition....

It was all going to be so great!

As I drove up to Max's house though, we could see that off to the North West of us - the clouds were alarmingly dark and sorta funny shaped.   Jordan, Luci and I decided to go for a quick drive to check them out.    (This might be a good time to admit that when I was younger, I'd watched the movie Twister, and ever since then a teeny little party of me has always wanted to be a Storm Chaser.   True Story!)   

Anyways, we only had to go to the very edge of town to catch this photo.  

And it only took me about this long to realize that I really wasn't a storm chaser and that we really should probably just get home.   By the time I'd turned the van around and we crossed the highway - the clouds were this much closer!

It was so eerie the way the darkness swept over us, and we weren't the only ones who thought so, because as we raced back to Max's we noticed so many other residents out on their lawns marvelling at the clouds.    It was just so unusual!

When we reached Max's house, we parked the van and hopped out, still staring at the skies.   I honestly have NEVER seen clouds move so fast!    The darkness felt so heavy, and it suddenly occurred to me that this storm could really be quite serious.   

I was headed into the house to check for any weather advisories online when THIS baby fell right onto Max's front step.  I immediately yelled to Max to come check it out, and just as he did the sky unleashed the most craziest deluge of giant sized hail I have ever ever seen!  

I'd say that most of the hail was golf ball size or slightly bigger, but it wasn't hard to find some that were baseball sized.    And they fell with such force!    The kids were FREAKED out (I probably didn't help that situation;) and they rushed downstairs to the basement and hunkered down.  

John ran out into the storm to try and move our vehicles to a safer spot.  By the time he got our van parked under a giant tree - the hail was coming down so hard he couldn't even make it back into the house!    Every bodies windshields were getting smashed, and not wanting to be stuck in a vehicle with glass breaking,  John was forced to hunker down under that tree and wait it out.   

I stayed at the front window and took pictures.    

Just kidding!   Actually, I threw my camera down and ran outside to save my husbands life, that's what I did!    Grabbing a giant garbage can in the garage, (and dumping out the bag of garbage) I threw it over my head and shoulders and began to make my way toward John.   Suddenly though, a GIANT ball of hail (one of the baseball sized ones I swear!;) hit me hard on my back.

I looked towards John and yelled, "Forget it!  Save yourself!!!" and ran back into the house to nurse my wound.    It seriously hurt!

I wish I could say that the storm ended after a minute or two, but it went on for so very long.    

I heard of one person who timed it and said it was 11 minutes long!    

As soon as the hail and wind and rain stopped we all ran out side to inspect the damage.    

 Here is Max's van:

Here is Max's Truck:

Jordan's Vehicle:  (Meh.  No big deal.   They only had to drive back to the states in a day or two;)

Here's John's work truck:

And our van:  

Out of the 5 vehicles at Max's that evening- our van definitely fared the best.  (Thanks to John's heroic attempt at parking it under a tree.   ...and of course, for my heroic attempt at saving him when he got stuck under said tree.)

For the next hour or so the streets were full of neighbors and family surveying the damage and checking on each other.    It really was quite touching as I looked around at this mess, and saw so many people thinking of others.      

We managed to snap this photo of the double rainbow that appeared immediately after the storm.

 Under normal circumstances I maybe would have taken the time to really appreciate the beauty that is in each rainbow, but in this particular moment I could only think of my own home and how it survived.   Besides that- my back was BURNING and I could tell that a giant bruise (exactly the size of a BASEBALL) was forming right where I'd been hit.   

Under the circumstances who had time to stop and think about a rainbow?    

The latest report is that our home now needs a new roof, new eaves, new siding, a new door, and new windows.     It's been a super fun week to say the least, as we've met with adjusters and agents and contractors, and begun the process of repairing it all.   For the most part though - I think we were very very lucky.    We experienced pretty much the same amount of damage that everybody else in town did, and the only thing that didn't have hail coverage was John's work truck.     

 So all in all - it's really not so bad.   

I mean, at least no one was hurt right?

Oh wait.   I WAS HURT!!!!

That John better know what a hero I am, that's all I have to say;)

Sigh...!   Love knows no bounds folks.    Love knows no bounds.

The "After Party"

John's family reunion hadn't been over long (6 hours tops;) when a couple of his brothers and their families arrived in Canada, ready to spend another week partying.   My sister in law Sarah referred to this week as the "after party," and that was a pretty fitting title. 

'Cuz how could a week in this town be anything but a party?

We ate lots of yummy meals together that week, most of them cooked by John's Dad.   Delish!   Every once in a while I would throw a meal together just to remind everyone of just how lucky we were to be enjoying so much of Dad's cooking:) lol.

One day, I made everyone come with me to the local museum.    I had never been here before myself, but the kids enjoyed it in a "let's run around like we're crazy and breeze past every exhibit so our parents can't enjoy anything themselves" kinda way.   

They thought the old fashioned classroom was cool, and they probably could have played school there for much longer if they'd been allowed to.  

Perhaps the thing they enjoyed most of all was the part where they got to be the actors and re-enact a court case.    Libby was the judge and Abby was the criminal Mr. Black who was charged with stealing someone else's cattle!     tsk tsk.      

Perhaps the part that I enjoyed most was when we got to put our kids behind bars.  I was more then ready to lock those doors and throw away the key!    Nope. Not kidding!!!

After thanking and apologizing to the tour guide (I like to just cover the bases when my family is involved;) we headed on over to Dave's for some ice cream treats!   

Here are the kids responding to my question when I asked, "Who likes ice cream?!"    

Of course, Sam can't just raise his hand- he always has to DANCE in the affirmative.   Just ask his former school teachers;)

            The next day, we must have done nothing, because I have no pictures to show for it;)    But the day after that we went to Waterton!   We took everybody up to Blackiston falls because what hike is more kid friendly then Blackiston?     

(I love that Liberty wore this pink head piece for most of the hike!)    

Jordan insisted that I take a family picture of his beautiful family.  

(Jordan loves it when I take his family's picture;)

I really enjoyed getting to visit with Ammon, Kristin and their kids this past week.   They live out east in North Carolina so we don't get to see them very often.   Definitely not as often as we'd like!

Oh and this is one of the beautiful views from the Blackiston lookout.   

I absolutely love that stroll!

We had a great big Olympic Kick off Party planned for last Thursday evening, but just as we were about to begin the festivities - the storm OF THE CENTURY hit!  

 (I'm not even exaggerating like I usually do when I say that:)   

And thus began the end of all the fun...

The time I tried to make a family music video

Months ago I came across a YouTube video of an extended family who had made a music video during one of their family reunions.  I LOVED it- and immediately emailed all of John's siblings and told them that I thought we should try to do something similar.    

 I was pretty insistent.   

And annoying.  

We all spent about 1,462,708 + hours (in the form of a trillion emails) debating which song we would use, who would be in it, who would teach us the dance moves (Rach and Luce!) and how excited we all were going to have to be in order to make it awesome.  

In the end, half the family thought it was a cute(ish) idea.

Half of the family thought it was lame and that I was the biggest dork in the world for attempting it.

And half the family were too nice to voice an opinion about it either way. 

 (and yes- I just broke John's family down into three halves;)   

Still though, despite the fact that 78% of John's family were sick of this song by the end of the first day and never wanted to be filmed again - I persevered.   Because that is what I do.    

I persevere.

   

********

Dear John's family,

 (including those who deep down, or not so deep down, thought I was a dork for making this video in the first place)

Thanks so much for putting up with it all, and thanks to Luci and Rachel for teaching us all how to really dance.   And See?   Now we have this super cool(ish) video to remind us of all that fun we had right?  

 You're welcome.   

Sincerely, 

Me