We LOVE Montana Part 2

This was our last day in Big Sky and we enjoyed it by relaxing on the beach, going fishing, paddle boating, paddle boarding, canoeing, going for a walk, and just loving the nice cool weather! It was overcast this day and it even rained in the late afternoon! Karla and I were cold and had the fireplace on that night while we played cards! It was crazy to imagine since it was August and it was 115 degrees at home! It was a great day and I loved just being able to enjoy our last day there! I took the kids swimming early that morning and they just loved swimming in the hot tubs! They were really nice, but the pool was heated, so it was really nice too! Ty learned how to swim in the deep end this year and he was so excited to show Grandma and Grandpa his swimming skills!

We finally got grandma to try it out and she did great!

talk about good exercise...i peddled my legs as fast as i could and they were a burning! it was great though and the kids loved it!

                                             
Old Faithful was fun to see once, but I wouldn't worry about seeing it again! We had to wait around for a good hour and that is hard with three little kids! We got frozen yogurt to enjoy while we waited! The kids thought it was pretty cool, but they really thought the geysers were neat and they seemed more excited for them! We hiked to see the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone and I thought it was breathtaking! Everyone grumbled about the hike there and back, but it really wasn't that bad! Besides, everyone can use a little exercise:) We saw lots of amazing and beautiful waterfalls and I was very nervous at every one of them! There weren't many side rails and I could just see one of my kids tripping and rolling down the mountain and into the water! As a mom, this is a very scary thought! I made them hold my hand and never get close to the edge! Well, we only saw one lone buffalo! We really thought we would see more wildlife! We exited Yellowstone through the north entrance and once we exited and were on our way back, we saw tons of deer, elk, and buffalo in farmers' fields! It was quite ironic! It was a very long day at Yellowstone, but we had a great time and were all very tired by the time we got home late that night! We were ready for a relaxing day!

    

                                   

                 

  

                                                                         

                             


                         




                         

A bear tried to get in this car the night before! It tweaked the window a little bit and left muddy paw prints all over the door and window! I guess they left a cooler in the car and left the window open a crack! Pretty crazy!

This is what happens when daddy is suppose to be watching the kids! I guess she was hungry and helped herself to left over pancakes and LOTS of syrup! We couldn't help but laugh!

On the way home we didn't take near as many pictures, but we did visit Uncle Craig's grave in Minorsville! It was nice to see it again! I haven't been there since his funeral! We had a great vacation and really weren't in a hurry to get home! Too bad vacation had to come to end! Hopefully we will head back there again one day!

                            

We LOVE Montana Part 1

 Heading to Bozeman to see the Museum of the Rockies and go to Wal-Mart for groceries! The kids really loved this museum! It had lots of big dinosaurs, a Native American museum,and then an upstairs just for kids! They loved dressing up in the different uniforms, playing with the wood burning stove, and fishing! They were not happy when it was time to leave!

This is where we stayed...The Lake Condominums. We decided if we were rich, we would live here in the summers! This dock was right outside our back door, which was perfect for all the fishing we wanted to do! It was absolutely beautiful and the weather was AWESOME! We were hoping to see some wildlife, but all we saw was a black bear on the other side, and Karla and I missed it because we were river rafting when they saw it! Darn the luck! We all loved sitting outside and relaxing, while the kids played in the sand or fed the ducks! I thought my father-in-law, Kelly, was going to sleep out there! Anytime the ducks would come, Tenley went crazy and wanted to feed them...it was pretty darn cute! She LOVED having Papa and Grandma Jensen with us...they were her pals all week long and they spoiled her rotten!

Fly fishing on the Galitin River! We never caught anything, but boy was it so beautiful and relaxing! I think we all had a great time on these days! The kids loved running and playing and fishing until they got bored! Too bad the fish weren't biting or didn't like what we were using! That is probably more like it! Kelly tried to fly fish, but he gave up and used a rod and reel!

Right outside our back door we could rent canoes, paddle boats, paddle boards, and kayaks! We paid $56 for the entire week for all of us to use them as much as we wanted. We would go out every evening and go out on the lake! We convinced Kelly to try the paddle board and it took a lot of convincing! He had to remove his boots, cowboy hat and belt, gun and that is not an easy thing to get him to do! He was doing so good and right after I snapped this picture he leaned back too much and the board came right out from him! It was so funny and everyone on the shore clapped and laughed at the cowboy! The water was freezing cold, but he said he got numb pretty fast! Thanks Kelly for a good laugh! What a good sport he was!

I love these pictures of the kids with Grandma and Grandpa! It was so special to have them there with us! I know the kids will always remember this trip with them!

Trying our luck at fishing again! We didn't have anymore luck at this spot and the flies were the only thing biting and it was our legs and arms that were suffering! We didn't stay too long because the flies were so miserable!

Part of our pass including this rock climbing wall, so on our way home from fishing, we stopped because the kids were dying to try it! Ty didn't get to high the first try, but then he saw a little girl go a lot higher, so he decided to try it again and went super high! He was so proud of himself...it was pretty cute to watch!! Tag decided he didn't really want to go very high and we tried to convince him to try again, but it was a no go! Josh and I gave it a try and man I felt some muscle I haven't used in awhile! It was fun, but once was good enough for me and my arms and legs! I am just glad we were able to make it to the top!

On Thursday we headed to Yellowstone! We stopped at this Grizzly and Wolf enclosure! It was pretty cool and the kids were so excited to see real bears and wolves! Unfortunately the wolves were lazy and sleeping, so we couldn't see them too good, but one did get up and walk to another spot to lay down and that made the kids so happy! I am so glad we went because we really didn't see much wildlife!

We couldn't believe the size of this trap...it would be really heavy to carry!

The kids loved this play area and were mad when we had to leave! It was a lot of fun, but Josh and I decided the slide was not made for adults! It got really narrow at the bottom and felt like you were being squeezed to death!