Wednesday, August 04, 2010

Montana Vacation Picture Detox--I Love My Family


Bowling, of course.

Bardo is shown here helping his ultra-secure uncle hang laundry on the line. Real men work efficiently--even if it requires the donning of the clothespin apron.

Gram, with Bardo

On the patio. Why Bardo, do you think it's a good idea to dig in the fire pit? Where was your mother anyway?

My sister is beautiful.

Pyro

Another cute sister, and she's available...

A jig. Actually, I'm not sure what he's doing here, but it makes me laugh.

The Warlock came for a weekend and ran 18 miles in the cool MT air. He recovered by taking a dip in the Missouri. The uncle escorted him home for the final 6 miles.

Round and round the patio.


Hunter liked making new friends, I think.

Grandpa's hat

More new friends for Hunter

These girls were inseparable. One day I had to hang laundry on the line, and I discovered that they had made a house out of blankets and clothespins on the line. Nat was sitting in the wheelbarrow with 3 babies in her arms. Pippi had some stuffed kittens in the canoe, which was her house. "I love children, so I have all the babies. Pippi likes animals." Nat explained. Pippi, in her practical manner, said, "I'm not ready to have children. I'm not married yet, and I'm too young for such responsibility. I like cats."

Happy sisters

First tricycle ride--It suits her, doesn't it?

Happy baby, my niece

Bath Time

A happy Silas, my nephew

We did it all. We let the kids play in the chilly Spring Meadow Lake, some of us canoed, some of us rafted, we read books (My read was the The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society, and I highly recommend) we exercised (sometimes even together) everyday, we made massive amounts of food, we built campfires and roasted marshmallows, we played games of Scrabble while eating peanut M&Ms, we sang around the piano, we watched an outdoor movie, we hiked, we played at the culverts, we biked, we drove my parents out of the house... I'm ready to do it all again. It was worth the 8 days of driving, alone, with the kids and the dog. You can see more pictures here.

On the way home we detoured through Utah. The kids met Scat the cat. Oh yeah. And we saw Grandma, too. And we saw Grandpa, too; he even let me leave some dishes in the sink so I could get on the road.
Yes, they are fighting over the cat. They had to bag these clothes before we got in the car. I'm allergic.


I was too busy relaxing to take too many pictures. But this is enough, right?

4 comments:

Amberly said...

this looks like a fantastic time away, maren. what wonderful memories for your kids! and I think you're superwoman for driving all that way by yourself.

Unknown said...

ya you must have been way too lazy to take more! ;)

Sheralie said...

Can I be part of your family? Please. Looks heavenly.

Unknown said...

What great memories we made. The kids loved playing with their cousins. I am so glad you took pictures.