Pictures from our trip to Libby, Montana

My mom and I took the kids to Montana to see my mom's dad who is 90 years old. Here are a few pictures from the trip. It is a 12 hour drive to get there. The kids were amazing traveling in the car. But, they were busy bodies once out of the car. I told my mom it was like people in prison. They seem pretty good when they are stuck in a controlled area but once you get them out of prison they turn wild again. That is seriously how I felt. The kids were so good driving there while confined to their carseats. But, once they were let out in the open they were like wild animals. :) They never stopped moving the entire trip. I felt 10 times more tired when I got home then when I left. The packing and unpacking alone is enough to kill anyone with kids under the age of 3.....Baby beds, car seats, life jackets, clothes, diapers, wipes, sippy cups, snacks, the list goes on and on. I have been doing laundry and cleaning the car since we got back. No joke, the car seats showed every meal the kids had eaten -- oreos, fries, chocolate milk, nuggets, etc. I literally had to spray the car seats down and wash the covers twice. Thank goodness for my mom who was smart enough to buy a DVD player so the kids could watch movies in the car. That was a life saver!!! Overall though, the trip was great and I am so happy I took the kids. It created a lot of fun memories for all of us. It is hard work but you have to start them young so they get used to traveling and experiencing new things.
The pictures are of us at the swinging bridge which spreads across the Kooteni River, my grandma Ida's grave (she and I were very close so it was fun to have the kids see where she is buried), the kids sleeping on the long trip, and lake and libby playing and having fun.

Montana - Swinging Bridge

This is the cutest picture of Lake. He carried this little flower he picked the entire time we hiked. So Sweet!

Below is a clip of Lake and Libby at the Swinging Bridge in Libby, Montana. This is where my daughter got her name. Libby, Montana was where my mom was born and raised. The kids loved going back there and seeing it. I have been going back every year since I was born and love it up there.

Summer Fun!

Well, the summer has gotten off to a fun start. Grandpa took Lake to get his summer buzz which he loves.
The kids played in the yard all day yesterday. They ran through sprinklers and ate popsicles for about 3-4 hours. It is so nice to be able to have them outside playing.

Lake and Libby took a ride in Mike's jeep the other day. They loved it! They kept going, "Woooo" and putting their arms in the air. I think they thought they were at a carnival. It was so cute to see.

My mom and I are taking the kids to Montana tomorrow. It is a 10 hour drive -- probably longer with taking the little ones. We are going up to see my mom's dad who is 90 years old. Libby hasn't met him so I thought we better get up there before his health declines.
I have put off packing but need to do it since we are leaving tomorrow. I can't believe my list of items to pack is 2 pages long. It is amazing what you need to bring for toddlers. Where is a nanny to pack all this when I need one :)?

I am also putting a few pictures of Libby dancing in her little ballet shoes my mom had gotten her. I tried to French braid her hair like my mom used to do with me. But, she must be a tom-boy at heart because she had the French braid in her hair for 5 minutes then took it out. I just like to take pictures so I know as a mom I started out with hair that was clean and brushed in the morning. It somehow makes me feel better...hee hee.

Hopefully I will have some good pictures to post when I get back.