So excited for Montana!
Seriously - check out those happy faces :)
So as we pulled out of the driveway I got an email from American Airlines that our flight was delayed. No problem, right? Well....so when we booked our tickets we took a chance with a 40 minute layover in Denver. So yeah, we were going to miss our flight into Kalispel. Unsure of what would happen we headed to the DFW and hoped for the AA crew to take pitty on our little family with three kids under the age of five and magically book us on the next flight out. So it's fun to live in lala land every once in a while. We ended up getting moved over to Alaska Air with a six hour layover in Seattle. Same thing, right?
We survived our four hour flight to Seattle and decided to make the best of it and check out some of the city! We hoped on the light rail and headed down to the original Nordstrom and Pike Place Market.
Unfortunately we didn't get to see any flying fish...it was 5pm and all that was left was their stench.
At 11pm local time we boarded our flight to Kalispel. ..Kevin sat with Ryan and held Hayden. Both kiddos passed out within minutes. I got little G, who despite it being 1am Dallas time was still wide awake and also incredibly chatty. Good thing they gave us free alcohol.
We arrived and were greeted by Kevin's parents. Hooray! A 45-minute drive and we were at their house and quickly into bed.
The kids were so excited the next morning - first up picking some raspberries!
After the raspberries the kids picked some cherries and I snuck off to put Hayden down for a nap...and perhaps take a little one myself :)
The weather was beautiful and we spent the day hanging around the house...
There was a fire on Wild Horse Island so we took the boat over to watch the fire fighters/helicopters/planes
One happy little lady despite the uncomfortable life vest.
Day 2: Wild Horse Island
Hayden loved hiking! She hung out in this little pack happy as a little clam - of course she had some snacks too.
This picture doesn't quite do justice. It was beautiful and not to mention steep. You can see Mary, Sarah and Audrey climbing and I believe that is Ethan standing on top of that rock at the top. I think he ran the entire thing. Oh to be 12 again...
We made it to the top!
This crew waited for us at the bottom.
The good ol jumping pic...
Walking these tired little boys back to the boat.
sweet cousins
Day 3: Happy Birthday Ryan
Gotta bring the streamers!
So much fun opening gifts. Ryan loves his new 'treasure box' from Gigi and Papa and we all loved the DJ mat that his cousins got him. lol - it is loud. I am not sure it would be on my list of recommendations - but the kids do love it!
Ryan wanted to do the Little Saplings camp at Lone Pine Park so we headed over there mid-morning.
After camp we headed out for cheeseburgers & milkshakes. This boy loves himself a cheeseburger!
Later that afternoon we had a water balloon fight!
We used those water balloons that you can fill a bunch in 30 seconds, which was awesome...but they didn't break easily. You had to really peg it at someone to get it to break...it was a little painful.
This little lady enjoyed watching it all.
And for dinner I made Greek meatballs & orzo pasta per the birthday boys request.
And of course there was cake! So happy to celebrate this special little man with our family. While as I write this now I remember a wonderful day filled with fun and laughter. I have no doubt it was not a perfect as I remember but that's the great thing about having kids- you tend to remember the good times. Day in the life with this sweet boy. Wouldn't trade it for anything.
