Camping Labor Day Weekend

We took a much needed 3-day break at Mack's Inn at Island Park for the Labor Day holiday. The girls enjoyed the dirt immensely.

We met my parents up there and were joined by my Aunt Rene & Uncle Dave later on. Anna inhaled grandpa's watermelon.

We went to see the adults (ok, just the old people) launch their kayaks. Unfortunately, I wasn't fast enough getting my phone out to get a picture of my dad hitting the piling and tipping over. It's a good thing he had just emptied out his pockets and given me his wallet, phone, and bluetooth.

We visited Warm Springs and saw this young moose. He was too busy munching his lunch to pay any attention to us.

We also saw a brown bat that must have lived under this bridge. It kept flying out in loopy patterns just above the water surface. Rachael's highlight at this place was feeding the fish cheese. The big ones wouldn't come up for bread, but it was a frenzy for the cheese.

We also played in the river while waiting for our kayakers. Koda LOVES the water. We forgot to bring retrieving toys, so this ginormous stick had to do.

I am in love with this face.

What is she doing now?

Nevada City

While in Montana, we went to Nevada City, which is basically an old mining town. It's pretty close to Virginia City. I loved the old organs. Anna thought they were too loud. 

Here's an old hook and ladder cart. 

Frontier games. 

We attended a Miner's Court. Emersyn brought a claim against her family for missing stuffed animals. It was pretty funny. 

I liked seeing the living history parts. I wish we could have spent more time there, but it started raining and everyone was tired and ready to go home. 

Lewis & Clark Caverns

This past week, Rachael and I went to the Lewis & Clark Caverns in Montana while on vacation there with family. I haven't been there since I was a kid. I didn't remember it being so long or so tough. Rachael said she liked it except there wasn't a shortcut. It was probably just this side of her attention/endurance level. I love looking at all the formations there. 

The entryway to the caverns. 

The last natural light. 

A lot of it was fairly steep. 

 

She wasn't quite ready for the shot. 

Love the texture. 

The chocolate fountain. 

Atlas. 

Melaleuca Picnic

The girls had a blast at Patrick's company picnic. Anna wanted a pony ride, which convinced Rachael to give it a try. 

The face painting was so cute, even if it didn't stay on very long. 

The Ferris wheel and whirligig were so exciting. Waiting in line... not so much. 

After lunch, the girls tried walking on water. Well, Rachael did anyway. Anna just laid in there and floated. It took a little convincing to get her in there, but she liked it. 

Anna's favorite part: the mud by the water slides. 

Summer in Between

In between the other stuff (see previous post) life went on. We spent the 4th in a laid back way, ending with a BBQ. The girls loved the Murphy's little pool. We got one for us a few weeks later. 

We went to the river to feed the ducks. That will be the last time since the city just passed a new ordinance banning the feeding of waterfowl. 

Here's our new pool.