The Trip - Day 18

July 27, 2011

At least it was a beautiful place to wake up to. I got up early, and took Maya for a run on a trail by our campsite. I let her off leash once we got into the back country. She loved it. She dashed up and down the hillsides, leaping down into the dry-washs, and then scrambling back up after me as I went down the trail. It was fun to run with her.

We explored farther up the trail than the kids had gone. At the top was a partially excavated Hadrosaur. Sorry, I didn't run with my camera, so no pictures of it.



Later we went on another nature trail, deeper in the park. We spent a long time exploring the bluffs, and digging in the dirt.


Sylvia loved it. She held my hand tightly as we edged along some thin trails along steep slopes.

The boys had a good time digging chunks out of a vein of coal. Mattias took it back to the campsite, and tried to start a fire with it... but to no avail. We will have to figure out how to burn coal another time.



There were lots of neat rocks, chunks of iron, and fossils. Asher said this was his favorite part of the trip. He said playing in the coulie next to our campsite was like playing in a playground. Maybe we'll make a geologist out of him yet.



After a couple hours of exploration, we climbed in the van and headed home. People were traveling well, so I just kept on driving. We had planned to split this drive into 2 days, but I was ready to be done driving. After 17 hours, we pulled into Stoughton at 3AM and surprised a very sleepy Sean.

This trip was worth every cent, and every exhausted moment as a single parent. I loved seeing our families, and the beautiful areas we stayed in. It was basically the perfect trip. The kids were excellent, the dog traveled well. If Sean had been with us, it would have been like heaven. - Well...there is always next time.

The Trip - Day 17

July 26, 2011

We had such a good time with Becca's and Daniel's families. It was tough to leave, and know that we will miss all their birthday's, holidays, and Sunday dinner get togethers. I miss being able to drive down to Rexburg for a weekend. I wouldn't want to live there - although Daniel is determined to convince me next visit that Idaho mountains are better than Montana mountains.

We packed the van, gave out a last round of hugs, and started driving.



10 hours later, we pulled into Makoshika State Park, on the far eastern side of Montana. Mattias had wanted to spend more time exploring the badland area, so this seemed the best place.

The boys set up their tent, and took Sylvia to explore on a trail close by our site.


The badlands are beautiful at sunset.


The kids came back with their hands loaded with treasures. Asher had discovered prickly pears. I told him you could eat them, so he worked on shaving the spikes off. It took a while, and his hands became full of needles. After a small freak-out, I drove him down the road a mile, where there was a water pump to wash his hands under. He has now sworn off prickly pear experiments.





Sylvia came back with some yucca leaves. She said they were like swords and cut your legs as you walked down the trails. She spent the rest of her time trying to mow the grass in the campsite with them.




We got to bed at a decent time, only to be roused around 11pm by some fishy looking transients, stumbling into our campsite. They started loudly setting up their tent, only 5 ft away from mine - and in our site. I went out to tell them my kids would be up early eating breakfast right by their tent, so if they wanted to sleep in, they should re-consider their location. They said they would be leaving around 4... but they moved their tent to an empty site across the road anyways.

They were rough guys, and I was worried that they were on the run from the law, and I had just seen their faces and knew about their getaway location. It was with this worry on my mind, that I then heard a group of motorcycles roar into camp and about 50 feet away at the outhouse. Then there were gunshots. I lay frozen, glad that none of my kids were over there. They must have been shooting onto the bluffs behind us. One of them yelled to shoot at the outhouse, so they started that. After a while they roared on up the road, and back again... it was a noisy hour. None of us got much sleep - but I prayed a lot, and wondered if I should start carrying a pistol like Brad had when we were hiking.

The Trip - Day 16

July 25, 2011

We helped Daniel with some yard work in the morning. That was actually pretty fun. Asher mowed, Noel helped clean out some dead branches in the bushes, and Mattias and I power trimmed the shrubbery. Daniel then generously treated his yard workers to a game of lazar tag.



It was the adults versus the kids, and it was a blast. I can't believe how exhausted you can get in 15 min, just from ducking and scurrying around. It was so much fun. We are definitely going to have to have a re-match down the road.


We all went bowling in the afternoon. Sylvia and Addy had a good time sharing a lane. Kaydee was wonderful to help them out.



Spencer couldn't figure out why he couldn't just throw the bowling balls around, like he did other balls at home. Daniel spent a lot of time with him parked in the table, or wandering behind the lanes. Daniel is a good dad. He has been gone a lot working in the past summers, so we haven't gotten much time to spend with him. It was great to have him in town at the same time we were.



My other brother, Dave, was able to come to town for the afternoon. They bowled with us, then went to the carousel and spray park with us. Here is Dave holding their youngest, Felicia, on a horse. It was neat to see all these babies that we had never met.




Here are the rest of Dave and Brinda's kids: Colette, Darci, Joel, and Felicia.



If I could have changed one thing about our Rexburg trip, it would have been to go out to eat with just my brother Dave. - Maybe next time. It is tough to catch up on life, when you are trying to keep track of kids at a park. He is doing well, is in nursing school, and a very attentive father. I'm really proud of all the work he puts into his family and school.

That night, we went to a movie on the Martin-Willie Handcart companies:








It was really impressive to see in color what I had only read about in books, and from excerpts from peoples journals. I was surprised that the wolves were such a hindrance. It is also one thing to read about them burying a dozen people in a shallow grave, and another thing to see how that would have looked, in the frozen snow.

I had read other histories of this group, so I knew who was going to die by the movies end. It was an interesting perspective to watch them help others, only to lose their own lives.

It was a great show to see as a family, since we have early church pioneers on both Sean's and my side of the family. The kids were touched, it was a good way way to finish off Pioneer Day festivities.

The Trip - Day 15

July 24, 2011

After attending church with Daniel's family, we took an afternoon walk in the BYU-Idaho horticulture gardens. They were very beautiful. If Noel is still interested in plants when she is 18, I hope she goes to school here. The university has a great program.







Later that night, we went to a Pioneer Day lecture. There were two speakers, the first was Leon Parson. He spoke about the history of his Italian ancestors. He told how they joined the church and became pioneers, walking across the plains of America to the Salt Lake Valley. They came from the Piedmont Valley in northern Italy, which has some horrific massacres in their history.

He painted this picture: "Prairie Angels", in honor of his great (many times) grandmother. She is pictured as the younger sister..

The next speaker was an energetic Church History professor, Jeff Chapman. He spoke about the atmosphere and events in England that early LDS missionaries encountered. He had interesting slides from the actual places his stories occurred.

It was a really educational meeting, especially since we also have early pioneers that had many of the same experiences. The boys went up afterwards to meet the painter, and ask him about his work. I was impressed that they were so touched by his stories.

The Trip - Day 14

July 23, 2011

You certainly can't visit Grandma and Grandpa's house in Idaho without a walk in the nature park.


Sylvia loved waling Jagger. He was just her size.

Sylvia even tried to show Jagger the joys of playing on climbing equipment. He was not looking very convinced as he toppled down the slide behind her.

Grandpa figured if Jagger could do it, he could too.



The ducks were glad for the morning snack of bread.

When we walked back home, Sylvia pulled out her loose tooth. It is her first one to fall out, and she was very proud.


With all of our other kids, we would invite neighbors over for an impromptu "Lost Tooth" party when this happened. So, Mattias got busy baking a chocolate cake, and I called the cousins to inform them we were having Sylvia's Lost-Tooth party that afternoon.

Since none of my siblings were in Montana when our older kids lost their teeth...this was a first for them. They were a bit baffled by the concept, but gamely played along.

First we had to have the traditional dancing of the Lost Tooth story. (You pretend to be a tooth, growing in a baby's mouth, then learning to eat, and finally falling out, and flying away with the Tooth Fairy.) It is just your basic interpretative dance, with a few scarves, and a few musical instruments.... pretty goofy.

My dad thought the dance needed an international twist, and came to do a little Mexican dance for us.



After a game of Pin-the-Tooth on the Mouth... we all enjoyed cake by Mattias.


The picture above shows my brother in law, Kevin, keeping a close eye on the wheat thin box, while Addy, Sylvia, and Spencer smile for a picture.



Above is Spencer, Daniel and Kaydee's youngest. -He is a natural ball player already.

The little boys were fascinated with Maya. Caleb (Becca and Kevin's boy) is on the left. Maya was very good natured about having them climb all over her, with sticky cake fingers. Hmmm... Maybe it was the sticky cake fingers that she liked best.


Sylvia and Addy had a tea party on Grandma's front lawn. These two girls got along so well. Noel loved getting to know this cousin better.

Later that night, we all went swimming in Daniel's office building. The place was empty except for us. We swam, then ordered pizza. After eating, some fierce ping-pong matches ensued. I also learned that Noel is pretty good with a pool stick.


I decided to resign our game, and let the little girls play with the balls, instead of having Noel crush me.

The Trip - Day 13

July 22, 2011

We packed the van this morning, and my heart was so sad to be leaving Missoula. It is nice to know the mountains do not change. They will be waiting for us next time we visit.

We drove Asher to his last day of camp. They made T-shirts, and got ready for the poetry reading/ pizza party that all the families were invited to at noon.

While he was at camp, I dropped Noel and Sylvia off at the library for a pre-school storytime. Mattias wanted to climb the "M". It was the last thing left on our "Things to do in Missoula" list. We had one hour to get it done.

For some reason, the girls did not want to join us. Sylvia is somewhat traumatized by the mega Fuse Lake hike we did earlier in in the week, and refused to climb any more mountains.

The hike was great. With the help of 11 switchbacks, you climb a steep 630 feet.



We made the climb in 22 minutes. We took only one break for water. I think that was even faster than I climbed it when I was in college. Mattias is such a solid trooper. He hikes steady, and doesn't complain. He said this hike was his favorite part of the trip.

The view was great. Mattias would like to continue up over the top of the mountain and explore the trails on the backside next time. - Yet another thing we will have to look forward to next trip out West.

After our descent from the lofty perch of Mount Sentinel, we picked up the girls, and Grandma and Grandpa met us on campus for Asher's poetry reading party. He read loud and confidently. I was so proud of him! Then with lots of hugs and farewells, we drove south to my the land of the Idaho grandparents and cousins.

Here are the two poems Asher read:


The River

I flow in silence
moving with grace
my long blue arms
and flowing face.

I sweep trees
and branches away.

I am home for fishes
and a road for travelers
who sit on my back
scratching me
with long wooden oars.

I am a hunter
for unsuspecting prey
for those who fall in
and I carry away.

I am a river
proud and strong.

I am a river
finding my way.

The next poem is the one he did from a piece of art in the museum. He said the sculpture looked like a man hiding behind a bush, with a bird sitting on it.

The Lie

He ran.
He ran through the forest

Fleeeing
Fleeing from the truth.

He knew he could not escape it
but he ran nevertheless.

He looked behind him.
The while dove followed him.

It was the essence of truth.
It seeks lies
never ceasing.

The man hid.
He jumped behind a bush
where he could hide from the truth.

The dove alighted next to the man
Its bright presence illuminated the lie he had spoken

and he hid no longer.

The Trip - Day 12 - Noel's pics

July 21, 2011

Asher had writing camp again this morning. They went to an art gallery on campus, and had the curator speak with them about art. They each picked a piece of sculpture to write a poem about.
Asher's poem was good enough that the instructor wrote it up on the board for all the groups to see. People thought it was done by a professional. He is really enjoying this camp experience.

We spent the afternoon having a picnic, then swimming at Frenchtown Pond. Brad tried teaching Mattias to fly fish.. but he didn't catch anything.

I spent most of this day lying in the sun on the grass, watching the kids in the water. I the evening we watched a movie. Since I don't have any pictures from this day, I'm going to post some of my favorite Noel-pictures. She enjoys seeing what different effects she can get with nature photography.

I think she has a wonderful eye for taking beautiful pictures. She spent most of her free time on the trip reading, or taking pictures.

The Trip - Day 11

July 20, 2011

I will never forget how stiff I was this morning, crawling out of my tent at 6 AM, to go run Maya. I thought I'd never be able to bend down to get out the door... I did make it out though, and the stiffness from yesterday's hike eventually wore off.

Asher went down the Clark Fork River with his writing group this morning. They had a geologist come and speak with them about Glacial Lake Missoula, and talked with them about the river's rocks. Asher thought it was neat you could see the water level lines high up on the hills surrounding the town. They found favorite river rocks, and wrote river poetry.

We did some serious napping this afternoon, then Brad took us out to Frenchtown Pond after dinner. The idea was, to get Asher to catch a fish - since he lost the one at the lake yesterday.
Sylvia and Mattias had a good time swimming (sylvia using emply milk jugs as floats).



Asher caught some very tiny sunfish, he was not impressed with the size... but he did finish his scout fishing requirement with them. Brad taught him to clean, and descale the fish. They cooked them, and we all got a tiny bite.



I think we will have to go back to Montana and spend more time fishing.