Catchin' you up

We returned last night from our annual vacation. This year on the itinerary was Waterton Lakes National Park in southern Alberta. Barry's family has a reunion every 3 years there. All of Barry's siblings and 19 of 20 grand kids in attendance.


We decided to split the traveling up in to 5 hour days to make it easy on the kids. We left a day before we originally planned and stayed at our ex-bishop's condo in Grand Junction. It was great seeing them and we were so grateful for his hospitality even if he was laid up. Then on to Highland UT where we stayed with some of Barry's cousins for a few days. The kids had a blast and of course we did too. It was the best place to stay since they have 7 kids and our family of 7 was just absorbed into their daily routine. They had 2 boys just Jared and Payton's age and they were thick as thieves. We had a serious melt down when we pulled away from their house to leave for MT.


We stayed 7 days in MT at my mom's house. We took the kids to the park to hit baseballs and Jared is a slugger, Payton did great too. Jared was hitting balls clear out into the outfield. We caught up with old friends and hung out and ate a lot. I also was able to go to my favorite restaurant in all of Dillon, Sweetwater Coffee. It seriously has the best food around. It's a quaint little coffee shop with some of the yummiest sandwiches and drinks. Can't wait to go back next year. We enjoyed doing fireworks out at the ranch and it brought back a lot of memories. One of my favorite things about going to the ranch was when I walked in it still smelled like my great-grandparents...in a good way, not the bad old people smell. It was quite different looking at those chairs sitting empty. I have many a memory staying up late with grandma in that rocking chair in the same spot playing gin rummy.





Fishing with my grandpa. Payton reeling in this 15.5" 2 lbs rainbow. Jared was the only kid brave enough to eat some of it. Payton isn't much of an outdoorsman. When my grandpa went to cut it's head off he freaked out a little.


When our week in Dillon was up we loaded up and drove the 7 hours to Lethbridge, Alberta Canada. We attended at BBQ for Barry's aunt and uncle who celebrated their 45th wedding anniversary. Just days before we celebrated our 9th. We drove out to the farms that Barry's cousins own and rode dirt bikes, quads, horses, shot clay pigeons, and gophers. Al, Barry's cousin's husband is always good to take me out to shoot me some gophers.



Jared had a blast on that 50. He only spilled twice. Guess who wants his own?


Liza had some trouble touching Nikita at first then wouldn't get off her. She was a good old nag. Guess who wants one of her own?


On Sunday the 12th we checked into the Waterton campground. Barry's cousins had pity on us camping with the twins and offered us their trailer. Thank the Lord for that because it rained hard for 2 days. It was somewhat miserable on Monday and most of Tuesday but we were able to hunker down in a camp kitchen and build a fire for warmth and to dry wet clothes. I mostly stayed in the trailer for the first day as Liza was sick and running a fever and I didn't feel any need to take the babies out in the rain, plus I was exhausted and needed some rest myself.

When we woke on Tuesday it was more promising than Monday and we got out and saw 4 black bears. They were out in droves due to the rain the previous day. We rain was great for the area because the lake rose a couple of feet and water was rushing out of the mountains. We went on a small hike to Blackiston Falls which were beautiful and at some point during the hike Jared decided that it would be a great time to have to go #2....um where? Dig, squat and bury. As we came down from that little adventure it started to rain again. Grrr. Most of the reunion activities were cancelled so our little group plus Barry's 7 first cousins, spouses and kids all hung out in the camp kitchen. We got cozy.



This black bear was on the side of the road and we got about 8 feet away from it with our van. I opened up the sliding passenger door to get this picture. He was beautiful.


Jared with cousin Ethan wishing they could go swimming in Red Rock Canyon. Just a little too cold this year.


Wednesday was much better with sunshine and warmth. We went to Cameron Lake which straddles the US/Canada border. It was a great day to be at the lake. Some went hiking others kayaked. After that I took Payton to go repelling. Barry has a cousin, Patty, that is one tough broad. We hiked up a smaller portion of Bear's Hump, a popular destination and repelled off a 50 cliff. Payton had no fear and went 3 times. I went twice and nearly wet myself the first time and couldn't believe how brave Payton was. He now wants to be an avid rock climber and repeller.


Jared getting what he deserved!


Wilderness timeout on a stump!


The brave repeller! Guess who wants his own repelling gear?


We said our goodbyes Thurday morning and went back to Dillon for some R & R and to wash a stinky bag of wet clothes. Barry's brother Collins and his family tailed us to my mom's house for a much needed break of traveling. My great uncle Jim came over from Bozeman to visit us and meet the twins. We stayed one more night in UT Saturday night and got home Sunday night making our vacation this year a full 3 weeks.


We had a great time and enjoyed seeing all the family. It's so fun building relationships with the cousins and watching our kids make some of the same memories that Barry and his siblings made as kids. We are looking forward to next year's cousin reunion in Moab and also seeing all of my family in Dillon next July.



Look at our new trick! We can sit.



Sawtooth was carved by a Glacier on 3 sides. Native translation is "fingers that touch the heavens" Barry's dream is to hike it one day.