this and that

We dried our tent out in the backyard last week and decided to "camp" in it one night. I just love our beautiful backyard. The trees are so majestic. It was just like sleeping in a campground tucked away in the forest.

Phil completed the pergola. He did such a great job!

We're off to Seattle tomorrow for a little family vacation! I can hardly believe the summer is almost over. We've had a wonderful time with Phil home from school!

Good news: I get my braces off in 2 weeks!!! I went in today for a routine check-up and my orthodontist (who was as surprised as I was) suggested we "de-bond" them this Thursday, but we'll be out of town. So now I have to wait until the day after Labor Day. I only had them on for 9 months!

family camp out

On our way to Glacier National Park, we ran into a few obstacles.

But once we arrived, and before the rain started, we were able to set up camp in record time!

Wouldn't you, with all of this help?

glacier national park

Even though the weather was cold, wet and dreary, Glacier National Park was still beautiful! I asked Phil to take me back someday so I can see the peaks up against a clear, blue sky. If it was this magnificent in fog and rain, I can only imagine what it would be like to visit on a clear day!

Here we are starting out for the day. We thought we'd hike for a bit in the rain, but then we decided to board the shuttle bus, instead.

Ahh...much better!

We made it up to Logan Pass. This was my favorite spot in the park. The grass up there is a shade of green I don't think I've ever seen before in nature...so pretty!

It was a little cold and windy up there--about 40 degrees and rainy. The water was ice-cold, too. We stopped for a bathroom break and got right back on the shuttle.

camping

We had a great campsite! Unfortunately, it rained most of the time. We did have a few moments to sit around the campfire and make s'mores.

I didn't have my camera out, but quickly ran and got it when an older couple walking by said, "Make sure you take lots of pictures."

cabin living

After camping for a couple of days in the rain, our tent was soaked, along with our sleeping bags and some of our clothes. Each morning, we woke up with puddles in our tent...ughhh. Phil, my wonderful husband, surprised us and changed our reservation from tent camping to cabin living at the KOA in Missoula, MT. He pulled up to the cabin and said, "O.k., here we are!"

While we set up "camp" the girls played Little House on the Prairie with our blue and white speckled enamelware. Lily was Mary and Gracie was Ma Ingalls. I loved listening to the dialog.

Our cabin was beautiful, and had one double bed, one bunk bed, an end table, a table, a bench and a great porch swing.

The boys enjoyed playing Uno out on the porch.

Time for bed!

All snuggled in for the night. Phil and I tucked the kids in and then sat outside on the porch swing for awhile.

Poor Phil had to make pancakes in the rain...

while the rest of us stayed dry on the covered porch.

When we stayed in West Glacier, we told the kids they could pick out T-shirts. They all chose which ones they wanted, but we decided to purchase them our last day there. On our way out, we went back to the store and all of the T-shirts were 40% off! Here they are...modeling their new shirts!

missoula

At one point, despite the weather, we just had to let the kids out to run around and play in the rain. We found a great park in downtown Missoula.

Lily loves turtles!

The park had a wonderful Carousel that the kids enjoyed.

elk visitor center

On our way out of Missoula, MT, we stopped by the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation Visitor Center. When Lily saw this likeness of John Wayne, she ran up to him and hugged his leg. We're not quite sure whom she thought he was, but she was glad to see him, nonetheless.

kids' day at the park

Kids' Day 2009

Here we are in the same spot as last year. But this year, no more stroller (or diapers!).

Kids' Day 2008

progress

We're getting there! I can't wait until it's finished. Phil is doing an amazing job!

patio pergola

Ever since the day our patio roof collapsed, Phil has been planning and designing something to replace that metal roof over our patio. He decided to build a pergola so we could have some shade over the patio area, yet still enjoy a little bit of sunshine through the kitchen window that looks out onto the patio.

Here are a few pictures of our progress so far...staining and cutting the wood.

He also drilled these metal anchors into the concrete to hold the large corner beams.

Arrrrr!

The kids went to a pirate-themed Vacation Bible School last week. All week long Lily was afraid of the workers who dressed up as pirates. She had to be held by her teacher whenever she saw one, but for some reason she wanted to dress up like a pirate on the last day. Lily posed for this picture, intending to do her mean pirate imitation...fists clenched, and saying, "Arrrr!"

little shepherd

Caleb loves sheep. Many of you know that he'd like to be a shepherd when he grows up. (See here and here). He loved visiting with this little lamb in the petting zoo at the Vacation Bible School carnival.

Is it just me, or is that lamb smiling?

pony rides

On the last day of Vacation Bible School, we attended a family carnival in the evening. Jared called it my "Anniversary Carnival" since it was scheduled on my 10th Anniversary. He really thought they scheduled it for that reason. He was so excited that I wouldn't have to cook dinner (they served BBQ hot dogs and chips) or do any dishes!

Lily doesn't look too sure about this pony ride business.