July 2023

 This is an example of positive peer pressure. I've been sitting on this task for over a year, and then I was convinced it was time to make time to get caught up on this blog. Because it's been over a year, I'll post a bunch of pictures and mostly let the pictures paint a thousand words, and I'll write less. It will likely not be in great chronological order, but I wanted to get these things out there for my two friends to see;-)

Last summer we took a trip to Glacier National Park with our traveling Crag Mamma's group. It's always better to travel with friends, right? We saw so many beautiful things! And made some amazing memories. One family LOVES everything water. So we spent a lot of time on hikes that ended with cliff jumping into glacier water.

Thomas was especially fond of this flower.

SNOW! We just had to experience the snow field!

We did probably the most crowded/well known hike off of going to the sun road with a ton of flowers, wild life and vistas. It was just over a mile to the top, and the kids did a great job...except for poor Oliver. The kid had a miserable trip because of some at the time un-diagnosed back problems. Hiking was pretty miserable for him as well as riding in a car for an extended period of time, which is pretty much all we did on this trip. Drive and hike. Thomas tried to carry Lincoln for some of the trail, but Dean actually did carry Oliver for most of this trail.

Somehow or another, we all made it to the top of the trail. 

There was so much wild-life and it would get so close!

I think this is a waterfall at Many Glacier where we spent a day. This was a very short hike, which could be why Oliver has the big smile!

We took a boat across this lake, and hiked on the other side. There was a lot to see, but the other side had a lot of bugs, which others did not approve of, so we didn't stay past one hike. I tried to get my "Christmas Card" picture here, but Ezra chose to stay hidden behind us.

There were plenty of stones to throw while we waited for the ferry to come get us. 

Here's Oliver in the center of the Dual Waterfall, once again, being a great sport as we hiked and hiked.

Ezra is such a good hiker...as long as he wants to be. Maybe a should say capable hiker.

Ezra lost a tooth in this hammock, what a nice lazy minute at the campsite.

Kuub was a favorite camp game on this trip. Here's a bunch of the boys playing together.

On one of the hikes, it was a simple boardwalk,  mile-long hike. The kids entertained themselves for a long time in the small amphitheater. 

This was a prime example of a long exposed hike to a cliff jumping opportunity. The water looked frigid. But Lincoln braved it.

Here's the long exposed hike. Once again, it was far more enjoyable with all of the fun people with us!

Even with a tumor in his back, a good stick will light up Oliver's face.

I love all of these boys! The Packards have 4 boys too, and let's just say, the fun doesn't stop.

This was a beautiful green water hole right off of going to the sun road. Lincoln, Dean, Ezra, Thomas and Oliver.

We didn't leave without seeing bear. This bear walked right in front of use while we were drivng home one evening.

We were ahead of our friends getting to Glacier, so we tried this little bike ride. It was overall a success, but we probably wouldn't repeat it. 

As we pulled into the town closest to our campsite, it started to downpour. And I'm serious when I saw dumped on us. 

Before our trip, we had plenty of fun with plenty of friends especially on Waffle Wednesday.

Do your boys like to wrestle as much as mine?

The basement is surely the best place to hang out in the summer. In fact, that's where I'm hiding out as I write this because I'm a heat wuss as of late.

Dean and I got to go to a concert at Dear Valley for our anniversary. Thanks to my mother in law and her tickets:-)

Lincoln played a level up in soccer this year but ran into one of his best friends on the other team at a summer tournament. 

On the night of the 4th of July, the boys slept on the trampoline to enjoy the noises and sounds of freedom. Thomas had a bug enjoy a full meal on him during the night.

This kid lost that battle for sure! Needless to say, everyone slept in their own beds this year. 

4th of July fun in Highland Park. It's not like it once was, but the kids still enjoy all of the little games planned for them.

Andy and AJ our neighbors came to my station and got some ducks!

My friend Maegan invited the boys over to make homemade ice cream in bags at her house. They shook that ice cream in their bags for a long time!

Unfortunately, the salt leaked into most of their bags. But they had fun with the lead up.

And it looks like Thomas got some real ice cream anyway. So we're good.

And this was his first self serve car wash. He was loving it!