Montana!

We had a really wonderful family vacation in Montana. It was so nice to see everyone and for the kids to get to hang out with Grammy, Grampa, Uncle Ian, Aunt Krista, and Cousin Forest for a whole week! We did so much while we were there that the week flew by--I can't wait to make another trip up there. Hopefully it won't be another whole year until we make it back! There's just too much to tell about all of the things we did, that I'll just put some of my favorite photos up for now :)

Canola fields in the Flathead Valley

Levi as photographer

Playing at Flathead Lake

Parker and Forest

Three cousins!

Getting ready for an ATV ride--so fun!

Levi didn't drive, but he LOVED being a passenger!

A snapshot from the traditional photo shoot with the bear!

Another traditional photo--this time at the Two Medicine entrance at Glacier National Park

Walking the trail to Running Eagle Falls in the Park

Running Eagle Falls

We rented a row boat at Two Medicine Lake and did a little fishin'

Oh yeah, Mama caught the biggest fish this day!

Riding the chair lift to the alpine slides at Big Mountain in Whitefish

Getting ready to slide!

Sweet cousins!

Enjoying ice cream after the slides! Oh yeah :)

Evening fishing at Loon Lake

So beautiful. We saw two beavers, a turtle, and loons (also heard their amazing cries). 

Forest showing Parker how to ride his ATV--Parker loved it!

Levi got on for a quick picture, but that was enough for him!

Twinsies :)

Grampa, Parker, and Jared went on a chartered fishing trip on Flathead Lake

Grampa and his lake trout!

Parker hauling in his lake trout

After our white water rafting trip on the Middle Fork of the Flathead River

Jared made this special edition of our rafting photo :) Parker was so brave--I'm sure he was nervous going into this trip, as we all were a little bit, but he did amazing and definitely had a fantastic time! We were so proud of him. It was an awesome experience! So glad we did it--and so glad Jared and I both jumped into the 40 degree glacial water river at the end :)

Saying goodbye to Grammy and Grampa at the airport in Kalispell 

Good little travelers, hoofing it through the airport in Salt Lake City, luggage in tow :)

Catalina

We took an awesome weekend camping trip to Catalina--it was a total success! Parker really wanted to make the crossing with Jared in his boat, and it worked out great--he didn't complain a single bit, and was really excited to cross back the next day. Levi and I took the ferry from Long Beach and met the boys in Avalon. Then we made our way up the island a little bit to our boat-in campsite. There were two other groups camping on the beach as well, but everybody was really nice and we felt like we had plenty of space to ourselves. We had fun swimming, collecting rocks, and snorkeling a little bit. The weather was beautiful and we all had fun--we'll definitely be going back again sometime this year!

Getting ready to board the ferry in Long Beach

Can you spot both kids? They love floating in the raft. 

Collecting pretty rocks and shells

Our beach and campsite 

Boating up to the Isthmus for ice cream sandwiches

Levi fell asleep right away!

Levi at the helm (with ice cream sandwich all over his face)

Dinnertime at camp

The tent makes a great fort/wrestling ring

Parker was so tired--he was asking to go to bed by about 4pm!

Parker literally shouted with excitement the first time he looked in the water with a mask on! We saw calico bass and garibaldis. 

Levi was our motor

We snorkeled a little bit off of this nearby beach

We think that these were whale bones underwater

Parker's been getting a lot of use out of his wetsuit!

Starting to head back to Avalon--still in his wetsuit!

Jared and Parker getting ready to make the crossing back to Long Beach from Avalon. 

Waiting to board our ferry back to Long Beach--still in trunks and swim shirt!