Happy To Be Walking

Teton Bike Tours

Last week we had a beautiful ride in Teton Park. John and Ellen brought 5 grand children and Rob, Terra, Maggie, and Sam came too! We rode the brand new bike path from Moose to Jenny Lake and back again. The kids were amazing!

Gearing up.

Grandpa John checking out the bikes and getting everyone lined out.

Topping the first and only big hill about a mile down the trail. The kids did great!

Rest stop at glacier turnout. My camera does not do these mountains justice.

All the guys at our lunch stop: Rob, Tyler, Boyd, John, Tray, Sam, Taylor, and Ian.

Taylor perched on the pickup after packing the bikes back in.

Sam, Kenzie, Maggie and Ellen.

My crew.

They stayed awake nearly the whole ride. They fell asleep about ten minutes before arriving back at the parking lot, so we let them sleep like this for a bit while everyone else toured the visitor center.

This reminds me so much of Barry H.

Saturday morning we returned to the park to take Keith on the trail. This time we rode a little further to the north end of Jenny, making a 24.5 mile round trip. Afterward, we ate at the Original Dornan's Chuck Wagon Est. 1948. It was a most scrumptious breakfast for some hungry riders!

What Makes A Good Mud Pie?

...start planning the night before. Locate your dirt source, buckets, tools, etc.

...make sure you're well rested...

...then fill your bucket with dirt and water and just dig in with both hands...

...mix it till you get just the right consistency

...you'll know it's right when it starts sticking to your fingers...and everything else...

...but no matter how good those mud pies look, please refrain from tasting them!

Big Sky Tour and Summer Picnic

Last weekend we enjoyed a tour of the THB Bigsky projects. All of these projects are in Spanish Peaks, a development just under the Yellowstone Club. These homeowners have access to their own private golf course in the summer and ski resort in the winter.

The siding in this dormer is 12x12 squares of tree bark.

Project Manager in training - taking it all in.

A Spanish Peaks cabin. When this development is complete, there will be something like 70 of these little cabins. I think they will be mostly for short term vacation rentals.

View from the living room of the cabin.

We toured this house at Christmas time when they were just starting the framing, so it was fun to see it almost complete. The owners want to be moved in by Thanksgiving and it looks like that should be no problem.

THB employees and board members.

This house features a bridge across the front entry connecting the two second story guest wings.

Boyd practicing his newly acquired skill for motating!

After the tours we took a drive into Bozeman to give the boys a good afternoon nap. Then we joined the rest of the employees, board members, and their families at the Gourmet Gas Station for a delicious dinner, visiting and games. These girls took Tyler under their wing. He sure enjoyed his time with them.

The rest of the weekend, though very much enjoyed, was not captured on camera. Keith spent some time casting flies on the Yellowstone and the boys and I hung out with Kay, Todd and cousin Aiden. Sunday was wonderful too; meeting at McLeod's, lunch with Shirley and girls, and Kay and Todd, and a relaxing trip home.

Swimming Lessons

Swimming turned out to be a growing experience for both Tyler and Boyd. At first we weren't sure. Tyler was very nervous. He cried getting into the pool. He pretended his teacher wasn't there and very politely ignored her directions. Then one day she suggested we use a reward: no crying=ice cream. It worked! The next time: follow directions=new shoes (which he really needed). It worked again! No more rewards required after that. He actually looked forward to his lessons and connected with his very patient, but firm teacher. Boyd started out a bit timid as well. He turned out to be quite a natural, though, much to his teacher's delight.

Getting ready to swim to the steps, then pull himself up into a sitting position.


Jumping from the step and swimming back to the instructor.

Tipping on their backs. Part of the lesson is getting them comfortable on their backs. We started out by supporting them on our arm and then gradually tried to get them to float on their own. You can actually teach babies this as a survival skill. If they should ever fall into the water, they can flip on their back and float they're while calling for help.

Tyler with his bag of treats and graduation paper. He's no longer a Guppie; he's now a Pollywog!

Here he is with his class and his ever patient instructor.

A Few More Videos

The Two Stooges

Bathing Buddies

County Fair

Every year at fair time we watch the carnival slowly roll in and set up. On those days, Tyler always insist we walk by the fair grounds and check on their progress. We can hear the minute the carnival starts because of the shrieking and screaming. One evening we all walked over to watch the goings-on. Tyler stood for a long time watching the rides go around and around, the people going this way and that, listening to the music blaring from all the stereos, just trying to take it all in. Then it finally occurred to him that he might like to ride too. So we walked around looking for a ride just his size. He chose the train with no hesitation!Tyler and Casey, waiting their turn. Tyler had his heart set on riding the train, but was too timid to go by himself. Fortunately Casey came along. She showed him just how it's done!

Still a little timid. Just not sure about being on the train without Dad.

Jumping off and very excited about the ride!

Can we do it again?!

Waiting in line again.

This time, they get the front car. They're having a great time driving the train!

Tyler and Casey are both 3 and sure enjoyed their time together. We walked through the fair barn and Casey showed Tyler how to pet the rabbits. Casey's parents own a tile company in town, so we've become acquainted through Keith's work.

A Quick Trip North

It was simply beautiful to watch the sunrise in northern Montana a couple of weeks ago. The dawn is so pretty and much longer than what we are used too. This picture was taken from the freeway around 5am, after driving through the night on our way to Shelby. We pulled into Dale and Kari's around 6 and slept for a couple hours before heading over to the the high school for Uncle Norman's funeral. It was good to be with family again, reflect on Uncle Norm's life, visit, and meet little cousins for the first time!

Thank you Dale and Kari and family for your hospitality. Baby Mari is so precious! Tyler just adored her and wanted to be close to her all the time.

We travelled back to Great Falls Sat. afternoon. Keith and Todd took the opportunity to get a little exercise!

At our motel, we enjoyed pizza and a relaxing evening in the pools.

Cousin Aiden, eagerly checking out the bread sticks.

These kids are growing so fast, we'll have to do this again, soon!