Bunch-A-Firsts

Blake had his first day of Elementary school, and since his birthday is late September, he qualifies for the early kindergarten program.  I am really excited about this program... its 5 days a week 3 hours a day, and then next year, he will transition into full day kindergarten.  I think that its a great stepping stone for him, and he loves it!  His teacher says that he's an absolute delight to have in class, and that he's a great listener and helper... all good things that this mama likes to hear :)

Luke also had his first day of preschool.  Although Luke is only 2 1/2, I really felt like he was ready.  When it came time to drop him off, he was reluctant, but still went.  I guess he had a few episodes in the 3 hours that he was there where he got upset, but he was okay.  When he saw me, he ran and jumped into my arms and then started to cry... he kept saying that he missed me.  I reassured him that I will ALWAYS come back, and that its okay to miss people, but just know that mom is ALWAYS going to come back to get you.  He seemed better and said that he had fun and then showed me everything that he made that day.  He was really proud of his artwork and excited to show it all to me.  He said that he was excited to go back, but the times that I have taken him since have been HORRIBLE!  I feel so bad leaving him as his teacher has to rip him off me and he screams and grabs for me.  she says that he gets over it, usually quickly, but gosh its a big old production!  I know, as Darius Rucker says "It wont be like this for long" (hopefully)

I had my first couple hours of "kid-free time" and it was almost surreal.  I didn't have anything planned... just trying to get through the first day and the kids' schedules, but I came home, did some chores, cleaned the toilets and drank a cup of coffee...WHILE IT WAS HOT!!  Kinda nice, I almost feel guilty admitting!

First nastiness started the second week of school... Blake came home one day with a runny nose that turned into a cough, runny nose and sleepless nights... Kyle was home with the same thing, but add on the chills and fever, and then Luke has a runny nose, but no cough, and then there is me....I managed to escape the sickness!!!!!  Plenty of good fruits and veggies and plenty of hand washing must have kept me in the clear WOOHOO!!!! 

He was so excited!!

Refused to turn the sign the other way... stubborn boy!

Sweet Mama's boy :)

Logan's Pass - Montana

After you drive the Road To The Sun, there is a hike and a visitors center at the top to the Hidden Lakes.  MUST DO.  It is absolutely amazing.  Out of everything that we saw in Montana, this was my favorite.  You walk up this boardwalk for about half of the hike up into the mountains and then there is a nice dirt path for the rest.  The thing that was different about this place then any other was that there weren't any trees... just green fields and wildflowers.  I had to fight the urge to run off the path into the fields and stretch my arms out wide and twirl around singing "the hills are alive, with the sound of music..."  It really felt like I was in the Sound Of Music... Every now and then while on the hike, you just have to stop and look around you... simply breathtaking...

Missing Monty... The man behind the camera :)

We brought the hiking backpack just in case, but Luke did walk most of this hike.  More then I expected him to.

Of course, Luke had lots of help :)

THE HILLS ARE ALIVE... WITH THE SOUND OF MUSIC...



The boardwalk was about a mile long...

Beautiful flowers were everywhere!

We saw many things on this hike that we weren't expecting.  There was sun and snow, Mountain Goats, Marmots, and also a tone of these cute little Chipmunks.  We even saw what appeared to be Amish people, but they also had digital cameras and smart phones, so who knows, but Monty secretly snapped  a picture of them :)

Crazy how close they come to you.

I totally could have picked this guy up... he was like a big beaver rat thing..." Marmot"

No big deal... just hanging out with the goats :)

I didn't see any horses and buggy's in the parking lot...

Pack a lunch or some snacks because at the top, there are a lot of places to sit and eat, and enjoy the goats, and the beautiful view of the Hidden Lakes.  These are just a few of the pictures that we took trying to capture the beauty of this majestic place.  This hike kind of changes you... if you really look around and truly appreciate the beauty and embrace its magnitude, then I believe it can be life changing.  It's gods country... simple, pure and honest.

Beautiful View

Brotherly Love

More Brotherly Love

My new favorite picture!

Glacier National Park - The Road To The SUN!!

So, this drive... the one that goes up the side of the mountain... on a cliff...very close to edge... IS ABSOLUTLY GORGIOUS!!  Now, this drive is not so pretty for those that do not like to drive where there are large drop offs, jagged walls, and a long-long way down.  Luckely, it doesn't bother us at all, but my mother-in-law had a bit of a challenging trip. 

Some areas of this drive are a very tight squeeze (we had to fold in our mirrors) but it is a MUST SEE!! 

Its hard to describe, but its just so "GRAND" everything is big, and luscious, and breathtaking. You just have to see it.  You can look at a mountain and see the entire thing from the top to the bottom and it is covered in the luscious green blanket that just rolls over the countryside.  Its just spectacular, and all along the drive there are these amazing views of the valley and rivers and waterfalls. 

Liz Sheldon took this picture... captures it perfectly!!

My advise-

*Leave really early, I am talking 6am.  Parking at the top of Logan's Pass is a nightmare and absolutely ridiculous in my opinion.  They need a bigger parking lot!  If the lot is full, we found a secret pull out about 1/4 mile down the road towards St. Mary's.  Drop the wife and kiddos off at the top, and have dad drive down and leave the car, and walk back... its worth the little hike.  otherwise, I kid you not, it can take hours.  People even get in fights over these spots, its bad.

*Pull over at all the look out sights (on the way back down, you don't have time on the way up)... its so worth it, and it gives the kids a break from the car. (happy kids make a happy experience)

*Must do the hike at the top at Logan's Pass (this is where the nightmare parking is) More on this hike to the Hidden Lakes in my next post.

*Get some Xanex if you have a fear of cliffs, drop offs, rock walls, and/or wild animals :)

Again, everything in Montana is absolutely breathtaking... I cant get over the magnitude of its beauty!!

Glacier National Park - Avalanche Gorge and Lake Adventure

We went on the "Trail of the Cedars" hike which runs into the "Avalanche Creek/Avalanche Lake" hike.  A MUST DO if you are going to GNP.  The beginning of the hike was breath taking.  This aqua blue water rushes through this gorge that has these steep red rock sides.  It looks like something out of a fairytale, and just simply magical.

after that, you have about 2 miles in the woods without much to look at.  It wasn't the easiest hike when you have little kids, but it was completely doable, and we had lots of family there to help. When we reached the top, there was this beautiful lake surrounded be mountains and waterfalls.  The water in Montana is so clear.  Every body of water we saw was crystal clear, and this lake was no exception.  There is a hike to the waterfalls, but it was blocked off because of a bear encounter from earlier that day.  Apparently these little grizzlies are a little spunky this time of year!!

Someone doesn't want to sit in the backpack, but doesn't want to walk either.

We spent some time at the top, just basking in all the grand glory of our surroundings, and feeding the kids a snack... what a difference a snack makes for them, I tell you what!  Luke hiked most of the way back and Blake was in a much more pleasant of a mood.  We also realized that while Luke still is within the weight limits for our backpack, he is too freaking heavy to be hauling all over the place... the kids got two legs, and I know that he knows how to use them, so from now on, he can walk :)