7-22, Northwest Getaway, Part TWO

After a week of fun in the sun (and sometimes clouds and sometimes rain...), we headed south to my hometown of Hamilton. It really is liking taking a step back in time-- both in memories and a slower way of life. It's great. Thad had to head back to Idaho, but we convinced mom and dad to join us so we could all spend more time together. While we were there, we got to celebrate both my mom's birthday and her mom's birthday (only a day apart). Great timing, right?!

Our first outting was to the Hamilton Farmer's Market on Saturday. It's become tradition to take Grandma G. when we're in town. Boy, having a 50 pound luggage limit (and arriving with a 48 pound bag) really puts a curb on one's shopping!!

Saturday afternoon I was so fortunate to spend time with some friends I hadn't seen in quite awhile. I hadn't seen Andrea since we graduated from high school (now that is a long time!). You know it's been too long when it was the first time I'd met any of her three girls (the boy in the photo is a relative).

It had been a year and a half since I saw Chrystale, Nicole and their kids. We miss living near each other in Washington!

There was so much for all of us to catch up on! We literally talked the afternoon away.

How did we create so many kids? My goodness! =) What fun.

Hopefully so many years won't pass by before we can get together again. Thanks, Chrystale, for arranging the get-together!! Take care, girls! Thanks for a wonderful afternoon!

Since Grandma lives in town now, Sven and I took an after dinner walk to the old Hamilton High School track. I went to Corvallis H.S., but I still have my fair share of memories from this place! I was explaining to Sven how Hamilton was always bigger and had a much nicer track than we did.....then we walked through the decrepid gate and saw......this. I couldn't believe it! I know there's a new school now, but I couldn't believe what "better" was back in 1990! =)

We sure miss Grandma and Grandpa's old place out on Black Lane. But, since that is a thing of the past, I love the fact that Grandma now lives on "NEW YORK AVE". That's right....New York Avenue downtown Hamilton, MT! Too, funny!

Aunt Vickie, in her true hostess fashion, had a joint birthday party for mom and grandma at her house (cakes and desserts galore!). We're always lucky to get an evening with them when we're back home-- and what a special event to celebrate! Thank you!!

Cousins who never miss a beat when they get a chance to see each other and play together.

We had one beautiful day to drive around the valley and take in all of the sights (and expand my photo gallery). We "grandmanapped" both grandmas, took two cars, and drove around the Bitterroot. What a great way to spend a Sunday-- enjoying the beauty that surrounds us. It was fun to reminisce about our camping expeditions of long ago.

Small town, USA. This is Hamilton-- looking east on Main Street and then looking west.

We feel so lucky that we were able to have another visit with Grandpa O. He's actually about the same as he was in February. He had several alert days and gave us a few good laughs. He's still got that sense of humor. =)

Grandma tried to teach Nikolas how to play a card game, but his heart (or should I say 'attention span') just wasn't in it! Five short days in Hamilton and it was already time to go. Vacation time just goes way too fast. I guess we'll have to get planning that next trip back home!

Truly the vacation of planes, trains and automobiles.....ok, no train, but enough of the other modes of travel to make up for it! After we left Grandma's, it was back over the mountains ago to ID to spend one more night with Thad before departing early the next morning.

Poor Nikolas was so exhausted that he fell asleep on the way to Thad's (that RARELY happens anymore). Now imagine how tired he'll be after getting up at 4 AM to catch our flight the next morning....

We took Riley down to the river to stretch our legs after getting to Thad's house. The boys took one more chance to play in the water- cool and refreshing on a hot summer afternoon.

What a good dog....!

Well, I guess that's it. Darn-- vacation's over. Usually I'm able to post some of my gallery photos on this blog, but I haven't gotten caught up to that point yet! If you want to see the nature photography, you'll have to check out my gallery in a few days (www.aseyeseeit.info

). Thanks to everyone for your hospitality and making our vacation so memorable! We miss you already!!

7-22, Northwest Getaway, Part ONE

We've been home for almost a week now from our MT/ID vacation. We're buried under the "that's what you get when you're gone for 2 weeks" catch-up. Our vacation was WONDERFUL. Being back home with family and friends in such a beautiful place was so refreshing. We didn't want to leave and we'd go back in a heartbeat (to stay) if we could. Since we can't (not now anyway), we'll just have to relive our memories through the many (many, many, many, many) photos that I took.

Our vacation began with an 11PM arrival into Spokane on the night of July 4th (bear in mind that's 2 AM 'our time')- groggy and jet-lagged, yet happy. We spent the night at Thad's and attempted to catch up on missed sleep (as you all know, we LOVE our sleep and don't function too well without it!). The next day was so much fun. It began with mini-golf and we spent the rest of the afternoon at the river at Kelly's house. It was a gorgeous, warm day and the 'boys' enjoyed 'playing' in the water. I can't count how many time Nikolas jumped off that dock! What a little water boy. Kelly's was so sweet and made me a delicious strawberry pie for a belated birthday party for me. It was a fantastic day and the perfect way to kick-0ff our vacation.

By the way, if anyway is looking for a vacation rental home in Coeur d'Alene ID, Kelly is now renting out her house. If you want to duplicate this splashing good time, you can inquire at http://www.vrbo.com/223474 (strawberry pie not included, hee hee). As Nikolas said in exhaustion after leaving her house, "People who get to stay there are LUCKY!"

After our day in Post Falls, we headed east over the mountains into Montana: Destination Flathead Lake. I can't tell you how liberating it felt to be back home and with family. You never really forget how pretty the mountains are, but after living without them for so long their beauty strikes you in a new light.

We had all sorts of fun at the lake. Thanks to Kind Sue, we were able to go jet skiing in the bay. (Boy can those things FLY!! Nikolas didn't last long before we had to take him back to shore, and me-- I held on for my life!)

After a long day of playing, the gang gathers around for a little R&R. The 'gang' being: mom and dad, Thad (did I forget to mention that he drove out from Post Falls to spend time at the lake with us? Thanks, Thad!), Uncle Dennis and his wife Carolyn, and the three of us.

Ahhhh..... TOUGH GUYS, are ya???!

The events of the next day were unexpected. We were getting some groceries and much to my surprise, my aunt Lynda appeared before me! (Boy, that NEVER happens in MD!). We followed them to their lake lot (gorgeous!!) and spent the afternoon catching up with her and uncle Kevin. Little things like bumping into your aunt and uncle at the grocery store are quite out of the ordinary in our every day lives!

Our first good weather day, we took the boat out to Wild Horse Island for a hike, wildlife spotting and lunch. It was so much fun!! You can't beat it!

There's just something about Montana-- the beauty, the tranquility, the family. When Nikolas is there he has a different light in his eyes.

Boy, there must be so much to ponder....... =)

So, it's our last hour at the lake. We're waiting for Kevin and Lynda to boat Grandma G. over from their side of the lake. Sven and I are packing up the car, cleaning up the Bounder (thanks again, Dennis and Lynn!!) and dinner's almost ready. As I pause to look out the window....what's that I see...??? Nikolas in the water!!! No, I'm not worried for his life-- grandpa is only a few feet away and Nikolas has his life jacket on. He's splashing and laughing like the 'big one that got away'. So the story goes, he "fell" off the Water Otter. So the story goes when grandpa doesn't know we're listening, Nikolas "jumped" off the Water Otter. Out the suitcases come from the car....!

I guess that'll work, although a towel and dry clothes might be a tad bit faster!

And Grandma has arrived! (See stuff like this just never happens at 'home' - the MD one that is!)
Well, that wraps up Part ONE of our MT vacation fun. Stay tuned for Part TWO! And by the way, if you're in Polson, I know how two more retail outlets for my photo bookmarks: Page by Page Books and Touch of Montana (both on Main Street). Go in and take a look!