{ Unexpected Blessing }

Yesterday we returned from two days of visiting new friends. I should say new to me. Tim and Andrew met during their National Guard days and have kept in contact occasionally over the years. Also, Andrew's wife Anna is our friend Kevin's sister. We had such a good time with them. What we planned to be an overnight trip turned into two nights, thanks to their kind invitation to stay another day. We felt so at home with them. They too have three kids, three boys mostly grown. Anna, our hostess, took to having three tiny kids around again like a duck to water. Our kids just loved her and Andrew.

They have a lovely home out in the country. We met their dog and kitties and their 4H pigs. The kids played on the swing set, slide and trampoline. Oliver ran around to his hearts content and we didn't have to tell him "No, stay away from the street" and "Don't go off the sidewalk." The perfect place for busy toddlers! We walked around their property at dusk and came back for a bonfire and s'mores. And did I mention they cooked for us the whole time we were there? It was amazing! We brought food to contribute, but they seriously took such good care of us and spoiled up rotten.

We had planned to camp out in tents, but when they offered their entire basement up to us we decided to "camp" in there. That is exactly the way that camping should be done with three little kids!

Next day Tim and Andrew loaded our trailer full of wood. This was the reason we had gone up there. They graciously offered to give us a load of seasoned tamarack. Not only seasoned, but split! What a blessing. The guys were done by 10:30 in the morning so we had the rest of the day to play.

Andrew took Tim and I up into the mountains above their house on a 4 wheeler, while Anna stayed back and watched the kids. It was so much fun to get to do something like this on our own! It was Tim's first time to be on a 4 wheeler and he got to drive so he was one happy man. I'd been on one before, but didn't remember it very much. I just knew how much fun I'd had and was ready for another try. We sure got dusty, but it was worth it. From the top we saw 5 or 6 lakes, including one little piece of Lake Coeur d'Alene.

When we got back, lunch was made, the kids were happy and then they took really good long naps! I did a little reading and Tim and Andrew when out for some guy time. When the kids woke up we all met down at the lake and went swimming. The kids had a great time. There is no doubt our children are water bugs!

Anna watched the kids again at the beach while Andrew took Tim and I (along with a sleeping Wret) to his friend's private dock where the water was crystal clear and we could jump off. Was that ever a treat! Wret slept happily in his car seat there on the dock, rocked to sleep with the water lapping against the sides and we enjoyed a good swim before heading home for a bbq and another campfire.

This little trip was such an unexpected break and really felt like a vacation. We came back refreshed and rested and so thankful for the blessings God showered on us. So often they come in the most unexpected ways!

{ Camping }

Last weekend we went camping. We really needed to get away and take a break after working long and hard on cleaning up since the trees came down at the beginning of July. Our plans changed several times, but we made it and over all we had a good time. It is always a challenge to camp with little kids, but they loved it and once they went to sleep, they slept well :) The first night my parents joined us and we enjoyed the lake.

The second day they went home and we headed into the Idaho mountains for some exploration. Tim had found couple of mountain lakes that we intended to hike in about 1/2 mile to find. After driving for a couple of hours and only making it about half as far as we needed to go, with a vehicle not really meant for the kind of road we were on, we decided to head back toward home. We found a nice creek that was very clean and shallow and we all had a great time getting wet and relaxing before heading home. We had thought we'd maybe spend another night, but by then we were just wanting showers! Not sure how much camping we will continue to do while our kids are this little, but I'm glad we did it, all things considered. In fact, this coming Monday we're planning to camp again, only this time on someone's property. We are going up there to pick up a load of firewood they are giving us. Looking forward to camping, but also having access to a house with amenities!

{ Summer Begins }

It is a beautiful warm and sunny morning as I sit here by myself with a cup of coffee overlooking a lake, nestled in the forest.  The two youngest are napping and Tim and Oliver are off visiting. 

Vacation!

Yesterday we trekked seven hours across the state, our entire little tribe of three under three to join Tim's family for a niece's wedding and family reunion.  We are very glad to be here and so thankful that his mom is finally able to meet our two youngest.  We saw them last night and it was so sweet to hear Oliver calling them Grandpa and Grammie right away, even though we've spent very little time with them in his life, being significantly separated geographically.

The kids have done very well on our trip so far, but let me assure you it has not been completely blissful.  As traveling with little children always is, it has been a lesson in adjusted expectations, making decisions on the fly and trying not to sit down in a heap and cry!  There are always those moments when Tim and I look at each other and ask, "Is it worth it?" But the answer is always yes.
 

We both love to travel and spending time with family is worth sacrificing for.  I really think it is good for the kids to adjust to new surroundings.  We have actually done a surprising amount of traveling since we've had kids.   Thankfully they all do well in the car.  We definitely have those hours of crying to be let out of the carseat, but for the most part we are very blessed in their cooperation.

We are staying at Tim's sister's neighbor's house.  We are very thankful for this gracious accommodation.  It is a challenge to keep track of our kids in an un-childproofed home, which has made it difficult to relax, but I am so thankful that our kids are doing as well as they are.  Whenever we come to a completely new environment I am much more able to see how obedient they are and the areas of training we're doing well in and the ones that still needs improvement.

The weather is supposed to be gorgeous all weekend and into next week, which is just perfect for the vacationing still ahead of us.  This is our "big" trip of the summer so we're planning to make the most of it.  We have friends to visit, a trip to the zoo, a ferry ride and perhaps a stop in Leavenworth planned before we head home. 

It is the beginning of summer!  When we get home Tim's job will transition to summer hours.  We are hopeful that this summer will be lazy, with not much more excitement than a little painting on our house and yard work.  This is the first summer since we've known each other, which is almost five years, that we are not tackling a HUGE home-improvement project.

So here's to summer!  May it be lazy!

{ The Prince of Wales :: Day 3 }

Not far down the road from our motel was the Many Glaciers Hotel. We drove by it on our way in the night before, but decided to save it until today to explore. It is truly beautiful! It is the largest hotel in the park, built in 1915. The Prince of Wales Hotel, where we stayed that night, was modeled after it. Someday we would like to go back and stay there, but for this trip we settled for going there for breakfast.  Pretty amazing views, don't you think?

All of the restaurants in the park serve meals three times a day, with a couple of hours in between.  Glacier is a wonderful place to visit, but I will say that when it comes to food, restrooms and parking, it will drive you crazy by the time you leave, unless you plan ahead really well, which we didn't.  We were all super hungry by the time we got to the hotel and then we had to wait another hour for the restaurant to open.  We had these amazing views to enjoy while we waited, but I will admit that I was not a happy camper!  I was ready for a real meal!  But enough about that!

{ Most of the lakes have tour boats.  We had thought about doing a tour, but we weren't sure if our kids would like it or be afraid of it and the idea of being stuck out in the middle of a lake with unhappy children.... yah, we decide that we'd save that for another trip.  

I actually found it funny that so many people were touring this lake.  It wasn't very big and there was not much more to it than what you can see in these pictures.  Just another way to make money off of the tourists, I guess! }

{ The outside and inside of the restaurant.  If you get there early you can have an amazing lake view while you eat.  We definitely enjoyed that! }

{ Then it was off to Canada and Waterton Park }

 { The view from the highway as we were getting close. } 

  I am so thankful for a husband who not only enjoys traveling and the finer things in life, but who looks for amazing opportunities and takes them even though we have two little kids!  If he'd left this trip up to me I probably would have not been brave enough to stay in a fancy hotel like this for at least the next ten years.  This is why he plans our vacations.  I would have missed this experience and it was so well worth it!  Thank you, Love!

 { Our room was on the tippy-top balcony, facing the mountains

 { The entrance }

{ The lobby... and yes, those are Christmas trees.  We were there on July 25 and they were celebrating Christmas in July.  The staff were dressed up as elves and reindeer, Santa was there, they were playing Christmas music.  It was strange, but what can I say? }

{ Oliver was enamored with the harpist.  She was very sweet and played "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star" for him! }

{ Afternoon Tea overlooking the lake.  We took tea, but didn't get pictures. }

 { Then we headed outside for a view of the lake.  It is only a couple of hundred yards from the hotel, which is just amazing! }

{ Family shot }

{ Mr. Cheese, sporting Daddy's glasses and his cool bear backpack }

{ Then we were able to check into our room... and were super excited to discover that we had TWO rooms!  It was such a wonderful surprise!  One night with a room to ourselves... and a balcony on top of that. }

{ Before bedtime, we decided to go into the town of Waterton and let Oliver play at the park.  A pretty amazing view, yet again!  I thought these were some cool facts, as well. }

{ After the kids went to bed, Tim surprised me with room service and dinner on the balcony.  I forgot to mention that this is a very historic hotel, meaning they have done very minimal renovations.  There are six floors and the elevator only goes to the fourth floor, and you have to have a bellman operate it for you.  Because we were on the sixth floor, they don't even do room service.  For some reason they made an exception for us.  It was such a wonderful, sweet surprise. }

{ A storm blowing in at sunset and a view of the hotel at night }

{ It was a wonderful experience and one we will not soon forget! }