Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Rose Meets the Family

Rose got to meet lots of extended family and jack enjoyed swimming with his cousins (second cousins? first cousins once removed?), and we enjoyed seeing everyone!

https://picasaweb.google.com/reberdenckla/FlatheadFamilyDay2011?authkey=Gv1sRgCJ3kwcOwm-CvLQ#

Montana

We had a great time on our trip to Montana. Jack flew out a few days ahead to hang out with grandma and grandpa. He did great and enjoyed his alone time (and grandma and grandpa survived prety well too). And Ben pointed out that they did several activities during those 5 dyas that we haven't managed to get around to during his last 10 visits. They visited the National Bison Range and saw some bison. They went for a hike on the trail of the cedars in Glacier Park and went to the bear park nearby (where you can see bears from your car). Jack calls the park "snow glacier" and the bear place "bear glacier." They went for a buggy ride with cousin Shannon's neighbor.

Rose did great on the flight, was a big hit with all the family, and went easy on us at night. She is fattening up real good and getting cuter every day.

Jack really enjoyed the lake. He learned how to swim with his life jacket, and by the end was getting very comfortable in the water. He wanted to take his "morning swim," "afternoon swim," and once a "nighttime swim." He loved going to Bird Island to swim from the beach and throw rocks. (Throwing rocks into the lake is still pretty interesting to him, but once he learned how to swim off the dock, that displaced a lot of the rock-throwing time.)

We all had a good time in "Big Sky Country" (Jack says "I like to call Montana Big Sky Country; and I call Los Angeles Small Sky City... and I call Colorado snow country.")

See many more pictures here:
https://picasaweb.google.com/reberdenckla/Montana2011?authkey=Gv1sRgCLqRru_Y2NntpAE#

Sunday, September 18, 2011

Golfing

Jack is making some progress on his golf game with grandma and grandpa. After a couple holes, he reported "I have energy, let's play all 8 holes!" I think they played about 5 or so.
Posted by Picasa

Hanging out





Posted by Picasa

Rainbow Connection

We had a double rainbow one evening (though not quite as fabulous as at our wedding). Jack wanted to slide down it into the lake, but "of course we will need a life jacket." So practical, that one. He actually enjoyed the thunder and rain quite a bit (luckily, it was just a couple days of the vacation). We don't have such things in LA, and he was into the idea of the activities "for the rainy day," particularly putting together puzzles.


Posted by Picasa

Purple People



Posted by Picasa

Buggy ride

Jack enjoyed visiting cousin Shannon's Amish neighbors'. He went for a buggy ride and enjoyed having lunch and playing with 7 year-old Diego.
Posted by Picasa

The big half-birthday preparation and celebration

Jack was glad to be in Montana for his half birthday because "grandma and grandpa know how to celebrate."




Posted by Picasa

The great tie-dye project




Posted by Picasa

One cute, sweet, awesomely chunky (sometimes smiley, but not on demand) baby Rose







Posted by Picasa

Rose's first dip in Flathead Lake

She didn't even seem to mind the cold!
Posted by Picasa

Wild Horse Island

We have been talking about going to Wild Horse Island for all of Ben's 10 previous visits to Flathead Lake, and we finally made it. Jack was "too tired to walk" but Rose seemed fine with it. We saw a very nice looking buck pretty close up and some big-horn sheep on the hillside. And of course Jack enjoyed swimming at the beach.


Posted by Picasa

Morning Swim off the dock with grandma

Posted by Picasa

Back on Bird Island

Posted by Picasa

Driving the boat with grandpa



Posted by Picasa