The Second Week of July

Saturday after cleaning up from camping (I left the 8th load of laundry in the washer), Rich took me to Ted's Montana Grill in Bozeman on a date. We had Bison Chili Nachos and BBQ Chicken Salad and it was all delicious! The whole building that houses the restaurant (the Baxter Hotel) is gorgeous. Two thumbs up, but Rib & Chop House is still way better.

On Monday we welcomed our friends from North Carolina, the Smiths, for an over night visit on their cross-country road trip. Jessica and I had a great visit into the wee hours of the morning, then we got up and went to Yellowstone Park.

We stopped for lunch at Gibbon Creek...Niles loves grapes!

Hannie ate her sandwich then ran to play in the sand with James

Rich & James eating sandwiches

Baby Bridger, Hila & Heidi eating lunch in Yellowstone

James, Hila, Hannah, & Gabe in the creek.



James & Gabe



Jess taking pictures

Sweet Hannie doing some SERIOUS wading

Me, Jessica & our boys in the creek

Jessica, Bridger, Addie, Niles

Bridger, Jess, & me

Hila, Asher, Jess & Bridger at Old Faithful

Thar she blows!

Addie, Asher, Hila, Heidi, Gabe, James, Hannah, Niles, Jamie, Jessica, Bridger at Old Faithful

Niles, Heidi, Hila walking away from Old faithful

Two Peas in a Pod: James & Hannie at Old Faithful Lodge

Way too much cuteness

Jessica, Bridger, Jamie saying goodbye at the lodge

The whole gang with ice cream...thanks for coming Smiths! We love you! Happy Trails!

After Yellowstone, we hurried home for Danny's & Mike's birthday party, (which got moved to Grandma's because we were late getting back, which was regrettable because it was 199 degrees in Grandma's house with nary a fan or a breeze or ANYTHING). Angie made this fun ice cream cake for the party. We had a pasta bar, cousin play, then gifts and cake, then headed home. Seems like Dan  & Mike had a good time and felt loved, which is kind of the point, right? ;)

Delicious ice cream cake with all kinds of fudgy goodness hidden inside

On the way home Tuesday night we saw smoke north of town. We drove up to highground and saw this over the hill toward 89/ Clyde Park. SUPER SCARY! It spread fast, but was contained quickly. PHEW!

The First Week of July, part two

PINE CREEK CAMP OUT!

On Thursday, July 5th, we headed up to Pine Creek to camp out until Saturday. I slept at home with Niles both nights, but we spent the days and evenings at camp with our family and freinds who were up there. On Friday morning whiel I was at PT, Rich adn the big kids hiked to the falls.

Addie

Heidi

Addie & the falls

Hikin' James, making a quintessential Melin Face.

Heidi at the falls

My son the Deinonychus

Kids on the bridge

Kids on the trail

I joined them later and we found a nice rocky beach on the creek.

We set to work building stick boats and beach shelters...another fairy village.

So nice of mother nature to provide us a bench!

Niles loved throwing rocks and he giggled when they made a "plop" sound or splashed on him.

At 6pm we gathered at the pavilion for a Ward Dinner--Steve McCann (who owns the local Dairy Queen and is a great cook) smoked a zillion ribs & brought yummy Wilcoxon's ice cream,  and people brought the most delicious salads. It was super fun! Afterward, family and friends gathered at our campsite and Grandma snuggled Niles. 

The S'mores Crowd- Gavin Roberts, Cousin Dan, Aaron Roberts, Addie, Carter Roberts,  TJay, Me, Zach, Cousins Lexi & Summer, Uncle Jess...

Thankfully, it rained a little Thursday night which allowed us to have a campfire...the BEST part of camping!

The First Week of July, part one

July 2: PARADE DAY! Parade + Cousin Picnic/Water Fight

We forgot our camera this year, but Rich took this smart phone pic of James, aka Ed Grimley. James wanted a mohawk for the parade, but his hair is really shaggy. He and Addie created this kooky 'do...so cute, I must say. 

The Pipers, our favorite.

After the parade we had a picnic at Grandma's house and all the cousins played in the water.

Boys against Girls!

Danny, TJay, and James playing in the hose.

July 4th: Independence Day Trip up Old Chico

We went four-wheeling up the old mine road to our secret creek, but there was a tree across the road. The Melin men jumped out of their car and went to town on the tree...

Mike took a hatchet to it, Jess broke off limbs and started sawing, Rich got some cords from the back of our Cruiser and yanked it in half. Soon the obstacle was history!

Meanwhile, I sat in the car and read with my nerd herd. I had a huge selection of rich, patriotic reading material  for the day to combat the brain drain of the regular celebrations (I have this thing with Independence Day and Thanksgiving in that they are really sacred days to me and most of the traditional celebrations are kind of soul-crushing to me). Regnery did not disappoint, and I LOOOOVED reading President Benson's talk about the constitution.

Addie read to Niles about managing emotions...he still screams a lot.

We made it up to the creek and the kids immediately started wading & throwing rocks. It was so beautiful and cool there.

Niles finally figured out how to work a straw & he is so cute drinking his CapriSuns!

Heidi & TJay at the creek.

The kids went on a hike and found a sand bed to turn into a "fairy village."

James & Hannah in the sand

Cousins building fairy village.

Niles & Lexi having a drink in the shade.

Rosalie & Angie on the rocks

Me with Niles & Lexi

Simon & Kelli

Rich & Heidi

Rosalie & Angie

Sweet Heidi Lynners, Little Miss Fourth of July

Danny (the Digger), Summer (the Secretary to the Mayor) and Addie (the Mayor) of Fairy Land.

James digging

Heidi & Matthew

Lexi & Hannah

Kelli, Rich, Simon & Jess having a photography lesson

Niles ADORES his Uncle Mike!

Later on Independence Day Evening we met at the park and had a barbecue.

Niles loves to swing!

Addie loves watermelon ("rolymennon")
***

The next day our little honey badger slept in for the first time ever. A beautiful sight!