Montana Trip - Reunion Time

Wow! After a very long flight that landed us at the hotel at 2 in the morning, we started off our trip to Montana by picking up Elena, taking her to the hotel

and heading out to the family campsite for time with kids and grands. With people converging from points east, west, and south, it was so nice to see everyone and watch the constant movement of little people. There were so many choice opportunities to watch everyone at play -- from running races as seen in this video --- such fun -- (Mister had a good time getting this ready to show, lol)

to riding 4-wheelers (Jon wanted so badly to drive without help and so being the "safety conscious" Gammy that I am --- I let him and thoroughly enjoyed the ride)

to teaching kids all about fishing compliments of Uncle Matt

to finding places to sleep (as Amanda and Trent searched for a perfect place to put their tent, I couldn't help but wonder if the thousands of mosquitos in the area would carry them off back there in the trees)

and including, of course, trips to the river to play. Jen had determined that it was time for the kids to "throw rocks in the river" and so off everyone went -- it didn't take long though for all to be wet and riding the current while screaming their heads off.

After the river, it was lunch time and then we played a family game that Bekah had put together in which everyone had to tell something about themselves that no one knew --- highlights for me were Jared wanting to be an ice cream man when he grew up and Scott being a ballroom dance champion. Oh, and Mister managed to make fun of Matt a little by saying that he had worked on roofs but had never fallen off.

At lunch -- we were able to snap this picture of the "cousins" having a sit down together -- oh my just oh too cute.

There was always time for a hug here and there and this one was absolutely heartwarming to me. I never lose track that this is "my baby" and always need a cuddle from her to make believe that she actually still is just that.

Having the chance to be outside and enjoy each others company is always such a treat. The fresh air makes food just taste that much better and of course --- sleep is always satisfying as well. How they did this with everyone around and playing and making noise is astonishing to say the least.

Well -- it ended all too soon, but I know that visits are coming up that are eagerly looked forward to and I, for one, simply cannot wait.