BIG SKY!

Our family has changed quite a bit since mine and Michael's first trip to Big Sky exactly 5 years ago.  Andrew was 2.5 and Margaret, as she kept telling everyone all this week, was still in my belly...barely!  Toting three littles now, the plane was as much of an adventure as anything.

 

As per the summer tradition, constant mayhem and endless hours at the pool mean that manageable weekly posts become end of summer crams.  So here are too many, out of order, unedited pics from our amazing week out West.  One thing is certain.  We still crave mountain air and the peace that peaks bring. 

 

Yes, please!

View from the house - I'll take it.



 

 

Dody and Granddaddy tag-teaming the shot from above the waterfall....smile, Matthew, smile!

Oldest girl cousin (Sarah, 12), oldest boy (Alex, 8)

Anne and the nieces/nephews----12 to 2.

Sarah and Margaret

 

Happy Dody! 

The Beehive Basin is nothing but a sea of sunflowers in early summer---still a beautiful hike in August. 



 

 

Magnificent storm rolling in.

 

West Yellowstone Adventure Course and Zipline was perfect for our family!  The lower 5 elements of the course are designed for ages 4-8.  We were pleasantly surprised that Andrew took straight to it.  Reversing roles, Margaret was a bit hesitant.  But she did the course several times after ziplining for 2 hours!  Andrew did the course so many times he started to have me time him. 

 

 

And for almost 3 hours, Matthew played in the dirt and rocks mumbling under his breath, "I wanna do it, too. I wanna do it, too!" He won the patience award for the week for that morning. 

 

4/5 - good enough for the Christmas card??? 

what if we zoom in?

 

Anne, Alex & Nicholas

Try again??

(Still awaiting copies of the big Ferguson family shot taken by a friend that visited Friday night.)

 

 Margaret's rant on a hike...

 

Base camp!  We spent HOURS here with Margaret and Matthew, too young to go rafting, skeet shoot, ride, hike very long, etc.  SOO thankful that they were happily occupied!

 

"And exactly why wouldn't why I climb to the top??"

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nicely done!

 

Simply nose-wrinkled giddy about his first flight...

 

 

...a little melatonin and Mom was giddy.

 

Some spec houses near "our" house.  Yep.  I'll take one.

 

The "fun" of the week was Matthew's sleeping patterns, or lack thereof.  Up every night 2-4 times disoriented and screaming, surely naptime would be welcome, right?  Nope. He passed out on the sofa at 5pm only after fighting naptime for 3 hours.  He is the best of times and the worst of times wrapped up in one adorable blonde haired, blue-eyed hefty package. 

 

Margaret got a kick out of helping with grown-up dinner.

 

A sure highlight of the week was Matthew on the bungy trampoline.  He is STILL asking for it daily.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Skeet shooting - Andrew's first time with a real gun.

 

 

 

1,000 lb Sam at the Bear and Wolverine Museum in West Yellowstone.

 

 

Getting some exercise on a "we'd rather not be in the car for 8 hours with 3 kids driving through Yellowstone" day.  Greatly missed Yellowstone, but "been there, done that" on the road trips this summer!  #michigan26hours

 

 

Our last morning...dropped Michael off to fish, took a hike, and watched some local Montana State students do their bridge jumping. 

And then a spontaneous picnic turned into the best family afternoon we've had all summer...hang on, because the best is at the end.

 

 

"May I PLEASE get back to fly fishing with Dad???"

The crowds are gathering for bridge jumping and dog swimming.

 

 

 

 

  

Yes, we're trying to break the binky at nap time....it's going great!

 

Melatonin wins again!

 

A wonderful week with beautiful weather.  We were blessed to have the family time in an area that we love so much.  Now for school.  Only 2 days away for 2nd, Kindergarten, and potty training.  Yikes!  How did any of this happen??