Annual pilgrimage to Glacier National Park...

Westward Ho! This July we loaded up the camper, car, and kiddos and once again ventured west to Montana. We had explored some other possibilities for getting there, figuring the girls would have a hard time in the car for the 20+ hour trip. As it turned out, the car ride was the easy part! The adventures began when we set the two nearly-two year olds loose in the park!
While Shawn and I were setting up camp, the girls went from zero to filthy in a matter of seconds. I shiver to think of how much dirt the ate or how many pebbles they swallowed while we weren't looking. It was such a relief when Grandpa Ken and Auntie Amy joined us the next day and camped with us for our first week out there!

Sorry- It was too hectic to capture the messy moments on camera. In fact, there were many charming moments we missed. I wish we had gotten one of poor little Mia who after the first day had two big bug bites on her eyebrow, a swollen, puffy eye that she'd bumped, and smudgy evidence of some dirt eating all over her chin. A totally lovable mess!

At the lake with Grandma and Grandpa

To cap off the 4th of July festivities, we headed up north the the lake for some floating, jumping off the dock and, the most fun, boat driving lessons from Grandpa!

After the fun at the cabin, the girls and I headed back to St Cloud to catch up with daddy, celebrate the big 3-3, and pack for Glacier!

Backyard fun with the Affeldts!

Much fun was had kissing cousins...
...and braving the big slide.

This might be the toddler equivalent of Allison's senior picture. I LoVe it!!!

Happy 4th of July!

Photo Shoot with Bryn and Henry

Hanging out with some watermelon and very good friends at the Orchard Ridge picnic.Frolicking with Mr. Bruce- Jack and Kate's grandpa George Washington tattoo on a very tired little Allison

The Days meet the Turpins... Finally!

Jack and the girls check out the bear at Vilas Zoo.

It was great to finally meet Baby Kate and Big Jack! After following their blog, I felt like I knew them a little bit already. Our friend Josh and his baby Josie joined us for the photo too.