Wade Lake

We headed off to Wade Lake in Montana to camp for a week. Some friends recommended it, so we decided to give it a try. We always love to camp somewhere new. So, we were surprised to pull up to an amazingly clear, turquoise lake. Wade Lake and Cliff Lake (right next to it) are actually a chasm along the Madison fault. The area was breathtaking. We felt lucky to get to spend a week here. We had fun spending the days sleeping in, swimming, laying on the beach, hiking, and exploring the area. We will definitely be returning to this place!

Even this guy couldn't resist.

 Cliff Lake

The kids doing their 20 minutes of reading each morning

The skipping master

The girls love coloring, doing puzzles, and in this case, playing with clay at the table (and getting away from the horseflies).

Friends Outing 2013

Travis' buddies get together each year in June with their families. We always have the funnest time together. We laugh the entire time. They are all such good guys. I am glad that Travis has such great friends that became my friends too. This year we headed to Steadman's Ranch in Raft River. It is this amazing place that a family does with two huge water slides, a zip line, a pond, places to camp, and kids toys. And they don't even charge for it. We camped there and spent the whole time going down the water slides. We finally kicked the kids off at midnight to go to bed. It was a great time.

The guys with their cute kids

Sunset at the ranch

Makenna spent most of the time in the mud pond catching tadpoles

Dave's cobbler

Camden enjoyed running around everywhere

FUN ON THE WATER SLIDE:

Drama Camp

We put the girls in a week long drama camp. Makenna cried when we told her she was doing it because she is always scared to do something new. Then she found out her friend was doing it too and she was fine with it. And then she ended up having a leading role. Funny girl.  Hadley was excited to do it the whole time. They were both aliens in the play- Makenna was a captain of the Special Forces aliens and Hadley was just a cute little alien. It was fun to watch them on stage. They both loved it and can't wait to do it again next year.

Guysers, Animals, & Rain. Oh my.

Since we were camping 8 miles away, we were happy to spend a day at Yellowstone National Park. It really is such an amazing place. We are lucky to live so close. 

The day was forecasted to be scattered thunderstorms, so we didn't expect the constant raining. But, we camp enough to know how to do it in any weather. With a few umbrellas and some warm coats, we just carried on as usual. We finally made our way to Old Faithful and it was sprinkling, so we sat under our umbrellas and waited. And right as it started to erupt, it was a total downpour. Ha, ha. Perfect timing. We'll definitely always remember that Old Faithful experience.

 

 You can tell by their faces that it was raining.

 Inside the visitor center waiting for the torrential downpour to let up

 Watching Old Faithful the second time from the Inn and rain-free

See kids, I'm not the only mom always bugging you to make sure you are clean. :)