Our second to last adventure from the weekend....

On Sunday (late afternoon) it began to rain and continued to rain most of the evening and night. We all ventured to Chico for nice dinner at there restaurant and then Eric and I and Ema decided to go back up to my parents camp site for a little while.....About 9:30 we decided to head back down to our cabin (about a 5 mile drive) and literally 100 feet in front of our car we heard this tree crack and then watched it fall and we were going NO WHERE! We quickly turned around and went back to tell the camp host - who told us - they would get it cut down...but it would be about 3 or 4 hours!! YIKES!! Thankfully our friends where already back at there cabin so Todd drove back up and got us...my Dad drove us to the tree and we climbed around it...and actually did not end up having spend 3 - 4 more hours waiting for them to clear the road! It wouldn't have been that bad to have to hang out at the camper other than finding a spot for 6 adults and 3 kids to sleep would have been a little tricky!!



I had actually told Eric on the way into the camp the first day....that this particular tree looked like it could come down at any moment....so thankful it did not come down on us!


Our last and final adventure of the weekend was a detour on the way home through a small portion of Yellowstone park and I don't have one picture to show for it......We entered at Mammoth Hot Springs, continued over to Tower and then over to Cooke City where we exited the park and took in the Beartooth Highway that just opened for the season this weekend.....The amount of snow up there still was incredible....it was a great detour....but last night after 13 hours in the car I was really starting to second guess if it was a "great" detour or not.

The hike....

On Sunday morning we ventured out on a 1 1/2 mile hike with all 5 kids....three of which had to walk and 6 adults......we were passed many many times on the trail by others going and up and then coming back down....but I am proud to say we ALL made it to the top to take in the view of the waterfall....


The start of our hike....


Ana and Alayna....

Trouble x 3!


Our Family....



Mid hike and everyone is still going strong....


This is how Ema spent the majority of her hike on the way up....

Eric and I at the top....


Grandma and Papa....with the kiddos...


And let's not forget Aunt Becky and Uncle Jarred...who started the hike about an hour after us...hoping really (in Becky's mind anyways) to just catch up with us somewhere on the trail as were were coming down.....but no....they made it all the way to the top just as we were headed back down....kuddos to Becky doing it...29 weeks pregnant!!!

Swimming at Chico....

One of the advantages to camping where we were was Chico Hot Springs....it was a short 15 mile drive away...and we spent one morning swimming in the Hot Springs pool with the kids.....

Ema's first time swimming....she loved it!



Alayna....she was one brave little fish.....


Todd, Amanda and Oli.....


Eli was also braving the depths....he was convinced he could keep walking deeper and deeper and it would be no problem....


Daddy and his girls.....

The kids....on Memorial Day Weekend....

The kids (all 5 of them age 3 and under) were in all there glory this weekend - 2 entire days outside!! Our good friends Todd and Amanda and there 2 kids joined us for the weekend full of adventure....
Here is a little glimpse in the kids' world.....(unfortunately I didn't take many pictures of Oli around camp)

These three rascals (Ana, Alayna and Eli) spent a good portion of there time on the 4-wheelers and trike.....

Time spent throwing pine cones and sticks in the nearby stream....

And the real fun began when we gave the kids each a paper bowl and plastic spoon - to dig in the dirt...



Alayna....making one of her many many mud pies....


The most common scene all weekend long.....


The kids were truly filthy....Eli had dirt in his eyes, ears and nose....and unfortunately water was at a premium at the camper because there were no "hook-ups" so we took the kids down to our cabin one evening to shower them....only to find there was no hot water to be found....and they were not going to stand for a cold shower....so there wasn't a whole lot of opportunity to really clean them up - oh well a little dirt won't hurt them......


Ema - always happy as a peacock if Eric is holding her....


And finally an afternoon of bubbles - as a distraction from the dirt.....

The views from our Memorial Day weekend

We ventured off to Montana this weekend to try a little camping with 3 kids in the Paradise Valley.....I can't complain - we really were not roughing it too much. Eric and I and Ema stayed in a one room cabin (ie - pretty much a refurbished shed) at the KOA while the Eli and Ana had the luxury of staying in the 5th wheel with Grandma and Papa.....We had a beautiful weekend weather wise and a great time with family and some great friends - who hopefully won't dis-own - us after taking them on a small (extra 6 hour) drive through Yellowstone Park on the way home.....

One of the many (still) snow caped peaks.....

This was the view looking back down into the Paradise Valley on the way up to my Mom & Dad's campsite....

Morning Sun....

A waterfall we hiked to on Sunday morning.....beautiful - the picture does it no justice at all!

A stream that ran right near the campsite.....

It's DONE!!

The Playground is finished!!

After many many many hours - over the course of about 3 Saturdays and a couple week nights - Eric is glad to be done!!!


And the kids are loving it!!!

Ema.....

She really is the only one that can't escape at this point from getting her picture taken....

A look back....

Ana when she was 5 1/2 months old.....


Ema at 8 months old.....

8 Months Old.....

8 months just came and went yesterday - I almost forgot......

Emalee is 8 MONTHS OLD!!!

Look at this sweet girl......


Don't be deceived though - I think she has a lot of hidden "spunk" that is just starting to emerge....I keep telling Eric - I think we are going to have to be "on our toes" with her. She is ready to move.....

This was a rare "time" this afternoon - she just kept laying her head down like she was tired - I immediately checked to see if she was running a fever - nope. Ema's newest tricks: she can now clap for us all, and she is very good at letting us all know that she DOES NOT like being the last one fed.

Look mommy.....

I go potty like Elmo.....




Not quite Eli - I think you may need to watch that video just a few more times - I don't think Elmo wears the potty on his head....at least this potty has not been used yet and is still clean.

Rub-a-Dub-Dub 3 in a (crowded) tub.....

Before bath time photos....

We just had some fun this evening playing around with the camera before bath time - our kids love just hanging out in their diapers/underwear.....


Ema giving us her finest serious look.....



She is so easily entertained if someone is right at her level and ready to put on a show -


Just yesterday Ema discovered how to clap her hands together....


Three little monkeys....