Montana here we come

Seth didn't think he'd be able to come with us to Montana this year because he had to get ready for the crab season so we decided to fly.  Driving alone would have been quite a challenge.  I'm not saying that flying with these two was a piece of cake, but it seemed a much better option than the long drive.  Plus, this time I didn't even have to worry about a ride or taking the shuttle from the parking lot because Seth was able to drop us off curbside at the airport!  You have no idea how exciting that is.  It make a world of difference.  We got all checked in without any glitches, had lunch at the airport, and headed out.  Ryker, of course, took his usual mid air dump, but even that was pretty uneventful this time.  Neither kid slept, but it went well.  It was Cat/Griz in Bozeman so no one was in any condition to pick us up at the airport.  We landed just as the game was ending.  Kara left us her car so we found it and loaded up.  This picture shows Ryker very excited to see all the snow, to be rolling in Kara's car, and headed to Kara's house.  We stopped at Carrie and Nick's to play for a while, spent the night at Kara's then headed to Wibaux in the morning.  A couple days before we were supposed to leave, the crabbing season got pushed back 15 days so Seth was able to come, but he had to attend a shareholders meeting at Fish Expo that day so he flew out that evening and arrived in Bozeman at midnight. 

Getting right to the good stuff.........Christmas cookies!

 

Goin' fishing with Grandma

Tee ball anyone?

Ryker constructed a swimming pool and then wanted everyone to test it out by taking a dip.  Here's Kara doing the American Crawl.

Cosmos is wondering where his swing is.

Ryker learned to pump his legs to keep going on his own.

Peek a boo in the viaduct

Decorating Grandma's tree

Yearly pinochloe matchup

Going fishing again!

Kya is a bit of a cheater.  She's like her dad and doesn't understand the whole pole thing.  Just grab them or get a big net, this one at a time business is for the birds.

Pop Its left over from the 4th of July.

Feeding Grandma's bunnies

A little Glen Bowl Lanes

He started to get a little tired and the ball wasn't making it all the way to the pins so we brought out the little helper.

Kya was baptized on Thanksgiving day.  Sadly, it was the same day my Great Uncle Doug passed away.  We got the word about a half hour before walking into church.  Miss Kya got her own Guardian Angel that day and I could not have hand picked a better one.  He was a wonderful man that lived a long, full life (boy did he have some stories!) and now he is with some people that he's been separated from for too long.  I loved him for may reasons, but he was extra special to me because he was a window to a world where my grandparents lived long before I was ever thought of.  He not only knew my Grandma (his sister) well, but he spent countless hours with my Grandpa Gil back when two young guys of their caliber could still tear it up without getting arrested.  I can only imagine the reception he recieved from the crew that has gone before him.  RIP Uncle Doug and may those left behind find peace in the many happy and often hilarious memories made with him.
   

Kara, Mom, Brian, Kya, Seth, Nikki (Godmother), Ty (Godfather), Ryker and I

One with Father Ponessa

Kya was good all through church, but she was ready to roll out by picture time:)

We rented the fairgrounds event hall for a little fish fry and guess what comes with the rental?  Yeah, buddy, a bounce house!  I only wished we had known sooner.  We would have been out there the day we got the key!

Kya sampling the snacks at the party.

The next day we went out to clean up and take one last bounce.  Ryker is waiting patiently for it to inflate.

On your marks,

Get set,

GO!!!!!

Kya loved this thing too.

Is it really over?

Kya chilling with Uncle Brian.  She even got the remote.

Ryker loves that they can pull up any kids show with Netflix on the Wii. We spent the night at Kara and Brian's, then flew out of Bozeman the next morning.  Luckily, Seth was on the same flight home, but he was seated far away.  He was able to switch with a guy in front of us (smart guy to move), but both kids fell asleep so it was a pretty easy ride anyway.  Yes, I said both kids fell asleep!  

No matter how long I live in Washington, I think Montana will always feel like home.  I really love it and don't get to spend nearly enough time there.