Big Arm, Montana

     My two girls and I took a lovely trip up to Montana last weekend to visit my sister Carol and her husband Mark.  They just very recently moved up there because Mark was offered a great job doing MRI's for a mobile unit that travels to hospitals around that area.  I miss her dearly and while she has just left, I decided I wanted to go up and visit her for Labor Day weekend.  It was a leap for me to take the 500 mile drive because first of all I hate long drives, and second of all I was nervous to do it alone with the kids because I was afraid it would take a week to get there with all the stopping that could possibly happen. But to my surprise, the girls did quite well considering it was over a 7 hour drive making it about 8 1/2 to 9 hours with the stops. And even more surprisingly, I did great. 

     We were gone for 5 days and it was really a little piece of heaven.  We had so much fun!  I was really sad to leave and cried a little on the way home because I won't get to call Carol and tell her to come over to my house anymore, or go over to hers whenever I want.  I won't see her around town (some how we always ended up at the same places). But, I am so happy for the new adventure that she gets to take with her husband.  In my opinion, they could hardly have picked a better place to move.  That is beautiful country up there! 

 On Saturday, we drove over to a nearby town because the fair was going on there.  We happened upon a parade that was about to start and decided to watch it.  Jade had a ball! She got way too much candy and made herself a best friend in the process.    They were so cute together.  In case you can't tell, Jade is the one holding the flowers.

 Carol and Mark are renting a fully furnished house on Flathead Lake for the next year and then they will build a new house.  It's pretty sweet that they can just walk about half a block down to the lake shore.  And the view from the house is beautiful. 

We also did some relaxing around the house which was really nice.  Carol cooked us huckleberry pancakes and a lot of other mouthwatering meals while we were there.  It was nice having her take care of me.

 Here's Jade eating one of her suckers from the parade.  She ate it all day long and part of the next it seemed like and her lips were stained blue to match her eyes.  The post-nap crazy hair was just a bonus.

 After church on Sunday, we drove up to see the land they just bought.  It is 5 acres with a gorgeous view of Flathead lake and the surrounding mountains.  It is just amazing.  Another cool thing is this land is on the same lane that Weldon's grandparents used to live on in Big Arm.  The exact location is unconfirmed, but Weldon will probably be able to tell us if he comes next time. Anyway, I am just ecstatic for their new house to be built!

 Monday, we went swimming in the lake.  It was a beautiful day.  Jade absolutely loved every second of it and still can't stop talking about the lake.  She wanted to swim all day even though the water was ice cold!

                                              
 Jade got this dirty face within 10 minutes of being there and we couldn't stop laughing at her because she looked like she was wearing a mask made of dirt.

The trip was totally worth it and I am so glad we went. We hope to see them again soon.  

With Weldon next time.