Glacier National Park, Part 2

After Randy and Liza left for Yellowstone, Laura came back and spent a night with us at the cabin. Growing up so near to Glacier, she was full of knowledge, joy, and enthusiasm!


East Glacier Lodge



At the Izaak Walton Inn, just down the road from the Welker cabin




Kate standing by the road right across from the cabin--that's the view we had!




Waterfall




There was still a lot of roadwork going on, so when we got stopped, Laura would snap picture after picture--here's one of a waterfall right by the road.




Snowy valley




On our last day there, the pass opened up, and we were able to drive the length of the Going to the Sun Road. Here we are with Laura at Logan Pass.




Kate and Laura




Throwing snowballs!




People brought sleds and skis up there!




This little guy posed for us




Will at Logan Pass




Kate at the entrance of a cave Laura loved to play in as a little girl

Glacier National Park, Part 1

Laura drove with us out to her family's cabin in Essex, Montana, close to Glacier National Park. It's an old train car! She helped us get set up, and showed us some of the nearby sites. Then she headed back to Shelby, and soon after, our friends from Oregon arrived. Liza and I have been friends since I moved to Virginia at age 6, but we hadn't seen in each other in many years. It was wonderful to see her and Randy, as well as their sons, Ethan and Titus. They drove out to meet us for a few days, and then went on to Yellowstone National Park.



Liza and Randy



Stunning views around every turn



We drove through West Glacier the first day, and up in the mountains on the Going to the Sun Road. Even in June, snow still covered parts of the road at the highest altitudes, so we couldn't drive the whole way through. We did make it up to this snowy area, where the kids had a ton of fun playing in the snow. And we saw mountain goats up the hill!




Drawing in the snow




Ethan and Titus enjoying the snow




On the Trail of the Cedars



Making s'mores at the cabin




We drove to East Glacier on our second day and enjoyed the east side of the park. There was a Native American gathering going on near the St. Mary's Visitor Center.



Ethan earned a Junior Ranger badge!




Liza




St. Mary's Lake




Gorgeous wildflowers everywhere




Quaking Aspen trees




Will




Eric and Will on a path along the lake




Eric and kids by a waterfall




Eric




Erin and Liza




Randy, Liza, Ethan, and Titus




Kate and Titus

Our trip to Montana

We drove first to Shelby, Montana, home of our dear friend, Laura Welker. She's an American who has studied at both Briercrest College and Seminary. Her family has had a wheat farm in Shelby for generations.


Kate joking with Laura's father, Bob Welker



The kids loved all the big farm machinery!




Will didn't want to come down!




Kate with a stalk of wheat. It was interesting to learn about wheat farming in Montana--like Saskatchewan, there's a short growing season, and even less rain than we get here. But the wheat they grow is very high quality--we enjoyed the pancakes made with their wheat flour, served with homemade chokecherry syrup!

The Once and Future Queen

Kate and I were talking about what job she might like to have someday. She said she just wanted to keep living with us, and Daddy could make the money. I explained that someday, regardless of where she's living, she would have to be able to make her own money. I suggested some jobs that people we know have (teacher, doctor, etc.). She thought and then said, "Well, if the Queen of England isn't allowed to be queen someday, I could be the new Queen of England."

Bright Eyes + Blue Eyes blog

We're back in Caronport, and I will eventually be posting some photos from our fun vacation in Montana and Tennessee. Meanwhile, check out the blog I just added to my blogroll--Bright Eyes + Blue Eyes, written by two sisters. Abbie is a friend I met in Scotland--now living in Georgia with her husband and two children. Her sister, Ellie, blogs about her current life in Tanzania with her German husband. I'm always eager to see what they post next.