Montana: Fun and Fresh Air!

We just returned from visiting Nana and Papa in Montana for a few days. It was a short trip, but well worth it! We left our house around 10 a.m. the day we flew out, and arrived in Billings around 11 p.m., so it was a very long day for Gunnar (and Mommy & Daddy too!). Nana set up the playroom downstairs with a floor bed for Gunnar, and tons of my old toys. It was nice to have a similar bed setup, and it helped make naptime and bedtime much easier for all of us. Our first morning there, we had a fairly leasurely morning with coffee, and a visit from Aunt Sheri, Uncle Eric, and Cousin Haley. They enjoyed Gunnar's company, and we enjoyed visiting with them, since it's been quite a while since we've seen them. Little John and Sterling stopped by on their way up to work on the barn, and Gunnar had fun showing off for them.

Papa was "attacked" by a buck a couple weeks ago, and broke his ankle, so he was a little laid up while we were there, but Gunnar took good care of him, and made sure he had plenty of toys and kisses while he was on the couch. Notice the giant, size 16 boot behind Gunnar (it's almost as big as he is)! Daddy and Papa made sure they got up to coffee and to see Ray and the coffee crew that morning while Nana and I got ready for the day.

While we were there, Gunnar, Daddy and Papa went to visit a friend, Bob, who happens to have the historic Fishtail jail in his back yard. He converted the attached building to accomodate his hot tub, but Justin was excited to see the barred door, so he and Gunnar were behind bars for a few minutes.

Justin took some really great photos in Fishtail, like this of the elementary school in town. (I think Fishtail has a population of around 50?) There were actually deer playing on the fenced playground when we walked by.

Here are some photos Justin took down the hill from Nana and Papa's house. It's funny how used to all the green we see living in Oregon, and winter in Montana is pretty brown, but still beautiful with all the ice and clear skies.

Here's a photo Justin took of Gunnar and Mommy when we were at coffee one morning, visiting with Ray and Janet.

We also got up to visit Uncle John, Aunt Julie, and Cousins Sterling, Lindsey, Macey, and Jude one night, when they invited us to dinner. Papa was in the hospital recovering from the blood clots that moved to his lungs, and Nana was visiting him, so we went up on our own, and had so much fun. Gunnar LOVED playing with his cousins, and wouldn't leave Jude alone the whole time we were there. Gunnar started getting a little fussy, and we decided it was time to head home a little early, even though we would have liked to stay and play longer. Somehow, this is the only photo I took of the evening... I'll have to get Lindsey to e-mail the photos she took :o)

We all had a lot of fun in Montana, and we hope to get back there soon! Gunnar loved the open spaces, clear skies, and fresh air (and so did we)!