After about 8 years we have made it back to Montana!!! Adam was not able to come due to school :( but Wade, Chelsea, Piper, Kohen and Savannah were able to come and we sure had a blast!! I am glad that we went and I am so excited to go back again!!! I am just going to add all the pictures the days are a little mixed up but at least they are all there.
So Day 1: we started off our drive nice and late in hope of sleeping kids. Of course all three kids were too excited to sleep so out goes that idea. We also had problems driving, we had a roof top carrier that kept coming undone and we had to stop every hundred miles or less and reattach, luckily we only had one catastrophe and we lost one of Wades shoes. Once we got there it was wonderful, and about 2 in the morning.
Day 2: After sleeping in all morning we went to Perkins for our breakfast that was AMAZING!!! I had french toast, and the kids had sparkle pancakes which they loved! We drove around for a while and showed the kids and Chelsea the sites. We then went to Spring Meadow. Luckily enough time has passed and me getting kicked out when I was in high school has long gone and I look nothing like the skinny little thing I did back then! Anyways the kids loved it. I didn't love it as much, I don't remember all the bugs, lake weed and duck poop aside from the smell... and of course all the lovely ladies in there bikinis trying to get a tan in a Montana summer. Then we went to the Brewhouse for dinner! Yummy!!! The menu sure has changed and so did the inside but the food was still wonderful! We came home and went swimming and then went to bed, a good first day.
Day 3: We went to Perkins AGAIN, what can I say we love the place, and its about the only breakfast place in Helena. . . that we knew about. We went downtown and walked around for a little bit. We went to the trolley and played in it. Then we went to the toy store, that was an adventure...its the most exprensive toy store ever. After that we went to the Parrot, which is an old fashion candy store. The kids as in all of us, LOVED LOVED it. It was so fun to take my kids there especially when it was my grandma Olsens favorite candy store as well. It is nice to pass on traditions and loves. Then we decided to go to Lake Hauser. We drove what seemed like forever to get to the lake and I swear it was a quick 5 min drive back in the days to get to the lake. We stopped at the first marina due to anxious kids and annoyed passengers in the car. Again the kids were in love. It was freezing, how we ever swam there is a mystery to me!! BRRRR....we didn't stay there very long. We picked up Suds Hut Chicken and some JoJo's. I have never seen my kids eat as much as I did tonight! The chicken was wonderful!! The JoJo's not so much. But either way it was great to have again!
Day 4: We were off to Virginia City!!! It was a long drive but they were sure excited to see a ghost town!! We got there and I realized I was thinking of a different ghost town, so I was surprised to see the town as well. The kids loved looking in all the windows and of course the candy store. I will say the Parrot was much better. And note to self: the taffy is not good do not buy again. We went on a firetruck ride of the city and learned the day before someone came to Virginia City with an ounce of gold, location unknown, but got $200,000 for it!! I told Adam that should be our new past time! Also a cool fact we found out a few days after we left that Virginia City, MT is the last and only place to have a talking fortune teller machine, suspected to be worth at least 2mil dollars according to CNN. After this we drove back to Helena and went to dinner at McKenzie River Pizza. I was so excited for the Polynesian Pizza and of course they don't make it anymore :( talk about a long drive for a disappointment!!! But don't worry I found a new pizza that I love. And to top it off my bestie from high school came, Ashley!!! It was so good to see her!!
Day 5: We woke up early to start heading back and we ate at a new breakfast place called the Crepery, Ashley told us all about it! It was amazing!! It was some of the best crepes I have had since Paris. . .the kids seemed to like them too! The we ran to Jade Garden to get our chinese eating on and left to go to the hot springs that I don't remember the name to. Along the way we stopped at Lewis and Clarke Caverns. Boy that was fun... to bad you can't sense my sarcasm! I remember that being the highlight of any trip we went on when I was little, and it was still great. Two kids on my own and a two mile hike in 98* weather = not fun! Piper was the best though, you only have so long time wise to get to the entrance of the cave before you miss your tour, and about five min in Piper was to hot to walk (100% my daughter) and Kohen was to tired to walk. It was two miles to the entrance. We made it but that just started it out. Then once you are inside it is dark = scary. And you can't touch anything, its actually a state law! So kids under 5 should not be allowed they wanted to touch everything! Instead of me listening to the tour guide I was sweating bullets that he wouldn't arrest me and the kids for touching everything that was in arms length!!! the pictures that I have posted completely show how much FUN we really had!! Long drive but the hot springs were so much fun!!! We stayed in them until the kids were asking to get out! Ya you can imagine how long we would have to be in the pool to do that!!!! The water was about 98*-100* depending the pool that you were in! Kohen was in heaven!!!
All in all it was a good trip. Piper wants to move there, which i'll be honest I wouldn't mind but I guess visiting for now will have to do!
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| This is at the carousal ride they have in Last Chance Gulch, new since I lived there! you ride around the carousal and grab rings every-time you pass the conductors area, if you grab the brass one you get a free ride! Piper was so excited! |
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| Feeding the animals at Fairmont Hot Springs. |
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| So this is the beginning of the Caverns...notice the happy excitedness about them.... |
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| This is a little ways in the Caverns not even half way in I might add! You can imagine how excited I was!!! Kohen obviously happy cause he was being carried THE ENTIRE WAY! And I am sure it doesn't help I was laughing at Piper's enjoyment!! In fact it is still making me laugh! |
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| Wade, Chelsea, Savannah before picture, if I posted there after picture I think Chelsea would about kill me. Actually no about that! |
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| Before we started the hike up Lewis and Clark. |
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| Piper excited BEFORE she realizes how long of a hike it is! |
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| Fun in the car. |
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| Kohen's fun in the car, no need for sticker books for him! |
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| On the fire truck ready for a ride. And believe it or not this is the best picture out of all takes that I had! |
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| Ready to GO! |
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| I had to take this for Penny, it was pretty good ice cream. I don't she would have left the store. |
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| The town was completely deserted like this. |
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| Always good to have a good butt shot!!! Look'n through the windows. |
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| Cute chairs. |
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| Piper loves Suds Hut! |
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| I don't know what to say about this one! |
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| Lake Hauser. |
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| In the Parrot. |
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| Toy Store. |
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| On the trolley. |
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| Can you see why I love Montana so much! BEA utiful! |
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| RIP all the millions of bugs! |
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| Kohen slept through the Brewhouse. |
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| Other side of the table. |
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| Spring Meadow. |
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| Cute girl. |
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| More fun car rides. |
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| Piper having fun to! |
