Month: August 2013

Hyalite Canyon Drive

Leave a comment
Today was pretty quiet and relaxing. Everyone had to work today so the girls and I took some time together to do a little shopping, have a lunch date and then we took a drive up through Hyalite Canyon. Being that its the beginning of August, the wildflowers have bloomed and are starting to fade away but the shaded areas along the canyon walls and the rivers are still hanging on. I stopped for a few pictures although the bees were hard at work collecting pollen, so I didn’t get as close as I might have liked.
They might be weeds to most, but they are still pretty to me!
Love the wildflowers along the canyon.
Hyalite Creek
Hyalite Reservoir on a beautiful summer day.
Cute little smiles from my awesome little traveler.
Smiles from ear to ear!

The drive is a quick one but beautiful in the summer. The road is only open from June until about September, so its nice to actually have the chance to go all of the way up to the reservoir. There were a few people enjoying some time on the lake, but other then that it was quiet and perfect. We didn’t stay too long as Grandpa Jerry was able to get off of work early so we went back to the house and got ready for dinner. It was great to have some time out. Nice after all of the stress of moving. Shaun needs to come out too as I know the stress was even more for him!

An Afternoon at the Museum

Leave a comment
Today was fun one, as always! Grandma and Grandpa had to work today but Auntie Jillian had the day off. SO after a relaxing morning we decided to head to the Museum of the Rockies for an afternoon of fun. The summer exhibit this year was about space travel, one I know Abby would not want to miss. That and I knew the girls wouldn’t stop asking until we went, many thanks to the Yellowstone play area for children.
We arrived just as an afternoon thunderstorm was trying to make its way into the valley. I was secretly hoping that we weren’t inside the museum too long. I didn’t want to miss it! Until then we would enjoy the museum and have a lot of fun.
Afternoon thunderstorm… Love it!
Abby and Ellie standing with Steve Hawley’s flight suite. The very last one of its kind.
Sitting in the kitchen, or a mock up of the kitchen, in the next craft intended for use by NASA.
Touching a real moon rock! Pretty cool if you ask me.
Fishing time! Who will catch one first?
Sisterly Eagle love… hmmm, that sounds awkward, but that’s ok.
Sisters in Eagle masks… AKA personal petri dishes.

The girls had a great time at the museum and really loved the NASA exhibit. They had the chance to see parts of the old shuttles and what the capsules looked like, They also had the chance to see a real flight suite and also touched a moon rock! We even had the chance to walk around in a mock up of the living area of the newest project by NASA. Afterward we headed up to the Yellowstone Adventure area to play for a bit. This is really what the girls came for and the NASA exhibit was a big bonus. As always they had a blast laying around and it was like pulling teeth to get them to go home.

When we left, the thunderstorm that was rolling had decided to get a bit bigger and the wind was blowing like crazy. We stopped for a yummy treat of frozen yogurt on the way back and when we left we had to book it home. Several surrounding areas were reporting major wind gusts and tornado warnings. The wind blew, we had some rain and thunder and continue to have some as we speak but nothing worse then that. It was yet another awesome day and we were so happy to spend it with Auntie Jillian!

A New Road Trip…

Leave a comment
After a lot of time and effort spent unpacking, its time for us to head to Montana for a quick little visit. My cousin David will be in town visiting and I couldnt miss the opportunity to see him. We have not seen one another since our wedding six years ago! 
This trip, the girls and I would once again be flying solo. Its a new one for the girls and its a drive I have done only a few times in my life. It should be quite the adventure. Shaun had planned to come with us but the job search started to heat up, so we felt that staying behind in the event of an interview was the best thing to do. As always I will miss not having my partner in crime on the road with me.
The girls and I left very early this morning with the hopes that we could avoid traffic heading into Bellevue and on I-90 heading towards Snoqualmie Pass. That and the drive is about 11 hours with stops, so I wanted to have plenty of time to travel but still get in at a decent time. So we left home just as the sun was starting to rise and it was beautiful.
Good morning Snoqualmie!

The drive over Snoqualmie was beautiful. It was a cloudy and somewhat drizzly morning, with some low hanging clouds through the pass.The girls quietly watched movies and drifted in and out of sleep. The drive out through central Washington was a smoky one. Fires in the Southeastern Cascades were growing due to the heat of the summer and the wind was blowing east, right into the valleys. It was still a pretty drive and of course I had the stretch of highway, about 18 miles worth, that had all of the local crops labeled. It keeps you busy for a while.

A stop in Spokane for some lunch and gas gave me the break I needed just before heading over 4th of July and Lookout passes. Both have very steep accents and descents, so its nice to rest the brain and the eyes before tackling them. Luckily driving through Idaho’s panhandle and the two passes was a breeze. The weather was beautifully clear and traffic was minimal. My type of driving.

Pit stop just inside Montana State Lines. Even the rest stops here are beautiful!

Heading over Homestake! The last major mountain pass before our destination!

Summer thunderstorm rolling in, so pretty!

The remainder of the trip was pretty uneventful and absolutely beautiful. Its so true that my heart belongs in the mountains of Montana. Every time we visit, I love it more and more. Driving from Seattle now gives us the chance to see more of it too! The mountains, the big beautiful and meandering rivers, and the amount of uninhabited open space. There is just something magical about this place that I just cannot describe.

When we arrived late in the afternoon a summer mountain thunderstorm was rolling in. What a greeting! You could smell the rain in the air and feel the warm temperatures cool a bit. The lightening and thunder tonight have been spectacular and I have a feeling there will be more. Nothing really beats a summer thunderstorm in the mountains. So glad to be here but missing Shaun a lot.