Coming home again.

On August 19th it was time to start the drive home.  We decided we would take it a little slower so that we could stop at Lewis and Clark caverns.  So the first day we drove about 3.5 hours to get to Sheridan Wyoming.  The second day we drove a little further to Livingston Montana.  There have been a huge number of wild fires and brush fires in Washington, Idaho and Oregon this year due to the incredibly dry conditions.  So dry that even the Olympic RAIN forest saw a fire.  With all of the fires, some of them burning over 100,000 acres and still going, there is a ton of smoke blowing around.  This is Central/Eastern Montana!  

 This is the smoke in Livingston.  By the time we got there we had been driving through an increasing amount of smoke for quite some time.

 This is the cool cabin we got to stay in right along the yellowstone river.

 The kids didn't play in the river, just in it's sandy banks.

 And in the pool.  Papa is a marvelous water toy!  The moment he got in the water all the kids would come over.  Poor guy, they wouldn't leave him alone!

 In their defense I remember being the same way when I was little.  Papa is so at home in the water and is so playful!  I have great memories of the beach (NW beaches that have freezing cold water) and pools, and lakes!

 Friday we stopped at the Lewis and Clark Caverns in Montana.  It was only a little over an hour from the cabin.  We had to hike up along that hillside to get to the opening of the cave.  It was only about 3/4 miles but it was hot, and smoky, and at a higher elevation than we are used to.  It was a little challenging.  Grandma's knee was bothering her so she couldn't come.  Works out that she couldn't though because Carson started getting scared not even 100 yards into the hike.  I took him back and he got to hang out with Grandma.

 The entrance we used is actually man made.  It was blasted into the rock.  Otherwise we would have been climbing down a rope ladder from here, the natural entrance.

 The first half of the cave is all an occupied bat nursery.  So we got to see bats resting and flying around.  We saw them on several different occasions.  One even flew right in front of Dillon's face!  From the moment we started hearing the bats, then seeing the bats Kayda decided that she liked caves.  Funny how that was really the only difference she had seen.

 This is the "beaver slide", we call it the "butt slide" because sp many people have gone down it that it is smooth and worn into the shape of two perfect butt cheeks.  I guess it was originally called "fat man's demise" but they had to change the name because people get offended too easily.  I was told that they actually had a "very large individual" get stuck.  They had to hoist them up so they could re-position to try to get through.  This "slide" was my clearest memory of this cave.

 The kids were fascinated with all the different formations.

 It looks like they put colored light bulbs in but they didn't.  They put in special bulbs tyhat replicate the sun so you can see the real color of the cave.  So if they had the correct lighting in ALL of the cave would look like this.  Unfortunately it's not a matter of changing light bulbs, they have to put in all new wiring too.

 This is the man made exit.  It is some 450 ft long (if I remember correctly) and has a door at either end.  If both doors are opened at once it can get up to a 45 mph wind going through which would dry out the cave in 15 minutes.  Needless to say they are very picky about those doors!  The kids loved this cave!  So did I!  There is so much more to it!  We learned about all kinds of formations and they had a few rocks that they tell fun fictional stories about.

 After the caverns it was time to drive again.  That was our longest drive and it brought us back into Washington, barely.  We stayed in Liberty Lake.  We left for camping in Idaho on July 24th and got back into Washington again on August 21st.  4 weeks.  It was a wonderful four weeks but we were all excited for our own rooms and our own beds again.

 You can see that the smoke is worse here. You could tell it was thicker, not just visually, but because the smell was so much stronger.

 Saturday was our last day of driving.  It was time to go home.  The closer we got, the thicker it got.  It was the worst around Vantage.  There was actually still visible smoke when we got home.

 You can normally see the bridge with crystal clarity.

 And you can normally see WAY up the river.  Instead it was a cloud of smoke.

There are hundreds of windmills here.  Not that you would know it.   The kids, once again, did great for the drive.  We only had one big issue but it was resolved quickly.  Car DVD players are the best invention.  We will definitely be making the trip again!

South Dakota Part 4

After much reminding from the kids we finally got to bring out the BB guns.  It took a lot longer than we originally planned but the kids had fun just the same.  

 Helping Papa set up the targets.

 Carson hasn't figured out how to aim yet but he had a great time pulling the trigger!

 Dillon adapted pretty quickly!

 Kayda is an old pro!  She picked that thing up and immediately started hitting what she wa aiming for.

 Of course, just shooting BB's wasn't sufficient so out came the bow!  Grandma is our archer so she helped them all!

 Carson wasn't quite strong enough to pull and hold it.

 Now, bows and arrows aren't enough either so out came the A-22.  The kids are really luck in the fact that Grandma and Papa decided to outfit themselves with things for their grandkids.  It has been wonderful for teaching the kids.  They are learning gun safety WAY more thoroughly than many kids EVER do.

 Papa talks with them how to hold an empty gun, a loaded gun, how to tell if a gun it loaded, what the bullet looks like...

 Then he shows them how to load it.

 How to aim, and how to shoot it.  The entire time we're out there we are practicing open/closed range, a range "line" and constantly reminding kids to keep guns up and away. Fortunately our kids are quick learners and listen very well so we feel okay doing these activities with them.

 We also let them try the A 22 pistol.  None of them were too fond of it but they all wanted to try it out. 

 Dillon and I just hung out.  I would grab the brass and hand him another bullet.  He loaded and everything else on his own.  When they were done Daddy and I got to play.  I discovered that I like to shoot things that will bounce around and move.  Targets have zero appeal to me. Thanks to Papa I now know what guns I would like to own.  Now I guess I better start saving.

 On another trip we headed to wind cave.

 Kayda was not a fan.  She spent the whole time huddled against my legs.  Carson went up and down, one second he liked it, the next he was scared and wanted to be held.  Which is not an easy task when you're having to duck fairly frequently.

 Dillon was enamored!  He LOVED it.  He was constantly looking in every nook, cranny and hole wanting to see more.  He wanted to explore!

 This is boxwork.  Essentially it's calcite that fills the cracks in limestone, then the limestone dissolved away.  So it's a negative impression of the limestone.

 Popcorn.  The only other type of formation in the entire cave.

 This was the first cave the kiddos have ever been in.  It was not the right cave to take them too.  This is one of the most complex caves in the world and they are still mapping new areas.  I don't know why, it is not an interesting cave by any means.

 Baby Clara and I hanging out.  She introduced herself to me by spitting up in copious amounts all down my shirt.  Then she pooped out of her diaper for me.  Then she decided I was pretty cool and loved me the rest of the trip.

 Of course, when grandkids are nearby cookies have to be made.  It's one of Grandma's rules!

 I know you're not supposed to eat raw cookie dough.  I refuse to listen.  Grandma grew up eating it, I ate it and now my kids will eat it.  It is so much more delicious than baked cookies.  Why would I deprive my children of such an experience?


We picked up Junior ranger books for the kids.  There were activity pages for them to complete and tasks to do and programs to go to.  We were just going to have them earn the patch but they wanted to do more.  They ended up getting their certificate, seal, patch and the four extra seals you could earn.

 We drove the wildlife loop three times, then had to go back out for the junior ranger program.  We went the opposite way and found this beautiful view.  This is what most of the area looks like.  The amount of trees vary and it isn't always so green but I love the way the land moves.

 On our way back from completing a junior ranger requirement we stopped at the look out tower.  I can't remember the name right now.  Carson hated it.  We had to drive up a road with a drop off next to it and he was terrified the entire time.  You can just see his eyes poking over the edge.  He wouldn't let us pick him up when we were up there.

 The views were fantastic though some were obstructed by the lines for the vell phone towers that have taken over the space.

 One of the activities we decided to do was "hook 'em and cook 'em" they provided the gear and the bait, you got to fish.  What a great way for parents that don't fish to take their kids fishing!

 The man that put the worm on Carson's hook told us about how the first timers were always the first to catch a fish.  Carson was the only one he said this to in the large group and sure enough, Carson was the first to catch a fish.  He caught a small blue gill (sunfish).  It was too small to eat so it was put back but he was thrilled!

 Dillon caught one a little bigger.  The hook got in there deeper so while deciding if we should eat it we stressed it out a little too much.  It was put in a bucket of water but didn't live much longer.

 Kayda was so persistent and patient!  She had so many fish go by and nibble on her hook but none grabbed it.  Then finally she got one!  It was another small sunfish that was released back into the lake but she was thrilled!

 Dillon's fish was cooked and he got to try it.  He says he likes it.  I want to learn how to cook fish and hopefully figure out how to eat it too!  I have a weird list of things that I want to learn how to do.  For whatever reason I feel the drive to learn how to slaughter and dress an animal, cook fish etc.  Just in case I ever need to.  The idea actually repulses me and I'm so grateful that we have grocery stores.  It doesn't change the fact that part of me feels the need to know.

 Another program we went to was canoeing.  I thought Carson was too little so we went to play at the swim area.

 See that forest?  How you can see through it and there is all this light in there?  It's all like that there!

 Carson decided he wanted to go canoeing so despite my efforts to distract him he eventually just walked away from me to go to the canoes. We were able to get a life jacket on tight enough to satisfy the rangers and out we went.  We surprised Kayda, Daddy and Dillon.

 Afterwards they got to play at the lake for a little while.  They had a great time chasing around the tiny fish that liked to hang out by the shore.

 Kayda and Dillon earned 5 seals, their certificate and their patch.  Due to his age Carson had a different program and could only earn one patch called the pups patch but he was quite pleased to have earned that.  The ranger called everyone to attention and told them about the kids' hard work and then presented their patches to them.