Beating the Heat

One alternative for beating the oppressive summer heat in Houston is to simply get away, so we combined some vacation time with family reunions and celebrations and escaped for a few weeks! Ben & Amy and their girls jumped on the idea and joined us for the journey.

Our first destination was back to our hometowns of Spanish Fork and Salem. One of Utah's biggest and best celebrations of the year is July 24th, "Pioneer Day." Spanish Fork adds its own flavor to the festivities with "Fiesta Days" which makes it a week-long event. Luckily for us, my brother, Charlie, and his family traditionally stake out a particular spot along the parade route, so we were able to join them under their canopy for the 2-hour long Fiesta Days Parade. Then it was up to Canyon View Park for a family reunion and 80th birthday party for Lee's sister and brother-in-law, Janice & Hal, who both turned 80 in July. We had such a great time enjoying lunch with Lee's extended family, including some we hadn't seen in years.

Next on our agenda was driving to Montana. We had originally intended to get up early the next morning and make the 12-hour drive, but once all of the July 24th festivities were over something came over us and we decided to load up the Suburban and drive through the night instead. The idea was that the drive would be much easier if the little girls slept most of the way. So, we left Salem at about 6:30 p.m. and headed north. I had a great time watching a movie in the back with the girls, but had to miss the end of "The Sound of Music" when they went to sleep somewhere in Idaho. The four of us took turns driving (some driving longer/further than others!) Turned out to be a great idea, as the girls woke up as we pulled into Whitefish just after 6:00 the next morning. We picked up some breakfast then headed out to Sigh-Bar where we spent the next 10 days in the beautiful Montana wild.

One of Lee's goals was to get the rafters put up on the barn he is building, especially since Ben was there to help him with the lifting. He bought a generator, that he can haul around in the the trailer behind the ATV, so he could use the power saw onsite, which also contributed to his building success. He spent the best part of every day working outside, and asked me not to invite him to "go to town."

Another of Lee's goals was to pick up the horse! He had been in contact with a wrangler who had helped him identify a horse "suitable for a beginner," and had made boarding arrangements for the horse with the Bar W Guest Ranch. She is a 10-year-old grey mare named "Belle." We were all anxious to get acquainted with Belle, but Isabelle was absolutely thrilled. Once she got comfortable riding around in the corral by herself, she did not want to get off! Olivia took a turn riding the horse, but she much preferred speeding around on "Artie," the ATV!

Amy celebrated her birthday while we were there with a trip up to the Whitefish ski resort. She & Ben did an amazing zipline tour and took the girls on the Alpine slide. I was happy with just riding up and down the mountain on the lift! Rather than birthday cake we splurged on wild huckleberry milkshakes made with homemade ice cream at Sweet Peaks.

We loved the beautiful summer Montana weather, hiking/exploring, cooking hotdogs and s'mores in the firepit, riding the horse & ATV & tractor, trips into town, waking without an alarm, cool morning jogs, the Whitefish Farmers Market, watching the deer, finishing two 1000-piece puzzles, and simply relaxing and having fun together. All too soon it was time to pack up and continue the adventure...

This time we made an all-day trip back to Salem, minus Lee who was returning to Houston from Montana. We took a little longer break when we got to Idaho Falls to let the little girls wander around the falls and the temple grounds, so they were ready for bedtime when we got to Salem. We spent the next 10 days enjoying the joys of small town life at G'pa & G'ma's house: we walked at least once a day (sometimes more!) to Fast Gas, played with cousins, hiked the ""Y" in Provo, feasted on Mom's homemade bread & cookies, attended Salem's Little Buckaroo rodeo, visited with family and friends, indulged in Glade's fries, and took part in several Salem Days events.

Salem Days is the celebration of small town America at its best! Isabelle and Olivia helped their cousin, Zoey, decorate her Barbie car and the three of them rode in the Children's Parade. Olivia was ecstatic and waved the entire parade route! Ben pushed Olivia in the stroller and ran alongside Isabelle in the One Mile Fun Run, and Amy & I ran the 5K. We had a free pancake breakfast at the park before hurrying to get to our seats for the Grand Parade. Almost every entry in the parade tossed candy or popsicles or whatever to the spectators. (One dentist even tossed new toothbrushes!) Belle & Livi collected a bag of candy to rival Halloween! That afternoon the entire family gathered together to help G'ma Joan celebrate her 81st birthday. We ended the day watching the Salem Days fireworks from the front porch.

One more of Mom's Sunday dinners, then time to put this adventure in the family history book! We "escaped" over 3 weeks of hot & humid summer days in Texas, and made so many wonderful memories with loved ones in a wide variety of locations and environments. True joy!!