Lazy Summer Days at Sigh-Bar

Almost the entire gang boarded the plane back to Montana after the Beach Beevention. Tara and Nick went home and back to work, but the rest of us headed to Sigh-Bar for some lazy summer days. The kids loved having toast and hot chocolate on the deck every morning, and playing in their pj's until it warmed up enough to get dressed. They helped Grandpa do the chores, hiked up to the train tracks behind the house, created a fairy village in the trees, took turns on the tire swings, roasted hot dogs and marshmallows, rode the horses, hammered nails and built their own creations with the wood Grandpa gave them, rode Artie, made "salad" for the horses to eat, learned to drive Grizzlee, played volleyball and badminton, created a sheriff's station and chased bad guys, had multiple birthday parties for June, presented talent shows, loved eating "Creamies," and had a great time just being together and freedom to play outside all day.






One afternoon they drove Mulee to Tally Lake while I followed in the truck with the crockpot, and after they had paddled around in the inflatable raft and gone swimming in the cold, cold water we had a hot dinner picnic-style. We spent a day at Big Mountain riding the chairlift up and whizzing down the mountain on the Alpine Slide. Alex and June were good sports and hiked all the way up the Lion Mountain Trail with us to the Skyles Lake overlook.

Every Tuesday evening we staked out our spot at the Farmer's Market in Whitefish, and tried new tastes and old favorites from the food vendors. We made multiple stops at the Zip Trip for "F'reals" and "Frazils" and at Sweet Peaks for yummy homemade ice cream.

Once July turned into August and the start of school showed up on the calendar, it was time to think about going home. Alex, Leo, and June left, then Ben, but Amy and the girls stayed one more week to squeeze in a few more hours of fun in the mountain air. Amy celebrated her birthday with new cowboy boots, we spent an evening at the local rodeo, and went to the local theatre production of "Thoroughly Modern Millie." And then...the house was especially quiet, everything was neatly back in place, and even the dog and the horses seemed to be lonely.

We are so blessed to have this beautiful "happy place" in the mountains of northwest Montana, and it is especially happy when we have our family here to enjoy it with us. Until next summer...