Summer Lovin'.

Every summer we pack our bags and head to Montana to spend some quality time with my grandparents.

This year we were especially excited for George to meet them!  The flight to Montana was great, specifically because we were on the same flight as my parents.  Ben sat with Gramma and Grampa and watched Toy Story the entire flight. (I could him yelling, "To infinity, and beyond!" over and over from twelve rows back.)
My parents were a huge help during our layover in Denver. Ben was exhausted and we were juggling car seats, strollers, carry-ons, and tired babies.  George nursed and slept during both flights, but Ben didn't fall asleep until we were at the baggage claim in Great Falls at 11pm (midnight, our time!).

The next morning, Nana and Papap were so excited to give Ben a big surprise- his very own tractor!  He was so thrilled to have his own John Deere!  

We all got a lower-back work-out because Ben had trouble managing the steering wheel and the gas pedal at the same time.  Next year he'll be the perfect age to tool around on it!

George spent the entire vacation meeting new family members and sleeping on them.

Aunt Rhonda loves babies, and they love her!

Meeting Great-Grandma Helen.  George is her 14th great-grandchild!

Laughing at Nana

George enjoyed a two-hour nap on Papap nearly every afternoon...

... but he saved some naptime snuggles for Nana, too.

One afternoon we took Ben to the children's museum in Great Falls, and all he really wanted to play with was the big Buzz Lightyear they had in the toddler area.  Figures.

I love spending the 4th of July in this little town.  We met up with some family to watch the parade.

Memorable moments include a hilarious exchange with my 12-year-old cousin when he saw me breastfeeding George "I didn't know you did that!!!", Ben's fascination with the clown car, and the fun of watching my cousin tumble and stunt with her cheerleading squad.

George, like his Daddy, is apparently not a fan of parades.  Slept through the whole thing.

That's Karlee up there!

That night, Dad took us out to watch fireworks.  It isn't dark until 10pm, so we put Ben to bed at 7 and then woke him up to go see the show.

In all my life, I've never seen as many fireworks in one place as I have in Great Falls, Montana.  The whole sky lights up with thousands and thousands of fireworks.  It's one of my favorite things about summers there.

We spent lots and lots of time outside, enjoying the cooler temperatures and dryer air. 

There was a swimming pool about five feet away, but the cooler was much more fun!

We spent time visiting with Great-Grandma Helen.  She had really fun trucks and toys for Ben to play with, and she always puts out a beautiful spread for us.  Hospitality is truly her gift!

A trip to Great Falls wouldn't be complete without at least one visit to the Farmers Market!  Another one of my favorite things.  I love the energy and the small-town feel, as well as the yummy fresh fruits, veggies, and pastries! Even though Tim's been visiting Montana with me for the last ten years, this was his (and George's!) first trip to the market.

Ben loved riding the horse.  $3 well spent.

Tim and I enjoyed a fun date night out.  The grandparents and great-grandparents watched the kids, and we took off in Nana's caddy.  We marveled at the fact that we were leaving the house at 7pm, rather than just getting home.  We had a delicious dinner at Bert and Ernie's and enjoyed some live music (love that place!), then went for coffee and nutella crepes at The Faster Basset.

Ten years together and there's still no one else I'd rather share a meal with.

Aunt Rhonda was gracious enough to have us out to her parents' farm so Ben could explore the tractors. Not just any old tractors, but big tractors (and a bunch of vintage cars and trucks).  That farms is Heaven for a two-year old boy (and his thirty-year-old Daddy).  

Of course, a trip to Montana is not complete without our annual trip to Fairmont Hot Springs Resort.  This beautiful spot holds so many dear memories for our family.

Our little brood got to stand on the exact spot where Tim and I got engaged ten years ago!

George was screaming at this point and I didn't realize he had a dirty diaper.  Mom of the year, folks!

 Ben visited the resort's petting zoo, just like I've been doing since I was his age.

Ben loved playing on the playground and running through the cool grass.

I love watching these two play together. 

 Perhaps the highlight of the trip was watching Ben enjoy the water slide.  As far as our family is concerned, this is the water slide.  We've spent the last twenty plus summers climbing all five flights of stairs and screaming all the way down.

Ben's first trip down the slide!

I got to take George for his very first swim!

Ben had a blast in the pool all three days we were there.

This was our first time to stay in a hotel room with both boys, and it was a breeze!  I slept in one bed with George and Tim slept in the other bed with Ben.  Both of the boys did great through the nights and neither woke the other one up.  Just when we were thinking, "Maybe this whole 'having two kids' thing isn't so tough..."

 ... George screamed practically the entire three hour drive home from the resort.  We are two for two on kids who hate the carseat.

We visited Giant Springs, where my parents got married.

See that spot in the middle of the trees over my left shoulder?  My parents got married there thirty one years ago!

Ben surprised us by loving the cold, cold water.

Other highlights from the trip include...

Storytime with Nana:

Seeing my first triple rainbow after an evening storm (seriously!):

The boys first bath together.  George's face says it all:

"Watch where you're dumping that water, kid!"

 And devouring Grampa's famous ice cream sundaes (complete with freshly ground nuts):

We had such a wonderful time with family.  I could post a hundred more pictures.  We are always so sad to leave, but Grampa makes sure we never leave without plenty of food for the flight home.  This year he got up early and made us ham and egg sandwiches for our 7am flight.  He included a PB&J, m&m's, and fresh fruit for Ben.  Love that man.

Mom and I were alone with the boys on the flight home, and we all survived!  Mom is such a huge help. That woman will have more jewels in her crown than anyone else I know.  After a weather delay in Denver, we were so thankful to be safely home after another memorable summer in Montana.