Visiting Montana

We had the wonderful opportunity last month to go and visit my brother and his family in Bozeman. It was so much fun! We spent most of our time up on the mountain, skiing and boarding at Bridger Bowl. This is not a big deal for most of my family since they ski/board all the time, but is was for me! Before this year, I've only been on a snowboard twice, and that was at least 10 years ago. I have to say that I was pretty proud of myself!

 

This was our group on Day 1 taking a much needed (for me) break for lunch. PB J's never tasted so good! Thanks to Erin for packing us a yummy lunch!

 The cousins had so much fun playing together. 

 

 Out to dinner at a local cafe (minus Erin who is taking the picture!)

 

 This was Brennan's first trip to the slopes. He watches his dad, brother, and sister pack up and leave to go skiing almost every Saturday during the ski season and wants so badly to go with them. He finally had his turn! Jeff has a little snowboard for Jackson that we borrowed for Brennan and he loved it!

 

 On the practice hill, ready to go!

 

He did a couple runs with someone holding the leash, but he was soon ready to do it all by himself!

 

He had such a blast!

 

Tyler and I took turns lugging Brennan to the top of this little (but steep) hill so that he could slide down. He enjoyed this as much, if not more, than the snowboard.

 

 Lexi and Olivia hanging out at the lodge.

 

Our group on Day 2. (We were missing Jackson who needed a little down time.)

 

 Our last night there, we let Olivia have a "sleep over" with Lexi and Landon. Jackson and Brennan mistakenly thought that this included them as well. We snapped a cute picture of all of them before we had to pull the little ones out and put them in their own beds.

 

 All the kids on the front porch looking stylish in their shades Uncle Jeff gave them.

 

 The roads were a little snow-packed on the way home. The wind blowing the fresh snow off the trees really does look like smoke. So beautiful!

 

 We stopped at the Grizzly Discovery Center in West Yellowstone on the way home. I was a little skeptical that we would see much, but I was wrong! We all had fun watching the bears find food that had been hidden around their enclosure.

 

 The best was watching the adults wrestle for a long time!

 

 I thought the wolves were cooler that the bears. There was an indoor building with big glass windows that you could sit and watch them through.

 

We had such a great time! Our thanks to the Coopers for their accommodations! The kids keep asking when they are going to see their Montana cousins again. Hopefully, soon!