Quinticential Montana Weekend

We have been just go-go-going around here, taking advantage of all of Dave’s time before he has to start working again.  We decided last minute to head up to NE MT and Fort Peck, MT first. We loved seeing the various scenery on the way, lots of plains, buttes, mountains, rivers, and animal spotting. This state is so beautiful!  We went to the park and played, got dinner and then went to the Ft. Peck Theatre to see You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown. Excellent, as always. The cast only had 6 people in it, but it was cute.  We went swimming at our hotel, and then tried to settle down and go to sleep.  The next day, we drove to Scobey, our sweet home away from home, for their Pioneer weekend fun. We had the pancake breakfast (that chokecherry syrup is the best!), walked around pioneer town, caught up with  friends, and then went to the Dirty Shame Show.  This was one of the best we’ve seen!  Super cute and loved hearing old friends perform in it, from the Dixieland Band to the singers and the Belles.  Then we met up at the  park with some of the kids friends and parents and the Williams family, they are so neat, we love them!  After that, it was off to the Cole’s place for a BBQ with them and the Anderbergs, both the senior and the younger ones.  Kennadie also traveled back for the summer so Emma was able to hang with her, Ivy and Ari. We had a blast chatting, playing bocche ball, barbequing brats and hot dogs, eating salads, and roasting s’mores. The older kids went to the pool for night swim. We stayed at the hotel and played Phase 10, went to bed tired and happy. We woke up and went to church, so good to be back in our little branch!  A few new member families, so good to see growth! Everyone said they wished we were moving back, felt like we were never really gone.  Can’t believe it has been three years since we lived there.  It was really a great experience.  The kids all loved going back and so did we, such great memories and people in this special little Scobey town.  

4th of July Sunday

Having Independence Day on Sunday actually was really cool! We read books about the Declaration of indepence, the States, and even the Bald Eagle leading up to the 4^th (did you know Benjamin Franklin wanted a turkey to be our national symbol?). Saturday, the three youngers helped me make red, white and blue waffles. Saturday all day, we cleaned, organized and started packing to get ready to show and sell our home.  Sunday, we got ready for Church, and went to Fast & Testimony meeting. We heard some great testimonies on how sacred America is and how God was and is who we still trust. We stood and sang t
he national anthem so loud and proud it brought tears to my eyes. We live in a patriotic place, and that is a gift.  When we got home, we did a USA puzzle, played, read, did our Come, Follow Me lesson, got ready for dinner, had a BBQ of hamburgers and hot dogs, slow cooker creamed corn, baked beans, tater tots, and patriotic layered Jell-o. We video chatted with both grandparents, great to talk to them. We played capture the flag next, which was a hoot!  Then we ended the night driving to Laurel to watch the fireworks there.  It was a great show and lots of others were lighting off fireworks all over.  Only 2 fires right by us, yikes!  But they got them out quickly, thankfully.  A great day for reflection, especially having this day on the Sabbath. God bless America, now more than ever.