BIG Sky Montana

Big Sky, Montana is just how the name describes. BIG, blue, wide open skies filled with mountains. It definitely beats the concrete box we live in. It was a wonderful retreat away from the normal Texas heat too with the high in the low 70's. Lillian was so excited to ride on her first plane. The trip down wasn't bad at all but the plane ride home was another story. I would like to formally apologize to all the people who had to hear my child scream at the top of her lungs all the way through take off. It was the longest take off in my life waiting for that seatbelt light to go off. Robert and I tried everything to calm her down but she wasn't having it. At least I know we put forth the effort.

All smiles before the flight

Our first morning in Big Sky was breathtaking. Lillian loved seeing the balloon. It was the first frost of the season too but it quickly warmed up so we could go on a long walk.

We went on a wonderful walk to a nearby park to let Lillian play. The scenery was wonderful. We had the BEST hosts to show us around, Uncle Walter and Aunt Melissa (also known as Applissa). 

Lillian with Uncle Walter and Gus.

She was timid at first but really enjoyed the slides.

Walking down to the water with Applissa.

 No, Gus didn't just eat Lilly. He is a sweet puppy.

 We hiked the trails a lot that morning. Lillian was a trooper. While Lillian was sleeping back at the house with Gram we hiked to the peak of Black Diamond trail.  The views were spectacular. Remind me again why I live in Texas?

Our next few days there were packed with adventure. We decided to make the trip to Yellowstone. 

While in West Yellowstone we went to Grizzly and Wolf Discovery center. I'm not sure why Lillian didn't enjoy this place maybe because she was asking where the walrus. The adults had a great time though. It was very educational, maybe thats why she didn't like it. hmmmm.

At one point she went and laid face down on a bench she was so upset. I guess it's hard being an (almost) 3 year old at a museum.

 We stopped at several hot springs, geysers and fumaroles and mudpots. The views were beautiful, the smell on the other hand....not so good. One of my favorite quotes from Lillian was "it tastes like milk" speaking of the mudpots. Nope, it's not warm milk Lilly. Good observation though. :)

 At Norris Museum with the steamboat geyser.

The constant geyser wasn't so constant. After it went off once Robert and Gene stood around for a while waiting for it to go off again so they could get a photo. They finally gave up. It felt like they were waiting forever for it to go off again. Probably wasn't that long but the running joke was that it went off as soon as we were gone. :)

Not Milk

 We had a picnic lunch in front of Old Faithful. It was just as I remembered it when I was a kid.

The colors were magnificent it almost looks fake but we were really there, I promise.

 We went on a hike to a waterfall. There were some cliffs that made me very nervous but Lilly did great and held Aunt Melissa's hand the whole way.

Once we arrived at the waterfall we saw the most beautiful rainbow. It was a glorious site.

 Oh and I almost forgot to mention, we traveled around Yellowstone in style. No Lilly didn't really get to ride in the convertible but she wanted so badly to be in the car. We took turns riding with Aunt Melissa enjoying the beautiful weather.

 Here are some of the animals we met driving through Yellowstone. It was unfortunate we didn't get to see a moose. However we did get up close and personal with a bison that was walking on the median on a two way highway in the mountains. Isn't he cute?? He was inches away from our car.

On our last full day in Big Sky Robert and I went on a hike alone to a nearby waterfall. The views were awesome and it was so cool by the water. A big thanks to our family for watching Lilly. I'm not sure she even knew were gone. Papa and Applissa kept her occupied.

 Melissa and Walter have a gorgeous house and landscape so I took advantage of the backdrop and snapped some photos of Lillian.

Finally to end the blog of our Montana vacation I will leave you with a song from Lilly she made up to entertain herself while stuck in a hotel room. It goes something like this "I got a cup on my head, a cup on my head. mommy, daddy I have a cup on my head."