Montana "Rietema Roundup" Trip

Kurt, Kylie and I went on a trip to Kalispell, Montana for a family reunion. We were gone for 12 days. All of Doug's siblings and their families were there, minus a family here or there. It was a good size group...I don't know, maybe 70+ people... It was Kylie's first LONG car ride...very long! We spent 3 days getting there. It helped to break up the driving. This first picture shows our first pit stop for lunch at a rest stop...

By the time we got to our first hotel Kylie was definitely ready for some "air time" as to help prevent diaper rash...she was a pretty big fan of it. She usually left a little wet prize for the cleaning ladies at each hotel...oops!

She had a pretty good set up for the trip. We drove Doug & Cindy's van. Such a blessing! Our other option was our little Hyundai Accent...

We saw at least 50 signs for Wall Drug, so we HAD to stop and check it out...

It had good ice cream...
a cute little post office...
and a bunch of fun little shops to walk through. It was a good stretch break...

You can't go through South Dakota without seeing Mt. Rushmore! It was Kylie's first time...mine too! :)

Kylie just chillin' on a sweet chair in Target...

No trip is complete without a stop at a Goodwill...or two...or three+...

Helping Mommy look through some pants...

Her first bath in a real tub...I sat her on a towel since it was a hotel tub...it at least made me FEEL like I was protecting her from germs... :)

We met a friend of mine from my DTS China team in Kalispell for lunch. She is at the YWAM base there, so it worked out perfect to have a quick visit at the HuHot Mongolian Grill.

Kylie & Auntie Julie sportin' our homemade reunion T-shirts...

Kylie & her cousin Will...

Our immediate family...minus Kate & Sierra. Kate couldn't come because she's due with their second very soon!

The girls

Kylie & I took a stroll around the campground where we stayed for the reunion...

It was beautiful!

Gotta love "air time"

After the reunion a bunch of family members went to Whitefish...Kurt biked down the mountain with some others, and the rest of us rode the gondola up and down. Such a gorgeous view!

Kylie seemed to enjoy it! Will wasn't so sure! ;)

Takin' a sink bath at Kurt's Aunt & Uncle's house...

Kurt was so stoked to find a "MEGA" thrift store...

Kylie shared in his excitement!

Her first highchair experience in a restaurant...

Auntie Julie with cousin Kaina, Tate and Kylie

We also went to Glacier National Park...Kylie had to rest up on the drive there for the big day ahead...

Once she woke up, she LOVED being outside. The air was crisp...the scenery was beautiful...it was a great day!

We ate lunch at this lake with some of the other family...

Took a little walk at Logan's Pass...

It was a little windy, but still warm enough to enjoy the snow without getting cold...

We also walked a couple other trails on the way out of the park...

Kurt trying to get in the tree for a pose...

Hey, it worked!

A little difficult to get out though... :)

The deer in the background didn't really care that we were there...we also saw a bear, but didn't get a good picture of it!

Kaina & Tate playing with Kylie at the Pizza Hut at the end of the day...

That night we left Kurt's Aunt & Uncle's house in Kalispell and made our way a couple hours down the road. By this time Kylie really enjoyed hotels...

And playing with Daddy on the beds...

Testing the waters in the pool...

Kurt as happy as a kid on the waterslides at the hotel's indoor pool...

Kylie getting started on lunch without us...

We were so thankful for the times she fell asleep...it wasn't THAT often in the car...

Another Goodwill...surprise, surprise...

Almost home. We took the northern route to go visit Kurt's Grandparents & Grandma on the way home. It was a quick stop, but so glad we got to at least say hi...

We finally made it home 12 days later...we sure didn't miss the humidity! It was a great vacation over all...but it IS good to be home.