Great Falls = Great Family

We made it a point during our trip to visit my  half brother and sister and their mom, Donica, in Great Falls, MT.  It had been 5 years since I'd seen my sister, Shaylee, and 13 years since I'd seen my brother, Cody, who's now 15! 

Big Sky

They were so sweet to host us for the week, with lots of nights spent hanging out at their house, playing games and Donica cooking great dinners.  As usual, Loralai and Juliet just liked being in a REAL HOUSE more then anything!  They ran around the yard, played with outside chalk, watched movies, and played with all the cool pets.

Poor Max!  She held him like this for HOURS!

 

The first day we were there, Donica, Cody, and Shaylee all came over to our campsite to welcome us at The KOA (where we were paying $58!!!!  a night.  Most expensive stay of the entire trip).  We only stayed there 2 nights, while we waited for a spot to open at Dicks RV Park ($32 a night) down the road. From the KOA, we went to their house for a BBQ and to meet the boyfriends. 

The thing that made staying at the MOST EXPENSIVE RV Park of the trip, OK, was that it had a waterpark for the kids.  We spent Day 2 there with my brother and sister, while Joe worked.

The water park was pretty cool with several slides, sprinklers, and sprayers.

 

While there, we also went to some falls, which was this great area to campout, not too far from town.  We played in the water, went on a walk, and had a picnic lunch.  We even found a Beaver Dam in the river!

Naked baby in a river!



Another day we went to a state park and learned about the fishery there, did a hike, and played on the playground.  And get this, Montana had their own Junior Ranger Program!!!  So Loralai did the workbook, and we mailed off for her Monatana Jr Ranger Badge!  Joe thinks I'm obsessed with Jr Ranger badges.  Crazy, right?!

We were also in the best place possible to celebrate the 4th of July, Big Sky Country!  We just sat in Donica's yard and watched the fireworks going off all around us, all night long.  We bought a few for Loralai and Cody to pop as well.

My family was so sweet to host us all week!  Thank you for all the yummy food (I mean it!), and for having cute pets for the girls to play with, and for driving me all over town and out of town, and for showing us such a good time!

Putting on a puppet show with Uncle Cody at the awesome library in Great Falls

Our trip to Great Falls really was great!  Lots of late nights staying up playing games, talking, and popping fireworks. 

Playing at the RV

We were also able to fit in a girls night the last night we were there!  So fun!  But what happens at Girls Night, stays at Girls Night, so no pictures!  I will say that my sister can sing!

The morning after photo

This stop was much more about visiting the people, then it was about visiting the place.  And in order to have the  most time possible with my famliy, we sacrificed visiting Galcier National Park and Canada, which were only 3 hours away.  So the rush order passports, were not used on this trip, but we have lots of plans for next summer.  Maybe Alaska by way of Canada?   

Juliet plays, while Cody gets a hair cut