Glory of the West

We just took a short trip to the motherland, Montana! Eric had work in Billings and we decided to make it a family affair. We took the short drive to Billings  after Elise's dance class on Thursday.

While the roads were all perfectly clear there is still plenty of snow. Our hotel room had a view of the pool, inviting.

We checked in and freshened up a bit, meaning we shook the crumbs out of the girls' coats and I put on some lipstick. Then we headed over to the Yellowstone Art Museum (YAM) for the art event that Eric had juried several months back. We knew several of the artists featured (not the ones he had chosen/juried) and it was great fun to be a bit anonymous in a museum. With Eric's high profile job he is fairly in demand at local events. 

The next morning we grabbed some breakfast and stopped by the mall, with the indoor play area.

Then we headed to my childhood hometown in Harlowton. A small town of about a thousand it has changed very little since we left. We visited a few of my old friends and met a special little baby, daughter of my friend Robin.

Our visit was short and sweet. A few quick visits and we headed back to Billings.

We ate dinner at an Asian fusion restaurant. Then it was back to the hotel and bed for the girls. Both girls have been fantastic travelers, but they were pretty tuckered out by bedtime.

Now we are up and running, headed back to Wyoming! Don't worry, we will travel safe and sanitary.

MONTANA!

We took a long weekend and went up to Missoula, MT where we met up with our good friend Charlotte. We all met there in undergrad and return there nearly every year to hang out and spend some time in the community we so love.

While there we hit up our usual haunts (Good Food Store, Bernice's Bakery, Butterfly Herbs, etc.) and spent time enjoying a nearly perfect fall weekend.

All photos by E.K. Wimmer unless he is in them or otherwise noted.


Cordelia and I in a hotel


Me with Elise and Charlotte


Charlotte and Cordelia running at the University of Montana


Clock tower at our old university


Eric


Cordelia enjoying a muffin at Bernice's Bakery


Elise in a hat


Crossing the Higgin's Street Bridge


Dancing Cordelia


Elise (photo by Charlotte)


Eric and the girls relaxing in the hotel


Fall colors


Cordelia and Charlotte on the carousel


Elise and I on the carousel


Cordelia on the carousel


Here I am having the weirdest Shirley Temple ever (photo by Charlotte)


Charlotte and Cordelia at the art museum


Elise


Charlotte at the M on the mountain (photo by me)


me


Eric taking the photo you see below



Beautiful view of the river

Something to Share

Check out this gorgeous and creative video made by artist Andy Smetenka. Just wanted to share something that reminded me of my much loved Missoula.

Montana and then Home

We spent our last days in Montana visiting my grandmother. She served us an amazing fruit plate for breakfast and then we headed to the Children's Museum. The museum is located in an old train depot or station (not sure what/if the difference is).





After the visit to the museum (which Eric pointed out was in no way a museum, but more of an educational/fun center) we wandered to the farmer's market which was about a block away. We enjoyed the atmosphere as we took in the sights, sounds(and one adorably terrible tuba player), and smells.



After lunch we started on the journey home. We stopped in the place I call my childhood home (I lived there longer than I have lived anywhere else in my life---6 years--age 8-14). The town, Harlowton is a town of about 1,000 people. I hadn't returned in about 12 years. We stopped and visited my friend Robin and also stopped by and saw my friend Brianne. Then we took a quick tour of some of my old haunts before hitting the road again.





Yesterday amid an afternoon downpour we coasted (floated) home; the end of a long journey. Eric had been gone for nearly 2 weeks and Cordelia and I a week.

I started immediately in on a veritable mountain of laundry. We went out for a father's day dinner with my family and made our way home with a collective familial sigh. Home sweet home!

How was your weekend?

Montana Day 1

I didn't mention this until now, but last week Eric flew the coop and went to Seattle, WA for some training. We planned to reunite our family unit in Missoula. The plan was that Eric would drive from Seattle with our friend Charlotte and Cordelia and I would drive from Wyoming (we agreed in advance that if there were a zombie apocalypse that we would still plan to meet in Missoula). I was more than a little apprehensive about making the long drive alone with Cordelia. I borrowed a portable DVD player and rented some Wonder Pets from the library and Cordelia was perfect for the entire trip!

Cordelia in the car, pointing to the "Biiiiiig Truck"

Yesterday we arrived in the early afternoon, having stayed the previous night in Livingston, MT. Eric and Charlotte weren't due for a few hours. So, we strolled along the river and then Cordelia took a nap.

Finally, we were reunited! Cordelia was beyond happy to see her dad.

After catching up we went and grabbed some delicious vegan food at The Good Food Store. Later we drove around for a bit and finally we took a lovely stroll along the river. A perfect evening!

Cordelia and I with Charlotte

I am so happy to be in beautiful Montana! What have you been up to?

Back Home Again

Yesterday was the last leg of our first family vacation. We laughed, we cried (or at least one of us did), we had a great time.

On the road somewhere in Montana

We left Billings mid-morning. Cordelia was asleep within minutes. We planned much of our travel around nap times. The result was that we only had one crying outburst of less than 15 minutes for the entire trip! She as a little whiney a few times, but overall we really can't complain with how well she has done with travel-- thank goodness. Bumblebee was a real trooper too. She only whined as we pulled into cities because she knew that it meant she'd get a play break.

I got the car crazies

Eric and I chatted for the drive, which was probably the best thing about the entire trip, lots of time to talk. We had uninterrupted conversation, which is something we truly cherish.

About to return to Wyoming


Picnic


Lunch from The Good Food Store


My crew

We stopped at a rest stop in Sheridan and had some lunch. We had baked tofu wraps with spicy edamame sauce and a salad from The Good Food Store in Missoula. YUMMMMM. Also in the cooler we packed several vegan essentials, but most importantly the baked tofu from The Good Food Store.

Just outside of Sheridan, WY

We walked into our house sometime yesterday afternoon. The house smelled stuffy and there were a few chunks of cat hair laying around, but all was in good order (thanks mom!). Eric and I got things put away pretty quickly. Bumblebee wandered around whining and investigating all of the cat business that must have gone on. She then passed out completely, enough that I checked her breathing several times. Apparently she was exhausted. Cordelia took a nap, we had some food and fell right back into life in Wyoming. Happy to be home and bursting with new ideas and motivations!