Our Ironman Dad

The Fan Club

The boys and I followed Dad around the town from one leg of the race to another. They were great little cheerleaders!
The Run

This was the very last stretch and Aram looked super strong.

At first, when he got off his bike and started running he was barely at

a shuffle because he was a bit stiff from the ride.
The Bike

Aram's bike is way retro-old. He told me he was a bit frustrated when a husky girl passed him on the bike because of his lack of gears, a piece of humble pie never hurt anyone.
The Swim

This part of the race was the hardest to watch, I just kept thinking "that is soooo long to swim."
Doesn't he look enthusiastic?

Flathead Lake

This year we tried a "You Pick" cherry orchard. Marshall was loving life, he ate more than he picked. We made some yummy cherry jam with our pickins.
Hanging out in the hammock with cousins, Lachlan and Joette.
Marshall would disappear often only to be found in Grandma's garden, working hard at making a mighty good mess.
Wild ride to Wild Horse Island. It was pouring rain on our way there, but it cleared up and ended up being a great day of hiking, and swimming.

Our Grandpa Rocks!

We are so proud of our groovy Papa Dude. He is in a band called the "Shamrockers", they play folksy Irish music; some traditional and some original songs. On our visit to Montana this summer we were "Lucky" enough to see our Papa Dude jam out at The Columbia Falls Fair.

Summer Review

Marshall got potty trained!!! Sheppard was a great helper, showing him the ropes of how to pass the time while "working things out."
The boys at Jackson Lake, with the Tetons in the background. We made a trip with Lou Lou and Pampa, the lake was a little too chilly to swim but the boys had a great time throwing rocks and going on little adventures.
Row, Row, Row your Boat. Lou Lou took the boys out on a ride in the raft. We felt very spoiled having Grandma and Grandpa all to ourselves.
Sheppard and Pampa on a hike at Jenny Lake.
One of our local favorites, Big Jud's Burgers. Our whole family can split this one hamburger.

Yellowstone Trip #2

On this day-trip we had many adventures along the way.

Marshall has this small obsession with throwing rocks into water, usually this is a fun and simple way to pass an afternoon, not so in Yellowstone. See at Yellowstone you spend your day hiking and looking at pools of water, and there are millions of rocks to choose from along the way, but there is also a $1000 fine..try explaining this to a very determined 2 year old whose favorite pass-time is throwing rocks in water. We stopped to watch some Buffalo by a river and Marshall had was in heaven throwing his rock. To get him to get back in the car Aram gave him a rock for our next spot. Our next spot was a hike to hot pots. I tried to get Marshall to give me his rock, he wouldn't. I tried to get him to throw it in the trees, he wouldn't. Once we got to the hot pot I tried prying the rock from his little hands, he's got a very firm grip. When he saw his chance he chucked the rock, but luckily it ricqoched off the fence. I swept up the rock before Marshall could get it. This was the beginning of a very long tantrum. As we continued on the hike we passed a small stream I gave the rock back to Marshall and told him to throw it in the water. "NO, big water." He wasn't going to settle for a measly stream when there were bigger fish to fry. So we were back to square one, trying to get the rock from Marshall before Marshall got the rock into a hot pot. Once again luck was on our side...if you call being on a hike with a tantrum throwing two year old luck, the hot pots were too far off for him to make it and so he catapulted the rock over the fence and fell short. He was pretty upset that it didn't make it into the water and set off to find another rock. At which point we decided to carry back to the car.

The next Sigfred and Roy???

We have made many trips to the Tauphaus Zoo in the short time we have been living in Idaho. From these pictures you would think that the boys were totally crazy about the Tigers, it's not true don't let them fool you. On our first visit in May I was holding Marshall as we were watching the Tiger, then he let out a very mean, hungry growl, it made me jump. I don't know if it was my jumpiness or the actually roaring but now Marshall has a major aversion to Tigers. Every time we go to the zoo now he freaks out when he know we are getting close to the Tiger cage.

Yellowstone Trip #1

Aram's parents were so kind to come and watch the kids while we did some house hunting in Idaho Falls. On Sunday we decided to make a trip through Yellowstone and down through the Tetons and back again. It was super cold, it was like we went back to February. It was difficult to coax the boys out of the car to see the Buffalos and mud pots. I especially enjoyed out picnic in the snow. I don't think the boys saw much on the hikes because the wouldn't take their blankets off their heads. I haven't been to Yellowstone for years, and it was like the first time for me, I got giddy when I saw the hot pots bubbling over and the Old Faithful.