Celebrating a lifetime

We had a fast and furious trip on July 27 to Canada to celebrate Grandpa's 90th birthday and we threw in Grandma's birthday and their 70th wedding anniversary too. We had a brunch with a waffle bar (yum) and a program, rides in a carriage, and a great dinner.  My poor mom, when you are a great cook guess who does all the cooking . . . but in true Granny fashion we fed us and it was GOOOOD!

Here are a few pictures of the festivities.  It was great to reconnect with cousins that I haven't seen in years!  We didn't get to stay very long because Chad was heading off on his 50 miler but it was fun while it lasted.

Aunt Shelley and her girls are definitely the party planners of the family.  They decorated cakes, the church and planned it out very well.  All the things of the cake represent the life of grandma and grandpa.  The clock was for the overall theme which was Time Goes By.  The second cake was for the residents at the Chinook Lodge where Grandma and Grandpa live.

 Courtney singing . . .

 Dad giving his tribute. 

 The guests of honor.

This is a cute picture of Grandma and Grandpa.  The garland behind them had all the significant things that happened in their lives . . . a timeline of sorts.

The whole family . . . Grandma Peggy, Grandpa George, Aunt Shelley, Uncle Lister, Dad.  Uncle Ron passed away in 2005.  I love dad's smile!

During the festivities, Uncle Monte gave Austin a great driving lesson.  Austin turned 14 in April and it took him a while to want to take the learners test but he did it and who is better to give driving lessons than Uncle Monte . . . no one.  

Trek 2013

This year both Keston and Chad got to go on trek.  They were excited and looking forward to going.  Tylissa was sad because she really wanted to go but because she graduated she couldn't go.

 Meeting up at the church.  Val drove a group out to the "trail head".

 

 Unloading and getting sorted into the families. 

Keston's friend, S.  This is who he hangs out with all summer long on Melita Island.  They were hoping to be in the same family but that didn't work.

Ma and Pa Toren.  They were a late addition to the trek families.  Ma was a little apprehensive but ended up having a great time.

Side note - on the way home from dropping off the boys, Val saw this mama moose and her baby.  He gets so lucky with wildlife.   

A few days later the parents were invited to welcome the trek families home.  We lined the final road as they rolled in.  This was our first glimpse of our pioneers through the trees.

 For a kid that has just trekked miles and miles, he was sure smiling.  Chad was part of the Cahoon family.  He had a great time and loved his family.

I was able to snap a quick picture of Keston coming in.  He had a great time too.  His family was the Jarvis family and from what I hear he was a hit with the females.

 I am a little sad because my camera died so we didn't get a group picture of Chad's family but I was able to pull some photos from Facebook.

 Chad looks so teeny compared to the rest of his family.  Luckily his mas was also on the petite side.  They really enjoyed having Chad in their family.  Like father like son, he pointed out all the edible foliage in the woods.

 Keston and his family.  Keston was adamant about taking his flute and his pa said he started off carrying it but that lasted only a couple of miles and in the cart it went.  He did play it a smidge.

The brothers after and still smiling.  They both had a great time and created a lot of memories.  Chad was the youngest one on the trek and he did great.  Neither of them got blisters however, Keston had a rough day at the start.  Whatever was in his stomach didn't stay there, even after the infamous first meal of broth and an apple.  But once everything came out he was good to go.

They were both exhausted and fell asleep soon after we got on the road.  Keston is known as the power house of the tug-of-war . . . I know what you are thinking - Keston - powerhouse but we were told by many people that he was a key player.  He was at the front of the team and as soon as it would start he would pivot and put the rope over his shoulder and start walking.  One of the pas said that as soon as Keston got that pivot in he knew it was all over.  The poor kid had rope burns on his shoulder but his family were the champions (however, the stake leaders did beat them).  Another fun memory was the wake up call.  The state ym president would play Justin Bieber over a megaphone. 

Here is a link to a great video of the trek.  It is about 20 minutes long but great!

http://vimeo.com/user2243430/trek2013

 

Jewel Basin

Part of Tylissa's bucket list for the summer before she went to college was to hike up in the Jewel Basin so we went for a hike.  Keston was on Melita and Chad was in Canada so it was just us three.  We had fun, threw snowballs (yes we found snow in July), and enjoyed the view of the valley below.

 The north end of Flathead Lake and Echo and Blaine lake as well.

 I made a snow angel.  It is cold on your feet when you hike in snow with just chacos on.

One of the lakes.  No one was brave enough to test the waters.

My pretty girl and the site of some of the snow balls.  It is not fair - Val has a more accurate throw.

 The bear grass was everywhere.  I'm not sure why it is so fascinating . . . but it is a popular plant.  I asked Val why it was called bear grass because it doesn't look like a bear, the bears don't eat it and he said because Lewis and Clark was bears rolling around in a field that was full of the plants and hence it was named bear grass.

We had a great time!