1. MEETING KAITLYN!
The youngest new baby on our Tour de Northwest, little Kaitlyn Alice was just about 8 weeks old when we visited! What a little love she is: smiling, cooing, and sleeping like a dream! It was so wonderful to see my best friend with her DAUGHTER...I can already see a special bond forming between them, the only 2 Kachmarik ladies under that roof! Stick together girls!
2. BACKYARD FUN
The Kachmariks have a great big backyard, with a brand-new play structure perfect for Landon. They spent a lot of quality time on the play structure, swinging, climbing, and sliding. Thanks for sharing, Connor & Drew! We also enjoyed many fun outdoor meals together as a family. Kudos to the Kach Boys for eating corn on the cob -- what great eaters!
3. S'MORES
One of the nights we were there, we roasted marshmallows & made s'mores! What a fun, outdoor, summer memory! I think Landon is too young to remember this trip someday, but I can't help but be excited about the memories we made, and will continue to make on trips like this in the future! Side note: Lish had the largest marshmallows I've ever seen -- guess everything is bigger in Montana!?
4. HIKING UP (AND THROUGH) A MOUNTAIN
On Tuesday we visited the Lewis & Clark Caverns State Park. We embarked on a 2 mile, 2+ hour hike up a mountain, through the mountain (exploring very cool natural caverns & caves along the way), then back down a mountain where we had a delicious picnic lunch. We did this with 3 boys under 4, one newborn baby girl, and 4 adventurous & willing parents! It was an awesome experience. I'll never forget Landon saying "big rock" as he pointed to the mountain, and "big tunnel" as we walked through the caves. I'll also never forget sneaking him Teddy Grahams (like contraband) when the State Park Ranger wasn't looking to curb his hunger, and keep his melt-downs at bay! I'll never look at a Teddy Graham the same way again! The "Extreme Kachmariks" did not disappoint...and these "City Greenwoods" are tougher for it! We even talked about shipping Landon to Montana for one week every Summer when he's older...just to make sure he stays tough enough! :)
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| After building their confidence on the hike, and filling their bellies at lunch...these two did some freestyle rock climbing of their own! |
On Wednesday, we ate lunch at a Butte Landmark: Matt's Drive In. This charming, authentic diner had delicious burgers, fries, and milkshakes, only accepted cash, and still served coke out of glass bottles. Landon enjoyed his first diner-experience by mowing down a grilled cheese sando, while belly-up to the bar!
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| Lando's first milkshake |
6. DR. WHEELER'S ARTISAN PIZZERIA
One night, we were treated to homemade, fancy-schmancy pizzas by Dr. Brian Wheeler! I guess he and his doctor-friends get together & do this all the time, so he knew all sorts of great tips, and made some really delicious pizzas. What a treat! Sorry, no pics of this adventure...I was too preoccupied with trying a slice of every variety that came out of the oven!
7. THOMAS THE TRAIN HAS FRIENDS....AND THOSE FRIENDS ALL HAVE NAMES
Landon loves Thomas the Train. He talks about "choo choo trains" and says "Thomas, are you!?" as he looks for him during the TV show. Connor & Drew are also into Thomas, and helped Sean and I learn that not only does Thomas have a lot of friends...but all of those friends have names! Thanks for introducing us to James, Percy, Emily, Toby, Harold, and more!
8. BATH PARTIES
I just loved seeing these 3 little dudes having a blast in the tub together! Tons of bubbles, lots of laughs, a few headlocks, and an audience!
9. MAN-ON-MAN DEFENSE
It wasn't until our third day in Butte that I realized we were evenly matched: 4 adults & 4 kids. Talk about the need for man-on-man defense! Not to mention the realization that when Sean and I add to our family we'll be outnumbered next time we visit the Kachmariks -- woah!
10. SPENDING TIME WITH GREAT FRIENDS...WHO ARE REALLY MORE LIKE FAMILY.
Lish, Dan, Connor, Drew, and Kaitlyn - thank you for being such wonderful hosts, and showing us around Montana! You are the trailblazing family - first to get married, first to have a baby, one of the first to move away & buy a home. Thanks for continuing to make things look so easy...the rest of us will figure it out, eventually! We love you -- and can't wait to see you all in September!
