The Grand Finale!!

Yesterday was a great way to end our "Big Trip." We started out in Bozeman and stopped for lunch in Missoula, MT. In Tom's words, "Since I got out of the car, I've just felt at home." We had a great time. The kids spent a couple of hours riding the carousel (third one of the summer) and playing at the Dragon Hollow Playground at Caras Park.

Then, thanks to a great recommendation by an old rugby friend and Missoula native, we enjoyed Wednesday Out to Lunch in Caras Park. This is a great downtown Missoula event with live music, food carts, and local vendors that happens every Wednesday around lunch time in the summer. We each got lunch from our vendor of choice and even got to watch a couple of surfers try their hand at a standing wave in the Clark Fork River.

After lunch we headed for a quick, driving tour of the University of Montana and the to Coeur d'Alene, Idaho to see our good friends the Weedas. Lilly and Maizie have been friends since they were about 9 months old. You may not believe it, but these girls have a bond that surprises us all the time. When Brad, Char, and Maizie moved to Coeur d'Alene in June the girls had a rough time adjusting to life without one another every day. The Weedas found a great spot! They've got 10 acres outside of town and lots of fun projects underway. Our kids could not have been more excited to see familiar faces and get out in some open space! Garrett and Brad invested some serious time building a gold panning station so Brad can prospect in their creek bed and Lilly and Maizie fell right back into step! After dinner we took a hike around their property (the girls wore princess dresses) looking for turkeys and deer. It was so quiet and relaxing with a beautiful view!

This morning we went into town and had breakfast before we hit the road for HOME!

It has been a wonderful trip. Our kids are amazing travelers and having three weeks to spend with them has been such a gift. I would be remiss if I didn't mention that EVERYONE is excited to see Gator and sleep in their own beds!