Trip to Coeur d'Alene Idaho and Glacier National Park

This was a super fun trip and I'm glad we went; I just wish Jaime could have been there.  I went with my parents and two of my brothers (Danny and Fred) and their families.  1902 + miles (200 inside Glacier Park) round trip and 28 hours of driving but well worth it.  My expectations were exceeded in the departments of stress and frustration but overall the children were well behaved and Nora was better than expected.  A lot of the stress came from Elise and Cameron deciding to be crazy and run around at the absolute wrong times such as on a cliff side and then there was Kaitlin's bipolarness to deal with.  Seriously, WTF! (freak) one second she would be laughing and then a fly would toot in china and she was the biggest most stubborn crank ever!  Back and forth, back and forth, it really wears you down.  Anyway, if you ever get the chance you have to come and visit this area it's beauties are beyond description.

Without further delay...

In Idaho

July 2-5

Unlce Mike is extremely talented at wood work (and a ton of other things too) and he made all of the kids these Idaho cut outs with their name inside that can pop out.  

Some of Aunt Diane's grandkids and some of my nieces and nephews.  Let's see if I can name everyone in this photo... nope, sorry :( 

Swimming at Beaver Bay

Uncle Mike and Aunt Diane's Property

One word... Beautiful.  They live just outside of Coeur d'Alene.  I hadn't been up there in 13 years and I didn't want to leave. 

A view from one of the many trails on the property

Picking Huckleberries and Wild Strawberries

July 4, 2009 Fireworks at Bayview

They shoot these fireworks out over the water.  My favorite part was Elise's cheers.  I've put a video of one of those cheers below. 

Coeur d'Alene Boardwalk and Park

July 5, 2009

Traveling to Glacier

July 6, 2009

Avalanche Trail and Gorge

July 7, 2009

This is Avalanche gorge, I tried tinkering with this photo for effect but the actual colors are amazing here.  

The real Avalanche Gorge

Going to the Sun Road

July 7, 2009

This road takes you across Glacier Park and is SO beautiful.  The highlight was the weeping wall. 

Weeping wall.  I've put a video of us driving by this below.

This snow pack is just around the bend from the weeping wall

St. Mary's lake on the Going to the Sun Road

July 8, 2009 Cameron's Birthday

This is the day that we saw the mama bear and her two cubs.  They were probably 50 feet or less away from us (we were in the car) it was fun to watch them.  We hiked the fish creek trail in the morning then we went up to the northern part of Glacier to Bowmen Lake, it was the most beautiful lake I have ever seen.  After that we went to Dairy Queen for Cameron's birthday dinner.

Fish creek trail.  The signs said the fire was in 2003

This is the hugest mushroom I have ever seen.  It was bigger than my hand.

Bowmen Lake

Hell's Half Acre

We stopped here on our way home.  It's located between Pocatello and Idaho Falls.  It's a place where the lava boiled up to the surface and cooled but the continued pressure from below caused the rocks to crack and make huge fissures and holes.  Pretty stinkin' cool if you ask me.

Fourth of July video.  Elise cheering.

Weeping Wall