The kids had new kitchen
countertops installed over the summer. A final detail is installing a backsplash. They selected a rustic green rectangular tile to be laid in a square pattern. Check out Kent’s handiwork. Walls also go from a dark mustard yellow to misty fern (sort of mint). A last touch is repainting the floor pattern in the heaviest wear area in front of the sink. It all looks great. 
We are off to New York today to join in celebrating Hazel’s 2nd birthday then to hang out and bask in the “grandparent aura” for a couple weeks. I can’t wait! It is an uneventful trip and Mike picks us up at the airport. I join him picking up Willa after school and am in seventh heaven when she come running shouting “Nana, Nana”. What a joy! Hazel’s vocabulary is growing and she has added what sounds like “Where’s Nana”. No one is sure if that’s really what she means but, I’ll take it!
I’m baking birthday cake
again this year. At two Hazel hasn’t voiced a specific shape or idea so I’m going with her love of nature and the outdoors. The cake is an orange aster assembled from cupcakes…. plus, I am trying cake-pops. Cook’s sampling says they are all delicious and they are pretty cute. Check out the bugs and butterfly details.
Hazel opens her gift from Granpa on the 13th, her actual bday. Note to self, always wrap in tissue paper. She loves ripping it apart! The train is a hit too.
Willa will be Jafar from Alladin this Halloween.
We are not quite sure why she is so obsessed but she has been saying it for weeks and still not waivered. Something about having evil magic powers. Who knows. We bring out last year’s witch costume and add a red lining to the cape, create a turban from Mom’s wool hat and some flower arrangement sprigs, and she and I create the iconic serpent scepter. With a bit of face paint, she is quite Jafar-like.
The bear
costume Willa wore when she was two just fits Miss Hazel. It is adorable on her.
We are in again today. Weather looks better for the weekend.
The rain holds off just long enough for Kent to grill some chops for dinner. Carol spent much of the day at her place baking. We have delicious apple hand-pies for dessert.
Carol and I toast the end of sisters’ week with the end of limoncello that’s been riding in my freezer since one of our earlier get togethers. It has been a great week. We need to plan the next one.
We check out the remaining Ranger recommendation, the Whitefish Farmers Market. It is about a 20- mile drive but all on pavement this time. Whitefish is predominantly a ski town but they do their darndest to get folks in for the summer season as well. Amtrak still stops here regularly and they have done a nice job restoring the old station. Distilleries and breweries are sprinkled among many bars, restaurants, and shops of the downtown. Carol is on the lookout for hard cider and is assured by the hostess at the Craggy Range Bar, “we have cider”. We take a seat at the bar with high hopes as a cider does appear on one of the taps. The bar tender is rushed and a bit frazzled so it is a few minutes before he slows down to attend to us; unfortunately, only to tell us “I haven’t had any cider for a while now”. Rats. There are several local beers on draft and they claim to have local spirits. I go for a ‘local’ bourbon, Yellowstone Select. It is smooth and great sipping whiskey. Unfortunately, as I find out later when I google it, it is also actually made in Kentucky. Little sleight of hand on the bar tender’s part! Carol’s beer goes down smoothly too. We try blistered shishito peppers but find them hotter than expected. Most come home with us to throw into various recipes.
We stroll the main street and circle through a couple shops including one filled with amazing fine arts pieces – carvings and bronze work and paintings on canvas and stone nearly any of which would be welcome in my someday cabin.
It is 5PM and the market is opening up. We cruise the arts and whatnot section first but find nothing we just have to have. A few booths have local produce, mostly root vegetables but some tomatoes and fruit as well. It all looks wonderful. We pass it up too. We come across baked goods, more on that later. We head toward the food trucks, that’s been our plan all along for dinner. First, we scope them all out: Thai, Russian Piroshkis, grain bowls, and BBQ all catch our eye as does a decadent giant cookie stop. We settle on BBQ, good choice then share a piroshki (lamb and pork filled bread ball, much like a runza) and enjoy it as we listen to the local entertainment, two fellows playing lively mandolin/guitar/concertina/violin. Our tummies are full but we can’t skip the baked goods. We take home a huckleberry bear claw and sticky bun from the Mercantile’s booth plus a loaf of sourdough from a local favorite bakery, if the length of lines tells one anything. A grizzly bun never makes it to the car. It is a crispy, cinnamony pastry. Yum
Kent reports a
dusting of snow on the Many Glacier
side and a black bear sighting near the hotel over there.
We check out the shops, maybe a 20-minute stop. There isn’t much here to see. A bit of housekeeping, propane and freshwater fills; else, it is quiet day in and around camp. We catch the evening ranger program, Night Moves, brought to us by Ranger Leticia. She is a self-proclaimed birder and does a nice job talking to us about owls. There are 13 species here in the park from the huge great horned to a pygmy owl. I think I heard a Great Horned a couple nights ago. So far, we haven’t seen either him or the other more frequently seen, barred owl. We have a couple more nights here so it might still happen. We end the day with a yummy bratwurst dinner.
Carol has a site at Apgar Campground on the west side of the park. We load up my stuff in her little RV and head out leaving Kent to his own peace and quiet for the week. We head south on 89 then a curly scenic section of MT 49 twisting its way above Two Medicine Lake as we make our way to East Glacier. We make a quick stop to check out Glacier Inn, the departure point for our Red Bus tour in a couple days. Our journey along 2 south of the park includes a stop at Goat Lick (sadly no goats present today). We get trail and attraction recommendations from the ranger’s desk at Apgar Visitor Center and safely settle in at A44 Apgar campground. It is a quiet site (no traffic noise, no close neighbors, no cell service) with a forested view that over the course of the week brings us deer nearly daily. Ruebens make for a delicious late lunch and chips and dip for supper…..off to a great start.
Carol, Kent and I bump our way back the dusty, potholed, wash-boarded park entrance road into Many Glacier. The road grader is parked at the start of the road. They need to get it moving…We make it to Many Glacier Hotel, a beautiful historic log structure. Our main goals are to check out the impressive architecture and its views plus waitlist for the scenic boat ride that originates here. The boats have been sold out for months but they are a fun way to get a bit further back into the park without a lot of walking. Scope out the building, check. Waitlist the boat rides, check. Rats, we just miss the waitlist call for the earliest ride. No problem, it gives us time for lunch. We go for cocktails first then lunch. Carol – elk brat. Kent- a BLTA. Me – bison burger. We are all happy with our choices. There is a bit more hanging around but we make the cut for the 1:30 boat ride. All aboard first Chief Two Guns on Swiftcurrent Lake, followed by a rocky underfoot, steep in sections ¼ mile trail, then the Morning Eagle on Lake Josephine. The ride is worth the wait and we manage a couple mile hike once we are out there.
Mike, Tracy, Willa and Hazel land at Jackson Hole airport, load their plunder into a rental car, and we all make our way to our hangout for the week, our motorhome in Gros Ventre. Hazel takes over Willa’s traditional sleeping cubby back by Grampa and Nana and Willa is thrilled with her spot on the jack-knife sofa (unicorn and rainbow bedding are a big selling point). Mike and Tracy get the over-cab queen and all is set….cozy but comfy.
We spend a day planning, exploring and settling in. While Mike gets some recommendations from the Visitor Center Ranger the girls have a great time with the exhibits and trapsing around on the river image projected on the visitor center floor. It is pretty cool.
Day two we dive in. Mike, Tracy, Willa and Nana head for the Death Canyon Trail Head. Cool name, right? Our destination is the Phelps Lake Overlook. We spot a black bear and her cub enroute along Moose-Wilson Road. The trail is a bit challenging with some elevation change and an added mile or so because we have to use overflow parking. We spend some time soaking in the view of the lake at the top and watching mock (we hope) helicopter rescues below us. Great first hike, Dad. Kent and Hazel enjoyed some chill time at the motorhome. She caught her afternoon nap.
Checking out town, Jackson. First, it is playground time. There are swings and climbing structures and plenty of slides plus a coffee shop not far away. It is a fun couple hours for kids and adults. We all work up an appetite and head for the Persephone Bakery where we share a selection of delicious pastries, cakes, and cookies. There is a stop for pictures under the antler arches along the way. Once we hve gad our fill of goodies, Hazel heads back to camp with us while Willa takes Mom and Dad shopping and sight-seeing. We hear that there is a horse drawn wagon involved and a stuffie, Rainbow Ruby (a unicorn) comes home with them. Hazel takes a motorhome shower with Nana. We get the girls for the evening while Mom and Dad head back into town for a date night. Win: win all around.
Another hike, 
this time to Hidden Falls and Inspiration Point above Jenny Lake. We start with a ferry ride then there is a lot of “up”, we sort of expected that with a destination like Inspiration Point! Willa is anxious to mountain climb – not just walk a trail- and to maybe get to the snow. Above Hidden Falls she gets at least part of that wish. The trail gets rocky and steep just perfect for her hands and feet climbing on up to the point. She is thrilled to meet the beggy trail chipmunks. She calls them “chicky” and is adamant that she be allowed to adopt one and take it home. I get in trouble for swatting at them as they try to climb into my backpack and steal food. They are very people habituated! Just as we get her to move no an unusually brazen pica scurries right by Willa’s feet in a hurry to stash his mouthful of grass. We climb a bit higher onto Cascade Canyon trail hoping to see more wildlife as the crowds thin out. No luck with that but it does take us to an alternative, shorter, less steep return route back to the lake. Here are fewer hikers so it makes for a perfect place to try out Willa’s rescue chain.
Check out the pic. Her stated purpose was so the test of us could help Daddy when he got tired carrying Hazel the whole time. More on its origin later. The return ferry trip is a welcome opportunity to sit down for a few and by the time we make it to the car everyone is about done for the day. Hazel was a great sport (Mike too) through all her time in the carrier. She even caught a bit of a nap.
Beach time! Lakes here are pretty cold for swimming but Mike gets a recommendation to try String Lake. It is shallow so about as warm as they come in these parts. We pack up blankets and towels and lunch and head out, Hazel in the truck with us. Parking near the lake is an absolute zoo. We troll the lots several loops until Grampa’s patience gives out. Mike has dropped Tracy and Willa as he vultures for a spot. I join them and Kent is off back to camp. He and Hazel will find alternative entertainment today. We girls are just claiming our spot on the beach when Mike walks up. He got a spot in the second row…credit to his practice at parking in the city all those years. Willa and Tracy build a great sand castle. Mike takes the Polar Plunge, the only one of us to completely submerge in the “warmer” lake water. A volunteer ranger comes by to have us move all our stuff to the bear locker. A bear was sighted just a few hundred yards behind us. We stash our bags for a half hour until we get the all clear and enjoy a nice picnic lunch. There is a bit more castle building and some warming in the sun then we wrap it up and head home.
Today we head up to over 10,000 feet on the Bridger Gondola in Teton Village! After about an hour weather (lightning) delay the aerial tram takes us to 10,450 ft on Rendezvous Mountain. Clouds shroud the mountain tops and we rise right up into them. We are all startled when a rock cliff appears seemingly right in our path. We of course rise just along and above to safely come to a halt on the mountain top. It is cold in the fog and wind so we duck into Corbet Cabin for a traditional treat, waffles and hot drinks.
We go for one traditional waffle =brown sugar butter and one Belgian= cookie butter, caramel and powdered sugar. So delicious. The sun breaks through and we head out to explore. Our goal is the Top of the World trail. We are still looking for snow to play in but we are still not quite high enough for this time of year. 
We have to be content to check out the glaciers above us. We stroll and take in the view then board the tram for the trip down. Its clear skies all the way down so views are better than ever. The grounds in the resort are grassy and a great place to play. Willa discovers a bungie trampoline. She is going to try it. I’d rate it as a somewhat tense but overall fun adventure.
Check out the pics and you be the judge. We grab some lunch, play a bit longer as Grampa and Nana relax in our Adirondack chairs then we head off with the kids while Mom and Dad try to squeeze in one more hike. Fun day for all.
Yellowstone day. Willa is quite the volcano fan. Mike and Tracy have never been to Yellowstone. Today is the day; they set off to check out the caldera and all the thermal features. We plan out a fun day for Hazel with us so they can focus on that unique place. They spend a night at the Yellowstone Inn and trapse all around checking out the sights. Pictures and their report back say a good time was had by all. We take Hazel to the beach at Lower Slide Lake. We throw a lot of rocks to watch them splash. Splash each other and do some people watching. She is a bit reluctant to start but really gets into it by time to head home. 
Once back home she paints, makes Dad a birthday card, and gets a traditional brown tub bath. It is a full day for all of us too.
Early birthday for Dad. Mike jumps in to help make his “cake”, Dutch oven peach cobbler. It’s a fun way to celebrate and I’d say it came out pretty good. There were no leftovers.
Nana there is a Moo
Then there was just everyday fun stuff. Campfires with s’mores and fun stories. Chalk art. Coloring. Painting, rocks and on paper. Crafts, the afore mentioned huge paper chain in particular. Tillie time/pretend school mostly. Bocce. Playball. Camp dishwashing time. Moose watching walking around camp and out the motorhome window, sometimes even sparring. Redneck playpen bounce ball: Willa and Hazel in the pickup bed with the tailgate closed. Kent bounces a tennis ball into the bed where it ricochets around until they catch it and throw it to, at, or purposefully just out of the reach of Grampa. Much giggling ensues.
We had a fantastic week and can’t wait to see them again when we head their way for Hazel’s birthday in October.
We have a fun video call visit with both Willa and Hazel. Willa is promoting her budding cake baking business and pretty excited about summer time fun; new friends at camp, putting her head “completely” underwater, fireworks with lots of friends, and a classic favorite, funny-face making. Fortunately for us, possibly not so fortunately for the one who has to get her back to sleep, Hazel wakes up and comes to chat too. Its more giggling and babbling but it is great fun to see her. Can’t wait till our get together in August.