A Quick Trip to Missoula

Although I had played around with the idea of going to Missoula for Spencer's mission farewell, I eventually decided against it for a couple of reasons (Lia missing two days of school, having to pay for my own hotel room, too quick of a trip to travel with little ones, etc).  However, when the opportunity came up a week in advance to just take Lia and go with my parents for a quick, two-day trip, I jumped on it!  Lia was so excited when she learned that we were going on yet another mommy-daughter trip to see her Montana cousins who she loves!  We drove up to my parent's house Friday night so that we would be ready to leave with them super early the next morning.  We then drove 8.5 hours Saturday and turned around and drove 8.5 hours back on Sunday, but it ended up being so worth it!  Lia and I had the back seat of the car all to ourselves both directions and just had so much fun drawing pictures, playing games, and reading books.  In fact, we only watched one movie between the 17 hours total in the car.  Not bad if you ask me!  While in Montana, we had a great time being with Brent and his family at Spencer's farewell party Saturday night and also before church on Sunday morning.  It was wonderful to hear Spencer speak in sacrament meeting and to get to see him one more time before he leaves for Taiwan for two, long years.  I'm going to miss that kid so much, but I am so proud of him for taking this huge step.  Good Luck, Pencey!

When we first arrived in Missoula at 3 in the afternoon, we drove straight downtown to meet Brent's family at a carousel.  Lia immediately jumped on a horse with Kelsey and enjoyed going around a few times.

Sarah Mae waiting for the carousel to begin.

We then drove to our hotel and checked in.  After going for a swim in the pool with Lia, we got ready and headed up to Brent's house for dinner and Spencer's farewell party.  Here is Lia with her three older cousins out on their deck at the beginning of the party.

The older cousins teasing Lia!

After dinner, we ended up back outside with a bunch of the kids.  Here is Kelsey carrying Lia.

Toyota!

The kids playing a game of tag.

After tag, Jared and I began one of the funnest games of hide-and-go-seek in Brent's yard that I have played in a long time.  We played for over an hour and had so much fun finding crazy places to hide in his big backyard, shop, and garage.  In fact, Lia and I eventually started hiding in every unlocked car which was a great hiding spot since it was sprinkling and cold outside.  I think we did this five different times.  However, Kelsey won the award for most creative and hard-to-find spot by hiding IN the chicken coop WITH the chickens and all of their poop!  Here is Lia posing with her before she climbed out.

Jared had the idea of putting all of the kids (besides his daughter who was the one looking for us) in his car that had been locked the entire game for the final round of the evening.  It was so funny throwing all of these kids in the car as fast as we could before getting caught.  Here is a picture I snapped of the three rows of kids hiding behind us while we waited for Kiana to find us.

Wet and cold, Lia and I eventually rejoined the party around 9 p.m.  Here we are posing with Spencer and the grandparents.

I let Lia go swimming again on Sunday morning at the hotel before we got ready for church.  This time I convinced my dad to go in the pool with her.  Lia would seriously go swimming every single day of her life if I let her.

Two water lovers at heart!

Swimming around.

And leaping in!

We got to stay in this amazing hotel in Missoula that looks like a giant lodge.  The woodwork inside the hotel is incredible.  All of the hotel rooms have a door that leads out into the massive, indoor courtyard that overlooks the pool and the giant waterfall.

Some of the woodwork and beams on the ceiling.

Lia standing on one of the beautiful staircases.

The view from our hotel door.

After Spencer's talk at church, we gathered in the foyer for a group picture of both sides of the family who came out for his farewell.  Here we all are with the missionary-to-be in the middle.

Cute Spencer and his family.