June 2018 Family Vacation: Part 2 - Glacier National Park

 Stealing a kiss on the banks of Lake MacDonald in Glacier National Park. 

This smooch was much needed as we had a very stressful time getting there because I gave wrong directions landing us in an extremely hard spot to turn around a 32' toy hauler. Yikes! All I can say is Michael is amazing (with Ernie spotting for him), and he managed to get us out of the pickle I put us in. After a good cry when we got to Fish Creek Campground (thank you, Kay, for letting me cry on your shoulder), all was better when we walked down to the lake and saw this beautiful view.

Lake MacDonald

 Hailey had a lot of fun playing with her cousins Jasper and Zeke. 

 I think they thought her antics were pretty funny. Here she is walking along a log going over Fish Creek.

 Always the gymnast! 

 She even practiced bars on this cool root that was in the bank. 

 Rina had a lot of fun playing with her cousins, too

And her sissy, of course!

 This is now one of my favorite pictures of all time!

 Privileged to have Crystal call me "Aunt Jackie". We had so much fun together! She was really brave to come camping with us without her husband. We love you, dear niece!

 Awww, aren't they cute?! My favorite picture of my in-laws...ever. Love my new camera!

Rina and Grandpa Ernie

 Rina

It was really nice for Rina to get to play with cousins she doesn't see very often. They had so much fun on the beaches of Lake MacDonald.

We got the kayaks out and paddled around Lake MacDonald. We were excited that Kay was able to try it despite her recent back problems.

You get a whole different view from the kayaks.

 Was really glad Michael got to go kayaking with his mom. 

 Lake MacDonald.

Josiah and Hailey tried their hand at gold panning. Found some pretty rocks, but no color.

Josiah, Dylan and his friend, had a great time kayaking and riding mountain bikes all over.

 We roasted elk back strap on sticks over the fire, courtesy of Josiah's successful hunt last fall. This was a treat for everyone. Of course we had s'mores every night.

Michael's older brother, David, met us at Glacier. He brought along his dog "Weeble". It was great to get to spend time with him also.

 Josiah taught the boys how make their own musket balls for black powder hunting.

We didn't see any bears in our campground, but we saw a deer.

Morning snuggles in the camper with Dad. It was a wonderful place to escape the mosquitoes when they got too thick.

 We drove the "Going to the Sun Road" as far as we could going east, but we were stopped at Avalanche because it still wasn't open due to the amount of snow they had that year. So we stopped off at a few falls along the way.

 Josiah was fascinated by the big holes in the rock created by cavitation and powerful water.

 The boys had a great time skipping rocks off the white water. Dylan has a special talent for it.

 Gorgeous, rugged mountains on either side of us. Clearly David doesn't enjoy his picture taken, but I got one anyway, ha ha!

 Hailey, looking like a big girl instead of a little one. 

 Kay and Ernie beside the "Going to the Sun Road".

The next day, Michael and I decided to leave the older kids in camp with their cousins and uncle and we drove with Rina, Kay and Ernie down and around Glacier National Park so we could enter the "Going to the Sun Road" from the East Entrance and travel as far as we could on it from that direction. What an incredible drive! We also stopped at "Running Eagle Falls" and hiked up to it. It was a short hike and perfect for Rina especially.

Running Eagle Falls - named after a famous Blackfoot maiden warrior who was killed and buried in a tree above the falls. 

 Rina and Michael are crossing the bridge that goes to the falls. 

Kay and Ernie at Running Eagle Falls

 Michael, Rina and I standing in front of Running Eagle Falls.

 Cutest little hiker - ever!

 Saw a toad on the side of the trial. 

Rina really wanted to smell the snow along the trail, so I let her. 

 Views from the "Going to the Sun Road". We could only go about 15 miles in before they made us turn around. So we probably missed a third of it, but what we saw was worth the drive.

 The east side of the park had been heavily affected by the fire last year, but it made it easier to see the gorgeous mountains.

 "Goose Nest Island" in St. Mary Lake.

A monument to the Blackfoot Nation in Glacier National Park near St. Mary.

We managed to pack all that you've seen and more in two full days. Next time, I would definitely try to be there for at least 4 to 5 days. Two days were not enough! But really grateful with the time we had with family in this beautiful country we'd never seen before. Wonderful memories were made! We had a few more adventures on the way home, which I will blog about next.

God Bless,
Jackie