At the beginning of August we had a nice quick visit from the Wisconsin Roys. They came to see the ranch after a few days in Glacier National Park before heading back to Missoula. We did a tour of the ranch between the thunderstorms, rain, and fog-love that Montana weather!

Issac "reading" his books.

I finally finished a quilt for Issac that I started before he was born. It turned out nice and cuddly!

Chad and Sherri had a "couple's night" at the beginning of the month. (I think it's quickly turning into "family night") We had a wonderful dinner of artichoke chicken and garlic bread, fresh veggies, and cheesecake for dessert. Issac and Savanna got tired and fell asleep on the couch.

Placid Lake

Last weekend we went camping at Placid Lake for the Mauws Reunion. The water pump went out and shredded the fan belt on the Jeep on the way over between Fort Shaw and Simms (the middle of nowhere!) Once Bryan's parents came and rescued us, we finally made it to the lake at 4:30am. Other than that, we had a great weekend with family swimming, fishing, water-skiing, and hanging out around the campfire!

Sarah and Issac swimming

Issac playing in the water with Bryan, Grandpa Steve, and Josh

Bryan and Dustin fishing

July

Well, July has come and gone, so here's a quick recap of the month.

We spent the first weekend of the month camping between Lakes Alva and Inez up the Seeley-Swan for Lewy's birthday. The campsite was full with the Heil's, Jessica's brother Josh and his wife Amanda, Grandma Mary and Kurt, and the Mauws'. It was also Issac's first camping trip! We had lots of fun on the lake with the boat, watching the boys play in the dirt, eating good food, drinking, and sitting around the campfire cooking crawdads.

It was a hot weekend, so on the way home we stopped at Dairy Queen, and Issac loved his ice cream cone, a little cold?

We managed to get one load of firewood, here's Issac in the woods.

Baking cookies-Yum!
At the Central Montana Fair in Lewistown, the petting zoo.

We had a great month that flew by. Bryan is still busy finishing up haying, hauling and stacking bales. It was a busy month for Sarah at the hospital, too-lots of new babies, and lots more due in August and September!

Around the Ranch

Boating at Ackley Lake with Grandma Rubel, Michele, Neil, and Grandma Mary. Issac really enjoyed the boat ride this time.

Issac tasting veggies from the garden

Grandma Mary teaching Issac to play in the dirt

Fixing fence

Uncle Neil teaching Issac bad habits already!

Family Vacation

Our first family vacation with Issac! We started out with a picnic lunch near Big Timber at a fishing access on the Yellowstone River.

Issac and I had to test out the water...it was COLD!

After wandering around downtown Livingston and looking around in little shops, we proceded down the Yellowstone River to Mallard's Rest, the campground Bryan and I stayed at on the way home from our wedding.

Issac and Bryan swimming at Chico, we all loved the pool! After a relaxing night, and a quick morning swim, we headed for Yellowstone National Park.

We drove the entire Grand Loop from Gardiner to Cooke City, with lots of stops and short hikes along the way. Here we are on the boardwalk looking at geysers near Old Faithful.

A buffalo, right in the middle of the village at Mammoth Hot Springs.

Downtown beautiful Cooke City, population about 90 (smaller than Judith Gap!)

After a night in Cooke City, we drove over the Beartooth Highway.

What an incredible view! The Beartooth Highway is a fun drive with amazing sights, and there is no way to represent it with one picture. We went on to Red Lodge, then Billings, and back home.

Issac's Friends

Laine Nicholls (3 mo.) with Issac playing in the living room

Eli Heil (19 mo.) and Issac up in the mountains

Eli fishing at Deadman's Basin

Issac pulling himself up on the coffee table the next day,

(I think he wanted to learn to walk like Eli!)

First Haircut!

Before

The haircut

After

With Grandpa Steve