Flathead Lake, July 5, 2007

On our last day up in the Glacier/Flathead Lake area of Montana, we rented a pontoon boat for 1/2 the day and spent the morning and early afternoon on Flathead Lake. Uncle Shawn LOVES boats and he was the skipper. Vanessa was the co-skipper! We cruised around and had lunch on the lake, we took a dip in the lake and just had a great time! We highly recommend renting a boat and spending some time at Flathead Lake. It truly is God's country out here.

The kids were required to wear life jackets the entire time on the boat and they really looked cute!

Josie-Girl

Jack-Jack
Skipper & Mike

Lolo & Lola

Uncle Shawn & Aunt Bern

Vanessa, Josie & Dad

Vanessa & Mom Vanessa LOVED the boat!
Vanessa & Mom taking a dip in the Lake

(Ok, no jokes about beached whales, please)

Vanessa & Aunt Bern

Uncle Shawn & Aunt Bern

(Self Portrait)

Uncle Shawn taking a break
Sleeping Josie
Sleeping JackOdd explosion that occurred just as we were leaving. It appears that it was a wildfire caused by a lightning strike in the Bob Marshall Wilderness area just East of Flathead Lake.

After our adventure on Flathead Lake, we headed home in 105 degree weather! Our last day, we spent in Missoula trying to find relief from the heat. Mike and I and the kids went to a GREAT waterpark in Missoula. (http://www.ci.missoula.mt.us/parksrec/Rec%20Docs/Rec%20Guides/recguide.pdf see cover photo of the waterpark). Unfortunately, because it was over 100 degrees and there was essentially water everywhere, I didn't get any photos of us at the waterpark. I didn't want to risk ruining the camera. It was a great time, though, and we are all sufficiently sun kissed!

Tomorrow brings an end to our summer vacation in Montana...we had a great time, and the kids can't wait to come back!

Happy 4th of July! Glacier Nat'l Park

Happy 4th of July! We spent the day at Glacier National Park. This is Mike and my 4th trip to the park so we are very familiar with the scene. We haven't actually camped or stayed overnight in the park, but we've done the scenic drive and also taken the mile and a 1/2 hike up to Avalanche Lake (beautiful).

This trip, we decided to do only Glacier-lite (despite the $25 entry fee) and just hang out at Lake MacDonald just near the entrace to West Glacier. We had a picnic and then let the kids wade in Lake MacDonald as we soaked in Mother Nature at its best. Lolo & Lola, Aunt Bern & Uncle Shawn took the "Going to the Sun" road up to Logan Pass and even did a little fishing. We met them back at the cabins for dinner later in the day.

After we got back, we made a futile attempt to find a place to take the kids swimming and eventually gave up and made dinner. As we speak, I can hear the fireworks go off in Bigfork, but Josie and Jack are both sound asleep, so we didn't take in the fireworks this year (1st time in 5 years) except for the televised Macy's Firework spectacular on NBC.

We absolutely love the cabin and are sad to check out tomorrow, but we're renting a pontoon boat on Flathead Lake for 1/2 the day tomorrow and that should be very relaxing and fun. We will for sure have a somewhere to swim tomorrow!

Here are the pictures from our day:

At the entrace to Glacier National Park, the obligatory sign-family picture.

Lolo & Lola
Aunt Bern & Uncle Shawn
In the Canadian welcome center, the kids practice their bobsledding skills.
T-Rex in the Canadian Welcome center

Lake MacDonald

Rubio/Kuffner Family Photo Op
Vanessa Fishing at Lake MacDonald:"Cheese!"

Jack & Jos

Dad and Vanessa

Our 3 little ones wish you a Happy 4th of July!

Montana July 07 Family Vacation: 1st Day in Bigfork

For the first time, the Rubio side of the family decided to take a vacation, a real vacation together! Although we spent 2 nights at the Rubio Ranch in Stevensville already, our real vacation began today, when we arrived in Bigfork, Montana (www.bigfork.org/), a beautiful, little town on the Northeastern tip of breathtaking Flathead Lake (www.gonorthwest.com/Montana/northwest/Flathead/Flathead-Lake.htm). We found this adorable and well-done cabin resort in Bigfork. (www.bridgestreetcottages.com) We LOVE the cabins! We rented one "Wooded King" cabin for Mike, the kids and I, that has a separate living area and kitchen to serve as our gathering place. Lolo & Lola, Aunt Bern & Uncle Shawn have adjoining cabin suites right next door! What a find! The cabins are lavishly decorated and they spared no expense. Its worth every penny! Keep checking--I'll try to update the blog every night we are here (only 2 nights, 3 days). We plan on heading up to Glacier National Park tomorrow (only 1 hour North: www.nps.gov/glac/) in the morning before coming back to enjoy the 4th of July Celebrations in Bigfork in the afternoon and evening. We're renting a boat on Flathead Lake on Thursday and then heading back to Stevensville for 2 more nights.

Mike, Cathy & Kid's Cabin (The Maverick)

The Cottages Vanessa on the Front Porch

Living Room Josie escaping
Bedroom (M&C)
Kitchen (M&C)
Check back tomorrow for Glacier Pictures!

Our Little Vanessa Turns 8!

We can't believe it, but its been 8 years since our first baby was born! Our lives were changed forever that day, June 23, 1999, the day we became parents. Now, we can't imagine life without each one of our 3 kids...funny how life goes by so fast and how much children completely change you as a human being, inside and out.

Vanessa had 2 celebrations, which we celebrated on her birthday: The first a party of just school-friends, plus cousins, Emma & Mollie Kuffner. The second, of just immediate family: Mom, Dad, Jack, Vanessa, Josie, Aunt Bern & Uncle Shawn, Aunt Eileen & Declan, and finally Grandmom & Pop. A tiring, but really fun day. Both parties were luau themed, so there were leis, grass skirts, and all sorts of Hawaiian stuff on everyone all day. The weather turned out beautiful and even warm enough to turn on the sprinkler toys.

Party #1

(School Friends, plus Cousins Emma & Mollie, Jack & Josie)

Mom & Dad's gift to V: A Disney digital camera!

1st Group to Arrive
Josie-Hula Girl
Craft Time!
Swinging Hulas

Bounce house action
Why do we photograph cakes? Because they are so darned cute!
Happy Birthday to you...
Make a wish!

Limbo sprinkler action. Check out those bikini-clad babes!
Present time!

Party #2: Family Time

Aunt Bern & Uncle Shawn
Mom & Josie Mom & Vanessa

Round 2 of presentsI love my new bean bag! (Thanks, Aunt Ei & DC!)
Pop & Jack
Cheese!
More presents!
Aunt Ei, DC & Grandmom
Josie & Dad

DC
Cake #2: Homemade & Re-used cake decorations :)
Happy Birthday to you (again)... Make (another) wish!

Josie loves cake!Eight.

Vanessa received about $44 in birthday money for her birthday. She decided to get her ears pierced! Big girl picked out one of her birthstones that is pink in color. She didn't even cry or bleed! What a trooper! She LOVES her new pierced ears!

Happy Birthday, Baby. We love you to the moon and back.