Traveling while Traveling

 Monday

Since we only drove all day Sunday I thought it wasn't that important so I'll start with Monday! We woke up in Missoula Montana at a Airbnb and went first thing to a clinic to check if my mom was covid free so we could visit my newest nephew! She was cleared so we hurried over to visit and also so the girls could have some playtime with their cousin Luna. It was a mostly relaxing day of catching up and letting the kids play, even though we needed to be quite since they live above people. We went grocery shopping for the week and I made Korean BBQ for dinner that night and even though we normally play games together we couldn't because the kids were to crazy. 

Tuesday

Visiting and relaxing bled into today and most of the morning was chatting and trying to get the girls to calm down because they were so excited to play and be in a new place. We went to a splash pad park for a picnic lunch and to play for a few hours and they weren't all that into the constant raining, but enjoyed the park part just as much. When their cousin was taking her nap we went to chill in our Airbnb and right before heading back over picked up some mongolian, which I chose to be my birthday dinner since I didn't get one the day before on my birthday. We took it to go and ate it at their house so they could have a date on their own too while we watched Luna and played. We got out a little later than 8pm which is when quite time is supposed to start and their downstairs neighbor got annoyed and let us know by knocking on the ceiling.

Wednesday

I cooked sushi for everyone for lunch which always takes so long and we barely made it to our nail appointment. My mom took me and my daughters to a nail salon to get pampered (and also she said she needed it) for my birthday! Claire remembers the Bluey episode that they play a game of Salon and thought we were also going to get our hair done. Instead we went to shop for a few food items we needed and then for frozen yogurt which was right next door as my mom finished. I'm glad they had fun but I like doing their nails myself because we an all have a spa together and I don't have to be worried about my little Shay all the way at the other end of the salon! I couldn't choose who would paint her nails but I hope she didn't feel a lone, and she was able to come sit next to our chairs when she was done. We made homemade pizza for dinner together and the girls had fun helping decorate the pizzas and then barely ate any.

Thursday

There was an awesome waterpark about a block or two from the Airbnb we stayed in and we went for 4 hours on Thursday! It has been the longest we stayed but they didn't want to leave either so obviously they can handle it as long as I'm responsible with sunscreening and keeping hydrated. At first Shay was scared of swimming on her own even though she was using the life jacket Claire used a few weeks ago and I knew she would be able to do it because her head wasn't dipping like the other jacket made happen. Once she figured out how independent it made her she was excited and stopped letting me help, even going as far as saying "I can do it by myself" which is what I used to say! After having a lunch break Claire thought the water was cold so she spent some time laying in the sun...face down... then they both found a group of older girls that thought they were cute and wanted to babysit them. I let them play while following behind so I could keep them in sight but they had sooooooo much fun with them that it made up for their cousin not being able to come.

Friday

We went over for a breakfast of crepes (another one that I made), and tried to play some games together but the girls only wanted to go to the little playground next to the house. After they came in for lunch they really wanted to go back but there was a fair in town that we went to instead while my mom tried to recover from hurting herself trying to the monkey bars with them. They rode the carasol twice and named their horses "Rainbowy" and "Elsa" and if you don't know whose is whose then you don't pay attention to the blog very well! Between the carasol they tried a little dragon roller coaster that they were JUST big enough for. It was a relief because it would have been sad if Shay was left out, but they are both above 3ft. They tried cotton candy for the first time ever and were excited to see the animals we saw even though I was worried because the first 5 minutes were all cows. We eventually got to the chickens, rabbits, and the baby goats which they loved most.

Saturday

Made it all the way back home to Idaho! It was a slow morning because we all slept in even though I had plans to get up early to pack...funny how my mind has different ideas. The trip was long and I got really annoyed hearing "are we here yet" from Shay. As soon as we got home I unpacked the truck so we could shop for food enough to feed everyone at Claire's birthday party! We had invited family and friends to the park for sandwiches, salads, chips, and of course the cake. Claire was excited to pick her own cake at Walmart since we had seen it the week before and I told her she could have one for her birthday. I gave her the choice between rainbow and watermelon and she chose both which was good because I did a mental counting in my head and figured we might need two with the size they sell. She also picked the unicorn candles for the rainbow cake and having two was smart because we only had half left after everyone was fed. It was a rushed day and so different than last years because I barely did any decorations but had so many people come. After presents most people went home, but there is a beach at the park we went and they played in the water a little then mostly in the sand until we needed to go home. I can't believe I have a 5 year old...