Cousin Love

This was our last day in Montana.  We went to church with Clayton's family.  I took the picture above on the lawn after church.  From left to right, it is Jordan, Lexi, Miriam, Kaylie, Ammon, and Rachel.

Mini Cousins

This morning we spent time with my brother Chris and his family.  My kids read books to his kids.  We also walked to the local farmer's market that was a few blocks away.  Later, we babysat them along with their baby brother, Ezra, while their parents went on a lunch date.  

Silver Lake

We had a family gathering at Silver Lake.  The kids swam in the cold lake and played with their cousins.  We had a nice dinner.

Day in Butte

We went for a walk around Butte this morning.  We stopped off in the library and found Dobby.  The kids had to get a picture because Aunt Paige loves Dobby.  I don't even think I emailed it to her. When we finished our walk, my brother, Chris, and his wife, Julia, came with their kids.  We went to a splash pad in town.  Clayton and his family came too.  The kids had fun in the water even though it wasn't quite hot enough to really enjoy it.  They ended up going to the playground at the park nearby.  My kids got to play on toy structures that are from the 70s.  These types have been removed from most parks at least in the places we've been.  

Lexi with Priscilla

Lexi, Priscilla, Julia, Elijah, and Grandma Margie

Playground fun

The World Museum of Mining

This afternoon, we experienced something unique; Papa took us to the World Museum of Mining.  The best part was going on the underground tour.  The tour guide came from a mining family and he was a minor in his 20s.  At that age, he realized that mining was bad for your health.  He announced that he was going to college in the evenings.  His dad laughed at him, but he did it.  He became a school teacher and took an 80% pay cut in the process.  Lucky for us, those 2 career choices made him an excellent tour guide.  Not only did he know all about mining and the dangers, but he was a charismatic guide.  Lexi found everything he had to say very interesting.  Here he is helping us put on our gear.  

Getting ready to go in

Stepping into the old elevator

Papa helping to demonstrate the oldest way of mining

Listening to sad stories of the ways accidents happened and the hardships experienced

More modern mining using dynomite

Teaching us about "Tap 'er Light" one of the many sayings the miners used to remind each other about safety

Ready to take her gear off

Touring the grounds of the museum

Elevator where 14 men would cram in to go down to work or come back up

Climbing up the headframe (aka tower) - these things are all over Butte

Mining town replica

School

School yard (included an outhouse)

Old time car with bullet holes

Picture of our amazing tour guide

Doll collection

On the way home from the museum, we stopped off near the "M" for Montana Tech.  The kids wanted to hike to it since they had so much fun hiking to the "Y."  This one was a lot easier though.  In fact, we just watched them.  I took a few pictures of the surrounding views.  

View of the World Museum of Mining

View of Butte

 Climbing the the "M" for Montana Tech