Montana Trip 2011 - Part 2

PART TWO: CANYON HAVEN

We arrived Saturday evening to the Gronli cabin, Canyon Haven, located in rural central Montana where the Little Belt Mountains begin.  Although I was too young to remember, this was my first home as a baby.  I had frequent summer vacations as a child, but the last time I was there was six years ago (2005).  It was good to be back.  We got to spend some time with my father (Grandpa Tim in the pics below), his friend Donna, and my grandparents (Grandma Jeanne and Grandpa John) who all call Canyon Haven home.  

"Hiking" to Pete's Cave is a requirement of any visit to the cabin, so we checked that off our list the first day.  Below you can see Thayden learning some rock climbing skills. 

Although we are from Minnesota, Thayden had never really fished before (there are no lakes in the immediate Rochester area and Troy and I are not fisherman.)  Thayden, however, was very excited about fishing and Grandpa Tim bought him a pole to use.  He practiced casting for almost an hour, and then Grandpa Tim took him to the lake.

But it was awfully windy at the lake that day and the boys caught nothing but weeds.  The next day we drove back to Bozeman so the kids could see the Museum of the Rockies.  Thayden got to see just how big T-rex was, look at some real fossils, and learn about dinosaurs.  He was very excited (although not depicted in these pictures) and said "Mommy! We've never been to a museum like this before!"

 

 

Then it was back to more fishing, as that is all Thayden would talk about.  This time they focused on the pond right in front of the cabin, and were successful!    

Thayden is trying to reel in his first fish with Grandpa Tim's help.

Below if you look hard near the middle of the photo you can see the fish they caught.

He was pretty proud of that fish!  A nice size brown trout.  He ate a couple bites the next morning for breakfast with Grandpa Tim and came and told me "It looks like chicken mommy." 

Sierra showing off her black eye she got from falling onto an old-fashioned fireplace (not on). 

We went on a hike near the cabin (several miles up Spring Creek Road).  It was very beautiful with the water so high, everything so green, and the wildflowers blooming, but the mosquitoes loved it too.

After the hike we had to walk across Spring Creek.  We all have mesh shoes that work great for tasks like this, but Thayden had an absolute screaming fit when I drug him in to the water.  He thought it was way too cold and kept yelling "owie owie!"  After we got across and he settled down, he thought it was pretty neat and decided to go back in, this time with a smile on his face.  So we spent some time playing in the creek. 

Our family on the morning we left.  The night prior to this while I was putting Thayden to bed he says "Mommy, can we come back in the winter?" 
"No, it is too cold in the winter." 
"Well I want to come back in the spring then. (pause) Actually, no.  If we come back do we have to leave?" 
"What do you mean Thayden?"
"Well I don't want to leave when we come back."  I guess that means he had a good time.

The kids with my father and Donna. 

And that nearly concludes our days at Canyon Haven.  Unfortunately I do not have a picture of us with Grandma Jeanne and Grandpa John on my camera.  About a week prior to our arrival Grandpa John fell and broke his hip.  During our visit he was up and moving around quite well considering the circumstances, and in no pain, however he re-fractured his femur shortly after we left and is currently in the hospital again.  Please keep him (and Grandma Jeanne who selflessly cares for him) in your prayers.