June 19th we flew to Seattle. We rented a car and headed toward Glacier National Park. We stopped at Snoqualmie Falls. We stayed the night at Rimrock Lodge in Thompson Falls, MT. We were unable to get tickets for the Going to the Sun Road the next day, but we also learned that it was still not completely open for the season. That morning we stopped by the ranger station and they told us that after 5 pm we could go on the Going to the Sun Road. So we went to the east side and did the Many Glacier road. We saw bears along the side of the road and a young big horn sheep near the Many Glacier Hotel. After 5 pm we headed to the Jackson Glacier overlook on the Going to the Sun Road. That is as far as they had the road open. Looks like we are going to have to return a 3rd time to Glacier to travel the entire Going to the Sun Road when it is fully open. We found out that it opened like 4 days after we were there! That night we stayed at the Baymont by Wyndham Helena Helena, MT. 6/21 we headed to Yellowstone. We were greeted by elk near the entrance. We went to Mammoth Springs and then Dawn went to see some other hot springs including the Steamboat Geyser. That night we stayed at Cabin Village in Island Park, ID. The next morning (6/22) we got up early to go see Old Faithful. We were lucky to see a herd of buffalo with their babies and they came up right along the side of our car. It was cooler out in the morning and so Paul and Nathan chickened out in the car while Dawn waited for Old Faithful to erupt. We went over to Grand Prismatic Spring later in the morning, but the fog was still pretty heavy that you couldn't see the colors that well. From there we headed to Grand Teton National Park. We tried to go to Jenny Lake. It was crowded and Nathan was complaining because he got bit up by mosquitos. We didn't stay long and headed out of the park. We didn't get to see much there this trip. We ate dinner at Sidewinders where we ate in the Spring. That night we stayed at Targhee Lodge By Grand Targhee Resort in Alta, WY. The next day (6/23) was a long driving day as we made our way toward Cannon Beach. We stayed the night at River Lodge and Grill in Boardman, OR. The next day (6/24) we stopped at Horsetail Falls and Multnomah Falls. We ate lunch there at Multnomah Falls. We arrived in Cannon Beach and checked in at Sea Breeze Court. Paul and Nathan stayed in the room while Dawn went to walk the beach and explore the tide pools. The next morning (6/25) Dawn got up early to go see the tide pools again. She saw sand dollars on the beach as well as a salp and crystal jellyfish. There were lots of starfish and even some sea slugs/nudibranches in the tide pools. It was hard to spot the puffins there, but I did get one decent picture of one flying. We did some shopping in Cannon Beach that day and Nathan played on the beach a little. The next day (6/26), we headed to Seaside and went to Seaside Aquarium. It is a small aquarium, but we fed the seals there. From there we headed to Ecola State Park to see the Tillamock Rock Lighthouse. Dawn ended up doing a hike to Indian Beach hoping to see some better views of the lighthouse. After some time, Paul and Nathan picked her up over by Indian Beach. That night we caught the sunset on Cannon Beach. The next day (6/27) we started our drive to Seattle to fly back home. It was VERY hot that day. We stopped at the Cape Disappointment Lighthouse and North Head Lighthouse.
Nathan lost his 17th tooth on June 22 when we were on vacation at Glacier National Park. We held it until we got home and the tooth fairy came on 6/28. The tooth fairy gave him $17. He has 3 baby teeth to go.
We went to church on Fourth of July. Then Paul cooked out for us and we did smores. That night Paul and I watched the fireworks from our balcony, but Nathan wasn't interested.
Nathan lost his 18th tooth on July 10. The tooth fairy gave him $18. He has 2 baby teeth to go.
Nathan went with me to New Testament Baptist Church to attend their VBS 7/12-7/16. He ended up winning 9th place for the most points earned so he picked out a nerf gun as his prize. I helped with the penny table.
Nathan lost his 19th tooth on July 16. The tooth fairy gave him $20 (she must not have had $19 in change!). He has one baby tooth to go!
7/18, Paul and Nathan found out at the evening church service that Pastor Morris will be stepping down as pastor due to his cancer. The doctors said it is not a matter of if the cancer will return, but when.
Nathan lost his last tooth on July 23! The tooth fairy gave him $20.
