Part 2: Missoula

This will be one of my longer posts but the wait is worth it. We left on Wednesday for the Thompson reunion in Missoula, MT, a 7.5 hour drive. Judy wanted to be there on Wednesday because we had four relatives from Norway coming in at the airport at 11:30PM. Turned out that they were delayed and didn’t get in until past 1:30AM. They were Olav Feten, Nils Magnar Feten and his two children, Runar (18) and Vilde (13). They live on the SognaFjord in Balestrand. Just Google Balestrand to find pictures. The mountains there are about the same height as in Missoula except the Norwegian mountains start at sea level. They had a grand old time. We all were at Ruby's Inn in Missoula and they put us on the marque.
The Norwegians didn't get to Ruby's until after 2:00AM after traveling about 28 hours (that's longer than it took for us to get to China or Cambodia). Vilde was still pretty pooped when we got the to John's house as you can see below.

Vilde perked up when the hat parade began. I am headlining at the Pink Flamingo in Vegas.
This is Runar. May I help you with your bags?
King Nils Magnar, his royal majesty.
Olav is in the Norwegian cavalry. Either that or it's Heilag Olav.
This is the hat parade culprit - Uncle John. Can't you tell?
Here Judy is entertaining them with some genealogy stuff. She likes that. Hey Vilde look at this!
Olav and Nils with Jack Thompson
Outside our hotel room was secluded mountain stream with a bench for contemplating or trying to figure out how to pay for the room. It's not the "River Running Through It" but close.
Of course, what do three year old boys do when they see water? they get as close as possible to it without getting wet and throw rocks.
Look at this rock, Grampa?
It started to rain that afternoon so the outdoor picnic had to be brought indoors at a conference room at Ruby's. Here is part of the clan. Aren't they cute?
Some more of the group.
Jason and fiance Kristen
Aaron and wife Ashley.
After the indoor picnic, I asked everyone to gather on the lawn for a group picture.
The host family: Jason, Eric, Kristen, Kathy, Ashley, John and Aaron Thompson
After pictures it was karaoke time. Judy was right in there.
Next morning Vilde had to swim. She loves swimming. I went swimming with Nils, Runar, Vilde, Brittany and Erin for about two hours. It was bat the Target beach ball day. And we did plenty of that.

I took them shopping one day so that Olav could buy an SLR camera lens and Vilde wanted an iPod Nano. Turns out they are about half the price in the US as in Norway. I took them to Snowbowl ski resort and we rode the lift up the mountain. It was a long ride that took about ten minutes. One thing I noticed and it was kind of eerie, was when the chair was between two of the support poles (100 yards or so apart) it was deathly quiet. There was no noise; no lift noise, no birds or animals, no humans. It was totally quiet.

Vilde at the top of one of the ski runs, just being herself.
The dinner was Saturday night at the Missoula Carousel, which “Uncle John” had a big part in, carving the houses and dragons. He even painted his favorite family members on the panels surrounding the works in the center. The carousel works (the insides) actually came from the “Bonanza” TV show and was in bad shape. It was bought, and fixed up. And all the hand carved basswood horses were added. John had a special hand carved gift for each of our foreign visitors. We are so glad they came.
The carousel center panels were painted by John using family members as models. No we didn't pose. I am the one with the pot belly and the camera. I didn't know about it until after the fact.
Yep, that's me.
Everyone who went to the dinner at the carousel posed for another picture. This is a bigger group than at the picnic.
Vilde had a great time on the carousel. She was on it all night. Free rides for all who came.
Vilde, Runar Nils Magnar and Olav
Even Logan liked to rice on the horses.

The people on the outside row of horses have a chance to get a colored ring from the dragon’s mouth. The person that gets the golden ring gets a free ride. I think Vilde got a few of them.

Ja vi elsker dette landet.
Vilde is on one of the two Norwegian Fjordhester. Watch out Annie Oakley!!

Sunday, I left with Smentek's for Glacier National Park while Judy stayed behind with the car to entertain and spend more time with the Norwegians before they left on the following Wednesday. Monday, Judy took our Norwegians to the Bison Range to maybe see some Bison. None here.

Looks like one was here. Here bison, bison.
They have got to be somewhere. I read about them and they are kind of big. Dad, they are real aren't they?
"I found them", Olav said. "They are over there."
There is the big daddy himself.
The next day They all went to Phillipsburg to do a little mining
There's got to be some sapphires in here somewhere.
Think I found one. I'm rich!!! Hey girl, look at what I have.
There is more where that came from.
Vilde is the chief miner. Just look at that posture and mining attitude.
It was an afternoon at Montana Splash water park.
And then that night it was the Rodeo. Looks like the steer roped the cowboy. I thought the cowboy was supposed to be behind the steer. Oh well. The real rodeo is supposed to be in Cheyenne at Frontier Days. Wednesday morning they were off to the airport to make the long journey back home to Balestrand, Norway. We certainly hope that they enjoyed their experience in America. I just wish we could have gotten them up to Glacier National Park and driven the "Going To The Sun Road". That will be the subject of my next post (I hope later this week).