Zito Family Road Trip.... Part 3 & 4.... Grizmo Cabin & Grandma

We have arrived at our final chapter of the Zito Family Road Trip... Summer 2010!!!

After our visit to Yellowstone we drove up to Livingston, MT where Leonard's buddy from work owns this BEAUTIFUL cabin. Harold was kind enough to let us stay a couple nights. We loved every minute and it was a perfect way to end a great vacation!

Isn't she GORGEOUS!!!

Welcome to the GRIZMO Cabin

 actually located in Pray, MT

We were in complete AWE!!! it was about 10pm when we drove up and so we didn't get to be amazed of the beauty outdoors til the sun came up! WOW!!!  The Mountains you see are Emigrant Peak. We could sit and stare at this beautiful sight for hours and the cabin views made it even easier to do that since they were an entire wall of HUGE GLASS WINDOWS!

Check out all these sweet details.... amazing fire pit, which we planned on using to roast marshmallows, but we got rained out twice! But we LOVED the rain :) There were grapes, blueberries or huckleberries and raspberries growing off the back patio! Beautiful flagstone paths around the entire place and down to the stream. 2 HUGE back patios that even wrap around the whole cabin! What a Perfect place for a PARTY!!! The trees and flowers were lush and it was just plain GORGEOUS!!!

Now check out the amazing inside! Loved this rustic log cabin! So cozy and comfortable! We felt like we were right at home. We could see our selves living here...well, some place like it one day! I WANT A CABIN!!!!!!!

Some of the rustic details that make the GRIZMO cabin a bit more special! Check out that cool fireplace! I hope to come back in the winter time and use it ;) hint hint! 

This Cabin has 4 rooms, 3 bathrooms, a full basement and room to sleep well over 16- 20 people!

We really thought the log stair case was pretty sweet!

We propped open the windows and put in a fan and let the cool mountain breeze keep us nice and cool!

The family just chillin and relaxing! 

We wish we could have stayed longer! It was so so so enjoyable. I could get really use to that lifestyle :)

See Carly's war wounds? She got in a fight with Granny's treadmill on the first day we arrived at their house. The treadmill won and she is left with some pretty skinned up knees. OUCH! Carly is one tough chick. 

A view from the lookout window from upstairs! Don't you want to come take a vacation here?

Ahhhh, The BASEMENT... a very cool place to chill and definitely a highlight of this adventure.

~ The Ping Pong Table ~

We stayed up pretty late having a ping pong tournament. It was a BLAST!!! We look forward to a rematch :)

Leonard's brother, Nate brought up his catamaran drift boat and we were gonna float down the Yellowstone River and do some fishing. BUT...we changed our plans and took it down to Dailey Lake which was a very short 5 miles from the cabin, to paddle around in and play in the cold water. Everyone is VERY Cold but me :) I opted to be the photographer instead ;)

Nate & Leonard ..... aaaah, the love between brothers.

Who can dunk who??? 

Looks like my husband is the Studliest of them All!  I knew I was right! 

We played in the lake for a while until a huge summer storm rolled in and rained us out. We took cover in our cars until it passed and then the sun came back out & went to play some more. We were lucky enough that Leonard's 2 other brothers came to join us at the lake to play and they brought their 2 jet skis!!!  SWEET FUN!!!

The girls discovered LEACHES..... the hard way..... Yes, you read that right. LEACHES!!!! They were small and they were stuck to their feet. As they pulled them off screaming hysterically, the little blood suckers would attach themselves to their fingers instead. It was quite an experience for sure and one they will never forget. Carly and cousin Aden would hunt them down and collect them in Carly's Bug jar she got from cousins camp. Carly even snuck one home in her jar, but it was dried out and crusty by them time we got home! That Carly girl is so spunky! We love her!

The kids LOVED taking rides on the jet skis. The water was perfect and smooth. I had fun just watching them laugh and squeal with delight! 

All the kids especially LOVE riding the big tube as Uncle Nate pulled them behind the jet ski!

Off they go! I love Carly's thumbs up... which means FASTER!!!!!

We loved seeing Paul again! He was so helpful. Took Leonard and Nate out on the tube and dumped both of them a few times!  Fun to watch.

Johnathan & Anneke & Josie took a couple rides on the lake. I got to keep my eye on their little munchkin Charlotte. What a sweetie! 

Amber met us later in the day with her 2 girlies, Heather & Aubrey.... i didn't get pics of them... oops :)

See I was there too! I brought my swim cap and goggles and took a dip in the lake and swam a bit. The only draw back in swimming in a clearer lake... unlike the brown dirty water of AZ, is that I could ACTUALLY SEE what i was swimming in, around and through. I did freak my self out a few times. The tall grasses and water weeds grabbing my legs and funky gooey mossy stuff floating all around me was enough to let my imagination run wild and swim me right to the shore where I chose to hang out and visit with the family and give hi-5's to the kids. We loved spending time on the lake with our Zito Family! Thanks for taking the drive and the time to hang out with us! We love you all!

Our stay in Pray, MT was much to short! It was definitely SHORT and SWEET! and left us longing for more! Blake tells me almost everyday since we have been home.... which is now over a month ago... that he wants to go back to the cabin. I feel ya mister! I would love to also! Hopefully, we will be invited back to stay another time sooner than later! Thanks Harold for your generosity! You put the cherry on top of our Zito Family Road Trip for the Summer of 2010.

Now it is time to put the pedal to the medal and take the 1600 mile journey through MT, WY, ID, UT and back to our home sweet home in AZ. That's only a few DOZEN hours in the car! YES!!!!!!!

The pitstop we make in Idaho Fall, ID is one of the most important stops we make on our yearly journey. 

We love to stop and visit Grandma Warner. This sweet lady is the so special. She is Leonard's grandma but she has made me feel like I am her very own granddaughter since I joined this family almost 14 years ago. I have a special place in my heart for Grandma!

She adores her great grandchildren and they adore her! 

Her sweet daughter, Laura Lee.... Leonard's mama! Made this special quilt for mother and she treasures it. She showed me it and the picture and poem Laura Lee made for her. She keeps it close to her chair so she can read it and feel that hug she misses so dearly! 

Isn't it the sweetest ever?! I know! I hope you don't mind Mom :) You really are so caring and thoughtful and Grandma loves it and you so much! We talked about what a loving lady you are and I really do think it brightens up Grandmas day and she feels your love!

Our visit with Grandma & Chet flew by and it was back on the road again! We look forward to visiting them again next year on our annual road trip!