Customer Service Please

We were the first of the Reil brothers to arrive in Waterton on a Monday evening.

 

We were tired, so we just visited Cameron Falls, then checked in to our room at...

  

...the Bear Mountain Motel.  Steve & Suzi's fam were to arrive on Tuesday, Kevy & Delyna's fam on Wednesday, then Ken & Janalyn's fam on Thursday.  The Bear Mountain Motel had booked all of the wrong rooms for us.  We had requested 2 bedroom suites, that had besides 2 bedrooms & a bathoom, a living room & kitchen.  The rooms they gave us just had 2 bedrooms & a bathroom.  What?!?  After we arrived we told them of the mistake, but of course all of the suite rooms were gone then.  The receptionist was very kind though and gave us 2 rollaway beds for free (although they barely fit into our tiny room).  Steve & Suzi ended up arriving that night as well and had been told earlier in the day there was a room for them.  However, when they arrived there was no room so they had to travel back to Cardston for the night.  When they came back the next day they received a room just like ours (which was a mistake), but were told they would be charged an extra $32 a night for the 2 rollaways.  What?!?  You make a mistake, then you're going to charge your customers more because of this?  Crazy, I know!  The owner ended up getting involved and he was a piece of work.  I have never been treated so poorly in my life!  Making a long story short, Kevin's family that was to arrive the next day were told not to come as they didn't want any more "Reil's" at their motel.  Needless to say, the rest of us Reil's high-tailed it out of there as fast as we could.

 

Instead of sleeping 5 days in Waterton and 1 in Cardston, we ended up sleeping 1 day in Waterton and 5 in Cardston.  It was a pain to drive 20 miles every morning and evening to go to Waterton each day, but it was so worth it!  We were treated with kindness by the South Country Inn staff, had bigger & nicer rooms, with cable TV, a pool and a hot tub.  Bear Mountain Motel you will never have my business again!

 

The next time we go to Waterton I hope we can afford to stay at the Prince of Wales hotel.  I hope they have good customer service!!

International Boundary

We made our way back to Canada to visit in Alberta.  I thought these International Boundary markers were pretty cool.  We use 3 different border crossings in Ontario to get to New York, but they are all across a river, so this land crossing was a different experience.

Do you notice the border line?

How about now?  Do you see that green strip down the forest?  Yep, that would be the US/Canada border!

This day was the ONLY day of our travels where all 6 of our kids were asleep at the same time.  It's too bad we had to wake them up to cross over.

And a goofy picture of the pilot and co-pilot of this journey, ha!

Moss Mansion

During our stopover in Billings, Montana we visited the Moss Mansion.  Doesn't it remind you of Fablehaven?

Is this a real bunny or a mythical creature in disguise?

I could have sworn that I saw fairies flying near these flowers.

This house was beautifully preserved as it was only ever lived in by the original family.

It was built in 1903 by PB Moss to share with his wife and their six children.    Their youngest child, daughter Melville lived in it until her death in 1984.  After her death it was turned into a museum.  However, she may still be haunting the place, eek!

The house had a huge conservatory as well as a lovely outdoor garden.

Do you see any fairies?

There they are!

Mount Rushmore

We had a sweet afternoon visiting with George,

Thomas, Teddy, and Abe!

 

George Washington (1st President) signifies the struggle for independence and the birth of the Republic.

 

"The preservation of the sacred fire of liberty and the destiny of the republican model of government are justly considered as deeply, perhaps as finally staked, on the experiment entrusted to the hands of the American people." -- George Washington, First Inaugural Address, April 20, 1789

   

 Thomas Jefferson (3rd President) signifies the territorial expansion of the country.

(He is also credited with inventing the first ice cream recipe. 

Thank you Tommy!)

 

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." --Thomas Jefferson, Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776

 

Theodore Roosevelt (26th President) signifies the 20th century role of the United States in world affairs and the rights of the common man.

 

 "We, here in America, hold in our hands the hopes of the worlds, the fate of the coming years; and shame and disgrace will be ours if in our eyes the light of high resolve is dimmed, if we trail in the dust the golden hopes of men." -- Theodore Roosevelt, Address at Carnegie Hall, March 30, 1912

 

Abraham Lincoln (16th President) signifies the permanent union of the states and equality for all citizens.

 

 "It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us -- that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion -- that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth." -- Abraham Lincoln, Gettysburg Address, November 19, 1863

 

 "...let us place there, carved high, as close to heaven as we can, the words of our leaders, their faces, to show posterity what manner of men they were. Then breathe a prayer that these records will endure until the wind and rain alone shall wear them away." --Gutzon Borglum, Mount Rushmore Sculptor, 1930

Some Falls named Sue, I mean Sioux

We tried to average about 350 miles of travelling each day.  Some days were a little shorter, some a little longer, and some a lot longer as we also tried to stay at a Marriott each night.  (Thank you Aunt Debbi for letting us use your Friends & Family discount!)  Our daily allotment of driving found us in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, so of course we had to check out the water falls!  They are beautiful!

There's a huge park surrounding the falls.  We picked up some Pizza Hut and had a lovely picnic style dinner enjoying the scenery.

American Gothic

Do you recognize this house?

How about now?

How about now?

Yep, it is the house in the painting American Gothic by Grant Wood.  I always thought the farmer and his spinster daughter were real and the house was imagination, but it is just the opposite- the house is real and the people are from the artist's imagination.

Visiting the house made for a nice little detour on our drive through Iowa, which is a beautiful state by the way.  Who knew?

Ali's Smile

I took pictures of Ali daily on our trip.

I was finally able to capture her precious smile!

We love you sweetheart!!

Trail of Hope

The early Saints travelled from New York to Ohio to Missouri to Illinois only to have to leave their homes again.  Here is where they started their journey that would lead them to Utah.

After Joseph Smith was martyred Brigham Young became the new leader of the church and lead the Saints to their new home in the West.

I couldn't imagine traveling across the country by covered wagon.

And having to face the mighty Mississippi.

The upside of the Saints having to leave during the winter meant that the river was frozen so they could travel over the ice.

Many couldn't afford a wagon and had to use hand carts.

I'm so glad my kids only have to pretend to pull one.

The pioneers were strong, courageous, faithful people who honored their religious convictions.  I have a tender place in my heart for pioneer mothers.  I couldn't imagine giving birth on the plains, or having to bury a child along the trail.  I am grateful that their seeds of faith are buried deeply in my heart though!