Gobble Gobble

Turkey Day was quite a contrast from the Thanksgiving Blizzard of 2010.  We had beach-like weather (for Montana) in the upper 50's, sun, and no snow.  Kids are now on autopilot and full of their own adventure and entertainment (save for the occasional sharing conflict which requires our attention).

Walks, food, naps, crafts, movies, games, family, friends ... that's what it's all about folks!

Jhett, Joellyn, Cash, and Amy

3 generations of Buell / Howell gals 

Nana Jo with 2 of her 3 grand babies. 

me and my gal

Vroom vroom

 And  now, if you are having a hard time getting into the Holiday spirit , just check out these pics of Mattie with the horses.  It could melt any cold heart out there!

She is SO darn cute.... Mini Amy.

 Room full of great people - Scrabble anyone?

Naps for friend Brett... he made himself right at home. 

 Mattie and Cash were really into watching the Lion King.  Mattie had never seen it.  She loved it.  It was a bit hard explaining to a 2-year old what was wrong with the "daddy king" lion when he was trampled to death .... Thanks Disney!

Had enough yet?

I'm exhausted just recounting the last 5-days with Clarkster and Ritchie.  Seriously.  I fell asleep while having a conversation with a friend the other day.   Friend, again, I am very sorry about that.  So, Day 3 was packed full of fun and experiences too.

The boys did a lot of floating in the river on tubes and just frolicking like 8-year olds in the water.  They discovered the magic and the fine taste of Schmidt Beer.  They didn't even care that it was storming part of the day.   Folks, Clark and Ritchie bought up all the Schmidt beer in Park County - and drank it all.   This led to some fun with the camera, airstream, redneck dodge pick up truck, and of course, Schmidt.  They were a little Schmidtty after consuming all this beer.  If you know my brother at all, you understand how "in" to taking pictures of the Schmidt beer and "scenes" he was.  We took pictures of the can, the drinker, the props in every possible angle and way.   How classy is Clark with his Schmidt, a 1-ton and baby seat?  Classy.

he's not really driving, please don't send the DUI task force - just posing in the Dodge.

An Airstream and Schmidt beer - these boys were in heaven!

1,000 Schmidt jokes later, we lunched on the patio at Pine Creek Cafe - local beef hamburgers, green chile soup, Matine ate mac and cheese.  Yummy.  We then went to the Ranch where the horses get to stay (lucky horses) and went for a little ride.   I was really proud of myself for catching and saddling the horses all by myself!  Another thing to add to my "I'm a Bad-Ass Woman Resume."   Peter really wants me to be just as competent with the whole horse-thing as he is, but I have to admit, it might be wise for me to play dumb so I don't have to do it all - a lot goes in to caring for our furry friends. My arms are also too short to start our lawn mower, by the way.

Anyhow, the horses have been free grazing in the fields for a month now and they were SO FAT!  I could hardly get the saddles on them.  Clark and Ritchie took Demo and Attie for a stroll up the roads and Matine and I followed in the jog stroller.  Then we just enjoyed the scenery and took some fun pictures of the cool old barns on the property.

That night, we BBQ'd at the house and enjoyed another thunderstorm.  Montana days and nights are magical.  Sorry friends in the South - I hear it's 115 degrees right now?  Ick.  I have lots of room in the house and the Airstream for you when you give up.

Cowboy Clark took control and dominated Attie this time - no more black eyes and lost hats.

this dog LOVES truck rides and horseback rides.

could your tongue hang any lower, Oliver?

the cowboys

running horses!  keep running gals - you have about 400 lbs to lose before September!

Clark took this cool shot in an old barn - he thinks it was symbolic of a mother opening the doors of the world to her daughter - all gritty and beautiful at the same time....

this is my gal -- running with all her heart - all the time.  my heart hurts to look at this picture - i love her SO much.

Ride em' Cowboy!

ALERT THE PRESSES:  I got to go riding - with my sweet husband - and other ADULTS - for an entire 4 hour period!  Thank you mom and Jim for babysitting.  Thank you sweet husband for wanting to spend time with me and making it happen.

Our sweet friends, Brad and Susie - celebrating their anniversary on this lovely day!  

From this land, you can see Livingston, the Crazy Mountains, the Shields River Valley, Paradise Valley, and a whole lot of beautiful right in front of you. 

The wildflowers this year are unbelievable!  Because of our cooler, and wetter spring and summer, everything has stayed very green and very colorful.  Pictures don't even show the details and amount of flora that we could see.

It was HOT - time to take a dip and cool off.  As usual, Oliver jumps with NO hesitation and Gaucho was a bit more hesitant, but willing for sure. 

Self portrait, yes, I was actually there - out - on an outing - with my spouse - and having a great time without my darling baby!

If the scenery isn't enough, every good horseback trip, fly fishing excursion or tour with my cute hubby includes a bit of history too.  Here, Pete is explaining to Susie something about cow breeding and how the old owner of this property died peacefully against that rock ahead.  Never boring folks.

Ah, it is so pretty up there!

The fun had to end sometime... Luckily, the ride back down is just as beautiful as the way up! 

So, the day wasn't over... when we got home, we pulled up to our little home on the hill to find this:

An empty place in the street where our large rubber raft and trailer is SUPPOSED to be. Hmmm...

Peter calmly (too calmly if you ask me) saunters over to the edge of the road-hill and finds our raft.  The crazy Livingston winds carried the sucker down the street and over the hill!  Oh the disaster that COULD have been was all I could think about.

We had to do a little creative "boat retrieval" before the neighbors freaked out. What a funny end to a really glorious day.  That was one of those moments that is like someone pinching my arm.  "Yes, Brooke, your life is too good, but I will bring you back to reality before dinner."

Things that are cute

matine with her horses - it's love at first sight

gaucho's new summer shave - and gaucho in general

mattie hangin' with her daddy

sweet baby-cousin jhett

these mini cupcakes I made for Jessie's baby shower

matine's need to feed everyone she meets - what a generous little gal we have.

semi-naked baby playing dress up with her jewels

anything with brutus in it...

cousin cash

matine wearing hats

this scrunch nose grin

this toothy grin

matine playing jack in the box in the planter

There's a whole lot of cuteness going on these days . . . .