Well, the Easter Bunny travels. Thank goodness. There was a lot of talk about this elusive rabbit this year and it did not disappoint.
A fun filled weekend in Dillon with the Hoffmanns! Eric's brother and his family were there from Minnesota as well as his dad Ken. It was a packed house and that always makes it fun for the kiddies!
While all our Midwestern, Southern, Floridian, and California readers read this .... It wouldn't be "Spring in Montana" without some sledding behind a horse!
Easter egg hunt in the riding arena - very Hoffmann-esque! I love this picture and how Shep the dog is hiding with the kids.
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Mattie and her aunt Amy on Merlin the horse (he closed his eyes for the picture, dang it)!
We just can't keep this kid out of a mud puddle or body of water! I love her.
Peter took a cool picture of Merlins eyeball.
I just love this for some reason - playing in the snowsuit in a playhouse and then little Gaucho sitting there as some sort of protector.... He is always looking out for that kid!
The "easter bunnies" getting baskets ready for the morning...
What a generous bunny that gal/guy is!
On a side note, Mattie was very excited about the Easter Bunny thing. We did walks around the neighborhood the week leading up, looking for him in the bushes, she had her headlamp out at night looking for the rabbit, and 2 days after Easter when she was home, Peter walked out with her in the front yard and there was a rabbit in the neighbors yard. Very quietly she points out that it's there and then you hear this very soft and sweet, "THANK YOU" come out of her mouth as she looked at it. It could melt your heart!
Cash Man
Clearly liking her Easter Bunny bunny and not sure what the hanger is for....
Identical cousins ... la la la. Well, definitely not identical cousins, but they sure do like each other. Amy and Eric took a week long trip to Arizona this last week and Nana Jo was keeping Cash and Jhett. She needed help for one of the days so they came to Livingston to stay the night and the next day. We had a great time. Mattie was thrilled to have a sleepover with her favorite friends and Cash and Jhett seemed to enjoy the different toys and pace of our crazy lives.
It was hard to catch them all in the same room at the same time and cooperating for a picture, but here are a couple to remind us how cute they all are at this age.
We are ringing in the New Year in Dillon with Pete's sister Amy and Eric (and of course cousins Cash and Jhett). The kids are having more fun than I could ever show you in pictures or words. We occasionally have to break up a fight (usually involving sharing a tractor, hat or ball); but for the most part they disappear to "shoot monsters" "jump on beds" and play with all their Christmas toys. We can't keep clothes on Matine this trip (shocker) so most of the time she is feral in diaper only.
We have a little bit of snow so they get kicked outside as much as possible to sled, throw snowballs, or their declared favorite activity of "falling in the snow."
We went to Elkhorn Hot Springs in the Pioneer Mountains yesterday (a first for most of us) and it was heaven. Snow all around, warm water and happy swimming babies. Jhett and Matine are FISH and couldn't get enough. Cash is still on the fence as to whether he really likes the water or not. We have already planned a trip back to Elk Horn to rent a cabin and soak more. There is a ton of cross country skiing practically out the cabin doors, a cute restaurant, and of course, hot natural spring water! Our kind of place!
Today we will head down to the arena on the La Cense Ranch where they are doing a bulldogging and break-a-way roping contest/benefit (yes, I just asked Eric and Peter what the heck that was). Should entertain the kids for a while! I am sure Matine will love an excuse to wear her chaps, gun and holster in public.
Tonight we will try to stay awake until midnight, eat some appetizers made of elk, and ring in the New Year with our family... We feel very lucky and happy to have had such a great year and look forward to a very eventful 2012!
Our best to you - our friends and creepy stalkers on the world wide web!
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!
We put on some clothes (rare, I know), loaded up the Suburban (actually we packed it FULL of presents, misc camp gear, and elk camp food) and headed to Dillon to celebrate our Cousin Cash's 2nd Birthday!
this is the "serious" I am walking and on a mission face
Dad and Uncle Josh were meeting us there, as their 1st week of Elk Camp was done and we were all going to spend a whole 12 hours together, and I was bringing them the haul of food for Week 2.
Cousin Cash's house is full of tractors of all shapes and sizes and he was nice enough to share them with Matine.
Baby Jhett sure is getting big! She is quite a strong and long 6 month old. She didn't like being held by my mom much, but she sure loves her own Mom and it was fun to get to be around a real baby again!
The best part of the weekend was seeing DAD!!!! He sure missed me ... 12 hours with him isn't enough! At least I get to see him again tomorrow! When will hunting season be over again?
Me and aunt Amy had some fun. She sure liked my pretty preppy tight-cardigan ensemble. Hounds tooth shorts and fun fall colors are sooooo "me."
sharing snacks - "one for me, one for you, one for Brutus"
We know aunt Micca is DYING back at home and misses Josh so much, but we sure are grateful to have him here with us. He's keeping daddy sane, safe, and relaxed up in Camp. Thanks Josh (and Micca for sharing).
It was a big weekend - lots of playing, partying, and driving. I was so excited to snuggle up with my new favorite wildlife book and practice my "wolf howl" and "elk bugling."
