MATINE TURNS 3!

I still cannot believe my little girl is THREE years old already.  Wow, time really does fly.  The last three years with her have been the most exciting, inspiring, rewarding, challenging, and sweet years of my life.

Sweet Matine,

You are truly the sweetest person I know.  Your heart is so big, so honest, so strong.  You make every moment brighter with your enthusiasm for everything!  You choose to see the world as beautiful and fun in every way.  You prefer to laugh, love and hug ... resisting any efforts to ever be cross or not happy.  Even when you fall and scrape a knee you try to not cry or complain and proudly announce when you are "healed" or not sad anymore.   You just want to be happy!  You adore fun, beauty, excitement, people, places, animals.  You take it ALL in with GUSTO and you never cease to amaze me with your wit and curiosity for life.   These days are FILLED with a million and one questions as to why, how or my favorite "what did you say?"  "what are you talking about?"  You are smart and observant beyond your years and I am terrified so many times at what you are processing and understanding.  You have no problem asking over and over about something until you understand it and if you ever hear a word or expression that you don't understand you simply say, "I don't know what that means mom, can you tell me again."  I hope you never lose this quality.  Today I said, "it broke my heart" while talking with Grandpa Scott and you were listening.  You immediately ask me.  "Mom, why did your heart break?"  I know you were taking it literally and were very concerned that I had a broken heart.  When I explained that's an expression used when people are sad about something, you thought about it long and hard and then say, "Expression?  I don't know that word."  You had totally processed all of what I just said but that one word and you couldn't let it go.  I then had to break that down and explain what an "expression" was to a three year old.  You are keeping us on our toes little girl!    You want all people to be included in all you do and you already love your friends and family more than anything.  Princess, in your own words, "you are kind and gentle."  I love you more than words could ever express.  You are my heart and the greatest thing I have ever done or will do in my life.

xoxoxo - Mama

We had a birthday party fitting for a sweet, sweet girl who just loves to sit at a table and chat with friends. What else could a gal that requested a "pink" party want?  We filled the room with pink balloons, vintage dress up hats from Grammie, pretty dresses, flowers, tea sets, tasty treats and 12 of your favorite friends.  I think this over the top party was a success (as we witnessed you literally screaming with joy at the table and running hot laps around the house and yard for 2 hours non-stop).   This one will go down in the memory books.  Everyone kept asking, "how in the world did you find the time and energy to do this with a  10 day old baby?"  Well, let me tell you folks that the secret to ALL my success these days is the energy and time of JimPa, Nona and Grandpa Scott!  Matine has been enlisted to do some heavy lifting around here too!  Thank you guys, you are miracles ... truly.

First, a tea party dress must be picked out.  It must be pink, of course, and have some flowers on it.  Second, you must select a hat.  Pink again is preferred and you can't go wrong if there is a bluebird on top.  She proudly wore her new charm necklace from Aunt Michele (loves it).  Hair had barrettes and a pony tail ("just one").  She just loves to be pretty and adorned from head to toe.

The birthday girl - age 3

Jim Pa, aka "Dapper Dan" arrived early and she was so thrilled to see him sporting his hat and fancy coat.

Oh how they love each other so ....

Every single one of her friends arrived so excited and so cute.  Here is double trouble ... Audrey and Matine.  We are going to have to watch this duo.  Matine just has to have her arms around her friends when she takes pictures.  Not sure where that comes from ... aghem...

Sweet Kiris, Audrey and Matine!  

 The boys looked spiffy too and took right to the yard to play with garden tools and do boy things.

Darling Devin raking our play house yard.  Thanks Buddy! 

Devin's dreamy little brother Justin.  This little guy gets cuter by the day. 

 If you could only have overheard the laughing, giggling and conversations in the the yard.  These kids are hilarious.  At one point Matine was in the middle of the yard, dress hiked up, just peeing.  Yes, she peed at her tea party ... in the yard.  I was so proud!

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 William looking quite guilty at the food table... I love this boy.

Each kid had a place tags, gold chargers, glass plates and "tea cups" with sugary punch.  I tried to provide an assortment of foods (not JUST sugar) but alas, all they ate and went for were the lollipops, cupcakes, cookies and maybe some fruit.  Sorry parents.  I just hyped them all up on sugar and off they went at bed time... Good luck!

Lucas ROCKING my Grammie's vintage hat.  

Kiris, age 5. 

Audrey, age 3

Gray, age 5 (Kiris' twin)

Anders, age 5 (and loving the butterfly cakes)

Finn, age 4 with a cute new haircut.

Zori, almost 3 and ALMOST a big sister

 They all were so cute at the table and felt pretty special.  Matine was at the head of the table and grinning ear to ear the entire time!   At one point she was shrieking with joy.  Until our eardrums about popped and we had to request the b-day girl save that for outside.

The mass of kids at their high tea festivities! 

The shrieking 

 She kept asking me all day, "will we sing Happy Birthday to ME????"  Yes my love, we will!

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 Half of town have adopted JimPa as their surrogate granddad.  Sophia and Sully sure enjoyed his company at the other end of the table.  Please notice Sully's tee-shirt with a tie sewn on to it.  This boy loves casual clothes and he ROCKED this shirt. I thought it was so perfectly "Sully" for such an occasion.

THE TABLE BEFORE IT WAS DEVOURED

Grandpa "Cot" and Nana Jo

oh sweet girl, I am quite certain she is an ANGEL!

As anyone who knows my dad can attest... I can hardly get him in pictures.  He was at this party the entire time but was chatting someone's ears off outside while drinking a beer (beers) ... I can't believe he isn't in more photos.  And as you know, my mom and I are behind the cameras, alas, I have NO pictures of her either...

It was a great party.  We are all still trying to recover.

Easter Bunny makes it to Dillon

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.... 

Ernie's Art Show

Cousin Marni's boyfriend and fellow artist, Ernest had the opening of his very cool and interactive art show at MSU.  Like Marni, Ernie is in ceramics and he had made some very elaborate installations and pieces that are nearly impossible to describe - you just needed to be there, trust me.  

I told Matine that we were going to go to an "art show" the day before (FYI  - waaayyyy too early).  We picked out a very chic little ensemble (a gift from Nona last year), that I knew she would love wearing and we then proceeded to talk about it for 2 entire days before we were finally dressed up and on our way there.  

before the show at the house, she thought she was so cute, she wanted pics taken with each dog.  

We met Nana Jo in Bozeman for dinner first, Loni was coming over from Missoula, it was going to be a big night.  

The show was very fun!  Hundreds of people, very active and exciting "show."  Ernie had made dozens of ceramic bowling pins and balls, a bowling alley, 2 enormous ceramic boat/vessels (filled with balls), another boat that was used as a cooler to hold beer, and had this all "online" and streaming live to those that couldn't be there.   It was interactive with iPhone apps and even sponsored by PBR Beer (when you live in Montana you understand that sponsorship from PBR is very cool).  

Someone ADORES her Aunt Loni! 

Ernest, against the wall drinking a PBR, watching his clean up men sweep up the latest bowlers mess.  

The second we got out of the car at MSU Matine starts the dialogue (actually, we all know it started long before that), but it was "where's the art show, where we going, where's Marni and Loni, is this the art show, is this the party!, this is fun, do I get to dance?, etc, etc."  Gal was ready for some culture and mingling! 

When we arrive the place is packed!  People are taking turns bowling the ceramic balls down the lane and smashing (very loudly) both balls and bowling pins, cheering, drinking, laughing and talking.   I dare say MOST 2.5 year olds (and many adults) would have FREAKED OUT at all the chaos and loud noises.  Matine watched stunned (big brown eyes) for about 1 minute and then was completely in her element.  She chatted it up with Loni and Marni , complementing them on their clothes and earrings, met some new friends, some old, and within a half hour didn't even need or want to be held as she made her way (knee height) through the crowds to help herself to the food table and juice boxes.    She soaked in every single detail of what was going on and was so happy! 

  

Soaking it in and getting an art tutorial from Aunt Loni.

The Buell / Howell clan! 

Ernest Forward's ceramic boat/vessels - at the end of the night they were set to collide and break and explode... Cool! 

She did what she usually does these days and as soon as anyone made eye contact with her, she immediately, "What's your name?"  They of course answer back and ask hers and she begins her "conversations" with them.  I just wish you could see this little social butterfly in action.  

The drive home, she sat in her carseat, clutching a broken (but not sharp) souvenir piece of one of the bowling pins, half dazed and wiped out, smiling, talking and processing her "art show" night.  We have got to keep this little gal plugged in to the art scene - she definitely has a propensity and natural draw to it all! 

Making new friends and mingling at the food table. 

On her own and making her way through the crowds. 

Wow, I really love those earrings Marni - did you make them yourself? 

On the Big Screen

Pete's latest hobby has been making these fun movies with our iMovie program on the Mac.  He made a couple of fishing ones too, but I know what you really want to to see .... Enjoy

Things she likes

yes, that is a popsicle and those are gloves on her hands.

Our little precious weirdo.  Oh how I adore her and her "essence."  There are truly too many funny sayings or moments to even record half of them, but I thought I would make a quick list of things that she prefers, likes, or does lately.

• She loves to wear gloves - even inside.  
• Still loves toast. 
• German pancakes. 
• Nutella
• Making messes and cleaning them up herself 
• Cooking with mom - while standing on "her tool"  (stool) 
• Using the potty "all by myself" 
• Her friends 
• Walks with mom and dad 
• Her kitties, especially Fez
• Sleeping on her "trundle" (trundle bed) 
• Dinner parties
• Medicine when she's sick 
• Bandaids when anyone has an injury. 
• Giving hugs and kisses 
• Dress up of any kind 
• Getting her fingernails and toenails painted 
• School - particularly circle time / singing time 
• She loves her cousins Cash and Jhett
• Dora the Explorer 
• the movie, Rio 
• Playing Candy Land 
• Telling stories 
• Art of any kind - painting, markers, crayons, stickers
• Saying, "its ok, don't worry, its ok, right?"  - if she spills something or messes something up
• Feeling better - if she is at all sick or has a cold, as soon as symptoms subside she likes to announce it and proclaim, "I feel better Mom! I'm not sick anymore!"  
• Going to the Doctors office with me for the appointments 
• Taking baths - she will stay in it for hours 
• Pretend cooking in her kitchen 
• Princess books 
• Story time of any kind, but she loves Olivia, Princess stories, Mouse Cookie books, and Dr Seuss.
• She gets so sad when others are sad - it consumes her until they are ok. 
• Picking out her clothes and outfits - statements like, "oh, that will be cute" or "ummmm, what dress should I wear today?" as she peruses the closet ... just like a grownup. 
• She loves haircuts and getting her bangs trimmed 
• She loves scissors and cutting things - anything!  
• She likes trying to negotiate - "one more bite, not two" or "2 books tonight, ok mom, alright."  
• SWIMMING!  She loves going to Chico to soak and swim.  Head under water, floating, kicking, jumping off the edge, visiting with all the people who wave and smile at her.  
• She is really into asking people what their name is.  Total strangers, she MUST know what their name is and she will go right up to them and ask.  
• She loves telling people her name is "Matine" and she is two (with 2 fingers being displayed)
• Dancing.  She could dance all day.  To any tune.  
• Naming body parts - she is very into naming the bones and parts of her body.  
• Hot chocolate.  It is a must have when she wakes up while we drink our coffee. 
• Skiing.  She lays in bed asking if she gets to ski today.  
• She loves to declare if "its almost late" (dusk or bedtime) or "its early now mom!" (morning time)
• A funny statement recently, "what are you doing mom?  Think about it, does that make any sense?"  - with extreme hand and head accents.  
• She loves cuddling.  If we would let her sleep in my bed every night, she would. 
• She loves her family.  She declares that we are family all the time and asks about ALL her grandparents, cousins, aunts and uncles all the time.  
• She loves "Skype" and "FaceTime" with friends on the computer. 
• She's really good with manners.  Of course she goes through demanding phases, but most of the time she very naturally says, "thanks mom" or "you're welcome" and "could you please?"  
• Baby animals - any baby animal is adored and she imagines that most things are baby animals. 
• She has been eating a lot of chicken lately - mostly bread, cheese, noodles, fruit, crackers, milk
• Pink 
• 
  

Snow Day!

We have only had about 3 "storms" to speak of this year and it has been a bit strange having such a dry winter.  But, when it does snow, we try to take advantage.

Today, Mattie had William and Sophia over - they played and played in the snow, "rested" on their chairs on the sauna deck, had some hot cocoa, played dress up, and finger painted... What do you do on a snow day?

Mornings always start off right with some semi-unsupervised finger painting. I am amazed at how good she actually is with paints.  She stays at her craft table, washes her hands before doing anything, and stays relatively clean.  I did have to tell her no once when she asked if she could paint her face.

We had a doctors appointment this morning.  I say "we" because I get my baby check ups and so does Matine.  They all know her in the office and love to visit with her when we get there.  Nurse Gloria always brings her treats and asks her how "her baby" is growing in her belly.  She helped the Doc measure my belly today with the little tape measure and as soon as they were done Matine walked very confidently to her drawer in the exam room - I saw the Doc take a big gasp (like oh, no!  kid going through medical drawer) and before she could say anything Matine had put the tape measure in the exact spot it came from and nicely shut the drawer.  I thought Doc's jaw was going to drop.  It was pretty funny.

After our babies were given the "a-ok" we had lunch with Mike, William and Sophia and then they came back to our place for a few hours.  The kids couldn't stand being inside once they saw that sun shining on the nice white snow - so 45 minutes later after my wholeness bundled up 3 squirming kids - they were gone.

Hot cocoa and then some dress up.  It was a day!

Mattie loves her "princess" dress and she accessorized today with a bowl on her head.  It looked just like a yarmulke and I laughed thinking how timely her support of Israel was....