Budding Naturalist

We live in a really awesome place.  Just when I think I might go crazy with "one more part time job" or "stupidly expensive plane fare to fly out of Bozeman,"  or "60 mile per hour winds!"  I take a breath, look out my window, take a walk in the woods, or hop in the car for the quick 45 minute drive to Yellowstone National PARK and I am slapped in the face with the reality that I live in the most amazing place on the Planet.

Happy gal. Enjoying her New Year in the Park

Our little wildlife expert.   Looking like a pro, hanging out the window.

Yes, we go to take our kid into Yellowstone for the day ... just for fun.  Just to watch some wildlife.  And by wildlife I mean WOLVES, and elk, and bison, and big horn sheep!  Seriously.  Very cool.  Being the little mimic and animal lover she is, she soaked up every little bit of the day.  She insisted on wearing her binoculars "noculars" around her neck all day and she kept them pointed at the hills, sky and road.  She commented and told us all the things she thinks she was seeing.  Most of it was pretty accurate (buffalo, birds, otters, elk), but she did tell us that she saw a "kangaroo" in the Lamar Valley at one point.  Heck, maybe she did.

The beautiful Lamar Valley - might be my favorite place on earth 

Peter, Nana Joellyn and Mattie... In Soda Butte

Snow fun. 

It was a gorgeous day.  Temps ranged from the teens to the 30's, sunny, no wind, and no traffic.  Not that there is really ever "traffic" in Yellowstone in the winter, but what this means for us:  we can stop in the middle of the road and gawk at things without being bothered for a good 10 minutes.

I see the wolves! 

Mastering her 60x spotting scope skills! 

Mattie loved using her noculars and the scope all day and didn't' stop giving a running commentary of everything we saw.  She loved eating lunch out of the back of the car and going for little mini hikes in the snow.  She was throwing ice balls over the hill to "feed the buffalo" at one point as well.

Buffalo

 After spending  most of the day in the Lamar Valley and Soda Butte, watching 2 different wolf packs (they are AMAZING!), we decided to move on and go to Mammoth and walk the thermal features on the terraces.  It was great.  Mattie is into dragons these days and with all the smoke and sulpher smells from the thermal pools, she was convinced that was where the "dragons lived."  I tell you, her logic and imagination both amaze me!

Where the "dragons live" 

This of course would be where they laid their eggs! 

My heart was full today.  There is nothing better than showing your child what the "real world" is like.  Next to teaching her to love herself and others, instilling a love of this place in her will be the greatest thing I do as her mom.

Uncle Clark Catch Up

Yikes, back in September Uncle Clark and two of his buddies, Michael and Jeremy came to visit. Objective: Montana adventure. They white water rafted (burr), fly fished and tried to see as much as they could in 4 days.

Mattie was in HEAVEN! She adores her Uncle and then to have two of his friends (who both have little kids) with him to dote, wrestle, and play with her. Heaven. These boys took over bed time story duty and let me tell you - Where the Wild Things Are has never been read with more enthusiasm - ever! It was a super fun mini-week.

Fishing in Yellowstone National Park - Clark, Jeremy and Michael 

Catching a ride in Yellowstone with Dad. 

rocks and dirt.  heaven.

those cheeks! 

She was attached to Clark's hip and loved playing Angry Birds on the iPhone.

Highschool Reunion and Vomit

I got the best call last week.  One of my best friends from high school, Christina (formerly Barnes) was going to be in Jackson Hole with her family for the week and wanted to meet up ... when else would she be this close to Montana?  I was THRILLED!  There is something so fun and comforting about seeing old friends - especially the ones that you crafted SO many of your best memories with. 

I jumped at the chance!  Mattie and I left the house at about 6:30 to get on the road.  Mattie proceeded to narrate everything she saw along our drive... Using full thoughts and sentences it was something like this, "That is the river.  The river is big.  I don't go in the river, ok?   But there is a elk and a buffalo.  Don't go in the river, ok?  It is FAST!"   I guess she IS paying attention when I tell her to be careful of the water!  

We talked all about what animals she wanted to see - the usual suspects were mentioned.  Buffalo, elk, bear, moose, birds, and then ... a blue pig.   We looked hard for that one, no such luck today.  They must be hibernating or something.

She had milk and a biscuit for breakfast on the trip down.  She broke her ramblings about buffalo eating flowers and blue pigs to throw up for the 3rd time in her entire life just as we were in the heart of Yellowstone.  It was EVERYWHERE!  Picture this - I am on the side of Lava Creek in Yellowstone, stripping Mattie down to bare nakedness (while gagging), shaking the chunks of curdled milk in the car seat into the grass (while gagging) and wiping down as much as I could with McDonalds napkins, baby wipes and the one bottle of water I had in the car.   Yes folks, it was going to be 90 degrees that day and I was going to be in a car with cooking milk vomit!  I didn't care... I was going to see my old friend... Onward we went.

The Gibbon River, Yellowstone National Park

Apparently I was a bit too excited about the meeting, because about 20 minutes after I soiled the pristine waters of Yellowstone with remnants of puke, I saw flashing lights in my rear view mirror.  Oh, yes, I was being pulled over by a PARK RANGER!   He said I was going 45 in a 35.  I am not sure I believe him, but I didn't argue.   I waiting in my pukie car for TWENTY MINUTES while he ran my license through the system.  After 10 minutes I was convinced my identity had been stolen and he was cross checking my ID number with some sort of illegal or felon.   I was pretty sure I was going to going to jail (National Park Jail) - wearing clothes that smelled like puke.   Alas, just a warning and I was on my way ... slowly this time. 

Lucky for me (and Christina) she was running late too.  We both arrived at the Visitor's Center within 3 minutes of each other!  The trials of getting there erased, I was excited to see my friend and meet her little girl!

My friend - I am SO glad I got to see her!

Like mother like daughter.

To see her now, as this still gorgeous woman - still hilarious, sweet, and exactly the same, yet all grown up and a MOM!  Her daughter Canaan is 18-months old and the most darling thing.  She looks just like Christina and has a joy about her - just like her mom has always had. 

We took 50 of them sitting there and this is the best I got.  Seriously.

My little wierdo, reading Go Dog Go on a log - enjoying her day. 

We met up at Canyon Village and spent about 4 hours just hanging out by the Gibbon River, walking as far as we could with 2 headstrong toddlers, had lunch and then had to part ways. 

So tired, what a big day looking for animals, especially that blue pig!

Oklahoma Meets the West

The week of Matine's First Birthday is also known as "when my great Oklahoma family came to visit" week.

Sorry to just now be getting these up. Truly, it is no reflection on the good time had by all!

Here's a recap:

They flew into beautiful Bozeman - snow capped mountains, typical spring weather .... Mid 60's with the chance of snow.

I will be your tour-guide for the week. "Fasten your seat belts, there is a lot to do!"

We toured Livingston - hitting all the shops that are open on a Sunday (1) and feeding our souls with coffee! T-shirts, shot glasses, and souvenirs for the poor people left at home? Check!

They had to meet our other four-legged family and see the shabby digs that they hang out at! Hi Attie!

Photo lessons from Clark - he had fun taking pictures of the barn with his camera.

Everyone smile and say, "yee-haw Cottongim." I am sure glad Aunt Susie had that walking stick right there. Don't want anyone defenseless from those vicious Fjords!

My best friend and brother Clark, Matine and me... Mattie loves Uncle Clark.

The whole fan-damily at Pine Creek Falls. I figured a good mid spring hike in variable terrain was a great way to introduce them to the great State. As you can see the hiking sticks are getting bigger in size and numbers!

My beautiful cousins - Ahna and Lacey.

My two dads. Jim and Scott. More sticks.

Walk! I swear you will love this!

No trip is complete without raising your cholesterol with a fine butter-filled Rib and Chop house meal. Here, Clark is likely making a semi-rude, but funny sarcastic observation.

Susie loved her dacquiri. Had to remind her that Montana's fruity drinks were just as tasty (and bigger) as she could find in the tropics!

Ahna, Lacey and Doug - trying new food and new drinks.

More walk abouts and tours of town. The dogs really enjoyed this part of their vacation.

Pretty Aunt Susie and Matine - so happy they are getting to know each other.

Brother and Sister - love love love.

No trip here is complete without a 12-hour day in Yellowstone! We were lucky enough to borrow a 15-passenger van and load EVERYONE and the baby into it for our marathon tour of America's First National Park. We saw elk, bison, ravens, snow, rain, sun, and a very large BOAR GRIZZLY! Oh, and I convinced the Okies to strip down to their skivvies and get in the boiling river when it was 40 degrees outside... Suckers!

Geez Brooke, this is fun (cold). What are we doing next (leaving?)... Smile!

Lacey is ready for her refreshing swim!

And of course, Matine got to have her family here for her FIRST BIRTHDAY (which you already saw pictures of).

It was a great week and I am SO lucky to have the most loving, fun, sweet, and generous family on the Planet. Love you Doug, Dad, Clark, Susie, Ahna and Lacey!

Come back soon.

Winter Wonderland Weekend - or WWW

Nothing says Winter like a drive through pristine and quiet Yellowstone and then burning some fossil fuels outside of the Park in the sled-neck city of Cooke City. Pete enjoyed both peace and loud engines on his guy-day with Grif.





Then on Sunday we met Jacqueline and Grif at Pine Creek for some yummy breakfast before the busy day started. Jacqueline planned and organized a benefit auction and event for her cousin -- it was on Sunday afternoon -- and it was a HUGE success!

I LOVE BREAKFAST!