Fall Fun and Mary Poppins!

We have had a fun and busy fall.  Beautiful weather, lots of leaves, pumpkins, friends, and of course - DRESS UP!  This post is long, but you get to see all of October, including the finale - Mattie as Mary Poppins herself.

It all started with a trip to the wonderful Rocky Creek Farm in Bozeman for pumpkin picking and petting zoo time.  Cousin Cash and Jhett (and their driver Amy) were in town, as well as Loni and Marni!   Nona and Jim Pa were with us as always and we met up with Sally and girls and it was a party!

On this particular day, Mattie was feeling very free spirited and dressed herself.  I couldn't bear tell her she had to change, so alas, what you see is her idea of a pumpkin patch outfit.  She loved it and sported the entire ensemble all day.  I think I loved it even more.

That might be my favorite picture of all time - yes, that is my daughter and yes, that was just a "Matine" moment caught on camera.

Some of my girls - what would I do without Loni, Mom and Marni? 

Sally and Camille

Cash Man! 

Amy, Jhett, me, Marni, Loni and Sally

Cousins playing in the hay -they are like night and day! 

I love this picture. 

Jhett refused to crack a smile on this day.  So cute. 

The kids - minus Cash. 

We then enjoyed a nice dinner at our house where we carved pumpkins, had some homey Shepherds pie, and visited ... the adults did most of the carving while the girls played dress up and ran around the house.

Today, on actual Halloween, Mattie and enjoyed a day of "fall crafts."  We decorated our 2nd pumpkin - this time with Halloween stickers, cut outs and glitter glue sticks.  We collected some leaves and made a "tree" picture with our real leaves.  And Mattie anticipated her dress up "trick or treating" by changing her outfit at least 6 times throughout the day.  This child can't decide on WHICH dress up dress she likes best, so she wears them all.

Serious concentration with the glitter glue (notice the sparkly go-go dress)

It was finally time for the finale... Costume time.  We have been looking forward to her Mary Poppins debut for months.  And again, thanks again to my creative and crafty (and organized) mother, Mattie had a handmade costume that cost mere pennies.   We watched scenes from Mary Poppins while getting her dressed and she got really good at saying, "trick or treat thank you" (all one word).

Year three's costume .... Mary Poppins!

Now that you are wooed by her cuteness I will tell you how this all REALLY went down.  I was crazy, cranky and impatient from 1pm on... Mattie refused to take a nap and cried in her room for an hour until I laid down with her.  She woke up crabby and testing my every move and word.  She refused to wear at the hat or jacket (key pieces to the costume).  Now, I know this is not her fault - she is 2.5  - I am an adult.  I needed to just "let it go" and relax, but it was one of those days where I just couldn't.  I wanted to lock myself in a closet and scream at the top of my lungs.  A large glass of wine would have helped the situation, but since I am pregnant, that was out (*^%$#).

Sally (my wife), the girls, and ME... terrifying I know.

She (me) ended up pulling herself together, helped and we had a great time with our friends and loved trick or treating.  That made it all much better, but I still need a do-over button sometimes. Hopefully she won't remember her scary, cranky clown (that was my costume) mom of Halloween 2011 when she grows up.  I was definitely the scariest thing I experienced tonight.

MANY more pictures coming later of tonight... This was all I had on my little aim and shoot.

Happy Halloween.

Hogsback Hike

Stop everything, blow off work, get outside! It was NOT windy, mid 60's on November 4th in Livingston. GET OUTSIDE! This just doesn't normally happen folks.

You can just say, "aaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh."

It's really pretty simple

Days are pretty grand around here. I wake up around 7:30 these days! Snuggle with mom for 15 minutes. No talking. No fiddling with anything. I need silence and some time to get going. Once we are awake, we hit the ground running. I sweetly sign and ask for "toast." This is an every morning occurrence. We don't always get "toast," because sometimes mom thinks I need a bit more nutrition than bread and butter. I eat whatever she gives me for breakfast. It's my favorite meal.

Today, while I waited for my toast (patiently) I played with some play-doh.  Mom says I can't eat it or feed it to Brutus anymore.  The other day, we both threw it up ... at the same time.  Mom made that face again.  Probably shouldn't eat play-doh again.   I also saw the bunny rabbit that lives in the bush in the front yard.  I LOVE it when we see him at breakfast time.



Then I want to go outside.  I don't care that it's 30 some-odd degrees in the mornings now.  That's what hats, boots, and jackets are for.  Mine are all by the front door and I go and get them myself and even try to put them on.  Sometimes I ask mom for help.   Yesterday I wanted to walk my new favorite toy, the wooden pull-dog.  And I did.  I walked 2 whole blocks with him.  Gaucho came too. 

Then we worked in the yard.  Another beautiful fall day here in Montana.  Mom says they are numbered and that soon the ground will be much colder and whiter.  I like the leaves a lot and there seem to be LOTS of birds in the sky right now.  I laid down in the middle of the yard today and watched them for quite a while.  I sure love birds.  Gaucho always brings me his toys to throw.   I appease him and toss his silly things around for a while.  My throw is getting better.  Mom and dad think I am going to be a "lefty."  I eat, write, and throw with my left arm most of the time.

Nap time ... When I got up from my 2 hour nap today, I wanted to go outside again.  Yet again, I need a few moments to wake up - I don't want too much commotion for a few moments.  So baby and I sat on the patio steps for a few before the playing resumed.  I talked to her, pretend changed her dirty diaper, and showed her the birds.  She always sits so sweet with me on the patio.

Then it was time for the bean box!   It's so cool.  Mom lets me sit inside this box with a lid and I can throw beans wherever I want!   They usually end up in my pants or diaper.  Ouch. I mainly like to squeeze myself as small as possible and pop out - again and again. 

More working in the yard. Mom cleaned out the garden, raked leaves, and cleaned off the rug that Brutus and I threw up the play-doh on. I LOVE these days.

A walk, some toast, a nap, and a box of beans... what more does a kid need?

pumpkin patchin'

We had a wonderful Saturday morning at Rocky Creek Farm outside of Bozeman last weekend.  Matine got to pick out a little pumpkin, pet some goats and sheep, spy on some pigs and chickens and go crazy with other kids in a very cool "hay fort." 

 It's nice having family to share it all with.

hot chocolate!  delicious!