Birthday Celebration Preparation

Here's Madigan decortaing her birthday cupcakes. I was so amazed that she did this so well. We use the learning tower often now- mostly to help Mom bake and cook stuff, but also to wash her hands and watch Dad make juice in the juicer.
I know there's too many photos, but how could I leave a single one out?

Don't Look- she's too old!

Daddy took Madigan for a walk a night last week before dinner. Mom needed some time to pick up the house or craft, or something (geez, do I need excuse!?) Luckily he had the camera. It's Fall here in term sof color, but it's been in the 70's and 80's.....everything is supposed to change tomorrow though.
Something about little 2 year olds wearing New Balance tennis shoes makes them look way too old.....

Rocky Creek Farm Birthday Party

We helped Beckett ring in his 4th birthday at Rocky Creek Farm last Friday night. It was the perfect day and the perfect simple little boys birthday party. The kids got to run around and climb the haybales, open presents in the teepee, eat pizza and blue ice cream birthday cake. And it was 80 degrees! Madigan and I had talked about going to the farm all day, but she thought we were going to one with chickens, horseys and goats. Those must be her 3 favorite farm animals because she asked for all 3 each time she brought it up. Sorry to say, there's was just a dog name Charlie...But we had a great time. Madi was a little shy and worried with the older kids and all boys, but she warmed up at the end and even joined Dad in the haybale tunnel.

We're debating having Madigan's party there, but we think we'll hold off and do next year's there when she and her friends can enjoy it a little more...she's still pretty young and we're determined not to make her birthday a huge crazy event.

Mock's Lincoln Log Farm

Nana started it when she sent Madigan a goat farm last winter. Since then, we've slowly been collecting farm animals. I found Madi's set of Lincoln Logs in the garage last weekend when I "cleaned it out" (in quotes because I didn't really get rid of all that much). I bought the set at a garage sale before she was even born for $3, which includes the rubbermaid bin they were in....(oh the joy I get from a good deal...ahem- did you say I'm like my mother?)

So, on Friday I decided I would just try to parent the day that Madigan and I had together- not try to finish an impossible list of errands and chores. And it was nice. We built this little farm and then we went out to Rocky Creek Farm for a birthday party (pictures to follow).

For Madigan's birthday I got her a squirrel, a set of ducks, a rabbit and another animal I can't remember right now. And last night I made her a hen's nest for her chickens, and next up are these adorable hay bales. Wow, I can't imagine all of the stuff I'm going to make when we get a dollhouse set up!!

Sunday Morning Walk

Oh, I would so like to "institute" a family weekend hike every weekend, never to be canceled. But, as life often does, things get crazy and you just can't fit everything in. This weekend was one of those weekends. I spent most of Saturday organizing our garage, which was in dire need of some purging and shifting. On Sunday, we decided that we didn't have time for a hike, so we headed up to Peet's Hill here in town and took everybody for a walk. We ended up spending a lot of time up there and the weather was so beautiful....and we actually had the small camera in a pocket! Then we headed over to watch Max and Oliver while their parents had a little date. We swapped them last weekend and caught a movie and dinner without Madigan- oh the joy of actually eating a meal from start to finish-wow, I miss those days....

Highway 12 Part 2

This is a short walk in an old cedar grove next to the road. Kyle and I stopped here before since and it's so calming and pretty. The trail has a short little "fence" lining parts of it and Madigan seemed to really enjoy walking along it. I originally pulled over just to take a few minutes and stretch our legs before getting on the road to go home... But, Madigan was so happy and excited about this trail that we spent almost a half hour playing in the large trees and walking along. Madigan hiked it like it was her kind of mounatin- very cute! (By the way this is her favorite outfil these days- her "horsey pants" and a froggy t-shirt.

Highway 12 Part 1

Labor Day weekend we again loaded up the Eurovan and set out for a weekend camping trip. This time we went North of the Selway Bitteroot Wilderness, west of Missoula, in the Highway 12 corridor along the Lochsa River. Kyle and I have been there before, but it was years ago. We hiked into hot springs both Saturday and Sunday. Being able to camp 2 nights feels like much more of a "vacation" then only one night of camping.... although it does take me an entire day (plus night before) to get us all ready and packed and things baked and dinner partially cooked. We've been using the dutch oven this summer -and Italian food definitely seems the way to go.

We joined The Hoskings family again that has 2 boys-Max and Oliver. Max is 3 1/2 and Oliver is a week older then Madigan....which is 2 is only a few short weeks!!!





Jerry Johnson Hot Springs- very popular, easy hike with lots of people:

More our style, Weir Hot Springs...less people, not so easy hike in some places (especially me carrying Madigan in the Ergo):