Cherish the moment

Although I'm looking forward to the next season and all the fun traditions it will bring (I already see crunchy leaves...ahhh) , right now I want to soak up every last opportunity to do this...

Play outside in the water with my favorite little man, roam the garden and pick our crops, feed the chickens, eat lunch outside, etc. 

As you know he loves all things water, and the hose, sprinkler, pool, and water table are no exception :)

He looks like such a big boy eating his snack. He likes to sit in adult style chairs when he eats his snacks-he thinks it's super special. Thankfully he still likes his highchair too!

When summers over and the weather turns I'll miss that strawberry face (enlarge photo for full effect) that he gets from the endless amounts of strawberries this boy would pick (if I let him that is...ha!)

Another favorite to pick-the "matoes," (tomatoes) 

but of course he would much rather feed those to the chickens :/

Say it with me: "get Daddy wet, get Daddy wet!!"

Splish Splash, summer sure is a blast! 

I know, laugh all you want...I'm cheesy sometimes, okay, most times :)

iPhone collages

Here are some recent photos taken from our phones:

Noah began playing with cups he found in the pantry and as I was trying to get a few things done I just let him go at it! Then Jenna came over for a sleepover and joined in the fun. Before I knew it they were throwing them all over the dining room and having a BLAST! I couldn't bare to stop it because they thought it was just the best thing ever :)

Having fun with Nonni on a morning walk!

His love for reading grows more each day (which makes this teacher and mamma very happy :)

Friends at the Fair! 

Look what we have!?!? Our first egg-way to go ladies!

Soaking up what's left of summer-hose fun outside

At Stella's art party with his smock :)

Watching airplanes at the Air Show

Being silly (as usual)

Thanks for humoring me while I play with collages. It's a small obsession..nothing as big as Pinterest of course ;)

Helping "Pa"

Noah grows fonder and fonder of Grandpa each time he seems him. He calls him "Pa" (think of Little House on the Praire). The other day after he walked downtown with Nonni to hang out with the bench group (a group of locals that hang out most mornings in front of the coffee shop) he came home and hung out with Grandpa in the yard. Noah had fun following Grandpa around, making a mess for him to pick up ;), smelling the flowers, and was in awe of the mowing of the lawn. He "helped" in his own way!!

These fun traditions with Nonni and Grandpa are something he looks forward to and it will be so fun in a year or two when he is asking for them!!

The plane ride home...dun dun dun

So after a beautiful plane ride to Montana where I could have taken up knitting Noah was so good...we headed home with well, the opposite story to tell.  I think because the ride over went great I was less prepared for the trip home in one major way-FOOD!! Oh I had it, he just wanted nothing to do with it. Eating was a big part of my plan on the way out and it was supposed to be the same on the way home, but I wasn't thinking straight (La La land from the flight out). We went out for a quick bite to eat before Justin's parents took us to the airport and it all went downhill from there. When we got on the plane we had a tired and full baby in two crammed seats. There were no open seats on this flight and that made a difference.  Over time Noah became beside himself. He didn't want anything to play with...he didn't even want to watch a video on my phone. At that point I knew we were in big trouble. I won't go on and on, but I will say that yes, he cried loud enough for others to hear, yes they were very patient and kind about it all, and yes I did things I won't even admit on the blog to occupy Mister Noah :/

And with about 45 minutes left to go he...

FELL ASLEEP!!!!

At that point we joked about it all, high fived for not losing it, and were relieved in the thought that we would never see the people around us again-phew! Then we had to take a silly picture of how we felt throughout the flight.

Worth it? Absolutely!!

Grimm Photos (Red Lodge Part 6)

The night before we said our goodbye's we took a nice evening drive out to the country church where Jeremy and Nichole said "I do." I had only known Justin a few months when I accompanied him to his sisters wedding. We had fun taking pictures of the beautiful Grimm family.

Little Miss Phoebe

One special dad with his kiddos

I love this picture-both the kids have flare! 

"Mom, do I really need to do this with my little sister?"

I was dying by this point...

I told the kids to stand in front of their parents and look at me, while Mom and Dad kissed in the background.  Apparently what they heard was...wrestle on the ground...so funny! I just kept shooting.

Handsome little fellow

Two peas in a pod (most days)

Years ago on a quiet hill, in a quaint little town, two fly fishing nuts said their "I do's" in front of family and friends, and on this day, they brought their family of four back to the scene of the crime to capture some unforgettable memories and everlasting pictures.

Red Lodge Part 5

Can you say Pig Races???

That's right folks, Pigs, that people actually pay money to bet on, and then watch run around a 5 second circle for a treat of pig-like food at the end (you actually thought I knew what pigs like as a treat-ha! NO).  It's quite comical, yet entertaining, and here's the kicker...I've seen them twice. I'm their biggest fan!

After our day on the lake we stopped at a local and tourist hot spot for some quick grub and pig races (duh)! The next day we headed out for a beautiful day hike up what is known as the East Rosebud. It has spectacular views, waterfalls, friendly folks, and mountain fresh air. Noah did very well in the hiking backpack with only a few spurts of "I'm over this guys..." We had a nice hike that wiped out the kiddos just enough for us to catch a few zzzz's on the way home. The night ended with a pizza dinner.  Funny story about that is...when we went to pick up the pizza (Opa and I went), we ran into a gal from Justin's high school that he knows. She had a major crush on him and even a few years ago told Rick (aka Opa) to have Justin give her a call ;). When she heard he was married she was super bummed. I'm sure it just sealed the deal when she got to meet me! Haha! No really, she was a very sweet girl.

Here come the pictures...

Super excited about those pig races!

Oma and her first grandchild :)

Eating and playing with Opa-fun fun :)

Snuggle snuggle

Love love love this picture...just wish the background was different.

Jeremy and Phoebe getting ready to shoot the course again.

Target practice for Kasten

This is funny-you may have to enlarge the picture to get the full affect. Kasten loves to collect bones with Opa and being the best Opa he is, he made a Kasten Museum of all the bones they have in their collection. He's like a real life label maker...keep looking...

See, real life label maker! The course is called Pheobe Park (remember the boys have brides) and the "runway" he made for his RC airplanes is called Kastoahbe Field. It's a new word folks. It's the first part of Kasten, most of Noah, and the end of Phoebe, all put together to name his "runway"

Here the boys are on the runway...notice that I took it out of "". It's looks pretty real-super cool and super geeky. I think I just called my father-in-law geeky-oops :(

See, GEEKY...he ordered this sign and it lives at the edge of his property along the road for all to see. Nichole took some shots of the boys flying over the sign for the full effect. 

Hobbies hobbies hobbies. Anyone know how many Justin has?? Compared to me??? Gheesh!

Best Buds playing together

Here comes the hike!

I think I have 2 more parts of our trip to post...Some sweet shots of the Grimm family and our lovely airplane ride home (just writing it is making me cringe). Adios for now!