A Visit to OUR Farm

We went out to our farm the other day while it was being inspected. Being there feels so right. We go out there to look over paperwork or to do other "buyer business" and it is so hard to leave. Dylan and I are just bursting with excitement to call this little piece of paradise OURS. We hope everything will be finalized the first week of July and we are hoping to move in right away. The home inspection went well. A few concerns, but nothing that can't be fixed. The appraisal is next week. Not sure what the next step after that is ... holding hands with my hubby on the front deck watching the sun set, while smiling and breathing it all in!

It was a beautiful day. The chickens were out foraging. Addi collected eggs and carried around her baby goat. Landon visited the goats, ran from the friendly chicken and searched for the cat. 

 The sellers raise goats (we are considering doing the same!) and they have a baby goat that is needing to be bottle fed. Well, you can imagine how in love Addi was. The little goat followed her around bumping against her asking for a bottle.  Landon really didn't care much about that baby goat. He did not like the goat attempting to nurse on his fingers!

Give a baby a bottle and they fall in love. 

Home Sweet Home .... SOON, VERY, VERY SOON!

Her Face

Like the spots on a ladybug her new freckles mark just how old she's become. As I stare at her profile while she works in her schoolbook I am speechless and breathless by just the sight of her. I count her freckles, memorize every cell and soak in her face right in this moment. For tomorrow, she will be a little older and a little different.

Road Trip to North Dakota

Dylan's Cousin Tessa was graduating from high school. Grandma Ella, Aunt Judy and Uncle Marty, Aunt Donna and Aunt Pam would be there. We haven't seen Grandma Ella for two year since she moved from Missoula to Bismarck. We decided a little road trip along with Grandma Deaette, Grandpa Jeff and Uncle Spencer for a little family renunion was a great thing!

Grandma Deaette's sisters and Great Grandma Ella peeked in on Landon for a few minutes when he was in the NICU. Other than pictures they hadn't seen him since. They were excited to meet our miracle boy all grown up.

We left Friday morning. The kids really don't understand what "all day in the car" means, but 12 or so hours later, it was dark when we made our way to our hotel and they were still smiling!

Daddy had his full mug of coffee, Mama had her books and knitting, Addi had her headphones and movie player and Landon had his hands full of muffin -- we were ready for 10+ hours in the car.

We stopped in Havre for lunch in the park and then for Dairy Queen.

Happy to be out of the car!

We can always count on Grandpa bringing fresh berries.

These two are such great friends. 

Awe, DQ, you were missed.

Frisbee break.

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Patty Cake with Grandpa is hilarious!

 We attended a party to celebrate Tessa's graduation. Tessa is so cool. She is so sweet and so, so beautiful!

Landon was caught dismantling the radiator!

His cheese ball face!

They love to wrestle with each other!

After Tessa's party we went to the zoo. Because of the major flooding that happened in Minot a couple years ago all the animals had to be rescued and relocated. Only a few have returned. Although there were not many animals the grizzly bears were putting on quiet the show. They were fun to watch and made the time worth it.

Look Uncle Specne, Tamarins!

Sometimes I get in front of the camera!

Addi found her babies.

Landon wanted SO bad to touch them!

We ate dinner with Uncle Spencer at Olive Garden and then spent the evening at Aunt Joyce's house.

Okay, Uncle Spencer. I guess you are pretty cool!

Good talks with Spencer. 

xoxoxoxo

Grandma cuddles.

Wake up! Time to drive back home!

Wake up Sister.

Early morning cuddles before heading home. 

It was hard to get a true sense of what Minot was like. We were there for such a short amount of time and we spent that time visiting with family. It was overcast and fogged in for most the day so we couldn't see far into the valley. It seemed like a large place (well, most places seem large compared to our little town), but it was very spread out over a large valley. It is very flat with rolling hills. Everything was green and there are many, many trees. 

The drive home is never as exciting as the trip there. Addi and Landon travel very well. We stop every four hours or so to eat and stretch and they remain happy and easy going. 

We stopped in Fort Benton on the way home and explored a bit. It is a beautiful town with a ton of Montana history and I would love to go back for the weekend. 

He found the river under the bridge!

Last Day of Preschool

There was no messing around on Addi's last day of preschool. We were going out with a bang and we took it very seriously that this day would be boiling over with fun and laughter and memories.

We started off our preschool adventure to the big town with a stop at the Children's Museum.

We had lunch at the duck pond. We fed the geese and ducks. 

We went to the fish hatchery. 

Not wanting a picture together in front of the waterfall. 

Addi (and me and Landon!) will so miss preschool. We will miss our friends, our teachers and our fun outings together. Addi learned SO much. She grew and matured so much. I am grateful for the loving atmosphere of her preschool.