Rocky Creek Farm

 I don't know if it's the needed change of seasons or the excuse to wear cable-knit sweaters, but I always find myself welcoming crispy leaves and hot cocoa with open arms. The epitome of Fall is often found at one of our favorite places where tractor-drawn hay rides, perfect jack-o-lantern primed-pumpkins, and the consumption of more than the necessary amount of apple cider can be found. Rocky Creek Farm is a quaint little place where restless school children and parents at their wits end can go to unwind. 

Between the ride on the tractor to the pumpkin patch and the making of freshly pressed apple cider, you would think a group full of two and three-year-olds would have finally met their match. Au Contraire, my dear friends--no such thing occurred. The group was still going strong until the end--Brecken even managed to find the only mud hole in a fifty mile radius. 

Here's to pumpkin carving, steaming hot drinks, pompom knit beanies, and frosty mornings. Welcome, Fall! Stay a while, why don't cha? 

Home.

Last week I packed up the kids and we headed north to spend a week at my parent's house. My best friend's sister was getting married and a surprise 50th birthday party for my Dad was brewing, so I felt that a few extra days at home would be a refreshing change. The Internet service is slow and the cell reception is spotty so going home has always been the perfect way to cleanse myself of technology.

My parent's home is a safe haven of sorts. My mom's food is always comforting and she always insists on feeding us way too much, my Dad is always filling us in on the latest news in town with his theatrical dialogue, and my room, well it hasn't changed much in ten years. The smells, the arrangement of furniture, and the clothes nestled in my closet take me back to a time when my biggest worries were getting to track practice on time and finishing my algebra homework before 8:30 a.m.

The love that I had growing up at home has now been funneled to Brecken. When not getting showered with kisses and hugs by Grandma and Grandpa he could usually be found running outside, riding horses with Grandpa, and when the heat finally became unbearable my Mom introduced him to the world of VHS. That little one then took full advantage of the opportunity to lay beneath the cool air conditioner and watch Disney Classics all afternoon.

I lost count how many times he watched Beauty and the Beast and Toy story. I was at my wits end, it was 95 degrees outside and at least 105 inside...

I've also conceded to my Mom. Brecken is completely in love with her. So much in fact that I have this inkling that she may very well be his favorite person in the entire world. She loves him unconditionally, talks to him a sweetest and most calming voice, feeds him continually, and she provides him with the best toys a boy could ever want. She has set the standards high...

And speaking of high standards, my best friends delivered the most beautiful Maid of Honor speech for her sister. One part particularly stood out to me.

"As you sit side-by-side through this roller coaster of life, remember to scream from the peaks, hold hands through the dips, laugh through the loops, and enjoy every twist and turn. For the ride is much better when you share it together.

Coming together is the beginning, keeping together is the progress, and working together is the success."

wow, right?!

Kudos, Martina. If teaching ever fails (which it won't) you will have a true knack for writing beautiful Hallmark cards.

Virginia City

John's brother and family came to visit for a few days and with five boys running around the house from dawn until dusk it was quite the adventure. On Sunday afternoon we took the family to a ghost town near Ennis that attracts visitors from near and far. In it's prime Virginia City served as the territorial capital and was renowned for being a gold mining boom town bigger than Denver.  Once the gold diminished from this thriving western metropolis the people soon dispersed leaving behind the skeletal remains of a once flourishing western gold capital. 

Today, tourists are attracted to Virginia City for it's life-like snapshots of the gold boom era, as well as it's rustic appeal and grandeur. With it's distressed wooden boardwalks, old fashion candy shop, and dusty floor saloons this town still bustles with life every summer. What a refreshing afternoon we had--full of roping, buying old fashioned candy, panning for gold, old west family photos, and rustic style cafe lunches.  

Thank you family, you got me out of my pajamas for the day and I was able to work on an awful saltwater sandal tan on my feet. :)

The Gravel Bar

Since moving to Ennis I have only managed to explore downtown once. The experience was exhausting, Brecken's mood was less than pleasant and I was sleep deprived. Sadly, I was defeated that day. John sensed how overwhelming life had become for me so he suggested that we put Brecken in preschool one day a week.I cried the first day I dropped him off. I felt as though I might miss a monumental milestone in his life--that I would return back that afternoon and he would know how to ride a bike or would have learned to how to write his alphabet. I was a little dramatic.

After leaving him that morning something glorious happened when I returned home. I took a nap, showered for more than three minutes, straightened my hair, put on makeup, fed Addison, watched an episode of The Real Housewives of New York (guilty pleasure), and ate a warm breakfast. and cried tears of joy.

John and I have even decided to eat lunch out once a week while Brecken is at school.  A few days ago we visited the Gravel Bar, which was delightful. John and I both enjoyed the gyros. wickedly good. It may be the best bar food you'll ever taste. 

Later that afternoon Addison and I took full advantage of our freedom and ventured downtown where we strolled through the quaint western shops which were packed with Montana apparel, unique knickknacks, and a collection of cowboy boots that would make John Wayne jump out of his grave. So if you are still stumped on what to do for a fun family vacation, come visit us here. I'll make sure you'll have the best bar gyros ever.

At the farm

I'd imagined that my stress level would have been over the top this past week, but it seems like both Hunk and I have been rolling with the punches. He's good about that, he never gets really gets anxious (unless it is concerning being on time--he's kind of a time freak (except for church))....

anyway with the baby coming any day and our lease date set for next week, AND the closing date set for the 25th on our house..we are kind of in limbo right now.

Most of the house has been packed up, except for the essentials, and I have been doing my fair share of jumping jacks and box moving to accelerate the baby's arrival.  She obviously knows what awaits her on the outside--I don't blame her.

If I knew Brecken was out there scheming plans for my demise I would probably stay in as long as possible too. Smart cookie that one..

On Saturday we ventured out of maze of boxes and packing materials to get some fresh air. John's parents have a farm close by and Punk loves the freedom of running amok without anyone disciplining him or telling him to be careful.

The bantering of farm life and the hustling of animals milling around was a sweet reminder of simpler things. The farm is always a calming force for me, especially now with the chaotic nature of our lives. Each time I go out there it reminds me of home, and a life I left behind a long time ago.

While John, Brecken, and Grandpa scurried around from one animal to the next, I slowly maneuvered to the pond for some simple reflection. Seeing it as a perfect opportunity to be alone considering any personal space will disappear in a matter of days.

To be honest I thought a lot about having my body back, and the surreal notion of seeing my feet again without leaning over. I heard Brecken giggling as he ran and thanked my Heavenly Father for such a spunky spirit to be brought into our home. I peered at the Bridger Mountains and their snow caped peaks and my heart was  filled with gratitude for being able to live in such a naturally beautiful place. 

As Brecken's laugh pulled me out of my own wave of thoughts again I noticed he was now scurrying along trying to keep pace with John and I knew again (as I have many times before) that I married an amazing man. While deep down my nerves were still racing, and my mind was still pondering "How will we get it all done in two weeks?" I knew that if I had him we could do anything. 

Harrison Lake

We spent Saturday afternoon out on the boat.

Listen up folks, this is big news. The daffodils are up and have bloomed, the ice is off the water, and the green grass is making an early appearance.

We might just get lucky and get Spring--during the months of "Spring."

Taking the boat out in the middle of March was the icing on the cake--fresh air, crisp water, and peaceful surroundings made for a relaxing afternoon.

John and I are always a little leery when it comes to taking Brecken out on the water--let's be honest, the kid is kind of a handful so confining him to a boat seems like a prison sentence.

Much to our surprise he was beyond well-behaved--I'll give the credit to a bag of Goldfish and a handful of suckers.

Thank goodness for refined sugars.

;)

I assumed, my bad.

A reader asked me if it is ever difficult living with a man that hunts and fishes all the time.

Here's a post I wrote on our family blog circa October 2010.....

It will explain everything.

Promise.

**********************************************************

So I am trying to find words for the experience I had this morning.

I still can't even begin to describe what went through my head at the exact moment it happened-- panic, embarrassment and complete madness all occurring at one time.

Last night Brecken and I attended the annual pumpkin carving party at the Barnwell abode. Like always, it was delightful and fun. John, however, didn't show up. As usual he was hunting. But much to my relief he did finally kill an elk.  

When he got home he decided rather than taking his elk to a butcher he would quarter it himself in our garage.

Whatever.

Once he finished, however, he came the realization that he needed to do something with the elk carcass. His plan--put it in the garbage can.

Let it be known that I was not fine with this idea.  

For those of you that have never been with a 10 yard radius of an elk let me explain.

They are big, like a cow/horse big.

Our garbage can is not big enough to fit a cow/horse creature in it.

I thought his idea was bad--really, really bad.

John kept barkin' at me because I wasn't being that helpful (because I didn't think his idea was great) so I huffed into the house and as I slammed the door I yelled, "Fine you try to put a square peg in a round hole."

Ten minutes later.

Tap, tap, tap on the front door.

I opened.

John replied, "I put it in the garbage can."

I being a good wife believed him and decided that after all the grief I could forgive him and we could finally go to bed at 2:30 in the freaking a.m.

NO. No. the story is not over.

The next morning when I was getting ready to leave the house this is what I saw as I pulled out of the garage. 

BAHHHHHH!

I almost died.

Obviously, I assumed that we both understood what it meant to put something "in" the garbage.

my bad.

I called him right away, trying to remain calm.

"There will be no negotiation. The elk head that has taken up residency in our FRONT yard has to go." 

Furthermore, I tried to explain that there was more than a handful of reasons on why this was soo wrong.

 First, our garbage pickup would not happen until Tuesday and that meant that the head would be sticking out saying "Hi" to everyone for FIVE days. 

 Secondly, Halloween  would be occurring within the five day time frame so of course anyone and their dog that walked up to our house would see the head.

After prodding him for hours on the issue he finally came home and covered the head with a garbage bag, and yes, it still sat out like that for five days.

******************************

So an answer to your question, is it difficult living with a hunter?

Need I say more?

Rocky Creek Farm

Over the weekend we were able to go to a quaint little place called Rocky Creek Farm with mine and Hunk's family. 

It's one of those places that the local kids love to go to every fall; there are hay rides, corn mazes, pumpkin patches, hay bale towers, apple cider, rope swings, goats, sheep--you name it, they have it.

It's also a great place for adults too because almost everything is free! Totally, awesome if you ask me. The workers are some of the nicest people you would ever meet and the rural atmosphere reminds me a lot of home. 

Punk was in heaven (almost) the entire time. He didn't even know where to begin when he saw all the leaves on the ground. Hunk would pick up an arm full and throw them in the air and Punk would laugh and laugh and laugh.

 He wasn't so estatic about the goats though. One of them head butted him and you would have thought the world ended at that exact moment. Drama queen.  

;)

He calmed down though once we got on the hay ride and my niece even got to help drive the tractor--she's a pro so all you boys better watch out!

Even though it was so cold outside the kids had a blast--even after we made them pose for the hundredth picture.

If you are ever in Bozeman in the fall this place in a must on your to-do list.

****

BTW..Happy Halloween!

I've already eaten my body weight in candy.

*blehk*

;)