First Night Missoula and Jerry Johnson Hot Springs

I finally had the weekend off so we went to Jerry Johnson Hot Springs, Idaho.  One of Danny's favorite places, I 'd have to say I was skeptical thinking it would not be hot or deep enough.  We got there and had the whole place to ourselves.  The water was in the 100's and it was about 4 feet deep, the best part it started snowing and it was so beautiful..  We really needed a day out like this.  We sat in the springs until it snowed so much out clothes were covered and then we decide to journey more.  We  then went on a xmas tree in the Lolo National(cost $5.00).  It was a great Sunday.

thanks day 2008

dad roasted on the grill, i made wild rice goat cheese bread stuffing,pomegrante sauce, red mashers,green bean casserole, spinach salad, corn muffins with green chilies,,,,,and this list goes on. my favs are the chocolate creamcheese cake,pumpkin cheesecake, apple-rhubarb pie

thanks day baking, homework, and oh a great pic of Indy using the outhouse

The boyz

So we have just be hangin out, the boys and I this fall/winter season, Missoula has been known to have some long dreary rainy days, so its hard to get the soul warm sometimes.  There have been a handful of times when I drag myself(that being the hardest on no sleep) and Indy and Tdog out to Maclay flats a 2 mile loop right next the the bitteroot river. its so beautiful and i jog while the boys play tag and whine about how they cant make the two mile loop but they always do.  Tristan is kickin but in 1st grade and reading chapter books, which when some people hear that its like no big deal, but Mrs Jones said chapter books in 1st grade is a pretty big deal especially if the kids are actually reading and following the letters and sounds.  Tristan has ranked very high on his reading skills per his teacher/parent conference.  She told me to keep a watchful eye on him for he was the better reader in his class but noticed he didn't have to work as hard when he would be with his friends reading so he slowed down a bit.  Mrs Jones keeps telling me to push him in wanting to read, which is not difficult, it has been 3 books at night tradition since he was well born.  So that's that.  We take pride as you can tell that we have been patted on the back for Tristan paying attention to learning in class, and not just doing what the others are doing a.k.a peer pressure.  Tristan has this interesting motivation to learn and keep going and i put that drive right back to his father who is the most motivated person in our immediate fam.  Those 2 boys are learning about each other, tristan in particular does almost the same strategies as dad does.  his love and motivation to a 6 and 3 year old wont ever be passerbys   Oh how their eyes get when dad talks with the boys.  Its so different with me. what an intense and gratifying moment for me, though.

Takwondo started for tristan.....it was time, he is builiding his athletic body with these classes, and he is more gentle with this thing you call life.  Tristan is my angel, i can see it through the classes he takes, black belt no problem (this will happen after all the grade school emotional breakdowns) he has been doin good,,,better than soccer

Fall schoolwork and Halloween

Can you guess who is who for halloween?  The boys are getting to be the same size ahhhh!  I had to get Tristan in action doing his homework, his brain is sponging in so much info and he actually loves to do homework.  Im not sure that is gong to stay the same once in high school.

30th Birthday

My 30th brought the first night of frost to Missoula.  I had all of my most favorite people over to our new house for a BBQ, and my best friend Katie and her husband Scott drove from Lewistown to be with me.  We danced and had amazing food...oh yeah and i almost buzzed my hair off by getting my first and only fauxhawk.  I have never had so short of hair in my life and I will never do that again.  Im blessed to have these amazing friends in my life and my beautiful family.

Indy's Art Debut

There is an art walk on the first friday of each month in missoula.  indy goes to school with a girl whose mom owns my favorite clothing boutique called Bettys divine.  all of the kids at the school painted pictures to be displayed at the boutique for the art walk.  what a great way to boost their self esteem!  

Our first House

We finally bought our first house and our hard work had finally paid off.  I have waited my whole life for this moment and it came true.  So its a 2 bedroom in the heart of missoula on 2 lots and there is so much room for the boys to be boys!  A really good friend lives a block away and this will be the neighborhood that will have everlasting memories for the boys.  We are going to change alot of things and danny is pretty amazing and crafty when is comes to building houses.  There is an unfinished basement that will eventually be the boys room and the plans for the garden are amazing.  The boys are so excited, no more moving!

Soccer Practice

Tristan wanted to play soccer this fall so he got on the microstrikers team.  They have practice once a week and then a game on sundays.  Soccer is one of the more high intensity sports and they only wear shin guards............so it has been a DRAMATIC season.  I think tristan prefers gymnastics but we are gonna stick it out and rough him up a little bit.  he has made some goals but has also had some brawls with the boys.  being a soccer mom/dad has been an emotional roller coaster, but it has been very enjoyable to watch him play

Indy's first day of preschool

so its been a while since i have updated and here is where we left off.  Indy started preschool and Tristan was so excited for him.  He goes to a montessori school and now i have some free time.

First Day of School

Tristan finally started 1st grade and we werent sure where he was going until yesterday!  So today was filled with a lot of not knowing but once i got him signed up i we were at ease(didnt tell tristan that was happening).  we are trying to buy a house on the north side of town and the school he is zoned for if we get that house is the school i decided to put him in.  its such an old school and brings back those great memories of being in elementary.  the school must look so big to him, and the best part they give the kids breakfast!  i never got breakfast in school and if he gets there early enough he can get buffet breakfast-today was pancakes.  his teacher is mrs. jones and there are 17 kids in his class.  although i thought it would be more emotional than it was it really gave me a reality check of how fast he is growing up.  1st grade is a big deal!  so i dont get to see him until 3:00 and its a trip having had him most everyday up to this point in his life.  he was not even scared and didnt even notice that i left.  now i get to spend some quality time with indy.