We spent a beautiful and relaxing week in Montana with Isaac's parents. It was so nice to have no agenda, and no set return date. We finally got to just relax and spend some quality time with them. They are putting their house on the market, so I was glad to have made some more wonderful memories in the house where I first got to know them!
Anyone want to buy a Montana lodge?
I got to work in the yard! Oh man! I've missed gardening! I know Isaac has too. We really enjoyed working outside with Lucy running around, hiding golf balls all over the yard. The realtor was scheduled to come the next day, so we helped Dave get the house ready for the listing pictures by pulling weeds, cleaning the windows, etc.
She leads a rough life! ;)
Lucy is our little helper!
Don't step down, daddy!
Well, that's one window we'll have to re-clean! So worth it!
What? Why's everyone laughing at me?
We had plenty of down time and got to hang out with Gramps and Grams, nap, play lots of Trivial Pursuit, watch plenty of Jeopardy, and generally enjoy Lucy's daily antics.
Lucy loves Grams' baby doll
Lucy has built-in playmates in the neighborhood in Montana. It's going to be sad when the grandparents move! She enjoyed hanging out with Erickus: feeding him rocks, retrieving golf balls for him to throw, and pushing him on his sweet trike!
Later we went for a walk down the drive to play with Sydney and meet her little brother, Matthew.
Sydney showing Lucy the ropes
Instant friends!
I got this!
Swinging with Grams
We enjoyed wonderful weather all week! It rained, but only momentarily -- a first while vacationing in Montana. Up until now, every visit we've brought the rain with us (and often taken it with us when we left!). Lucy loved the freedom of roaming around the huge yard. She'd make a great country girl!
Wearing her daddy's overalls! So glad Grams held onto these awesome OshKosh's all these years!
There were two things Lucy did NOT enjoy whilst in Montana: Bathtime and Bedtime. Oh my, the feelings were intense! Normally bath time is a much anticipated (and oft-requested) event. For whatever reason, even if mommy got in the tub with her, she was not having it.
Bedtime was even worse. Starting around 6pm Lucy would find her giraffe paci, pop it in, and sign "night night"... We'd put her down and if we were lucky she'd lay quietly for about 10 minutes. Just long enough for us to be lulled into a false sense of "hey, maybe she's aslee--nope, definitely not." Each subsequent attempt at putting her in her bed was utterly disastrous. Each time she "won" and got back up, the "hi's" got louder and zanier. She would be completely loopy by the time we got her to bed each night, usually between 9:30 and 10:30 with both of us in the room, singing, rocking, making no noise, whatever happened to quiet her each night. After all that trauma drama you'd think she'd sleep in, but alas that was not the case. Oddly, whenever nap time rolled around she'd acquiesce quietly. Little booger! Good thing she's cute!
One day we went into Missoula to do some exploring. Little Miss Independent took off and did some solo exploring while we took turns watching her from a reasonable distance while the other watched two guys surfing in the river!
Isaac and I snuck away to hike on our last full day while the grandparents happily indulged in Lucy's every whim watched Lucy at home. One of the many things we love about Montana are the many hikes like this one where you pull over off the highway and hike off into the woods. You're almost guaranteed to be alone, unlike the crowded Washington trails. The trailheads aren't marked, either, which is part of the adventure. "Are we on a trail or an animal path?"
One memory I will not cherish of Montana was the hitchhiker I picked up during our stay. I brought home a TICK. If you know me, you know my worst nightmare is to have something burrowed under my skin. Ugh! Upon our return from hiking we showered and I checked myself thoroughly for ticks. I checked my clothes, I combed my hair methodically. The next day we drove home and I showered again.
It wasn't until Sunday morning that I woke up, brushed the hair out of my eyes and felt something in my hair. (Insert utter panic and disgust!!!) I ran to Isaac and he confirmed: I had a tick in my hair. AAAAAAAHHHHHH! (shudder, shudder, shudder -- need for 18 cleansing showers). He removed it and confirmed it was whole, alive, and not the type that carries Lyme disease. Whew. I think it took me 3 days and several showers and subsequent tick checks (on all family members) to fully recover emotionally from that event.
Burgess Lake
There are so many things we love about Montana and the in-laws' property there. It will be bittersweet when it sells, but we look forward to many new memories at their cool new place in Sandpoint, ID, and the 2 hours it will knock off our trips out there!
Wild turkeys wandering through the yard! I love Montana
Sometimes daddy gets crazy and takes Lucy right along with him.
Disclaimer: This is the softest couch ever and Lucy was asking for "more" so no, it wasn't too rough!
Home, home on the range! Where the deer and the antelope play!
Okay, well actually we went to see bison at the Bison Range, but it feels like the song fits. We did actually see some antelope (I think they're technically Pronghorn, but colloquially Antelope). Anyway, it's a huge preserve and the herd of bison roam free. It was really cool to be driving along and suddenly see bison, big horn sheep (as dots on the horizon), antelope, deer, etc.
She was excited to get to sit up front with mom!
Immediately upon starting through the preserve, we saw several bison up close!
Poor kid needed to nap, but naturally she wouldn't give in!
At the top of the overlook
Hey mama, I found a rock!
Yes, she is actually in control of the wheel; and no, she's not ready for her learner's permit!
The Bitterroot Mountains were out in all their majesty!
Mother's Day weekend came and Isaac's parents were in town. Isaac asked me if spending the day with his extended family was how I wanted to spend my Mother's Day; he offered to do anything I wanted for the day. My reaction was instantly, "of course!" I got to thinking about it later, and realized that what makes my Mother's Day special is to spend the day with Isaac and Lucy as a family unit. Since he had the whole month of May off, it's been an entire month of Mother's Days. I was happy to share my Loves with the family (and find joy in their presence).
It's truly been a gift having such time to spend together, just the three (and sometimes just the two) of us, but that's a topic for another post.
Gramps and Grams came into town, so we came over on Saturday to spend some time relaxing and catching up with them. The weather was just beautiful and we passed the afternoon in GG Nancy's courtyard.
Food: the key to Lucy's heart!
Sunday we combined all the May birthdays with Mother's Day into one big celebration. Bob and Patty, Luke, Bob and Barb, descended on the McPhees staying at GG Nancy's and ate and drank, laughed, and chatted to our hearts' contents.
Lucy particularly loves her Great Uncle Bob! He's always willing to walk around (and around and around) with her as she examines each flower and stone around GG's house.
First skinned knees
Bandaids don't make this girl feel better, but a snuggle with mama does!
Luke is a great uncle!
"You're Only Old Once!" Sharing the wisdom of Dr. Seuss with Gramps
Birthday hugs for Great Aunt Patty
My dearest Lucy! She is the reason I am celebrated on Mother's Day. I couldn't ask for a better introduction to motherhood than being blessed to have her in my life to love, teach, play with, and pray over. She's a spitfire and a social butterfly. She's so like me, yet
