Peace Out 2011

So I sit down to write the first blog of the year and wrap up another years past. I just poured myself a glass of pinot, a reward of sorts for surviving the day and peacefully tucking in two small kids for the night. Sometimes looking back upon the year that has slid by can seem like not much goes on from day to day.
But I figure a year that starts out with this....





...and ends with this, isn't really all that bad.







We *survived* another year in Butte, America. They call it that, not I ;) While the town itself has still not grown on me, since, well I will be honest...it's NOT Bozeman, some of the people I have met have. I would hate to admit outloud that I have begun to put down roots in this god-for-saken town, but to make my life run a bit smoother day to day I have tried and succeeded to meet some friends. A small group of other transplant, stay-at-home Moms and I now have eachother to lean on and bitch to about the weirdness of this town. We often get together for playdates throughout the week, and now have a monthly "mama needs a night out with other girls and a few or three cocktails"...to look forward to. And while none of these other girls is my family, (that I miss terribly on a daily basis and wish with all my might I could see them all more often) I feel some sort of bond with them.

Cash has grown tons in the last year. We watched a video of him from last year and laughed. We thought he talked to well!! It's so weird to have a full on conversation with the kid!! He is starting to say things like "wow, that's cool" or "hey mom watch this, it's so awesome!" Apparently he has learn the jive talk in the last year. His attitude has also grown plenty in the last few months! Terrible 2's aint got nothin' on terrible 3's....just sayin'! All in all I can't complain, he is a sweet boy and loves his baby sis to pieces. Cash's biggest accomplishment this year was being potty trained! Woot! Got him outta diapers with a few months break in time to have baby sissy come along.

BJ traveled at least once a week most of the year. He still really likes his job. Too bad it's in Butte is an often comment around here. Ok, from my mouth....not his...


It was the year of babies in this family. Welcoming our daughter and a new nephew were the highlight of the year. Signs that everything is changing and nothing ever stays the same, no matter how much it feels like nothing changes at all.

So with an almost empty glass of wine in my hand....

Cheers to you two thousand one-two!

(Christmas 2011)

We headed to Bozeman on Friday to help out with the lefse making. It was Clara's first year, and she did a nice job in the kitchen! We sent Cash over to Ryan's to play while we cranked them out. It's a looonnnngggg process but we managed to get five batches made in 5 hrs!





On Christmas Eve it has been a tradition for quite a while now to go to the Leaf and Bean for coffee in the am. Sadly, our usual spot had closed this past year so we had to relocate to the one downtown. This was Clara's first time! Cash and BJ headed downtown with us but met up with Keith to hang out for a bit.




Cash hanging out with Grandpa on Christmas Eve




It was Evan's First Christmas as well!! He is such a sweet baby!!!






Then finally it was present opening time! Poor Cashy had to stare at the presents under the tree and stockings for a whole two days before being able to open them. Pure torture for a 3 yr old!

{the loot}






Then the boys (oh and Clara!) were jammied up. The little boys played the pickle game, Cashy won. And each got a prize. A Matchbox car for each kiddo.



And other shots from the night...

*Clara's First Christmas*

Here is Clara all decked out in her very first Christmas dress. I have been waiting to be able to dress her up in her first Christmas dress since they told me she was actually a girl!





Hanging out with Nana...



...and Grandpa




Christmas morning in her new festive jammies from Nana



Posing with her new dolls :)

Johnny the Elf

This is Johnny. He has been sent to us from Santa. He watches over Cash and Clara during the day and flies home to the North Pole to report the daily happenings. He watches to make sure you listen to your Mom and Dad, be nice to your sister, and make it to the potty on time. Then he returns back the next day in a new spot in your house. We can talk to Johnny and tell him things, but he can't talk back. And NEVER under any circmstances can he be touched. His magic would disappear.

*Elf of the Shelf*

Clara June 3 Months

This month I am happy to report, that...(KNOCK ON WOOD) Clara has been sleeping a 5-6 hr stretch when she first goes down to bed. She goes to bed at 6 o'clock and lasts until somewhere between 11-12. It's wonderful!!

Smiles are getting easier to come by and it's just adorable! She always has smiles for her big brother, and is a happy camper when she gets up in the morning. She has become a mama's girl in the last few weeks, not letting me out of sight with out crying. I took her to the Belmont yesterday and she pretty much cried whenever anyone looked at her...

Clara is getting on a schedule these days without much effort. She takes a looooonnnnggg nap in the am and then is up for a while during mid morning and lunch time. She goes down around 1ish for her afternoon nap which is only for like an hour, sometimes less. I have gotten her and Cash to take that nap at the same time so I am able to have an hour break during the day, most days.

She is a pro at tummy time and is showing signs that she would like to be on the move! Everytime she gets on her belly, she start furiously kicking her legs and gets quite mad when she can't propel herself (or keep her head up!) She hates her carseat and takes quite a while and some music before she calms down enough to fall asleep. I have finally gotten her to take a Paci at times. She is pretty content most days to just suck on her fingers.

{Sissy}

Santa!!!

Cash was gung-ho for sitting on Santa's lap. He asked him for a bobcat and excavator. He apparently thought that if he sat on his lap and put in his request, he would be receiving his gift on the spot....hmmmm.... I explained that he had to be good and then on Christmas Eve, Santa would come to our house (when he was SLEEPING). This am, he woke up and asked if he could go see what Santa brought him! YIKES!