What is it about this place that makes all toddlers just want to touch EVERYTHING??
Don't get me wrong, I'm FAR from being a germaphobe, however, I'm not all that crazy about my kids licking a toilet seat either (don't freak out.....they didn't).
But I've never felt more silly then I have in one of these places. It's a constant battle with the words "Please don't touch that" coming out of my mouth in a constant stream.
When will they "get it"???
Tonight while putting Kaitlin in her PJ's, Kellyn proceeded to get pick out her OWN PJ's. So off she scampered to her room, emerging a minute later with a little fleece romber. She showed it to me and then said.......
......."See mommy, I make GOOD choices"
The only thing that went through my mind was: What will I be thinking 16 years from now?
HOPEFULLY agreeing with her!
.........When you ask a 3 year old!
So tonight during our bedtime routine, I was reading Kaitlin her books. Kellyn always stand by our side but tonight......she was too enthralled with playing in her own room, which was nice...gave me and Kait some 1 on 1 time. Anyways, when I finished up and came into Kellyn's room, I could tell immediately that she had something in her mouth. My "mom mode" kicked in and I said "Kellyn.......what's in your mouth" as I lunged across the room to pry it open. And she looked at me and said.......
............"my snot".
Nice!
THAT is officially "Jim's child"! ;-)
We spent our Saturday at a local pumpkin patch..........nothing like a day filled with hayrides, pumpkin pickin's, sugar cookies, apple cider, train rides and a petting zoo. Kellyn hasn't stopped talking about feeding the "moo cow" carrots, while Kaitlin runs around the house yelling at the top of her lungs........"CHOO CHOO".
Never a dull moment!
This years Mother/Daughter retreat was truly Blissful. So much in fact, we nicknamed it "Blissful Montana". Our friend Julie was such a gracious host. She was kind enough to open up her and her husbands new lake retreat for our group of 6 ladies. This year, we had a special visitor.......Julie's brand new little girl Sienna. I'm telling you, that was the best baby EVER.....never heard a peep out of her and she just slept away while we ladies toted her around here and there. What a little trooper............and ADORABLE too!
Julie provided not only amazing sleeping quarters, but she had an itinerary planned that was full of food, adventure and complete relaxation. Just awesome!
Our first day, we drove up to Holland Lake Lodge. This quaint little lodge is located off a dirt road that leads to nowhere. We had the restaurant all to ourselves, with gourmet food and a crackling fire in the fireplace. The grounds here are drop dead gorgeous......just breathtaking!
Our bellies full and quite content (especially sweet Sienna)
Although I missed Jim and the girls immensely, I found a new friend in no time!
Doesn't that backdrop look fake to you? I swear, completely unbelievable!
After lunch, we headed back to the quaint little town that is the home to Julies beautiful cabin. There we had fun shopping in the little shops/boutiques.
Julie has a way with a dead carcass! Davy......Davy Crockett: King of the wild frontier!!
My mom and I TRYING to look like we belong there. Think anyone noticed we were "foreigners"?
This is a shot of Julie's cabin. Such a gorgeous home on an amazing piece of property. Almost 270 degrees of amazing lake views.
My fabulous Sister-In-Law Lisa
My mom and I trying to look "not freezing".
Lisa, Leigh, Karen, Julie (and Sienna), me and my mom....all of us trying to look "not freezing". :-)
One things for sure..........we ladies know how to eat during these retreats!
Don't let the paper bowl fool you......this was gourmet red/yellow pepper soup that Julie made from scratch! It was AWESOME!
After dinner.....we stared in on "movie night". I'm telling you......we know how to eat! This was my favorite table in the house!! :-)
Sienna really taking it all in! Aaaahhh.....the newborn days!
I payed all the ladies to say my hummus (chipotle) tasted better than Leigh's (smoked red pepper). It was really a toss up! 
Lisa cracks me up in the picture..........girl was taking this class VERY serious!!
Leigh making sure my Mom doesn't let the chocolate boil!
Once again.........Sienna just taking it all in. Isn't this little girl just adorable?
Chef Matt, with his wild bunch students!
Julie even provided us all with cozy socks (all different colors/styles). What a hostess!
Julie had really mastered the "propping of the bottle".
Full course dining with chandeliers over each table. SO COZY and way cool!
This was the entrance. Mind you, this is their "casual" dining room!
This picture cracks me up. Julie and I walked Sienna around, checking out the adjacent "saloon". What you DON'T see, is immediately after shooting this picture....Sienna let out the BIGGEST fart and Julie and I were hysterical with laughter.
This was in front of the fireplace in the formal dining room. I'm mad b/c I didn't take any pictures of the dining room itself, but as I'm sure you can imagine......it was unbelievable!
Outside the restaurant, they had a big fire pit and "gathering" tent. This place is not huge.......but boy does it look fun. We were there during their "off time" but I can't imagine what it's like in the summer! SO FUN!
The view from the gathering tent back onto the restaurants.
Here's Sienna taking in some scenes in solitude.
This is the series of spa tents...........each individual has their own for whatever treatment they get.
In the dressing room tent, Lisa is tending to Sienna while Julie is getting nekid (hee hee).
Our mother's had their treatments first.........and as you can see, they were VERY refreshed. Karen looks downright comatose!
Lisa, Julie and I - getting ready to embark into heaven!
This is the "after" look. For whatever reason, Lisa's lady went a little overboard with the oil during her scalp portion of the massage. We were cracking up at our "soul glo" lady! 
Our humble (yeah right) Montana retreat...........Julie, you've got quite the lake house. How do you ever leave it?
Out on the boat dock. You can see the first pit over my left shoulder. Such a fun place! 
Our farewell breakfast - we enjoyed in the cabin's upstairs kitchen! That's right........there a full on kitchen on each floor!!!! And as you can see, the view.....is to die for! So incredible!
While waiting for our flights, we felt the need for one last moment of pampering! We ladies sure do know how to have a good time!!!So...........I've officially found heaven on earth! It's in Montana!!! :-)
I just got back from our annual Mother/Daughter trip which involved myself, my mom, Lisa and her Mom (Leigh) and our friend Julie and her Mom (Karen). Every year we end our trip thinking it's impossible to top, and somehow we do just that each time! Crazy!
More on this later - I PROMISE! I took MANY pics that I need to go through and get lots of laundry/housework done. Jim and the girls had fun over the weekend......lots of Daddy/Daughter time which translates into not much housework done. That's OK by me! I'm back and refreshed, ready to go!
