Bozeman

We explored a little more closer to home this year.  Our family trip was to Bozeman.  It was quick and short and just what everyone needed.  We went on a lot of hikes.  Raelyn's favorite part was being outside and touching everything she could outside of the stroller.  Audrey was obsessing over the fall colors and the leaves that were so thick on the floor of the trail that she couldn't help but stop throw them randomly in the air.  The smell was amazing.  I don't know what it is about crisp fall air that make me so happy.  At the end of our first hike the sun was just setting and I thought to myself how beautiful a moment it was to be there in nature with my family.  The was a moment when Audrey got some stuff in her shoes, probably leaves and Paul got down to help her clean them out,  I couldn't help but snap a picture.  Paul always takes time too care for our girls, even as Audrey gets older and could take care of her own shoes he stops and takes the time to help her.  It warmed my heart and reminded me that even though she is growing and is getting closer to being a teenager she still needs me to reach out in ways I used to.  Audrey wanted to take picture of everything, especially her sister and Raelyn was happy to give her all the cheesy grins she needed.  I may have asked Paul to pose for me and he may have kindly done so.  The picture still makes me smile.  The hat... can we say hiker model?  :)

We found a burger place called Burger Bobs downtown and we finished off the day there.  It took them a long time to get us our food....a long time.  I must have walked up and down the street in front of the restaurant at least ten times and walked around the restaurant pointing at pictures to keep a very tired and unhappy baby happy.  She was minutes away from a melt down.  The food was delicious but it was gone quickly to insure that we got back to the hotel without too much screaming.  On the way home though, I found myself saying really loudly over the screaming in a sing song voice...."Are we having fun yet??"  There are hard parts to traveling with a baby but oh so good ones as well.  

The next day we spent at The Museum of the Rockies.  It was a fun museum full of dinosaur bones, old Native American clothing and shoes, and an art exhibit.  We got to touch a dinosaur bone that was millions of years old and a rock that was billions of years old which was fun. Overall, the highlight of the trip to the museum was their show on Galileo.  It was on a curved ceiling which made everything seem so much cooler and there were so many beautiful images of space.  On top of that it was a good follow up to our space science unit last year. After that we went to Costco to pick up some food for our trip and Audrey, Rae, and I did a little bit of swimming in the hotel pool.  

The next day we went on another hike.  This time we went on a real hike where we couldn't take the stroller. Bozeman in the fall is beautiful. At the beginning of our hike there were white berries on the bushes everywhere which made it look like there was snow floating off the ground.  I've never seen anything like it.  Audrey of course being the rock collector loaded down her pockets with rocks.  She was sad to find out that she could only bring two home though.  That meant I had to take pictures of the most special ones that she couldn't keep.  She is rock obsessed.   Her collection is ever increasing and she does not discriminate.  Every rock is special in her eyes. :)  

After our hike we went out to eat at a taco place.  I still cream about these tacos and could probably go back to Bozeman to get more. They were so good that before we left for home the next day we had to go again.  I miss good Mexican food. It turns out there's not much here in the north so you have to get it when you can.  

The next morning we obviously went for tacos and we spent some time downtown walking around the little shops there.  We looked at clothing, baked goods, chocolates, art, toys, candy. and so much more.  Of course we couldn't leave without filling our bellies with delicious chocolate and getting a cupcake at the bakery.  

We left with happy tummies and a crying baby.  It was such a fun trip and I'm so grateful we were able to go and take time to be together away from the day to day.  We'll see where next year takes us!