mountain mama mondays

there is our destination, stahl peak 7,430 feet.  we hiked up the ridge on the left.

big moose tracks

something spooked the moose and there was a 7 foot leap as she was running!

i hitched a ride 13 miles to the trailhead in ten lakes wilderness area with "cruisin' carlos" and "krazy karen".

karen showing us how its done on the sketchy snow bridge over the creek.

fresh, fluffy, powdery SNOW!  perfectly spaced trees, it was two thousand verticle feet of heaven.

maximus the wonder dog!

karen at the lookout, 10 degrees and a stiff wind limited the summit photos.

johanna-isms

so, i found purple marker on the chair in our bedroom.  i asked logan and hanna who was responsible.  they pointed at each other.  later that night i found the same purple marker spelling, "joh..." on our bedsheets!  i showed johanna and asked her to tell the truth. 
"logan wrote my name mom."
logan is 2, not solid on writing his own name, let alone his sister's.  she was  busted, but it was one of those parenting moments when i'm just trying to stifle the laughter!

we were working on our thank you notes after christmas.  johanna has a soft spot for aunt carmen, so this is the contents of her "thank you box" to her.  most probably won't fit you carmen, but they are her favorite things she was willing to share with you.  i am very thankful for the aunties in johanna's life.  she has some wonderful role models to support her journey through life.

johanna is 5!!

johanna the budding singer-songwriter's favorite birthday present from her family.

the superheros saved johanna's presents from the villan snowfrog!  gabby raced out in her barefeet when she saw the snowfrog creeping by the windows stealing the gifts.

but then he shared chocolate, makes you strong, ya know.

carlos, glacier julie and ben

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coco, karen, devon, ayden, casey, hanna, reid and grandma sibyl, unwrapping gifts.

ho, ho, ho!  visiting santa at the point of rocks.  logan said "thomas the train set please sir."  johanna hid in the corner.

on our way to get our christmas tree.

here it is!  notice logan's toy chain saw.

riding down the stais in johanna's sleeping bad.  the best giggles we have ever heard came out of this activity.

fall is FUN!

the vampire princess and the feirce pirate hit the streets to round up some loot.

 i started a neighborhood preschool, because.... we needed it!
  here's a few of the kids trick or treating at my folks, right down the road.

biking season is still going strong, for the very dedicated.

 first snowman of the year!

montana max, the wonder dog needed a house for his night shift on guard duty.  this mansion has a bed heater,  is fully insulated and even sports a window.  No big critters can escape the super-hearing of max.  he hears every twig snap and promptly chases the bears, lions and wolves (oh my!) off our land.  he then comes back to the porch for praise.  airedales are the ultimate mountain family dog.  he is so gentle with the kiddos.  johanna doesn't like rest time in her room unless max is along.  i need to get pictures of the outfits she's dressed him up, he won't be too embarassed...   thanks dad for the construction help!

end of the year soccer picnic.   i was one of the coaches.  never played soccer in my life.  funny thing is, after a few high fives and a whole lot of enthusiasm, those 4 year olds never even noticed. 

ahhhh.... the view from the bathtub.  and the kitchen, bedrooms, living rooms, even the laundry room.  always puts things in perspective for me,  even after the fifth load of laundry...

view to the west

garnet ghost town

bob has been working on bear creek in potomac, montana removing a culvert and installing a new bridge.  we tagged along and spent an adventurous day at garnet ghost town.

bitterroot valley, montana