A shade on the goofball side

Yes, we are this cool in our house.

Weather games

A couple weeks ago it looked like we were going to skip fall completely and shoot right to winter.  It was so cold!  Record lows, and only the beginning of October.  This weekend however, we have 70 degree days!  I think we enjoy them even more since we know that the cold will be coming sooner than later.  

Clever

The other day Cooper left the room that he and I were in, and if I can't see him or hear him, I know somethings up, so I went looking for him.  A quick glance in all of the upstairs rooms didn't locate him, but after calling his name a couple of times I heard him laugh.  From downstairs.  I didn't think to look downstairs because the gate that we have at the top of the stairs to block him off was closed.  So this devious little boy even closed the gate behind him when he snuck downstairs, completely throwing me off of his trail!  The things he figures out!  

Vacuum Operator

Cooper is a lean, mean,vacuuming machine, and I think it's the coolest thing ever!  He's always liked the big vacuum, so I got him his very own and he loves it.  The first day he had it he was busy for at least 20 minutes - something that never ever happens; I don't know that I've ever seen one thing keep his attention for so long.  He vacuums in the evening, in the morning before we leave, he even finds time to vacuum when he's streaking around the house naked.  (Yes, he has designated 'naked time' at night, which seems to be one of his favorite times of day)  I guess anytime is a good time for vacuuming.  I have all of my fingers crossed that he'll still be as thrilled with it when he's older and can operate the real thing!  

Outing 1

Well, we did it!  We made it a point to leave the house and go somewhere besides the grocery store, Target (mom's favorite), Cabela's (dad's favorite), or for a walk around the neighborhood (Cooper's and mom's favorite).  We went to the Pictograph Caves, which there really isn't much to, but it's a start.  I've always thought it ironic about tourists versus residents.  Tourists go to a new place, march all over the place, see all there is to see, and do it all in the matter of a week or so.  I look at us though, and I can honestly say that I really don't know all there is to see and do in Montana.  Or if I know of it, I don't take advantage of it, and I've lived here my entire life.  So I think I need to do some touristing in my own state, and visit the places I've never been to, and re-visit the places that my parents took me to when when I was too little to appreciate them.  It might be the wrong season to start this, since it's getting cold, but even if I delay plans for a few months, I'll be ready for action next spring!      

Our outing:

Animal crackers in a to go cup?  Check!

Goofy fleece suit to provide warmth and a few chuckles?  Check!

Energy to get moving?  Check!

Cooper wasn't really cooperative for the picture, he didn't want to hold still or be contained.   

This picture doesn't do justice to how steep the trail really was.  (I was the lucky one who got to carry Cooper UP the trail, huffing and puffing along)  To be fair though, Travis did get his turn on another uphill section.  

Cooper was mad as a little hatter that we didn't let him march himself down the steep trail.  So besides not being the best season for exploring, its possible that we may want to let Cooper get a little older, ie:  cooperative, before we venture too far.