Allfluents

Rost & I had been outside most of the afternoon, enjoying the nice weather and doing some chores on the property.

Everyone helps out around here, the two year old is no exception.

Once we’d finished up our work it was time to play! Rost directed me to the tall grass along the roadside where I was handed a tallish, stick-looking tumbleweed. We proceeded to walk up and down the fence line holding our sticks high out in front of us, swishing them in the grass from time to time, and occasionally screaming a loud, high-pitched squeal.

When I would ask Rost he would only exclaim “Allfonts!” or “Rost baby Allfonts, Mama mama Allfonts!” It took me roughly thirty minutes to finally figure out what we were doing, have you figured it out by now?

Biking Bowman

For as much time as I’ve spent exploring Glacier, I’ve never made it up to Bowman Lake. It hasn’t been for lack of trying but every previous attempt of mine has been thwarted.

My friend Becky came from the Bitterroot Valley to help me change my record. We’d planned on biking before the road opened to vehicles but missed the window due to scheduling conflicts & weather. Besides a few vehicles dusting us out as we rode from the Polebridge Ranger station to Bowman Lake, we couldn’t have asked for a more perfect day.

We were planning on biking the Going to the Sun Road the next day but we did get turned around by a snowstorm on our drive in. Had it just been Becky & I we would have ridden it out but it doesn’t seem fair to ask a 2-year-old sitting in a rear bike seat to endure a snowstorm on top of everything else a ride like that entails. So we pivoted last minute into a new adventure and headed up to the Spotted Bear Ranger Station for a hike over the swinging bridge.

Mommy & Me Music

Rost & I have spent the past spring taking a Mommy & Me music class up in Whitefish. We sing silly songs, clap to the beat, and dance around together, and I can’t help but smile at how much enjoyed enjoying himself. His favorite part was dancing about and playing with the colorful parachute! I love seeing him explore, make friends, and gain confidence in such a playful way. Plus, it’s a sweet reminder to slow down and enjoy these simple, joyful moments together.

Polebridge Walkabout

The weather forecast was due to be sunny after a string of rainy days. Spring in Montana is not the most pleasant season – or maybe I’m just biased since Spring is my least favorite season.

Rost & I decided it was the perfect day for a road trip adventure. I’d heard the Polebridge Mercantile had opened during weekday hours for the season. I’d never actually tried one of the Mercantile’s world-famous huckleberry bear claw pastries & today seemed as good as any to pop my huckleberry.

Afterwards, Rost & I trekked around Polebridge on a nice little walking path we’d discovered nearby.

I guess Montana isn’t so bad in the spring.

Goodbye Little Duck

I constantly go between wanting you to be my little baby forever & being excited about all the things you will do in this life.

My little duck is turning out to be quite the adventure buddy. We’ve splashed in many a puddle, navigated across miles of mud, & explored through our fair share of stormy weather. Sadly, when I took my little duck to venture out recently I quickly realized the boy who assumes the little duck’s identity has grown about 4 inches or so over the long, dark winter. I mean, he’s driving and drinking Starbucks already.

It was a sad day when I said goodbye to the little duck muck suit but time marches on and as the rhyme goes “…Children grow up, we’ve learned to our sorrow.”

With all that said, it’s time Rost shows off his new muck suit.

I would like to be half as cool as Rost when I grow up.

Little Strings, Big Dreams

I grabbed my kite, so bold, so bright,
Its tail like rainbows taking flight.
With strings in hand and heart so light,
I raced beneath the sun’s warm might.

The wind, it teased, a playful friend,
Would it lift, or would it bend?
I gave a tug, a daring send,
And watched my hopes ascend, ascend!

The kite soared high, it danced, it spun,
A partner to the sky and sun.
It swooped and dipped—a race begun,
A thrilling chase, a world of fun.

“Oh, catch the clouds!” I gave a cheer,
Its whispers brushed my eager ear.
The sky seemed closer, dreams more near,
My laughter ringing loud and clear.

I jump, I clap, I laugh, “Hooray!”
My kite and me had fun today.
The sun goes down, it’s time to stay,
But I’ll fly my kite another day!

For in that moment, wild and free,
The kite and I shared destiny.
A tangled thread of joy and glee—
Oh, what a wondrous thing to see!

Easter

Bunnies hop and eggs go hide,
Colors sparkle far and wide.
What’s inside? Oh, can I peek?
Chocolate treasures make me squeak!

Grass is tickly, basket’s big,
Wobbly steps as I dance a jig.
Flowers blooming, sky so blue,
Easter feels like magic, too!

Mommy smiles, Daddy cheers,
Sticky fingers, messy smears.
I don’t know what it’s all about,
But Easter’s fun, without a doubt!

Easter 2025 is going to be epic…

Becky’s Birthday Walkabouts

One of my dearest friends happens to share an important date with me. Her birthday falls on my & Brian’s anniversary so it’s easy to never forget her special day. Since Brian & I were celebrating our 10 year (whoa) anniversary this year Becky came up the day after her birthday for us to help her celebrate just how amazing she is.

Becky, Rost, & I spent a morning wandering the streets of downtown Kalispell. We perused the local shops which in reality just turned into a fashion show of Rost trying on ridiculously cute cowboy boots & hats.

Another day Becky got to experience the joy of hiking with a toddler. I’m not even joking on this one. It’s an experience on a whole other level. Rost is a pretty experienced hiker at this point, scaling elevation & tackling up to three miles on his own – then again, sometimes we never even leave the parking lot because there are just too many cool stones to throw or puddles to splash in. Hiking with a toddler makes you slow down and enjoy the trip not just the destination.

Spending time with people & places that are good for my soul is always at the top of my list of good ways to spend my time.

Barber Becky

One of our wonderful neighbors just around the ‘block’ has a barber shop and has been “cutting” Rost’s hair since the first three finally sprouted out of his head. Terrified of having one of those menacing toddlers screaming & crying in the barber’s chair, I’ve opted to take Rost in for regular haircuts at Becky’s Barbershop despite the lack of real hair growing on his head. Until today, he’s always just sat on my lap, bottom lip pouted and eyes on the verge of tears. With the promise of picking a candy out of the special treat basket he’s not thrown even the slighted of fits – always impressing the line of old men waiting for their turn in the chair. Today Rost proudly sat in the chair all by himself! My little towhead even had a decent amount of hair to cut finally.

Proud momma moments, of which I’m sure there will be many more in the years to come.