few days

Had a few days at home with the girls. Amazing how fast the details go out of my head if I don't keep up with this.  I remember that there were things I wanted to write about, but can't remember most of them before today... perhaps they'll come to me.  Today was interesting, and again proves that when in doubt just go for it... it works out most of the time.  We had our plans to come to Missoula to spend a short weekend for my birthday and come to the "festival of cycles"... a bike free-for-all in Bonner Park.  I had to get out of the house to deliver the doggies to the kennel, then had tentative plans to go to the bike store.  We drove around for an errand or two, dropped off doggies, went to see Mama at work to pickup a couple things.  In my state of hunger and inability to wake up, I decided on a drive-thru trip to get a bite... selfishly, I was going to grab food for Clare and I, then go home because motivation was lacking.  Clare decided she preferred the Carousel to the bike store so I thought, why not, might as well go for it and see what happens.  I grabbed snacks for us both and headed that direction... meanwhile, Rosie pipes up at or around the two hour mark since the last bottle.  It's clear she's going to need a bottle before anything happens.  Motivation once again waned and I tried to sneak home, but Clare was too sharp and was less than approving of my broken promise of going to the carousel.  A short visit to the house and back in the car, we were off.  We got to the Carousel parking lot, gave Rosie a bottle with one hand and fed Clare chicken mcnuggets with the other.  They both had something to say about it.  I managed to keep my cool and explained to Clare that all this needed to happen before we could go to the carousel or all would be lost and we would all go home.  She seemed to understand the basics and held her fuss.  She's very cute when she understands and uses her short sentences... Rosie bottle carousel... very sharp.  We made it inside and took two rides on the carousel, even after forgetting my wallet in the car.  Clare was a trooper, Rosie took her first two carousel rides and seemed pleased.  At the end of the second ride I explained to Clare that we had to say bye bye carousel at the end of this ride.  She took a minute to soak it in then started to say goodbye to the bighorn sheep and the horse that were close to us.  She walked out attached to my leg as happy as she could be.  What a great girl.  The whole thing went great.  I almost talked myself out of it more than once, but Clare kept me motivated, granted some of that was fear of the fuss wrath Clare can lay down.  We all keep each other in line... pretty good relationship. 

So yesterday, it's coming back.  Beautiful day and we spent a lot of time outside.  Took a jaunt in the chariot up to the Capital where there were some earth day festivities.  Didn't really participate, but Clare ran around on the big lawn and Mama came over to meet us.  We played in the back yard too.  Clare rode her swing and poked around the yard playing with sticks.  Rosie sat in her bouncy chair and took it all in.  We very much enjoyed the day and the property.  Clare likes to say, "park" while we're swinging... assuming she's drawing a correlation with swings at the park.  I told her it's our own little park.... she said, "Scampy's park, Miles' park, Dada park, Rosie Park."   I said, "Mama's park?"  She said, "yeah".  After all that, the girlies slept for awhile and I messed around with bicycles on the back patio.  Five bicycles out on the patio... I decided that was a little silly and put a couple back in the garage.  There's a dresser back there too now which needs a home.... maybe ours, maybe someone else's. 

We're in Missoula now... Brandon and Jennifer took off a bit ago.  We met them at Kiwanis after making an emergency Goodwill run to pickup jackets for the girls.  Of course, we brought enough beer and wine for eight, but forgot warm clothes for the kids, and Kate for herself.... show's where the priorities are (ha).  Anyway, picked up some jackets, Clare's and Kate's reversible, so really like four jackets in two.  Rosie got a cute little fleece with duckies on it.  It was a bright sunny windy day but jacket weather for sure.  I hit some tennis with Jen and Brandon and some other random dude while Clare and Kate and Rosie poked around the park.  Clare did some fantastic dribbling of the soccer ball.  First I've seen her do anything of the sort.  She's also really trying to enunciate her L's.  Good thing since her name contains several.  Her little tounge curves up to meet with her upper teeth... perfect structure, but not quite completeing the sound just yet.  She'll get it.  She's so adorable.  Rosie slept a lot today.... we'll see how the night goes.  Of course, Clare, the dynamo, was a total ham for Jen and Brandon.  She charged hard into the night, got to bed about ten, then fussed for awhile.  She loves to say "Condo", which sounds like, "Candooooooo"... cute.  Wonder how late she'll sleep.  Tomorrow I might ride with Brandon, possibly Owen too.  Festival at noon... pretty excited about it, but cautiously so... always has the potential to be melodramatic.  I'm going to scavenge for small parts... brought all the tools.  Good couple of days.  Dave out.