Fall in Bozeman!

As you've probably figured out, we find Bozeman to be pretty awesome year round, but fall is my absolute favorite time, specifically October!  We've been fortunate to experience some fantastic October weather and have developed quite a few favorite traditions that roll around each year.    It's also a time when we start inventorying our winter gear and we got an exciting early Christmas present from Mas and Pas.  The kids have been thrilled with their new thermals with thumb holes (gosh I hope this unbridled enthusiasm lasts forever!)  We haven't *needed* the thermals yet but the kids have wanted to wear them a lot!

2 years ago we were able to share some with Uncle Matt and were very lucky to share them this year as well!  I've been mourning the idea that with the school schedule our ability to up and go somewhere is greatly limited.  However, Uncle Matt timed his visit perfectly around little man's fall break so we were able to make the most of the visit.  He came bearing swag from his company in the form of a light up, noise making axe.  Having just perused James' company's swag website, Uncle Matt's wins for coolness hands-down.  (Though don't get me wrong, I'm very excited in my old lady way about a new soft-sided cooler.)

 Catherine was eager to show offer her costume (thus covering Uncle Matt with glitter) during storytime.  Uncle Matt brought some awesome new books, though we've all been disappointed with his choice of Froggy's Halloween as it taught both kids the "trick or treat, smell my feet" rhyme.  Though I think we've made it perfectly clear that it's not to be recited, I still worry every day that Matthew will be the one teaching everyone at school.

 Luckily we had 5 days of no school, so we took Friday to hit up the hay maze.  The kiddos did fairly well, though with two runners it was a bit more harrowing in past years to not lose one of them!

 Uncle Matt of course came with a plan to provide cotton candy on our hayride!

 Catherine showing off her sticky hands!

 And a quick flashback to our trip a few years ago!   Everyone except Matthew has far more hair!

Of course we spent some time in the corn bin burying each other:

 Dress up fun:

Next up was a trip to the Pumpkin Patch!  It's been hard to have Matthew meet up with some of his younger friends from our playgroups so we met up with a bunch of other Moms at the pumpkin patch.  Uncle Matt is an excellent sport!  

 Matthew set his eyes on this pumpkin from the very beginning:

And insisted he could pick it up himself.  Uncle Matt helped just a little!  

 The kids spent most of the visit horsing around on the hay bales and/or Uncle Matt!

 Catherine had to get in on the action:

 And some cuddles with Uncle Matt at breakfast (we have yet to work out a curtain solution for our dining room/deck, so just a heads up, for this month sunglasses are often needed for our guests!)

 Uncle Matt also helped us wrangle the family back to the pumpkin patch on Saturday!  A friend was doing a fundraiser photo shoot.  Here's a sneak peek that Uncle Matt took - here's hoping we get the pro versions back this week that include June and some helmets!