Stop #5: Bozeman, Montana

Home, Sweet, Home! Well at least 3 years ago this little town was home.

Bozeman is where Levi and I met, while attending Montana State University, the town all our friends and family gathered together in to celebrate on our wedding day, the site of the first house we ever purchased and where we brought our two precious babies home.  So it holds a special place in our hearts, and always will.

We do have a few interviews lined up while in town, but most of all we are looking forward to visiting family, seeing friends, and taking time to just relax and gather ourselves.  The car needing new brakes, blowing a spark plug and seemingly endless home closing issues have been really weighing us down the last few days, so I can’t wait to recharge.

My momma and her BF Joe live in Bozeman so we were able to stay at their new house.  We loved it!!  We spent the mornings sitting on their back deck sipping on coffee and then again in the evenings drinking wine and cooking up meat on the grill.  Claire made a new best friend while playing in the backyard. None of the houses in their neighborhood had fences so Claire and her bestie were able to just run back and forth between homes.  It was nice to spend some time semi carefree and to watch the kids be able to explore and spend time just being kids.

The first day in town we drove by our old house, played at the Dinosaur park down the street, and tried to have lunch at The Smiling Moose, one of our old faves.  But the restaurant wasn’t there any longer. Sad!!

We met friends at Digger Days, a fundraiser for Eagle Mount, where the little ones could drive and play in tractors and dirt piles. It was a hit!  Claire and Henry even got to make my mom and Joe stepping stones to keep in their garden to remember our visit always.

One of my favorite days while in Bozeman was spent with my mom at Museum of the Rockies, an awesome dinosaur museum with a kick butt play area.  It served us well years ago as a great place to meet friends and let kids play in the winter months.  We lunched over pizza and beer at a little restaurant across from Montana State.  My mom works as a professor at the University, so we walked through campus to take some pics and check out her new office.  We capped off the day with a hike along a nature trail through town.  The fresh air certainly helped us unwind and let the kids stretch their legs and burn off a little bit more energy before bed.

Henry has been exhausted from his change in schedule.  We used to have dinner around 6:30 and bedtime was 7:30ish.  Poor guy has probably been up until at least 9 for the last week.  And he has been crabby!!  He pretty much growls like a dinosaur at everyone and won’t let me put him down.  So I put him to sleep super early to let him catch up and get a good night sleep.  Which worked out perfectly for Claire too because we were having steak for dinner, and that’s pretty much her favorite food, other than bacon.  My mom set the adult table, with Claire at the head of the table, and she even got a fancy wine glass with juice.  She absolutely cherished every moment.  It was an experience for her to work on her manners, be one of the big kids,  and get all the attention that brother tends to steal.

After interviewing at a gorgeous new spa, we hit up Chico Hot Springs right down the road.  Although the kids only lasted a little over an hour soaking in the pool, my body felt so relaxed the rest of the evening, and I slept like a baby.

The week flew by, as it always does when visiting family and enjoying yourself.  My mom sent the kiddos off with little explorer backpacks, journals, and Nature is Calling dolls.  We will miss Bozeman and most of all Mom and Joe.  Thank you for such a memorable, relaxing visit.  We can’t wait to come stay again!!