Montana Therapy

Okay, so it's been a whole month.

The best way I can sum up is to say that The Boy is flexing his Opinion Muscles. This seems to affect everything from naps to eating to going down for the night. Since everything that happens between eating and sleeping is really a placeholder, you can imagine that it's been a bit ... unpredictable ... around Ye Olde Homestead.

The best solution is to pack up and hie out for Nonnie's place in Montana.

Because I value my husband's and The Boy's life, The Boy and I flew. The Husband drove I-90 with the two dogs and all the stuff. Packing for one, single kid requires twice the car space that travel did previously. We bought a Thule thingie.

(In case you care, the Thule can carry the stroller, packback, The Boy's clothes, some of our clothes and the dogs' stuff, too. This left room in the car for the dogs, two coolers, my clothes [medium bag]. Matt's clothes [gargatuan bag plus two smaller bags], The Boy's food [allergic to everything fun] and all of Matt's accessories [iTouch, gps thingie, road food, cell phone, Blackberry and don't know what all, plus the chargers and other accoutrements].)

The flight from Seatac to Missoula is on an airplane. Not a jet. You have to walk out on to the tarmac and then up some stars onto the plane. This was a real hit as we could touch the wings and the propellers and all.

Once on the plane it was not good. But just for a bit. I don't know if it was the abrupt transition from Out to In or the change in accoustics or if it was the collective displeasure of 50 people seeing a not-two-year-old getting on the plane.

All was well when we brought out the Stihl catalog. Everything is always better when you can loose yourself in selections of chainsaws and leafblowers. Try it sometime. You'll see.

Because Nonnie's house was full (the Gareth family beat us to the good bedroom) we stayed out at the Rich Ranch. The Boy could be a free-range kid and look at the farm equipment — sorry, ranch equipment — and visit the mules and find all the sticks and rocks any boy could want.

We've been busy and it's been hot. I'll fill in the details next entry. Catch-up entries are always dull. I'm done with this one.