Confessions of an Inconsistent Blogger

In 2 short days school starts, I can't believe that I let the whole summer go by without blogging.

1. I have over 250 pictures on my camera card, at least 6 sets of the pictures were taken specifically for blogs. The number blogged however is zero.
2. We only took our kids camping for 1 night over the summer, last summer was zero.
3. I thought this would be so cute and funny and I am not coming up with much at all.
4. There are still unpacked boxes in my basement family room (yes it has been over a year)!
5. Meals, dishes, and laundry might have also been slightly inconsistent over the summer.
6. I am currently hiding from my sweet 20 mo. old so that I don't get extra buttons pushed on my computer.

I'm ready for a more regular schedule,but the summer went by too fast. I really like to know what my children are doing, who they are talking to, what they are learning (from their friends), etc; it's hard to let them go (in those ways). Seriously I can't believe how quickly the summer has gone by. I'll post a couple of pictures of our summer.

Fairfield, MT

Proudly known as the Malting Barley Capital of the World!

These grain bins really are big ~ put them on your list to see someday

Below: Mom & Dad with Kolby, Kaden, Dylan, and Taylor

We are so blessed to have a wonderful family!

Unless you were in Choteau, MT for the 4th of July ~ I bet you didn't see this!

Don't you hate it when you go grocery shopping and you get home and find your bananas or pears squished. Well we made it home from Costco without squishing anything. Then we put this on our table and turned our backs. What do you do? It must have looked like a cush place for a tush. I took this picture for a blog post. I guess it finally made it!

Making up for lost time

Memorial day weekend we were planning on going to Lyman for Olivia's (Kelly's sisters daughter) graduation party and then Kelly had an Aunt that passed away so we went to a funeral and then a graduation party. Usually when I get crazy ideas Kelly tells me "NO", when we were almost to Cody I said "Why don't we go down through Yellowstone" and he agreed with me so we took the scenic route with a 17 mo. old who doesn't have much long haul car seat experience. That part was not so fun. In Grand Teton we did see a bear (really far off ~ it looks more like a cow in the pictures so I won't post them). I love scenic drives so I really enjoyed the drive down and back for the most part.

Jake really is in the "family" picture that a stranger so kindly offered to take of us.

Taylor and Britnee enjoying the beautiful scenery.

Colton enjoying the beautiful scenery.



The next weekend (Saturday afternoon) we decided to hit the local beach/Cooney reservoir

It was beautiful all Saturday morning however by the time we got to Cooney

this is what it looked like!

Colton caught a big crawdad but didn't want to get his face too close to it

On Friday June 5th it was the last day of school and Coltons birthday we decided to surprise the kids by taking them to Chico Hot Springs. We had a great time lounging in the pools. Taylor loved it on Friday evening she hardly made a sound for about 2 hours in the pool. However on Saturday she didn't think it was so fun she lasted a whole 10 minutes. When I booked the reservations it was a balmy 80 degrees, we were hoping for 65-75 degrees to enjoy the water in, the closer we got to Friday the more worried we got. The high was supposed to be 48 on Saturday! It was actually a little warmer than that and it wasn't bad except for when you were out of the water. Now you know why I haven't blogged for so long.

Friday when Taylor loved it!

This is what the mountains looked like at Chico but we're tough.

In the midst of all our activities I am trying to grow grass. As you can
see we have been a little bit busy. I hope to update you all again before July!

The price of a (somewhat) peaceful shower

Note to self ~ Put toilet paper up when showering

Hearts and Hands Service Day

I have been the Hearts and Hands coordinator for my local congregation. We have been gathering donations for the last couple of months to donate to various community organizations. I am so grateful to be able to participate in such a wonderful service project. Can you believe that this isn't even everything that the Laurel Ward donated, I am grateful to be around women that are so willing to give of their time and talents, and are willing to share with the entire community!

Hygiene Kits

Twin, lap, & baby quilts ~ receiving blankets & burp cloths

Hats, scarves, gloves, & socks

Backpacks

Food, towels, school & baby supplies

Imagine all this x 15 x all the time women from around Billings will donate to assemble hygiene kits to go to the Women & Family shelter, Men's shelter, layettes to go to the Crisis Pregnancy center, backpacks full of supplies to go to children who wouldn't have them otherwise. That is only a few of the many organizations that will benefit from everyone who is participating in this. The community organizations benefit from the physical donations, we benefit from the JOY that we receive from serving others! Thank you to everyone who helped out. It has been a pleasure for me to see all of the collections coming in (although I have to admit I am glad to have all of that stuff out of my house).

Case Solved

Wednesday: Facts

1. Taylor is caught in Britnee's room with all of Britnee's Easter candy on the floor.


2. I quickly put the candy away.


3. After school Britnee comments that all of her good candy is gone (i.e. many of her foil wrapped Hershey's eggs and quite a few jelly beans)


4. I tell her I have no idea where they went. Jake is accused of high grading her stash.

Thursday: Case Solved

1. Shortly after Jake, Colton, and Britnee board the bus Taylor crawls up the stairs to Britnee's bedroom.


2. Kelly peeks around the doorway and spots the suspect. Taylor pulls out a box from Britnee's bookcase and reaches her little almost 16 mo. old hand into the box and pulls out a treat that she immediately puts into her mouth.


3. Missing treats found and returned to rightful owner.

Why?

Why does my family eat an entire 9x13 pan of cornbread one day and there is this much left tonight (from an 8x8 pan plus 6 little muffins)? Does any one else have unpredictable eaters?Would a post of mine be complete without a picture or two of Taylor? Here she is "in jail" she likes the view she has from in the kitchen into the family room where all the big kids are hanging out.

Pictures and Basketball

Here are a few pictures of our family

3.14.2009

Taylor almost 15 mo. (& almost walking?)

I love the picture below, Saturday was Annie's baptism (Nels & Andrea's daughter). It was so fun to watch Annie, she is such a sweetie. After the baptism we had refreshments and all of the kids sat in a big circle. Notice Carter surrounded by girls!

It was also Kelly's birthday on Saturday, I felt a little guilty but not guilty enough because I ditched him Saturday evening to go watch Fairfield play in the State Championship game. It was a good game (especially because Fairfield won). It was fun to see friends & watch the game.

Ashley, McKay, Tate & Jake