Another Year of Swimming Lessons at the Round House

HD spent a week at the round house with Nanny and Papa, so we thought it was only fair that JP spent a week with them as well. I was a little nervous about leaving him there for a week, but he did fine. Nanny said he was really quiet, and didn't talk much. We FaceTimed a few times and even then he didn't say much, but when Ms. Gail, HD, and I returned the following Sunday, he was SO excited to see everyone. I think HD and JP really missed each other!

The four of us stayed for the rest of the week to do swimming lessons. (I stuck around so I could quilt a blanket I made for a co-worker!) 

 HD and JP had lessons together and both passed level 2, but they aren't strong enough swimmers to be in level 3 because they can't quite make it across the deep end yet. We're going to work on that this fall/winter. 

Ms. Gail wasn't quite tall enough for lessons on her own, so we took the Little Tikes class and she did amazing! She's a fish! I've taken her to the hotel to swim a few times, but she's always had her lifejacket on and would just float around, so I was surprised as to how comfortable she was swimming under the water. She'd jump in the pool and swim to me from 10-15 ft away without coming up for air first. Obviously she passed!

 We made a trip to Rudyard to see the dinosaur museum and the rest of place. The kids really enjoyed the old school house.

 JP even played a little number on his Great-Great-Grandma and Grandpa's piano (the one I was named after!)

 JP went to the dinosaur museum with Nanny the week before so he already "knew everything there was to know" about the museum. The kids even held a dinosaur bone, with Nanny's help!

 Ms. Gail wasn't too impressed with the museum. I think the dinos were a little to big and scary for her!

 We also wandered though the main museum and checked out the Canadian washing machine Nanny donated that was her Grandma's.

 As well as the sewing machine she donated as well. JP was really excited to show this to us!

 We also spent one windy morning flying HD's kite. I bought the kids kites a while ago, but it's never windy enough at home to fly them. The farm however... Ms. Gail took a turn flying HD's kite, and then immediately let go after I took this picture. I'm sure it would have been fun to watch Nanny and I sprint after it...

 HD was the one wanting to fly his kite, but one he did, he was over it. (It did take us a while to get it in the air...)

 JP seemed to enjoy it a little more. But not much more.

 I'm not sure we would have been able to fly it if Nanny wasn't around helping! Hahaha!

One night HD left me this note on his bedroom door. I went in and searched his room for him anyways. Turns out he wasn't even in there! He went down the hall and was sleeping with JP! Those two...

And one more blurb about the round house that needs mentioning - One morning early on in the week, Ms. Gail and I were heading out the door to go to swimming lessons, when she looks over to the bunkhouse where all the kitties usually are and says, "Oh mom! Look at all the kitties!" I look over to the bunkhouse to see not 1, not 2, not 3, but EIGHT (give or take) skunks running past! The rest of the week we were paranoid about the kids accidentally running into one. By the end of the week, the yard just smelled like skunk. Yum... I think they're down to two left. Glad it's them and not me! Hahaha!

4th of July at the Round House

Is it ironic that my last post was about HD losing his first, and tonight before I left for work, Perry told me HD *finally* lost his 2nd tooth. The only reason this one held on for so long was because the tooth that was going to replace it came up behind it, and at an angle. I see braces in his future for sure! After spending a week with my parents at the farm, I'm glad he waited until he was home to lose it!

Speaking of the farm, check out these shots I took while we were there to drop off JP and pick up HD. The fireworks were just a nice bonus!

They just melt my heart! HD spent all last week there, Monday - Sunday with Nanny and Papa and FaceTimed us at least once a day, telling us every detail of his days. On Sunday, Perry and I packed up Ms. Gail and JP and headed to the Round House to bring HD home, and to leave JP for the next week, Tuesday - Sunday. And then I'm headed back on Sunday to stay until at least Friday so the kids can do swimming lessons this year. By the end, July will be half over already! What? How?!

Normally we spend the 4th of July in Seeley Lake with Grandma, but she had made other plans this year, and with HD already being at the round house, we decided to go there this year. Pretty convenient planning. We don't have the opportunity to light off fireworks in town like we do when we're at the farm, so this was very exciting for my boys!

They used their sparklers to light other things and then used old fireworks as targets for other fireworks. If it could be burned, it was. 

Ms. Gail enjoyed her time with her super long sparklers. 

 HD really enjoyed the tanks, and having the tanks shoot at the egg-laying chickens. 

 JP lit up every time a firework went off too. I loved watching their reactions to the fireworks, instead of watching the fireworks themselves.

 I'm sure they'd have lit off fireworks all day if we let them, and had more.

Those boys definitely missed each other! It was sweet to see them reunite again!

 One of their favorite past times while at the round house is the trampoline. My dad dug a hole for it about 15 years ago when a wind storm picked it up and blew it threw our front windows... The hole has gradually gotten bigger as the years went on. At one point we had carpet all the way around it!

 Ms. Gail even got her kitty fix while we were there. Guess what she named this black one? Booties, but only after she wanted to call it Hunter. 

 After we went to Havre for dinner at Rod's Drive-In Sunday night, the boys were told to settle down or they'd have to walk home from Havre. We were kidding, but Ms. Gail really wanted to walk to Nanny's and cried about it for the entire trip back. Once we got close, HD told us he walked home from the 2nd field and wanted to do it again. We instead let him out at the corner and he ran the 1/4 mile home. (See that little speck on the road? That's him!) Ms. Gail, my mom, and I got out a few telephone poles away so Ms. Gail could walk home. 

While we were waiting for it to get dark out, Perry and I and the kids took a little walk to watch the sunset and I just happened to capture Ms. Gail playing in the wheatfield. So sweet!

 We also snuck in a campfire, which Stafford attended with JP. S'mores all 'round!

On the afternoon of the 4th, Perry and I took HD and JP to Havre Beneath the Streets. HD was telling us a while ago about how people lived beneath the streets in Seattle, and Havre has by far the best display, so he was excited to see it. They behaved really well, and HD even asked our guide a few questions! Their favorite part was getting candy from the bakery :) They were treated to DQ afterwards for being on good behavior!

 For the 4th we went back to Havre to watch the firework from one of my dad's cousin's business. Great view from there. So close we could see them being lit. Before they started, I snagged this photo of the gorgeous sunset! I just wish I could have gotten a better picture! 

After two late nights, we packed up in the morning and headed home so I could sleep the evening away to prepare myself to work through the night. I'm anxious to go back next week for lessons! I already miss JP!