A Day Trip to the Lewis + Clark Caverns

The kids and I returned home from the round house after swimming lessons finished on Friday, and to stay it was a long trip would be an understatement. How many times do I need to say, "Keep your hands to yourselves!" Gahhh! Normally Hunter sits in the back by himself but with all the bikes I had to haul back, it just wasn't going to work, so the three kids piled into the middle row. It was a long ride home... but we made it.

I spent Saturday evening working at the hotel, and then first thing Sunday morning, all five of us piled back into the car for another road trip. I've been wanting to take the kids to the Lewis and Clark Caverns for a while and thought this would be the perfect time to do it.

 The hike up to the entrance was a little long for some short legs, but the view was perfect!

Ms. Gail was carried for most of the way, and when she wasn't, she enjoyed walking on the far edge of the trail. That girl.... JP walked/ran the whole way, where as HD needed to be carried because he was too hot. 

 Once inside we had to be extra quiet because the bats were sleeping. My nerves got me a bit when I glanced over this edge. Heights are not for me!

 The kids all enjoyed going down the Beaver Tail slide. (I think Perry liked it the most!)

 They always look so thrilled to have their pictures taken...

Perry and I managed to get a picture of us though! Aren't we cute though?

 The boys really enjoyed looking at all the cave structures. I was surprised to hear they wanted to go after that long hike at the beginning!

After we finished up at the caverns we headed down the road a short ways to play on the Ringing Rocks. Unfortunately we didn't make it all the way there. They are located up a winding dirt road, wide enough for about one vehicle. We were probably 1/2 mile away when we came up to a corner with a big hole and sharp rocks on the other side and I just couldn't make it over it. Not to mention it was starting to get a little stormy out so holding hammers wasn't a super idea. I checked the weather before I left to make sure that wouldn't happen too. Go figure. But at least we'll know what to expect for next time. 

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!

The Tooth Fairy Visited Our House For the 1st Time!

Hunter has a had a wiggly tooth since before St. Patrick's Day. I even went as far as to tell him that he'd get double coins from the tooth fairy if he lost it on St. Patrick's Day. Nope. Didn't happen. Didn't even happen a month later. I'm pretty sure I was more antsy for the Tooth Fairy to come than he was. I remember writing notes to the tooth fairy. Once she even drew me a picture of her house! I forgot to have Hunter write her a letter this time. But we have plenty of teeth to loose.

He lost one of his bottom teeth on Friday, May 6. I'm surprised it didn't come out sooner by the way it was pointing out of his bottom row. I even planned on having corn on the cob with dinner so I'd be there when it came out. but here's me re-telling how he told me it happened.

"I was playing at recess with Sullivan and he elbowed me in the mouth and it started bleeding but the recess bell rang so I had to go inside to get it cleaned up. And I had to go see Ms. Erin to get stuff for my mouth. And after recess we had a party and someone brought cupcakes. And then I bit into my cupcake AND THERE WAS A SURPRISE IN MY MOUTH! My tooth came out!"

Either I walk down to the bus stop to walk home with the boys or I just stay home and tend to the babes, but for whatever reason, I decided to just stand at the end of the driveway to watch them come down the lane. Hunter sprinted the whole way home and was just too excited to show me his missing tooth and the treasure box they gave him to put his tooth in.

At bedtime we went over the rules for the tooth fairy, and there was basically just one: Put the treasure box under your pillow and do not touch it. The tooth fairy luckily carried a flashlight because he broke the rule. He ran down to my room in the morning and was so excited to show off his gold coin!

By Monday we could already see the tooth below it coming up, and the tooth next to the hole is wiggly now too! He's so excited to join the rest of his class in the missing teeth group!

My Princess Turned 3!!

I am so tired right now I could cry. Actually, I might have before leaving for work at 10:30pm. These Friday night shifts are killing me! But lucky for me, I had a friend stop by the house to drop off somethings and she brought me coffee. Exactly what I needed to get through the morning!

Charlotte's birthday last year was super last minute, and this year wasn't much different. I was originally planning on having her party Friday evening, but then I heard cousins Casey and Dylan wouldn't be there so I moved the party to Thursday. Then I heard Aunt Kile was going to come, but she thought it was on Friday. I moved it back to Friday, after I agreed to work the overnight shift. Some serious poor planning right there. You know, thankgoodness it wasn't on Thursday though. At one point there was 11 kids at my house ranging from 8 months old to 7 1/2 years old. It was chaos. I was just glad my mom and neighbor were there too! I would have never gotten anything ready for her party while watching Charlotte + Kady + 3 babies during the day. 

Aunt Bobbi occupied some of the kids by playing baseball in backyard.

After baking and carving the cake Thursday, I woke up semi-ready to tackle Friday the 13th. Charlotte was so excited when she woke up and ate her last jelly bean on her countdown to her birthday! Ridiculously cute! Just as I imagined, she requested Cream of Wheat for breakfast, her favorite. 

Charlotte and Aunt Kim in the hammock. 

 I spent the morning tidying up the house knowing that by the afternoon, you wouldn't be able to tell it was tidy. I powered through just so I wouldn't have to work on decorating the cake. I keep putting it off until the last minute. I think I'm burning out on the caking... At one point I had two babies at my feet, and two very curious girls watching me frost the cake. I can't tell you how frustrating all the questions can be when I'm concentrating! But I got it done with time to spare.

 My parents showed up just in time to help make the burger patties and prep the toppings. Perry arrived home to a house FULL of people, and just in time to grill. Unless I miscounted, there was 20 adults and 12 kids. I don't think we've ever had this many people at our house at once. Especially for a 3 year old's party! I loved it!

 Hunter enjoyed his time with cousin Casey, but also had a friend over to play with as well. (He just shows up at our house pretty frequently so instead of sending him home, I said he could stay for dinner. Then he set his plate down and the vulture-dog of ours ran off with his hot dog.) JP didn't care for all the people, which didn't surprise me. I found him in our spare room watching a movie "having some Jimmy time." Charlotte was later found in Hunter's room crying because of all the people. Poor little thing!

 We quickly cleaned up dinner and moved on to cake and presents to perk up her spirits. She loved the cake, but she wasn't into pictures today. Go figure. This is the best of them. Booties helped her to at least look at the camera. 

 She wouldn't even cheer up for Daddy!

 She did perk up a bit when her bestie came around though! Just a little.

 After I took all the pictures I needed of the cake, we sang her the birthday song, and wasn't overly impressed about it. She did request mom and dad to sing it again to her at bedtime and her face was all smiles!

 I'm pretty sure Hunter adores Casey as much as Casey adores Hunter. I sense some trouble coming on with these two in a few years...

 Once she ate her cake, Charlotte made a mad dash for the presents. All the kids did. She had been waiting all day to open up the present JP gave her. He had me pick up a box of Whoppers for her and he wrapped them with the message, "To Charli Love Jimmy" on the box. If that doesn't melt your heart....

The other night at dinner we asked her what she wanted for her birthday and she was quick to spell it out for everyone. A bike from JP, a pink flower from Hunter, her "purple-red" blanket (it's actually teal) from Dad that's been sitting high on a shelf for several months (only Santa can reach it, her words not mine!), and a light saber from mom that looks like Hunter's. She later changed my present to puzzles thankfully. Other than her blanket which is already hers, she received everything she asked for!

 Perry rode her bike in from the garage. I had bought a few bows to put on it, but they didn't make it to the bike. The pedals didn't make it on the bike either. I found it posted online from a church friend and immediately spoke for it. It has princesses on it too! Perry helped her ride it down the hall after Casey helped her put her new helmet on. 

 Once all her presents were opened, we all got a really nice thank you out of her. She opened them all so fast that she didn't process everything she was opening. After all the guest left, she dug through her box of stuff excitedly!

 Casey enjoyed her new pom-poms :)

 Before the nephews left, we attempted to get a cousins picture. #1 I can't see Dylan! Sit Dylan up!

 #2 Stay there Dylan! JP look at the camera! Hunter put the bat down.

 #3 JP look here! Casey! 

I think we should have stopped after the 1st picture.

Much to our surprise, Aunt Erin and cousin Stevie were in the area and were able to join us for the party! Such a fun surprise! I'm excited to hopefully see them again before they head home next week!

Happy birthday sweet Charlotte! Where have these last 3 years gone?!

Monkey Shiner Babblings

M - *to the baby* What's wrong princess?
C - Mom!  She is NOT a princess! Her mom is not even a queen!

We moved Charlotte's to the basement and while bringing her stuff down, Mom asked her opinion.
M - Charli, where do you want to put your dress up trunk? Would this be a good spot?
C - Yes, mom, that would be a fine choice!
M - And what about your kitchen? How about in the corner?
C - Why yes, that would also be a fine choice!

While out to dinner at a Chinese restaurant:
H - Mom! I just ate one of those flat noodles in my soup and I didn't even know it was on my spoon!
M - That actually wasn't a noodle. It was a piece of bamboo. Do you know what bamboo is?
J - Wait. Isn't that the stuff that panda bears eat?
M - That would be the stuff.
J - So you're telling me we're eating outside food?
M - Actually just about all the food you eat is outside food. Carrots, broccoli, potatoes, fruit... Did I just blow your mind?
J - *nods slowly with eyes wide*