Smiles and Coos

E has become very vocal this past week and is always showing us his smile.

3 Part Day

Well today seemed like the day that never ended...a good day...but we did a lot. We started off at church this morning - after a short service we ventured over to the new land our church bought for a future building for a land dedication. Then it was home for lunch - naps for the kiddos and E & I did some yard work - flower planting, tree removal, weed removal (gotta love home ownership). Once the work was done we ventured off on what I thought was going to be short little drive up in the hills near our house....and 3 hours later and 2 cranky kids - we are home.

Part II of our Day

Working in the yard we've found is much easier when A is sleeping.


Once she is up and outisde...there is not stopping this little go-getter. Cool shades and all.


Unfortunately we had to dig up one of our Aspens we planted last year....the deer got the best of it this winter and it didn't survive.


This is how E spent 45 minutes of his afternoon outside today....the rest of the time he was fussing....so I got out of planting flowers and instead spent my time holding him while E did all the planting.

Part III of our day.

Our drive in which we were trying to find a road near our house that would take us over the hills to another road....took quite a while to find. We did find one road but it was a bit rough and not maintained so we quickly turned around. I didn't think off roading with 2 kids in the car would be appropriate - but finally after a bit of searching we found a nice road and it took us to a nice campground nestled in a canyon with a lake. (Dalton Lake Campground). A was a bit stir crazy by the time we go there so we decided to let her get out and burn some energy.
E and his 2 cranky kids.....

Yes, Yes - E is still here.

I know, I know - the last zillion posts have been of A....E is just so quiet and content and into nothing that sometimes I forget he is around. This seems to be his favorite place to hang out these days. We traded swings again with Grandma D. We discovered while in MT that E really liked this swing...but not the other one AND this is one swing A can not reach the buttons on so I am not constantly having to shut it off or telling her not to touch it.

Picking the Battles

I made the mistake a while back of giving A a few peices of Lucky Charms cereal...of course the only thing she ate were the marshmallows and left the cereal in the bowl. Well now that is all she wants..she knows were they are and is constantly trying to get them out of the cupboard - an on going battle. This morning I just gave up....and gave her the whole container...I didn't have the patience to try and win this one....so here she is...content and happy digging out her marhmallows.

Crazy Uncles

"Check out my new wheels.....a little big I know...so for now I am letting Uncle T borrow them until I can really ride all by myself."


"Whoa slow down....I can't quite peddle that fast"



"So - looking at this picture I would say Uncle B could afford to donate a little of his hair to my head - what do you think???"

Summer Time Fun -GOLF, Swimming and sidewalk chalk

The temps in MT were quite warm while we were there.....We are beginning to wonder where all the warm weather went. It's been pretty cold and rainy and VERY windy since we got back to Rapid City. One day it was so warm we got A a pool and set it up....AND Aunt B thought she needed her very own golf clubs too - A enjoyed her clubs more in the water with her than out on the lawn.

Animal Sounds......

A has become our little parrot....she repeats pretty much anything we say. We also play this came called "what does a ______ say" (mostly with animals). She has got pretty much all the major animals and their sounds down pat.....Well last week while we were in MT Grandma and Aunt B took A for a walk and near my parents house is a saddle club where there is frequently horse shows going on there. There just happened to be horses up there.... When you ask A what a horse says she says "neighhhhh". There was a horse that walked over to the fence while they were up there and it just happened to "neighhh" and then pooped at the same time. SO now when you ask A what a horse says - she says "neighhhhh poop". Poor girl - scarred for life.

Sooo BIG!

E had his 2 month check-up on Monday.....and I guess his stats come as no surprise being that I feel like I can hardly lift him when he is in his car seat.
Weight = 13 lbs. 10 oz. (85%)
Height = 23.5 inches (75%)
Head = 41 cm (75%)

Going To the ZOO, ZOO, ZOO

The Montana Zoo that is.......unfortunately....not much to see at the MT Zoo....and if there is...they are all probably sleeping out of sight - but I guess for a 16 month old it's not about the animals but the freedom to run as you please.


The one and ONLY animal truely worth seeing...the TIGER. When we went back the 2nd time he was actually up and moving around.

Big Horn Sheep

A - enjoying her stroll....if you noticed her knee...it's taken quite a beating...3 falls on the same knee last week has produced quite the skinned up knee.


A - "if only I was 2 inches taller - I too could enjoy playing in this water with my cousin O."

"I guess I am not so BIG after all"

I Scream, You Scream, We All Scream For

ICE CREAM!!!

Grandpa and Grandma decided that A needed her first very own ice cream cone....problem is....they decided this a 8pm at night....a perfect bedtime snack!!!???

Busy, Busy, Busy

Oh to have the energy of a 16 month old - A just wears me out sometimes just watching her. She just never stops anymore. I think I am going to be in trouble next week when life is back to just me and kids during the day. It's been so nice having all the help these past 2 weeks.


After smelling the flower - A was insistent that I needed to see and smell the flower too......

And this would be A's attempt at letting me smell the flower.....right into the camera lens.

PEEK-A-BOO
Grandma's tulips - either the deer eat them or A gets her hands on them - it's a toss up.

2 Months Old......

As usual time is just flying by with little E too - hard to believe he was 2 months old on Thursday. He goes to the Dr. on Monday to have his 2 month check-up - so more to come on this BIG little boy.

Still Here!

We are in Billings still this week continuing our visit....E is going to Chicago this weekend for a weekend away with friends.

7 Course Meal

I never am quite sure from meal to meal what exactly A will actually eat....so I find myself offering quite a few different options....tonight was quite the combination. First it was left over meatballs and noodles, followed by noodle soup, rice, pineapple, watermelon, and corn (which was the biggest hit of all). She opted out of even trying our swiss steak......

Graduation Ceremonies

This is how A & E began each ceremony.....it was kind of nice - of course it didn't last forever.


Aunt B receiving her nurses pin and dipolma from Grandma and Grandpa.

Aunt B with A....trying out the cap to see if it's fits now.

Uncle B recieving his master's degree in Architecture.

Uncle B and soon-to-be Aunt S posing with their dipolmas.

Swimming.....

While in Bozeman at the hotel this weekend A got to swim a few times with Aunt B.


Splashing is what she seemed to enjoy most...


Especially if it meant getting Aunt B's hair all wet.


Kicking seemed to be quite enjoyable too.....


Uncle B staying dry and entertaining E.