First Snow

We got our first snow of the season. It wasn't much, but the kids were very excited to see a change in the seasons. They got out their snow boots and coats, and ran outside to play in the flurries. We love living somewhere so beautiful, and also having a place that has all 4 seasons. It's exciting to look for the signs of the new season that is approaching. And when you are starting to get tired of a certain type of weather, a new kind will come along shortly. I also love that my kids get to gear up for school in the winter, and they also get to sled and build snowmen during recess. It's something I didn't get as a child, and I think it's fun for them. Although, they won't get too much snow in our new home, but that makes Dadddy happy :)

Big News

Tonight we gave the kids these shirts. They were so excited to hear the news. They can't wait to have a baby in our home. We also sent this picture out to family by email to share the news. We decided to wait to tell friends until I'm a little further along.

Boise Trip

We headed to Boise through the Idaho mountains. It was very smokey, it looked like fog. And our car smelled like campfire for a couple hours from all the air outside. It was crazy looking, so I took a picture of it.

Once in Boise, we went to the groundbreaking of Daddy's new center. Daddy made a great speach, made a few contacts, and even scored tickets to a Boise State Game. So we headed out on a date while the kids stayed with family. My brother even happened to be in town for the game, so we met him at half time and talked for a few minutes.

 

 

My sister came to visit

We were so excited to have some company. We played games, watched some good tv shows, talked lots, did a fun craft, went out to eat, ate lots of yummy treats, and played with the kids. I still had my kids go to school, but a couple of days they took off and we had some fun. One day we went to the carousel and playground downtown, followed by Big Dipper Ice Cream! We had loaded up the bikes to do a fun bike ride along the river trail, but the smoke from all the forest fires was so bad, we couldn't be outside any longer. Then the next day we went to a local gymnastic center and played on the equipment for an hour. The kids loved running around and getting lots of energy out. We love our family....Thanks for making the time and effort to come see us.

flying kites out it the field

on the carousel... they both loved it! I could hear my sister laughing the entire ride :)

strapped in and ready to FLY!

the foam pit was a favorite with this little guy

playing together in the pit

so excited to be jumping around

Football

Daddy took little man to a Griz football game. It was super smokey and yucky outside, but they had lots of fun. We've had a TON of smoke from the wild fires this fall.

School started

Both the kids were very excited for the school year to start. They both love their teachers! And riding the school bus home.

We had a great summer, but we were ready for school to start. It's nice to have a routine, and the kids also need some time away from eachother. They play well most of the time, but 3 months of being with eachother all day.... they were done.

The weather here is starting to change, which is such a relief. I HATE 90's, especially since we don't have central air conditioning. My hubby let me buy a window a/c unit, but it only does so much. (i'm greatful for it though) I'm excited though that the weather is changing... fall is my absolute FAVORITE time of year. I love the leaves, the crisp air, sweaters, back to school, pumpkin smells, corn mazes, HALLOWEEN, and everything else. It also means soccer season!!! The kids both start up this week with practice and games. Can't wait to see them out running around, and also see if they are a little more aggressive this year. Also little miss will start violin lessons. We are very excited about this!!!

our summer...

really flew by. it started with the california trip, then celebrating my daughter's birthday. we then had her baptism, family here for support, and a little vacation.

Throw in schooling, a trip to great falls, playgroups, swimming, playdates, a movie party, lake and river trips, and all the other little things, and our summer is over.

Little miss did swim team through the city. She practiced for an hour 3 days a week, and then had a little swim meet at the end. She thought it was a blast, and is totally in love with swimming. If we didn't have a million other activities this fall, we were going to sign her up for the local swim club. Maybe in a few months, who knows.

A few days before school started, we invited all our friends over for a movie night in our backyard. We made fun invitations, set up the sheets for a screen, hung some decorations, and had drinks and snacks ready for our guests. We then had all the kids bring their own blankets and pillows, and everyone laid out on our lawn, and watched the movie. It was a late night, some even fell asleep. But we had a great time overall! (minus the little flood in my basement, the cotton candy machine not working, and the decorations falling on guests). We love our friends here and were glad we could have one last summer bash!

Bouldering

Little Man got to go with his BFF yesterday and try out bouldering. It's basically rock climbing with no harnasses. For 2.5 hours and climb and sweated, and when I came to pick him up, he was so excited to show me his skills.

It was awesome of his friend to invite him. Plus it was nice for him to get out and do something on his own. Sister and him have had lots of together time this summer... and it's starting to get pretty rough some days :)

All the fun times

We LOVED having family here. It was definitely worth the stress of cleaning the house for them. Our lives seem boring without them here. On Thurs night our first group arrived from Seattle. I thought my kids were asleep because I had put them to bed 2.5 hours before company arrived. It must have been like Christmas, because neither of them were asleep. So we let them out of bed to play with their cousins. We got everyone settled in to their rooms and then went to bed.

The next day we went for a walk to the school playground. It was so hot that we called home for a ride. We were lucky to be picked up by Grandma & Grandpa Lyons who had just gotten off the plane. We then went home and waited for Grandma, Grandpa & KayKay. Then we ate lunch and headed to SPLASH MONTANA. This was one thing little miss really wanted to do with everyone. We spent lots of time on the slides and in the lazy river. It was so much fun. We came home, had a BBQ in the backyard, and then went to Big Dipper for some ice cream.

I already told you what we did on Sat. in the post below. Then on Sunday we took it easy, went to church, came home and ate some dinner, and then headed up Pattee Canyon to roast a few marshmallows. The kids had fun exploring the woods and seeing all the little bugs. We really enjoyed our time with our family, and were super sad to see everyone leave on Monday morning.

Feeding baby chocolate chips

Big Dipper Ice Cream 

Hanging on the porch

Cousins goofing off (I love that they played well)

A friendly dragonfly.... and some leftover smores 

We luckily had a couple guests linger a few more days. So on Monday afternoon we headed up to Glacier National Park. We stopped in Big Fork on the way to Kalispell. Checked into our hotel, and the headed up to Whitefish. We went to the lake and played in the water for a bit, then went to a few local shops, and the to MacKenzie River Pizza. YUM! The next morning, we woke up and headed to the park. We did the going to the sun road, and hike up by the Logan's Pass Visitor center. The hike was covered in snow, and was a little tricky since we had on tennis shoes. We were able to see some mountain goats on the trail. Little Man and I headed back halfway through the trail, and the rest finished the hike. Then we regrouped, ate some lunch/dinner, and went back down the sun road. We were all tired out. The next morning, we got up again, and headed to the park. We did a few easier trails, hung out by Lake McDonald, and wandered around the village. We then headed back home in the evening.

The next day we were so tired out that we didn't do much. We went to the movie theather, the mall, and the carousel. We just hung out that night, and enjoyed the last few hours we had with family. The next morning they woke up and left on the airplane. We didn't have any more family here to hang out with.

We were so tired from late nights, and so many activities with family, that we did NOTHING the whole weekend. And just today, are getting back into our normal rountine of things.

Whitefish Lake

Train Station in Whitefish

View from the Going-to-the-Sun-Road

Traffic Jam, so it was a perfect photo-op

The Weeping Wall (a highlight for sure! where else do you get to drive through a waterfall?)

Hiking in the snow up to Hidden Lake

Hidden Lake

Jackson Glacier overlook

Silly Faces on the Trail of the Cedars

  

All of us crammed in a tree stump

Hanging out at Lake McDonald

We love family, and feel blessed to have such a big family, and so many wonderful examples. We love spending time with each and eveyone. We also were excited that we were able to go on a mini trip up to Glacier and see the beauty up there. We LOVE that place, and are so excited when we have a chance to go up there.

Baptism

I always thought it was cool that Kenny was baptized on his birthday. So months ago when we were getting ready for the little miss to be baptized, we worked it out for her to be baptized on her actual birthday. It was a neat experience:)

 We started out the day opening presents. Then we went to the farmer's market (where she had to get a drink and sit in the shade because it was too hot). We then got dressed and ready for the event. We went to the church house and discovered the men's toilet to be overflowing. (YUCK!) This delayed the program by 15 minutes, but in the end, it was just fine. It was such a sweet program, with Aunt Sari playing the piano, Grandma Lyons leading the music, and saying a prayer, and Grandma Lexie giving a great talk. We also had the Grandpas as witnesses when she was baptized, and also confirmed, along wtih Uncle Travis. It was a spiritual program, and I loved seeing how happy she was to be baptized. I was greatful that Kenny was worthy to baptize her as well.

After our princess was baptized, her and I were in the bathroom getting her dressed. A little girl was there to see her cousin be baptized, but had to use the potty real quick. She came up to our little miss and hugged her for a good minute. She wouldn't let go. After the program, her mom told me that this little girl thought my daughter was an angel. All through the program she kept saying she wanted to go sit by the angel and would point towards our little miss' direction. I thought it was so sweet.  I truly feel this little girl could feel the spirit and also little miss' sweet spirit and her purity at that moment.

After the baptism, we went to favorite local restaurant. We've always been seated quickly, but when you have a group of 13, and are there on a Sat night at prime time for dinner, you are required to wait an hour. But the food was delicious and worth the wait. We headed home for some ice cream sundaes and hanging out on the porch with the beautiful montana summer evening. It was a good day!

Flowers

A few months ago my little man found a random seed, and asked if he could plant it in the dirt. I said sure, what was the harm in that. Well he planted it near a bush that shortly after started to bloom. So he thought it was his bush. I chuckled and went along with it. Then he noticed that on the other side of our sidewalk, the same sort of plant was sprouting. He got so excited. He thought his seed was blooming on one side, and had carried it's roots under the sidewalk and was now blooming out the other side. I thought this was so cute that he believed that. Well that bush started blooming last week and it's a beautiful peony busy.

On Friday, my friend needed help decorating for our ward party/fundraiser. So I thought I would cut a few flowers off the bush (since they are so heavy and leaning towards the ground anyways). Well I brought them through the house and my little man FLIPPED OUT!!!! I had no idea why, and finally after 15 minutes we were able to sort out the problem. He felt that it was his bush, and had not given me permission to cut the flowers. I felt bad, but also told him that we needed to share the beauty of them with others. He finally agreed because I promised to collect all the flowers at the end of the party and bring them back home. He then asked me, "but how will you get them back onto the bush?" ..... good question!

I wanted to share this story so I wouldn't forget his sweet personality. I love that he is so sensitive (although it drives me crazy at times too), but he is a sweet boy, and I appreciate that about him. I also thought it was cute how innocent he is.

8th Birthday party

I'm going to be working backwards to get updated, so keep scrolling down just to make sure you don't miss anything :)
The Little Miss had her 8th birthday party last night. We figured since she's a summer birthday, we would try to squeeze it in before school got out. She invited lots of girls, so we planned to do it outside. But the weather wasn't looking to promising. Luckily, we were blessed and got the ONLY nice day this week. So we were able to host outside. Towards the end of the party I thought it might sprinkle on us, but it didn't.

She had a horse themed party, and we did a craft, played games, ate hot dogs, cake and ice cream, and had a pinata. It was a huge success.

*** I'm so excited because Kenny got an iphone and has been able to take so many pictures with it. It's nice not having to lug around my camera everywhere, AND not have the responsibilty of all the pictures :)

Eating some yummy food

 The pinata that would NOT break

The yummy cake

the group shot... how cute are they? 

School Happenings

End of the school year brings lots of fun times. Little Miss had a Star Presentation to give at school, which basically was standing in front of the class for 15 minutes talking about any subject she chose. Well she decided to demonstrate how to make Oreo Truffles and of course it was a success, because those things are amazing and everyone loves them. She made lots at home last night before her presentation so we could practice, and then she was able to serve one out to each of her classmates.

Also today she had a 3 mile run to participate in. She did a great job!!!