The Reef

Okay, so it's December and we live in Montana where it is snowing. Now, we see God's blessing in all of this snow that we have been getting. Plus, we really like playing out in it. However, it is really nice to escape every now and then. Therefore, we went to a new water park, "The Reef", for a family outting this weekend.

It was great! Words are escaping me now of how excited the girls were. The expression on their precious little faces were priceless. You see, we told the girls we had a surprise for them and it was not revealed to them until we pulled up and parked, as they saw the big hug slides coming out of the building then back in, as you see here.

Here are a few pictures I took of what was inside. There were an assortment of water slides and spray area, a wave pool, hot tub, a play pool with side pool with floaters that you can try to walk across on.

We really tried hard at snapping pictures, but as I look at them now, we really could have done a better job. We are really blessed have been able to endure ourselves in this outting.

White Christmas

So we are in our 7th year living in Montana and it was the first white Christmas. The first ever for Paul and the kids. On Christmas Day we watched some movies that we had gotten, Had pizza for dinner and played with our toys ( OK, mom and dad played with the kids toys!). The day after Christmas we went sledding on our back hill.



There was so much snow we had no problem getting over the cat tails.



12 inches to be exact! Chase was a little to hard to bring back up the hill so he and dad started clearing of the drive way. Wow that is a lot of snow to move!!!!!

Visiting Santa

We went to Red Lodge last night to enjoy their small town Christmas Parade/Celebration. It was so cool. The town shut down their main street and had a little snow plow parade with Santa (Sorry we were ten minutes late and missed the whole thing! LOL! Small town remember! LOL!). The street is then open for all walkers to stroll up and down to shop, plus there was kettle corn, hot coco, carolers, a band, horse carriage rides and several fire pits. The girls were so excited to see Santa. Tana acted a little shy, but was sure to tell him what she wanted for Christmas.

Yes, we were the one of those people that put up their Chirstmas decorations the day after Thanksgiving. We really love doing it. All of the kids enjoyed helping in all of the docorating. Here some pictures of our Christmas decorations.

Christmas Program

Friday, Kailey had a Christmas Choir Program with her school. It was so cute to see all of them perform their songs. They even had jingle bells in their hands as they were singing.

And here is one of the two new members of her class, yes, a class-pet. The names are to be announced. Each student is able to make up two names that will be put into a bag, then out of those names, the teacher will draw a winner for each of the guinea pigs.

Fireplace Completion

YEAH!!! Paul just finished up all of the drywall on Sunday. He did a great job. I am so happy to finally dust! Silly?! The mirror is a (very long) temporary placement for a flat screen. However, we are a long way from that purchase.

Black Friday Nap

So innocently sleeping. Black Friday really wore him out! Just kidding, he did not even go out of the house that day. We did have a fifteen month check up just today and he weighs twenty-four pounds, one ounce (in the 50%), with a length of thirty-one and a quarter inches (in the 60%). His head is eighteen and a half inches round (in the 40%). He does have a fluid in his ears, but there is no infection, so please keep him in your prayers, as this has been a problem in the past. Over all he is doing great and a very happy baby boy!

Thanksgiving Event

Kailey's class put on a Thanksgiving Event on November 25th before the Thanksgiving Break. Her whole class got up in front of all of the parents and third and fourth graders and said a cute Thanksgiving poem:

"Five little turkeys standing by the door

One waddled off and then there were four

Four little turkeys sittin in tree

One waddled off and then there were three

Three little turkeys with nothing to do

One waddled off and then there were two

Two little turkeys sittin in the sun

One waddled off and then there was one

One little turkey better run away

Cause soon it will be Thanksgiving Day!"

It was very cute to see all of the kids up there reciting this poem and they all did very well!

After that we all gathered around and ate a Thanksgiving Lunch together. And story time to end with. It was all very enjoyable!

Pajama Day

It was pajama day at school! (November 7th) Kailey was so excited and even picked out the pajamas she wanted to wear, the night before. They even got to bring a their own pillow and blanket, as you can see her favorite is her Little Mermaid blanket. Kailey also brought her baby that she sleeps with every night.

Awana's Award Night

This is award night at Awana Cubbies November 5th (yes, running a little behind on my blog). Tana received her first set of patches to put on her vest. She was really excited and more so now that they are on her vest.

Kailey is now in Awana Sparks and she is receiving her first earned jewel.

Fire Place Update

Stone work started

Got One!!!!!

Paul went hunting yesterday and got a 150 # 4 by 4 Mule Deer. The day started @ 5am with heavy fog till noon. Fog lifted and by 3 pm paul got his deer. This deer was a moving target and pauls first shot got its rear hoof. Not having a 4th leg to stand on did not slow down this one he ran about a mile and a half. we found him after some leg work and put him down. Thanks to jimmy for showing me some land to hunt on in forsyth, mt.

My Centerpiece

Earlier this week, the girls were outside playing in the leaves. Then they came in to give me a bundle of leaves that they liked. I really love their giving hearts and wanted to show them how much I loved it, so I bundled them all up and stuck it into my napkin holder. Then I added the pumpkins they picked at the Pumpkin Patch, which gave it the right touch for the season. It is now our centerpiece whenever we eat!

Look, no training wheels!

So Kailey got all of her protective gear to ride her bike for her birthday. She really likes riding it up and down our long driveway and racing with Tana. She has been riding her bike without training wheels for a while now, but always wanted mommy or daddy there to help her get on the bike and go. Well, today I lowered her bike seat and the results were great. She still is practicing the "lift off", but no longer requires one of us to be there for her! She is very proud of herself and can not wait till she can ride to one of her friend's house.

It is suppose to be Fall

It was so nice today that if felt like spring. That is Montana weather! We had lots of fun today enjoying every moment of this warm weather, cause I am sure that it won't last.

Harvest Party

Kailey's school had a Harvest Party on Friday. It was a lot of fun. We got to make a Halloween bandanna, decorate our own cookies then eat them, and then decorate a sucker for Halloween to give away to a friend.Chase, being stimulated by all of the fun stuff around him, was keeping me busy by trying to keep up after him.