a good day

This morning was beautiful out, so the boys and I took advantage. They got bubbles and sidewalk chalk from Raigan's b-day party yesterday.

Elliott tried really hard, but I think he may have eaten some.

Ethan tried to see just how many he could get at one time. He's pretty long winded (in more ways than one), so he was doing pretty good.

Elliott really wanted just one bubble to come out.

After a while, Jason came outside, and I cleaned up inside. The boys and him colored all over the sidewalk. It looks great. At nap time, I met up with Erica, Jaymee, and Laura at the bead store. They all made themselves a necklace, and I made a bracelet that I've been wanting to make. We had a great time talking, gossiping, laughing, eating, and beading. It's so fun to see what they came up with. I will post those pics later.

After we ate dinner, we went and walked around the store for a while, then came home. Ethan and Jason are now making cookies (Jason's cookies are the best) and Elliott is in bed. A really great ending to the weekend. I can smell the cookies. Yum!

Back in the Saddle again!

After years of not riding (it's probably been at least 4 years) I convinced myself to get my lazy butt off the couch, brush the dust of my mountain bike, and hit the trails. I headed to the spoke shop here in Billings, MT, for a map of the local trails, then headed to the Zimmerman trail park. It was so much fun. I almost forgot how much MORE fun it is to ride on trails instead of in town. It's a completely different experience. I'm hooked all over again.

This wasn't exactly the first sign i wanted to see on my first trip out with my bike. I hate snakes, and I for sure didn't want to run into one out on the trail.

I can't wait to hit the trails again. It feels great to hit the trails and the view from the rims was not that shabby either

hockey, spray park and a baby

Tuesday night was drop-in hockey, and Ethan couldn't wait to go. Lucky for us, he has grown, but since he was so small to begin with, his gear is actually starting to fit. He might actually outgrow something besides skates by the end of the season.  :)

It's so warm outside, the inside the rink feels great. Elliott had fun watching Ethan skate, but he really wanted to get out there too.

Considering I didn't get around to (I forgot) sharpening Ethan's skates, and he was pretty much skating on spoons, he did well. Not near as much falling as I was expecting, and he had a great time. He even worked so hard, the stench was right back in all of his gear when he was done, and I felt like a total rookie when I stuck my hand inside his helmet that was dripping with sweat. Ewww.

Yesterday morning, Erica invited us to join her and her friend at the spray park. It was the perfect day for it. Not too hot, and the kids had a blast.

At first Carson was not impressed, but Ethan and Elliott jumped right in. Elliott wasn't actually spraying Carson here, but Carson thought so. :)

I love how the water looks in this picture.

Ethan tried to help Elliott get wet, but he had bad aim.

Then Elliott got brave and tried it himself. It worked.

Carson thought that digging in the mud was much more fun.

Ethan loved this thing, and his aim got really good.

At the end, Carson was ok playing with the water as long as it wasn't spraying right on him, and Ethan and Elliott had a friendly battle with the water guns.

The water park was exhausting, and both boys were very easy to put down for a rest. Even I got a little nap in. :)

After dinner, I went to see Freedom and Maddox. It was his feeding time, so we got to hold him while they filled his belly. He is off of oxygen and breathing on his own. He is on a feeding tube until he learns to suck a bottle better, but he had his first try at that yesterday afternoon and did great. He is getting stronger everyday. It was so great to see him and hold him. He opened his eyes for us, so I hurried and got a picture, and so did Freedom.

Clearly we were boring him.

And after his belly was full, he zonked out. Freedom wrapped him back up, and we said goodnight.

Hockey again tonight. Guess I better get in gear so I have time to get skates sharpened today.

relaxed, then crazy, then relaxed

Saturday started out pretty relaxed. The boys and I went to the sports store and Ethan got geared up for soccer season. This will be his first, and he can hardly wait. Elliott was certain that Ethan bought the soccer ball for him though. He carried it out of the store, and held onto it all the way home, then cried when he had to share with Ethan. You would think he's an only child! But, they had a blast playing in the backyard with it.

Ethan already thinks he is pro, and impressed me with some dribbling and passing.

Later, I got news that my cousin Jaryn and his girlfriend, Freedom, were getting ready to have their baby. Erica and Andrew said the boys could come over and hang out with them so that I could go to the hospital. Thanks guys! Jaryn and I played Farkle while we waited, and Freedom rested.

After a few hours of waiting and no progression, I went to pick up the kids. Jason was coming home soon, and if they needed me, he could stay with the kids. Good thing he wasn't late. I got a text from Jaryn that said to "get there" just as Jason was parking in the driveway. Whew! So I hurried down to the hospital. He gave them a little scare and Freedom ended up with a c-section (poor girl). He is early, so he's in the NICU, but breathing on his own and doing awesome!

Welcome to the world, Maddox Quade!

I got to go with Jaryn to meet him. Freedom was still trying to wear off her numbing medicine. He is the most precious 4lbs I have ever seen.

And after he wasn't scared anymore, Jaryn was the proudest Daddy!

Today was a lot more laid back. Thank goodness. Jason was off, so we hung around the house, then we grilled dinner. This was our first time using our new grill, and MAN, was it good! Jason can definitely hold his own with a grill.

YUM! Corn-on-the-cob, steaks with grilled peppers, onions, and mushrooms, and hotdogs for the kids.

And then came my favorite part of today. Elliott and his stick horse. Ethan taught him how to gallop. It's the cutest thing!

All in all, a great weekend.

can't get enough!

I just love this kid and his hair! Jason thought we should spike it all the way down the back today, so we did. Love it!

monday.

Today Grandma Mac and Aunt Mert headed back to Texas. Before they left, we all (except Jason) slept in, then Aunt Mert took the boys on a walk and we went to breakfast. After we got back home, we took a couple pictures of the kids with Grandma Mac and Aunt Mert. They aren't award winning, but they are important. We don't get to see Aunt Mert very often.

When Granddad passed away, I realized how important it is for me to take pictures of the kids with people. I had the very last picture of Granddad. It was him with both boys only days after Elliott was born. So now I take pictures of them with everyone. You never know if it might be the last time we see them, and I want the boys to know they were loved by a lot of people. And they definitely love their Grandma Mac.

Tonight we re-did Ethan's hair. The pink was fading fast, but not quite fast enough, so it looked like I was a slacker. I love that he is patient enough for me to do all the proper steps and make the color look awesome! We had to bleach it out, then he wanted to use blue and green. He even sits still for me to blow dry heat onto it so it will be brighter. I think it's so ridiculous that the school won't allow "unnatural" colored hair, but it gives us a reason to go all out in the summer.  :)

It's way brighter than this, so I will have to get some pictures of it outside tomorrow.

Ethan's friend, Cael, couldn't wait for Ethan to get back from Arizona, but when he did, Cael was on a vacation of his own for 2 weeks! Yesterday, Cael got back, and they have been inseparable since. They stand on the corner and wait for the other to come outside so they can ask to play together. They always have so much fun, and today they talked us into Cael staying the night on Friday. They can hardly wait.

Have a great week.

cute pics

Nothing exciting going on at all today, but I have these pictures I couldn't resist sharing.

First, Ethan washing the windows on the suburban. What a big helper.

Then this morning, after a big french toast breakfast, the boys cuddled up on the couch with their daddy. They just couldn't get close enough.