A "no travel" weekend

I could barely believe it myself while typing that title. We are in-between hockey travel and lacrosse travel, even though lacrosse practice is in full swing. 

First, Elliott has a mind of his own, he came home from school one day and said he was starving. I told him to make a pb&j and this is what he came back with. Three pieces of bread. He said "this is a big kid sandwich, two jelly and one peanut butter".

We've lived in Helena for 4 years now, and never been to the science circus that the high school students put on. I don't know why. It's incredible. We could have spent all day there.

My Dad and Mom got us a backyard movie theater. Jason spent the day setting up the screen. We just need it to be a smidgen warmer when the sun goes down, and we are having a movie night.

We also had our first backyard fire and s'mores! My absolute favorite summer thing.

Elliott loves it too!

While Jason and I put the fire out and picked up everything outside, the boys were inside drawing this masterpiece. It's a drawing of all of us that night, around the fire. They melt my heart.

We are definitely loving our weekends off, but I can't wait for lacrosse games to start.

my favorite part of the week

I was asked by Elliott's teacher to come and speak to the kindergarteners during career week. Elliott and I made her a keychain for Valentine's day, and she thought it would be fun to share a "non-traditional" job with the kids. I was very excited but also a little nervous. What would I even tell them?! 

Well, I demonstrated making a metal cuff, which they loved, and showed them my tools. I told them how much I love designing special pieces for each person and how perfect it is to have a job where you can do what you love. 

I was so impressed with their thoughtful questions, and the cutest thing was when a kid asked for my autograph. HAHA. 

After I was done, Elliott's teacher gave me this giant "thank you" card. I couldn't wait to hang it in my office, above my desk.

It's signed by all of the 130 kindergarteners! 

This was the very best part of my week.

Our last hockey weekend of the season

Hey, look at me go! Here's my update from the weekend. 

Jason stayed home to ref some hockey games and keep the dogs, and the boys (plus one) headed to Missoula for a weekend of hockey. For whatever reason, the boys get along much better when they have a friend around.

Game one, was a win, and a good one! Such a fun way to start the tournament.

Fuddruckers is a favorite of ours, and Elliott is always doing silly stuff. I made him pose for this, but he had been doing it for several minutes before that. I love how he can have fun with anything.

After the next mornings loss, we went back to the hotel for some downtime, Ethan went to hang out with the big kids and Elliott wanted to swim. He had the whole place to himself. It was perfect.

Then there was a St Patrick's Day parade in the afternoon. The boys loaded up on candy, and we had a great time in the fresh spring air.

After another win, some mall shopping and a birthday party, they all hit the pool. Elliott is everyone's little brother.

Sunday morning, our boys played Billings for 3rd place and won. It's always a good ending to go out with a win. 

Such a great group of boys. I love watching them grow as friends and teammates.

Now it's back to reality, and lacrosse practices this week. I'm looking forward to a weekend at home.

Where are we now?

Well, we are still here. Today I was feeling a bit nostalgic, and scrolling through our blog posts. I realized I want to keep up on here. I post on Facebook often, day to day stuff, but I want to come back here in another 5 years, and have memories laid out and documented. So I'm back.

Since I last posted, not much has changed, just a lot of growing.

We are still always doing things as a family. Hockey games are still fun for everyone, and we love our time together. Ethan is now a 5th grader, and Elliott is killing it in Kindergarten. Both boys get great grades and work hard. Ethan is our easy going more quiet and shy 11 year old, and Elliott is still our loud, crazy, silly and funny one at 6 years old. They couldn't be more different, and we wouldn't change either of them for the world.

The hockey season put Elliott playing up one level to be with the Mites, and Ethan is a first year Peewee, and made the A team. We were so excited for both of them. Ethan and Jason both became hockey officials this season and have officiated several games. It's definitely a new way to take in hockey. Ethan is mostly excited about the money.

Ethan had his state tournament in Billings this season. Thanks to Jaymee for the box of fun to take on our travels. Who doesn't love a mustache?

Ethan moved to wing this season and has really stepped up his game. I was quite surprised at the level of play these kids came with this season.

The boys ended up 3rd in the state. This was a fun season, and we are already excited about October. Yes, we are those crazy people.

Elliott's season ended with the annual Parent vs Kid game. This is always the best part of the season.

Kruger and Rose are now over a year and a half old, and huge. They are the best dogs, and we pretty much take them wherever we go. Their favorite time of the day is when they get to walk with me to pick up Elliott from school.

We have just begun our third season of lacrosse in Helena. This crazy idea to start a club, 2 years ago has turned into over 150 kids learning and playing a new team sport. Last year, our high school team took 2nd at state! So many people have come together and we've grown so much. I can't wait to see what this year brings. This kid has no idea what he started, but it's because of him.

Now to keep up to date and fill in some blanks. Whew. This feels good.

grandma came to visit

After only one day at home, I headed out on the long lonely ride to Sheridan to pick up the boys.

I think they liked being with their Grandma and Papa. 

And they learned a lot. ;)  

Before leaving Sheridan, we got to see my nieces, who I haven't seen since they were Elliott's age! 

The ride home was long. My car needed to get to a mechanic in a bad way, and we had to drive 45mph for over 100 miles. Not only that, the car was vibrating the whole way. It was miserable. Thank goodness my mom is so patient.

The next day we started the fun. 

If you know my mom, you know we have to do projects while she's here. Being that it was so close to Halloween, we decided on Halloween decorations.

We hit up the garage sales, and took all the dolls we could find.

When we got home, we dismantled them. 

Then made them creepy. 

You barely recognize that she's Ariel now, huh? 

What we thought would be simple, ended up requiring some hard work and tools. 

Then we started putting our masterpiece together. 

Dora makes a great human centipede. 

After some paint and a crazy hair-do, it was perfection. 

We didn't have Kruger and Rose yet, but we took their Grandma over to meet them. 

They were still cuddlers. 

And the ice rink opened, so she got to watch Ethan skate some too. 

And then, he started school. 4th grade?!?! 

And Jason got to show off his work. I think she liked it. 

Then there were more doll part projects. 

The bottom head was creepy before we did anything. 

Everyone needs a candle holder like this. 

Then we had to take her to her plane. I loved having her here, and miss her like crazy. I can't wait for her and my dad to come visit next year.

weekend away, just 2 of us

My Mom and Dad came to Montana for some family reunions in August. We met them in Billings, and they took the boys for the week, to Sheridan. Jason and I went to a Marriage Enrichment weekend at Big Sky. 

The drive itself was heavenly.

And since we were so close, on Friday, we went for a drive to Yellowstone. 

When we got to our class, there was the sweetest surprise.

We have the best friends. 

Breakfast the next morning, was less than satisfying, but we made the most of it. 

And supplemented our sanity with this. 

After a long day of class, we got to take in the area. 

Then we had another 1/2 day of classes, then decided we wanted to see more of Yellowstone.

Neither of us have been there since we were very young, so it was great to go back.

(we were the "selfie" king and queen at Yellowstone) 

Unfortunately, the park was on fire. A lot of the turnouts were closed, and the smoke was terrible. 

Jason is a terrible "selfie" partner. Haha. 

We did get to see some animals though. 

This view was breathtaking. Mostly because I'm terrified of heights. 

This was the view looking back from the road.  

After a very long day of driving, we made it home. 

We definitely need more weekends like this.

Thanks so much to my parents for making it happen.