An Old Fashioned Sunday!

Sunday we had a horrible storm come through that blew ice all around and knocked out our power. With no heat, water, or electricity, we started a fire downstairs and stayed there huddled around the fire. It was the most enjoyable Sunday I have had in a long time. We played Rummikub and Farkel. My two most favorite games, and read and played. It was so fun to have nothing else to do, and no where else in the house you could go. The kids and Ryan had to stay right there in the family room. The only draw back was no flushing toilets, no water to wash sticky hands, no electricity to cook a meal, no bread that was thawed out and no way to quickly unthaw it. Put who needs those things right... We did eventually get get a little bored obviously since the boys felt a need to run outside in their underwear... I honestly don't know where they come from, it's not like I have done any streaking in my lifetime...:) Mara felt a need to be like them (is that a shocker...no!) and proceede to take off her shirt. I did draw the line there. I made her keep on her undershirt I think she was wondering what was so cool about it since she was freezing and the rocks and ice hurt her feet...DUHHH! Check out Noah mid-air!
They came back inside and we scrounged up a few hotdogs and buns and a package of marshmellows and had ourselves a regular indoor weeinie roast.

There were only four hotdog buns and five hotdogs left, so we felt a little like the "loaves and fishes" story. Somehow we all ate and snacked on apples.

I decided all Sundays should be like that. My kids trapped in the same room with me for five hours, forced to play games and make each other laugh.

Date with Max

We happened to have three births in a 24 hour period, and I was quite busy at the birth center. On Saturday I had to go 1 1/2 hours away for a postpartum check. It happened to be the day that this family I had to see was doing their cattle branding. I invited Max to go with me! He was thrilled. He got up the first time I asked him to and got all ready without one complaint... that is not common for him in case you didn't know, he often sleeps until 9:00 am. He got all decked out in his "cowboy Max" costume complete with rope and hat and never complained once about the long drive. We rode up with "cowboy Steve" though, so they had much to discuss about cattle and horses and ropes. He got the see the ranchers get those small little cattle and brand them, vaccinate them and de-horn them while "cowboy Steve's" wife and I checked on the new human mom and baby. On the way home we stopped in Fort Benton and saw the "ol shep" statute and got candy at the pharmacy that was on the River front street. Fort Benton used to be the last stop for the railroad and the steamboat. It is really a cute town. There is a book "Cold Train Coming" that takes place here. Essentially a dog's owner dies, but the dog still waited at the train station for him to come back. There is a statue of the dog there, and people always put flowers on it. I really want to read the more kiddie versions of the book to my kids and take them there this summer. Max was so cute and we had such a good time just him and me together. Caleb has been nagging about when it's his turn again. I just took him to get flip-flops at Old Navy, I love spending time with them one on one, and it is quite obvious that they like the extra "special" time as well.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Everyone was actually wearing green , so we had to pose! We had a great St. Patrick's day! Noah set a trap for a leprechan and you know they are sneaky and see through every trap. I tried to warn Noah not to do it, but he insisted that the gold pieces he put in his treasure chest would lure any leprechan and the latch would fall on him and catch him for sure. Well, It didn't work, it just infuriated the leprechan and he trashed our living room. The great thing was that a lot of his gold fell out of his pockets in the process of messing up our house. The kids had a great time collecting all the quarters he left behind. We had our traditional green eggs for breakfast and fried cabbage and potatoes for dinner with green pistachio pudding. But this year we didn't have the corned beef.

Ryan is a bit of a party pooper and when the boys questioned why he wasn't wearing green, his reply...I am not Irish. I am Greek. Noah's comment: "I am European (your a peein) very funny ha ha! We hope you had a great St. Patrick's Day!

You live and learn!

I sent the boys out to the barn after school, to let the goats out to graze.They all came out and I noticed that our little chocolate one (Mocha), who is not supposed to have babies until April sometime, looked like she might have her babies sooner. I noticed that her legs were wet and wondered what she had gotten into. When Ryan got home I told him to get prepared to stay up all night again cause we would most likely have baby goats that night. I had a stake meeting to go to so I left and didn't get home until 9:30 pm. I noticed a light on in the barn and figured I'd missed out on the whole afair. I quickly changed and got out there only to find out that she'd had her babies (two black, one boy, one girl) sometime in the afternoon before the boys let the goats out to graze. What kind of midwife am I??? It never occured to me that the wetness on her legs could have been because she already delivered. Then the drama came, because she had been seperated and because she is teen goat mom, she wasn't letting them nurse. We had to have serious talks. Can you just see me trying to convince a goat to let her babies eat? Yeah! I had quite the chuckle at myself. But the heart to heart worked, and Mocha finally bonded with her babes and is a great little mama! That brings our baby count up to 5 and our goat total up to 13. Yeah whoever thought rabbits multiplied greatly, must not have had goats! We have one more who should have her babies anytime and she looks like a miserable huge mom. I must say I love the goats, and baby goats are so great, the kids have a hay day with them. Even little Emma!

Blustery March Days!

My mom bought Sam and Noah kites and the weather was perfect for flying them! They struggled and learned that too much wind is just as bad as not enough wind. They finally got them going though and had a great time chasing after them.

Did you ever think...?

Just wondering if you ever though you'd see Ryan checking the elasticator

(or detesticulator) on a baby goat?

I think it's so funny, but then my sense of humor is slightly warped.

Emma goes to the Capital

On Friday there was a bill being introduced to the senate regarding the licensing of Birth Centers in Montana. If it passes, then insurance companies will pay for their clients to deliver at a birth centers. I had to prepare a three minute testimony and deliver it to the senate committee. Wow! I had to take Emma with me to soften the senate. I think it worked! Half way through my speach I realized that no one was paying attention to me, just Emma. They were oohing and aahhing. Elaine had to take Emma so they would listen to what I needed to say. We haven't heard if they voted or not, there were so many people there in support, I hope it will.