Summer Lovin'!

It really isn't summer yet, but I am itching for it.
I think. I worked all day yesterday, and have a feeling that in order to get this place looking half-way decent, I am going to have to do that all summer long! As you can see even the grass needs lots of work. I have to say that putting in a yard at a new house is easier, because you don't have to tear down before you rebuild.

It was such a beautiful day here yesterday. In the morning it was slightly breezy, but warm and perfect for gardening. I was out all day, it was wonderful. The kids loved it too! Max and Mara wanted lunch outside, so we had a picnic. These pictures are my attempt at getting the dog and two kids to hold still for a picture. It was quite hillarious. Miya knocked over Mara and she was distraught. At this time she was also ready for a nap.

What a perfect moment! I had to speak in church on sunday and I talked about finding those perfect moments of motherhood and holding on to them for those times when you don't feel like you like being a mom or when your kids are stressing you out. This was definately one of those days. A day that I was truly and completely happy about being a mom of six.

Utah Trip!

April 25, 2008

Friday morning I left for Utah with Max and Mara and Emma. The older boys stayed home with Ryan to go to school. The younger kids were so good on the way down! The only struggle was having to stop for gas. The first time that I stopped was in Butte. What a fiasco. I got gas and took the kids to the bathroom, feed Emma and changed her from head to toe because she had pooped all over, got all the kids back into their car seats, and then Mara informed me that she had to go to the bathroom again. I had to undo everyone and go back into the store again, and put everyone back into their carseats again. Oh, how I wished I'd had a older kid with me! That stop took 45 minutes! The whole way down, Max was so excited to see his "best friend" Hayden! I was so glad that he got a chance to play with him. He is still talkimg about it. He has even named the knight that he jousts with "Doug"(that's Hayden's dad's name) When I went to pick him up, he told me that he was not foing back to Montana, he was staying to be Katie's boy. He told me he would obey Katie because she was nice. I was totally offended! I am nice. He said yeah, your nice, but your mean when I disobey! What a concept! Oh the minds of little boys!


Mara got to play with her cousin Hattie and we had a great time watching little girls play !

Emma got to meet her cousins! This is Camilla, the oldest grandchild on the Maughan's side, holding Emma, the newest grandchild my parents now have 19 grandchildren. 12 boys and 7 girls! Finally the girls are coming! We had such a great time!

Ryan, Sam, Noah and Caleb all came down on friday May 2, and I was so grateful to be able to drive home with someone. The drive is not bad at all when you have someone to talk too. We were so glad to go home and see family and friends, but we both decided that we love Montana and the space that there are not so many people. We love how beautiful the skies are and have decided that you all need to move up here, and then it would be perfect!

Rees' Ranch in Morgan

We had such a great time riding 4-wheelers at the ranch.Caleb and Max even had battery operated tractors and 4-wheelers to drive all by themselves. The girls all piled into the "John Deere" for a ride in the country. There is Sophie, Hallie and Mara. They had such a great time they rode the toys for hours until the batteries all died.

The pond at the ranch....what is it with boys and water? Sam and Curtis in the boat and Colin and Noah on the rock.

We spent all day saturday at the ranch. We saw the cows and chased some calves. We also got to see Miya's(our dog) mom and sister. The boys thought that was neat, and they got to shoot a "real" shot gun they loved it. We were so glad that we were invited and that it happened to be the weekend that we were down.

Black Eye Blues

Poor Mara got her first black eye!

Last Friday we went to gymnastics and Mara went down the slide, and a big kid didn't wait for her to get out of the way, and came down head first and cracked her nose with his skull. I heard her cry(really it was a scream of bloody murder) and went over, it didn't look that bad at first, but on the car ride home I looked in the rear view mirror, and saw a huge buldge on the side of her nose. I was so afraid that it was broken. She kept saying "Nose hurts bad mommy."

I felt so bad for her.Even when she woke up for her nap she said "Nose hurts bad!" The thing that was really funny is that at dinner last night, almost a week after the accident,when we were all saying what our "Highs" and "lows" were, she said "Nose hurt slide" for her low. she usually just says "High" when we ask her what her high is and nothing when we ask her low. I guess she is still thinking about it.

April 1, 2008Easter was so fun, the kids had great time coloring eggs. Saturday was really cold, and I didn't want to take Emma out in it forthe egg hunt, so Ryan stayed home with Emma, and Sam and Noah didn't want to go either, so I took Caleb and Max and Mara to the KOA for the egg hunt ( I know, only in Montana would there be and egg hunt at the local KOA) It was actually really fun and very well organized to a point.

The kids got to make a bag to put their eggs in and then run race with their age group (Mara was the winner in her age group-it was quite hilarious- She won a stuffed animal) Then they got to hunt for eggs.
 

There were tons of eggs, They split the group in half and led us around to the other side, but let the other group in first, so we didn't get very many eggs, in fact Caleb didn't get any, and Mara only got one. Max found four, but Caleb was so upset. He was the one most excited for the hunt. I felt so bad for him. There were all these kids with bags chuck full and all these other kids who found none. I told Caleb to remember how he felt and if he was ever the one with lots, to share.

We saw the easter bunny, and I wanted to take their picture so I made the kids go and stand by him, but they were a little timid. I did get the picture, but after Mara made me hold her and she was just squeezingme tight and wouldn't let go. When I asked her what the matter was she said 'Bunny eat me!' When Ryan saw the picture of the Easterbunny he said 'I'd be afraid that it would eat me too!'

Last week was Spring Break for all the kids, the whole week long, and we had so much fun. The highlight for the boys was going skiing one last time. Sam got sick the first run down, so they gave him goggles thinking it was the glare of the sun making him nauseated, but at the end of the third run he threw up. Sick!! He spent the rest of the time in the lodge waiting for everyone else to finish skiing.

My parents and Ryan's sister Jamie and her two girls came up on Thursday. We got to pick them up at the airport. Mara and Max had such a great time playing with Sophie and Hallie. I was so glad that they were here. It was so nice to have family around again'we miss them all so much. On Friday, Sam and Noah were of course elated to have Greyson and Addy and Coulsen come and play with them, and Max wouldn't leave Coulsen alone he was so glad to see him. Mara is still saying 'Where 'Chele' go? We are so sad that everyone had to go home. We got to meet Meredith's fiance Garret, and Max said 'mom he's going to be a fun uncle.' we are excited for them and their upcoming wedding. (It also means we will get to see family again soon.) Ryan's parents drove up on Saturday with his grandparentsand sister Tami and her family. It was so fun to have a house full!
 

We had so much fun visiting and letting the kids play and EATING!!!Ryan did such a great job on Emma's blessing. she looked beautiful, of course. After everyone left, Ryan and I were wondering how we ever left such great family. It's a good thing we get to see them often, there is just a sense of belonging that comes from being around family. Especially when you love that family so much. I think the greatest thing about us moving away is that we realize just how much we love our family. There is no way to take them for granted when the times you see them are so few and far between.
 

Yesterday I had my Newborn Ressusitation class. It was so cool. I learned so much. I love learning new things, and this totally satified my hunger to learn more (for a day or two) What a great new adventure this will be. Hope you all have a great spring and I hope warm weather comes soon. I can't wait to get outside and get a tan!!!!! 

Conference Weekend Surprise!

I had the best surprise Conference weekend when the Bouck's showed up. It was so good to have them. The kids instantly started playing together as if there had never been a seperation. We had such a good time. We went to Ryan Dam on Sunday for a picnic lunch, only to discover that it doesn't open until Mother's Day. We had quite a fine time eating our lunch on the dirt next to the trail that lead to the swinging bridge to Ryan Dam Island. The highlight of their stay was definitly getting to see the septic tank sucker-outer truck come and clean out all the poop that was in our septic tank. I don't think we will ever forget the smell, or the plumber crack that was sported by the guy that came.

We had a hot dog roast in our firepit Monday night. It was really fun. We were all standing around with our hotdogs in the fire, there was no wind at all(that is really unusual) then all of a sudden Lucy got blown over and Caleb's hat went flying up in the air and ashes spewed all over our hotdogs. It was so wierd. Ryan saw the twister come right through the middle of us, and then as suddenly as it started it was over, and there was no more wind. After eating out hotdogs(with Jalapenos on them--Yummy!) the kids roasted marshmellows and made s'mores. It was the perfect evening.

Lucy and Mara were instantly friends, and it was so cute to see them play with the dress-up shoes and dolls. Mara so needed to have a girl to play with, Lucy taught her how to play with the girl toys that she has. They were so adorable together. Mara still asks for Lucy. It is so nice to know that distance cannot stop friendship!

We are officially Montanans

I am so proud of Sam and Noah! They made it a full year without candy and desserts! They had a few struggles, and it was really hard at times, but they set a goal and accomplished it. The $100 incentive was often times all that kept them going, but they did it. They decided to buy airsoft guns with their money. I was totally against it for the longest time, but after much convincing, I finally conceded. They have had the greatest time with them. Last night they found a bunch of aluminum cans in the ditch behind our fence, and set them up for target practice. They had a ball! Ryan was out there with them, and he had as much fun as they did. The weather was perfect last night, and we stayed out until 8:oo. We were out walking in the fields and It felt like I was on vacation somewhere in the mountains. I loved it. It was so peaceful and the kids were playing so well. It was a moment of bliss. It was very needed after the stressful day that Ryan and I both had.

Swimming Scouts!

Last night Noah's activity for scouts was swimming at the La Quinta Inn in Great Falls. They needed parents to stay, so I took Caleb and Max and headed off to the hotel. Ryan had stuff to do in the clerks office at the church, and Sam had scouts at the church, so Ryan took Sam and Mara and Emma and headed to the church. It was quite fun, We each got to spend some three on one time with kids we usually don't have. The boys loved swimming! The cub scout leader was quite worried about Max and Caleb. I was totally watching them, but she kept saying "How long do you let them stay under before you go in after them?" I didn't know what she was talking about at first, but then I realized they were having contests to see who could stay under longer and she was worried they were drowning. What was funny is that I am so used to them doing it in the bathtub that I hadn't even noticed that there was cause for alarm. Max loved the hot tub, and I had to keep sending him to the "cold pool" because his cheeks were bright red. Noah is quite the swimmer, and earned his swimming belt loop.

Max quotes "Nacho Libre" all the time, and he and Caleb were posing at Eskeleto and Nacho in the picture above. Caleb told Max "we always lose because you only believe in science." to which Max replied "we always lose because you are fat." I got quite the chuckle out of that!

Oh, Deer!

Okay so you all know my feelings about meat. Not the biggest fan to say the least! So it was a great surprise to me last night when there was a knock at our garage door and a guy from Ryan's work standing there with a whole deer that he had processed just for us. UGHHHH! what will I do with it. Ryan conviently forgot to tell me he was coming with it. So tonight I am going to Chili's for a girls night out with the relief society, and Sam wanted sheep herder casserole. I usually make it without the meat(I know wierd) but since I was not going to eat it, Ryan told me to make it with the ground deer. Honestly, even knowing that it would not touch my lips, I gagged the entire time I was cooking it. I don't know why it is worse than cow, it's a mental thing I know, but I was so grossed out! I scoured the pan and the spatula that I used to cook it and then disinfected the sink where I washed the pan. My stomach was churning the whole time. It better not spoil my dinner at chili's. I know we live in Montana, and hunting is the only past time for 90% of the population, but I will never get used to it. A guy we know up here that is an avid hunter has already told me I am un-American, and un- Montanan, and I shouldn't take up space here because I don't eat wild game. I guess I will never fit in. I actually hope I don't ever fit in, if that is a requirement to fit in. Disgusting!!!
The older boys ate it all just fine, they even said it was good, but in the middle of the night, Caleb came into my room saying he had a headache, and then he went into the kitchen for a drink of water and came back with a barf bucket. I told him if he needed to throw up he'd better run for the toilet. He did, he ran and just made it before he lurched. All I can say is that if i ever had thought about trying deer meat before, all possibility left when I saw and smelt Caleb's barf.

Wal-Mart Embarrassment

I know that you are all thinking, how can anyone get embarrassed at Wal-mart? After all, it is the hub of wierdos and PWT. Well, I've managed to do it...again. I guess knowing me, you won't be surprised though. Yesterday, I went there to go grocery shopping (I live in Great Falls, there honestly is no where else to go.) When I got there, I let Mara out of her carseat, and then realized that if I didn't want a crying baby all through the store, then I'd better feed Emma before I went in. I shut the van door and went around to the other side to get in because I can't crawl over Emma's car seat. When I got to the other side I realized that I had just locked all the kids in the car. I started tapping on the window to get Mara to come over and unlock the door for me. She thought I was playing a game and started tapping on the window where I was tapping and laughing. I went to the other side to tell Max to try to get out of his carseat. I alternatly was going back and forth between Mara and Max to try to convince them to let me in. I figured that eventually one of them would be able to help me out. Much to my mortification though, the guy who brings in the cart saw me and came over. The most embarassing thing though, was that he was the same guy who just a month ago had to help me jump the car because the battery was dead. I am sure he was thinking what a dumb helpless lady. I hate that. I am very independent and not dumb (even though my actions prove otherwise.) Mara eventually got what I was saying and managed to unlock the door instead of just tap at the window. What's even worse is that when I got home and relayed the story to Ryan he said 'Why didn't you just use the key that is in the magnetic box under the car. I AM AN IDIOT!! I completely forgot about the key. I was so sure that Mara or Max would help me out, and If the cart guy wouldn't have come over, I wouldn't even think twice about it, but I felt like and Idiot. Please tell me that other people do these kinds of things and I am not just loosing my mind.

We had the best surprise last weekend. Kevin and Joy Bouck came up to watch conference with us. I was in the kitchen on Saturday looking in the fridge for something to feed the kids for lunch when the door opened and Joy came in saying 'we just thought we'd come over for lunch.' I just stared at her, my mind couldn't comprehend how she was there. I had no idea that they were coming, Ryan did, and he kept it a secret. He is quite the secret keeper. We had such a great time! Saturday we let Sam and Noah tend and we went to dinner after the priesthood session. Noah called just as I was pulling into the driveway and said that the toilet downstairs was over flowing. I went inside and there was water all over. In the hallway and into Sam and Noah's room. So Kevin and Ryan cleaned up toilet water and pulled up carpet and started a fan to dry the carpet. On Monday when Ryan went to work (he had to go in because all of his seasonal employees were starting, and he had to be there to train them) Kevin ended up spending the day figuring out what was wrong with the toilet. I am sure that is just what he wanted to do on his vacation. It ended up that the septic tank was full and the line was clogged. $300 later, We have a clean line and and empty septic tank. It was so funny because Kevin was out talking to the septic tank sucker outer guy and Joy and I were watching them from inside and the guy bent over and I have never seen a Plumbers crack as big as that guy had. There is no way he could have been wearing underwear. We laughed so hard! On tuesday when they left, we were so sad. Max wanted to go with them so bad. We couldn't stand to stay in the house, so we went to the library and then to the park just to get out of the house. We are so excited to come home in two weeks. I am going to my mom's to teach a class, and I will bring the three youngest and then the next Friday Ryan is going to come down with the older three and we will leave our van down there to see if we can sell it. I am so excited for Summer! Only a month and a half of school left. I can't wait.