Noah {Big 12}

HAPPY bIRtHDaY to my goof ball! I love this kid! He makes me laugh and he is so tender hearted even though he tries to hide it with a rough exterior. I will never forget walking into the room one day when he was about 4 and seeing him cry at a movie he was watching. I will never forget how tender hearted he was when the baby goat died, I know under that prickly pear there is heart, and a big one at that.

Noah got to go to scout camp this year, and when he got home he bore his testimony about how amazing it was and how he felt the spirit when they retired the American flag. His few words were packed with emotion and I was impressed. He has great love for this country of ours, and it makes me happy. I love his little quirky personality, and even though he can be as stubborn as all get out, and he makes his brothers crazy most days, it is all how he shows love. Love him much! So happy Birthday to the best 12 year old on this planet! Best gift...the blue banana chair!

He really wanted a hedgehog, and believe me I looked all over the state, but the pet store was out until next month. He still really wants one! because I need another animal on this farm like I need another hole in my head. Go figure!

Make a wish
This was seriously the best tasting cake that I have ever had! Nothing healthy about it at all :(, but so so good.
I used chocolate mousse for the frosting and added sour cream and a pudding mix to the devil's food cake mix. Yeah! pretty sure it was sinful!

{2011} First Day of School!

Alpine Slide Arkoudas Style

Those tires have always been here since we moved. They can't be taken to the dump, so they have just been used in a mulitude of ways...this is my favorite by far.

The slide is used with skateboards, rollerblades...

bikes, and with a hose for a water slide.

The Zuccini That Got Away

Note: No babies were harmed in the making of this post!

When trying to figure out how to show scale...just how big this zuccini got before I found it, I couldn't think what would appropriately show it until Annalee squawked! Perfect. The zuccini is bigger than the baby!

What to do with it? Well Stuffed Zuccini for dinner of course! Delicious!

One Last Hurrah on the Missouri River

The view from our friends house, overlooking the Missouri River.

The walk down to the river...about 3/4 of a mile. Watch for Rattlers!

A little alcove where there is really not a current. The kids all 20 of them played, caught crawfish...

found cool rocks...

and Frogs that filled the measure of their creation by being a little girls pet for the day. Thank you little froggy for being the source of joy and excitement for little Emma for the day.

The biggest mud fight ever...the kids were covered and loved every second of it. This is what little boys were made to do...I am pretty sure!

Dry Wolf Creek

Do you see my new birthday present in the background? No more tents that require trees to hold it up. Happy Birthday to Ryan and Me!

Such a poser! Anytime she sees the camera, she has to vogue!

Avalance Lake {Glacier National Park}

At the top of Trail of the Cedars is a 2 mile hike to Avalance Lake. It climbs 500 feet in elevation. That was our destination. Getting all 12 of us up there is the story... It was such a beautiful hike through tall, georgous trees. It started out next to a river of the bluest water you have ever seen. But it just kept going forever. We had no way of knowing how far we had come, or how much further we had to go. We almost turned around twice, but kept trudging, dragging, pulling and carrying Porter, Max, Emma and Annalee up the mountain. The only reward was that we would get to put our feet in a clear mountain lake. Emma slept in the back pack on Matt's back the whole way. Annalee slept in the sling the whole way. Max and Porter held Grandma's had for energy, but they were weary....when we saw this sign, we were so glad...

Some of us really had to go!

This was our reward!

five waterfalls and the bluest water ever!

The boys wasted no time ripping off their shoes and wadding in.

Max and Porter

Matt swinging Emma

We all made it and were so glad we did.

The walk back down went so fast, and was so much easier

Noah and Sam

So glad for Grandmas and Uncles and family and beautiful nature hikes.

The boys had to climb this rock, and Mara had to try as well.

I am pretty sure the camera caught the guardian angel above Matthew's head that was protecting them all!

On the way out, we saw 7 big horn sheep at Logan Pass.

they are amazing!

Pit Stop!

We stopped to get dinner after Glacier, and Matt had Caleb, Max and Porter. I am not sure of the exact conversation that was had, but it ended with Matt telling the boys they could get whatever they wanted. Check out the HUGE drink and the eternal grin on Caleb! Glad I wasn't in that car, three little boys with HUGE drinks and a hour and an half drive ahead!

Sam opted for the medium cone...is there anything medium about that icecream cone?

Oh NO, You Didn't! {Annalee}

I jumped in the shower and left Annalee naked on the bed so that someone could hand her to me once I was all washed.

Caleb picked her up to play with her and set her on his tummy.

She did! She pooped on him.

He was totally disgusted. He kept saying "how can you just sit there and look all cute and innocent when you just did that to me!"

Sam came to his rescue and handed her to me to be cleaned off.

Caleb got to the bathroom to clean up and started dry heaving.What was I doing the whole time?

Giggling of course!

Snaggle Tooth {Max}

It is just hanging by a thread! It looks like he has a pointed tooth... luckily it came out just after this picture. Now he has no front teeth!