{Ryan's 40!}

Ryan's sisters and parents came up to help us celebrate!

We ate at the Cattleman's Cut

Then came home and mysteriously people just started showing up to wish him

Happy 40!

It only took 5 minutes to light all the candles on the cake!

Emma tried to stay awake....

The lunch ladies

Watching Ryan's family perform the song of his life set to the tune of

"jingle bells"

Got a cane and old foogy glasses...sported by Max

Opening his Depends...he may need those!

He blew all the candles out in one breath. Someone said... "I always knew he was full of it."

Had such a great time! Glad we could celebrate his happy 40 years and hoping for 40+ more!

{Happy Birthday To Me!}

I'm pretty sure this was one of my favorite birthdays! Who knew 33 could be so good? I was woken up at 12:38am on my birthday...with a phone call. A baby was coming. Luckily I was able to sleep for a little first. Ryan wished me happy birthday, and at 5:00am I left. I headed out to Lewistown and by 2:15pm the baby was here. When I got home from Lewistown, I walked in the door and there were decorations up and the kids were hiding. They all jumped out and yelled "Surprise!" They were so excited that it was my birthday and their excitement was contagious. We ate chinese food takeout and opened presents.

Ryan made me a strawberry pie and a chocolate pie while I was at the birth. He is amazing! It was the first time he had ever made crust before...he did a pretty good job! I was impressed. Caleb stuck a couple of toothpicks in since there weren't enough candles...I still got them all out with one blow!

Lighting all the candles

Goofing around with the camera

After pie and presents, I was just relishing in all the family home at one time with no where to be. Ryan was reading to Max, Noah was on the couch reading. Sam and the girls were dancing and Caleb and I were playing with the camera. It was a moment I wish I could have frozen in time. All my little ones gathered around and a feeling of peace and contentment...I want so many more of those moments.

Love those kids. Love this family. Love my life.

The good, the bad, and the upsetting! It's all life!

{Noah's Eleventh}

CandY CakE!!!!Heaven for any little boy!
FableHaven from G & G , Cowboy boots from Y& P!

Blowgun from the parents! SWEET!

All the kids love birthdays..no matter whose it is!

Blowing out the candles that he lit himself!

Noah is the greatest kid ever. He is quite the homebody, so he is always around when I need him. Still is the instigator that he has been since he was big enough to toodle around. Still comes up with ideas for trouble that amaze the pros. Still loves reading. Still cracks us up and has the greatest laugh ever! Has recently found a facination for his "washboard abs" and doing pushups and sit ups. He is loving school and the new friends he is making.

Love you Noah, and we are so proud of the great man you are becoming.

{New Puppies!}

Friday night Miya had her second litter of puppies. I stayed in the barn (where she choose to be) with her for the first four. Falling asleep between puppies, and then there was a long lull, so I though (or maybe hoped) she was done with four. I went to bed and in the morning, there were three more.

Seven puppies. 4 brown, 2 black and 1 that is brown and black.

So so fun! They are so, so tiny.

What to do with all the boys gone?

I asked Mara what we would possibly do without all the boys home. Her immediate response without hesitation was..." Let's have a tea party." So the first day of school, after the boys were all deposited at the school, home we came for our tea party. Oh, how much fun we had!
With all the boys home, it was never easy to just have a girly tea party!

WE loved IT!

We will be having lots more of those.

First Day of School 2010-2011

The crew in front of West.

They were so excited to go. I had to be the mom with the camera on the first day of school...It's necessary, I promise!

Caleb in 3rd with Ms. Olsen

Noah in 5th with Mrs. Delgado

Max in 1st with Mrs. Brown

A new desk and not a care, even though it was his first official day at school.

Getting off the bus after a long ride!

I of course could not take Sam to school for the first day, even though I really wanted to.

Ryan and I decided the first day of Jr. High is much worse than the first day of kindergarten...it really makes you feel your age! Yikes. Sam LOVED it though and said he couldn't wait to go back tomorrow.

{Glacier National Park- 2010}

Matt , Porter and Greyson came up so we headed to Glacier National Park!

My favorite adventure since moving here. I can't believe it took me three years to make it here.

It will DEFINATELY have to be a yearly trip!

Beauty pose!

Sunrift Gorge

Noah on the Logan pass, Ridgeline trail.

The narrow trail, with a garden hose for a hand hold!

Logan pass peak in the distance. All the kids were such troopers! They loved the hikes.

What a view!

The water is green because it is straight from a glacier...we should jump!

Trail of the Cedars...so amazing!

How many kids can fit in the tree?
After the trail of the cedars, we stopped by a glacial pool to jump....

Coming up out of the Glacial water! With a smile!

Grey and Caleb took the plunge right away...Sam and Noah contemplated their fate!

going again!

Idecided that if they all could do it...I guess I could too! They didn't have padded bras that stayed wet the whole way home though!

Even Mara and Emma went in!

On the way out!

Mountain goats, crossing the street! and up onto the rocks...perfect picture!