Camping and Mowing and Swimming

We went camping a couple weeks ago and of course I forgot my camera so we stopped and got a disposable one to accommodate my brainlessness.



We went to Holter Lake, close to Helena. Here are the pictures in no particular order (because I can never seem to get them uploaded in the order I want and it's a pain to move them around after they're on here):

It was a little cool that weekend so the kids stayed in the bottom of the boat to stay warm.

This is at our campsite:

Also at our camp site...not a bad view to wake up seeing!

One of the kids took this:

Hanging out at camp:

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The girls took swim lessons earlier this month. Mackenzie is at the bottom of the picture. She was the only one in her class this time...usually there are around 5 or 6 in the class.

Rebecca and Jessica were in a class together...that is Rebecca floating on her back with the instructor helping...and Jessica is next to the instructor, watching:

Here Rebecca is helping Jessica float on her tummy:

And this is Jake who is mad that he can't swim too. I guess basketball will have to do for now.

After swim lessons. It was in the 60's and low 70's the whole two weeks they did lessons. Brrr!!

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Rebecca's turn to mow the lawn. We mow around the outside and have the girls mow the middle.

Garden Fever!

Well, the girls caught the garden fever. As I was planting more flowers this year the girls asked if they could plant some too. We had some extra pots that came with the house, so we set them up next to the bridge.

We went down to a local nursery and the girls each picked out a 4-pot of annuals to plant. I also dug up several stray violas that went crazy in the flowerbed so they could add them to their pots too.



Here's Jessica's:

And here's Mackenzie's:

And Rebecca's:

Look it! Look it!

I know this is extremely and unforgivably a tad late...but look what I got for Mother's Day!!!

A fun bridge to go over our irrigation ditch seasonal creek!

And a wishing well to go over our real and unsightly well!!

I'm still trying to figure out what I want to do around the well. I want to make a flowerbed around it but I cant decide on the shape or size. Any ideas? I can't go too crazy because the driveway is there on the right.

And here's the flowerbed this year. We're still waiting for some things to bloom here since it's been such a cold spring.

This is the newest flowering addition! We put two rose plants in the back and I'm hoping the hostas hide the ugly concrete jutting out. The rest are all annuals. There are red, purple and yellow, even though you can only see the red ones.




These pots are my favorites for this year. It was fun picking out the flowers and arranging them.

Rebecca's Birthday!

Well, our sweet little Rebecca is now a big 8 year old! Her birthday falls right at the end of school and the great thing about having a warm-weather birthday is having the party OUTSIDE and at the PARK! As opposed to trying to entertain tons of loud and crazy kids cooped up in our house.

We invited kids from her class and first we had pizza and let them go crazy on the playground:

And in case you haven't noticed...Rebecca is crazy about horses. So instead of trying to make a horse cake, I bought one, thankyouverymuch:

The little boy on the right is one of her best friends:

Of course up here, you're not guaranteed warm weather in June. We were actually really happy that the rain held off during the party. Here you can see Rebecca (on the right, pink shirt), Jessica (across from Rebecca, digging in the cake), Mackenzie (on the right, blondie in the striped shirt), and Jake (across from Mackenzie in the red shirt):

Presents are always fun!

And here's our little cutie at about a year and a half old (in the purple jacket):

And here she is now! This is the morning after her party...her actual birthday. She still had the present from us and some cards to open:

The girls have been saving up their money to by a Nintendo DS, for about a year now, and the goods inside the cards sent her over the top so she had just enough to buy the DS and a Little Pet Shop game! Thank you, grandparents!!!

And yes, we're still in our jammies (except for Rebecca...I had her get dressed and brush her hair...because I roll that way. Oh and Jake was dressed just because he needed a fresh diaper and it's just as easy to put on his clothes rather than put jammies back on.) See...

Jessica looks like she's been caught. Not surprising.

Mackenzie's wondering how much money she still needs before she can get a DS.

Summer Craft Project For Kids!

Now that summer vacation is here moms all over the country are wondering...

What in the world am I going to do with these kids for the next three months?!

On top of the usual summertime fun activities I received an email with an idea that will get the kids involved and thinking about other children around the country and the world who are struggling through economic hardships, natural disasters or political conflicts.

Personally, my heart goes out to these children but I don't always know the best way to get my own kids involved in helping them. I want my kids' hearts to connect with these little ones in need and to feel like they really did something to help.

In addition to giving money (most younger kids don't really understand the value of it yet), they can also send a Comfort Critter with a personal message through Operation Kid-to-Kid.

Here's how it works:

First, go to the Operation Kid-to-Kid website and read more about the program. The Comfort Critters go along with a whole Crocodile Dock VBS program (and they offer other programs as well). But lets not get overwhelmed!

OK2K suggests you get two Comfort Critters for each child participating...one to give away and one to keep. When you order the "God Cares" turtle you will get 10 pairs of them, enough for 10 children to have one to give away and one to keep. The pack of 20 turtles runs $17.99. So feel free to split it with other families or use in a Sunday school class.

The kids stuff the turtles (no sewing involved) and there is a pocket on each turtle for the kids to send their own personal message to the child receiving the turtle. Then send the turtles back to the address provided and they will get distributed to the children in need. OK2K also suggests sending a Survivor Booklet ($0.79 each) along with each Critter.

Of course you can adapt the critters project and use them for local community service or outreach.


A little more FYI:

What is Operation Kid-to-Kid?

Operation Kid-to-Kid™ is a partnership of Group Publishing, Inc. and nondenominational Christian organizations dedicated to creating hands-on service projects for children in North America. Operation Kid-to-Kid™ projects have ministered to kids all over the world. Over the years, Group’s Operation Kid-to-Kid™ has become one of the largest forces mobilizing children in serving other children around the world. Millions have been impacted with gifts of comfort critters, school supplies, Bibles, hygiene kits, Christmas gifts, Bible coloring books, and socks and shoes. Operation Kid-to-Kid™ gives children a meaningful service project that will change their hearts as they help change the world.

What is a Comfort Critter and why are they effective?

Comfort Critters are adorable, easy-to-assemble crafts designed especially for kids to make and receive. This year’s special critter is a cuddly little turtle that reads “God Cares” and features a pocket so each child can include a special message to another child in need.

Children learn by doing. While activities like collecting spare change definitely serve a good purpose, it’s hard for young children, who don’t really understand the value of money yet, to understand how the money they collect will minister to other children. But all children know what it’s like to be scared or lonely. They know how a teddy bear, stuffed animal, or blankie makes them feel better. As they use their own hands to make these little turtles, they are creating personal, tangible expressions of compassion. The handy sewn in pocket gives them the opportunity to send a message from their own hearts. And because they make two turtles—one to give away and one to keep—they will have a touchable reminder that other children are struggling and in need of compassion and comfort.

In the Merry Month of May

Ok so I haven't posted in a month. I am SO on top of things!

So here is the month in pictures...

May seems to be a really good time for sunsets:

I love this!

Usually we can hear Jake saying yelling, "STOP-IT, BECCA!!!" But she's also good for snuggling up with for a movie, too.

(But it's all in turn...when Rebecca was little she would yell, "HUSH! JUST HUSH Tenzie YEN!" ...that's "Mackenzie Lynn")

Well, he's got the most important things on...the boots.

And the diaper!

This is a common scene in our house (but with pants on, or jammies)...Jake running and pushing his dump truck all around the house. He does this at least a hundred times a day.

It makes the girls run and scream because getting rammed by a speeding dump truck is painful on the ol' ankles. He's learned not to ram momma...doesn't like the consequences.

And last but not least....

Oh yes! We got a boat!! Whadda ya think?!

We took it out on it's maiden voyage (for us, anyway...it's a '99) on Memorial Day Weekend! No pressure! Just the busiest day of the year on the lake (so far) and two people who haven't driven a boat in over a decade!

Actually the dock wasn't that crowded. Except for that one guy who made us look like we were pros. I didn't dare laugh because that could have easily been me!

Now, I did take the camera with us on the lake. Really! I DID!!! I just didn't take any pictures.

Jake was not pleased with having to sit down while the boat was going, and that he couldn't lean over the side when the boat was going, and that he couldn't help drive the boat by pushing all the buttons he could reach. Where's the love?! Not to mention that bulky life jacket that was in his way all day.

He'll learn. And he'll like it! Or else we'll strap him to the front of the boat and make him like it. (Kidding of course...don't call CPS!)