Jessie is 5 Months Old!!

I can't believe how fast the time flies - Jessie is already 5 months old! This is my favorite baby stage, she is getting mobile, but not walking, very interactive with people and getting ready to start baby food. (No, Dad, this doesn't mean we're going to have another one! :)

This is GRACIE in the same chair and same dress when she was 4 months old...do they look like sisters? :-)

Jessie trying out her first real food - sherbet (she wouldn't let me take the spoon back!). I think I'll have to start her on some cereal this week...

Floor time. Time to get rid of the hanging toys - the bars get in the way of her rolling/scooting around.

Ready for Pre-School!

We had a "Finding Nemo" moment this morning (for those of you who haven't watched that movie a trillion times like we have, that just means she was very excited for her first day of school!)...Jason was up at 5 to get ready for work and when he opened our bedroom door, Gracie was standing there fully dressed and asking if she could go to school now! :)
We finally made it to school and left her off for her first day of pre-school. Emmett cried when we left because he wanted to stay and play too. Then, as we were driving away, he said, "Bye Gracie, bye!" in a very sad voice. It was so cute!
After we dropped her off I took Emmett and Jessie and walked 2.5 miles on the river's edge trail - it was a fantastic morning to walk along the river - they were letting water over the falls and there were pelicans feeding along the shore.
I think Emmett enjoyed the "quiet" time, but was ready to go pick her up. Gracie didn't tell me a lot about school yet (she usually gives me attitude and won't tell me anything - she'll probably be ready to talk when Jason gets home - girls!). She did say that she wants to go again tomorrow (she'll have to wait until Friday) so that's all I wanted to hear! :) And she also already got a birthday party invite for Saturday, so maybe we can both meet some more kids/parents in her class. Overall, a great first day!

Yesterday we gave Gracie her new school backpack - she was very excited.


First day of pre-school - ready to go! (But forcing a smile - that attitude thing again-ugghh!)

Glacier National Park

We have been anxious to take a trip up to Glacier - it' only 3-4 hours drive, so we waited for a fee-free (Nat'l Park promo) weekend and headed north! It just happened to be the weekend of Jason's birthday, but he loved that we could spend it hiking in Glacier! Unfortunately, it rained the whole weekend, but the kids didn't care and we were still able to get one hike in on Saturday (we got rained on a little).

One of the kids' favorite things about roadtrips is roadside picnics. They get soooo excited that we're going to let them sit on the ground and eat their lunch. And then, of course, if they have to go potty, Daddy takes them into the woods - another favorite adventure! :)

Bird/animal watching in a meadow. Only swallows on this stop. We saw a few deer and couple grouse throughout the trip, but no other big game.

Another picnic stop before our hike (Hidden Meadow trail).

Daddy's been teaching them how to "shoot".

Jessie, just hanging out.

End of the trail - Hidden Meadow. It was a great hike and a beautiful spot to get to. It started raining just before we got to the meadow so we quickly took shelter under a lone old-growth Douglas-fir. Lots of ducks and a couple loons on the lake.

Gracie hiked the whole way (2.4 miles total)! Emmett hiked in (50 minutes) and "rode" out (27 minutes). :)

Low clouds with fresh snow on the mountain peaks - Saturday morning.

How long until I can just get a separate room for the kids and lock them in for the night? Just kidding. :)

Throwing rocks in the river - the favorite activity on this trip.

Views from the Going-to-the-Sun road:

Jason is 32!

I know that I'm a little behind, but I didn't want Jason to be left out! :)
Jason turned 32 on the 15th, but we were going to be in Glacier so I made him a brithday dinner and cake on our anniversary - the 11th. He wanted me to try the grand prize cake recipe from the State Fair - Chocolate Mocha Torte. It was new territory for me - it took me all day to put it together and in the end, I only forgot one ingredient (not completely my fault!) and only had to make the mouse-like filling twice! Even with the missing ingredient - the cake was fantastic and I'm sure he'll ask for it again. :) If anyone wants the cake recipe, let me know!

8th Anniversary!

I was hoping to get this posted this morning, but the kids said no, so I'm finally getting back to it!

Today, Jason and I celebrate our 8th wedding anniversary! He said it feels more like ten....not sure if that's good or bad..... :) I am soooo blessed to have a wonderful, loving, patient man as my husband and father to my children - how did I get so lucky?! :) I also can't believe that I've been married eight years, have three kids and a dog and am still 30(only for a couple more months)!! It makes me wonder what's going to happen before I'm 40!

Jessie is 4 months old!

We had a busy weekend, so I didn't get Jessie's stats up earlier. She was 4 months old on Friday the 31st and had a check-up at the doctor. Here's how she measures up:

Length: 25 inches, 76th %tile
Weight: 14 lbs (she gained 3 lbs in the last two months!), 60th %tile

She is doing great! Rolling all over, grabbing everything in front of her and talking and smiling to everyone - she loves Gracie and Emmett (when he's not poking & hitting her).

Another Busy Weekend

Friday we went to the Montana State Fair - right here in Great Falls. The weather was perfect and the kids had a great time - except Emmett, who was terrified of any animals larger than him (we'll have to work on that).

Saturday morning we had a yard sale with our neighbors - up at 5am, 92 degrees by 10am and all done by 1:30 - it was a loooonnnnggg day! But worth it, because we made $500 ($250 was one sale to a guy who bought some of Jason's hunting gear)!! This is only the second time I've ever done a yard sale - the first one wasn't as successful, so we might have to do this again - in 5 years! :)


Sunday evening, we were invited to the Electric City Water Park - for free! - so of course we went. The kids had a blast, but the water was pretty cold, so I didn't get in and Jessie tried to keep her toes from going in twice!

Splashing in the "Soak Zone".Jason and the kids enjoying floating on the "river".

Jason's first attempt on the "FlowRider" (like a giant wave for surfing)....he stayed on the board, but drank a lot of water!

Second attempt - much better.

More From the Baptism Weekend

Grammy teaching Gracie and Emmett how to earn their keep.

Grandma Nette and Grandpa Jack taking advantage of the warm shade to get a power-nap.

Trying out the slip-and-slide that Grammy and Pa brought (or as I call it - "it's-just-a-matter-of-time-before-we-have-to-go-the-emergency-room slide"!) - we'll send Grammy and Pa the bill! :)