Melena is 14 today!

HaPpY BiRtHdAy MeLeNa!!!

I can't keep up!

I try to post everyday but I can't seem to keep up with it. We finished up with school last week. I'm not used to having the kids home from school so soon. Ethan in in a football camp this week and next week the kids are starting a bunch of fun activities. Camryn is going to learn tumbling and cheer leading and swimming. Ethan will be doing swim team, soccer and basketball. Melena is just going to be chilling out. She is not much of a joiner. She has girls camp coming up soon. Oh yes she turns 14 tomorrow. It's hard to believe. Just a quick update.

Little Bighorn Battlefield

On the drive we saw this mother antelope with her baby.

This monument represents the Native Americans who were present at Little Bighorn.

This is the area where General Custer

fell during the battle of Little Bighorn

Ethan listening to the story of the battle at

Little Bighorn. He really enjoys history.

Camryn was getting bored. She is not much of a history buff.

She would rather be out making history that listening to it.

The girl has got to move.

A herd of horses that were at the Little Bighorn Battlefield property. I thought that Pam Shofkom would enjoy them.

This tree was on the drive between the different sights of interest at Little Bighorn Battlefield. I thought that it created an interesting picture. I took it - not Melena. It was one of the times she let me handle the camera.

Kindergarten Promotion

My sweet little Kindergartner has just become a big 1st Grader. Today was Kindergarten Promotion. Camryn's teacher, Miss Terret celebrated their promotion in their classroom. She had the class sing a bunch of songs that they had learned throughout the year and then she presented each of the children a certificate and a little scrapbook with a page dedicated to each child. It was really nice.

Miss Terret's Kindergarten class.

Camryn getting her certificate and scrapbook.

Camryn with Miss Terret

Ethan finished up his elementary school career this year as well. The school didn't do anything special for the 5th graders. They did have a fun day the last day of school.

Ethan with Mrs. Breeden his 5th grade teacher.

8th Grade Promotion

Today is the day, I can't believe has finally arrived. Melena has graduated from middle school and will be starting high school in the fall. How did the time pass so quickly. It seems like she was just starting kindergarten. Even worse she takes driver's ed next year.

Receiving her certificate of graduation.

Decorations for Melena's Promotion. The theme was "Let's Get Tropical"

Melena in her new dress.

Kindergarten Field Trip to Colstrip

The kindergarten class got to go on a field trip today around the town of Colstrip. It was exhausting climbing on and off the bus, herding a passel of 5 and six year old children around and keeping everyone in line and safe. You really have to appreciate what teachers can accomplish in a day.

Colstrip Police Department and Jail.

Colstrip Fire Department - checking out the fire truck.

The Fire Chief is standing in the background.

At the bank learning about the drive-thru window and everything that happens at the bank.

Hanging out and waiting to see a tour of Town Hall. We are a town not a city.

Lunch at the park and a half hour of play time as we wait until it is time to go to our last stop. Camryn is eating with her friend Bridger whom she also goes to church with.

Our final stop at the Colstrip Bicentennial Library where they got to hear two stories read to the by the Librarian.

Father and Son Campout

This weekend was the East Billings Stake father and son camp out. They went camping at a place west of Billings. It was about 3 hours from Colstrip. Kyle and Ethan headed out for the camp-out after school got out friday afternoon.

Hanging around the campsite with the other campers

Saturday morning they went on a five mile hike.

The man in the picture was the guide.

This was their one and only rest they took while hiking.

Mountains in the background.

The hike concluded when they reached the waterfall.

Field Day at Pine Butte Elementary

Camryn and Ethan dressed for Field Day

Today was field day at Ethan and Camryn's school. They participated in a bunch of really fun activities. I didn't to go and watch them beacause I wimped out. The weather was tooooo cold - in the 40's. They both won ribbons and got t-shirts.

Where Did It Go?

It is 5:30 in the evening, where did all the snow go?

Yes It Snowed Today Can You Believe It!

We woke up at seven this morning and it was snowing. Can you believe it. Here it is mid May and we got snow. I guess maybe it is true that it snows once a month in Montana. I'll be waiting to see what the snow fall is like in June and July. It snowed until about two in the afternoon, and now it is already almost completely melted. Just a quick in and out.

Snowing Again

7 A.M.

Mountain Standard Time

Colstrip, Montana

It's Snowing

Just thought that I'd let you know.

Exploring Our Enviroment

You lookin' at me?

Taking a break from a day of foraging for dandilions.

Looking out our front window, we noticed our visitors.

A Beautiful Day in Paradise?

Yesterday at school Melena's teacher announced that it was going to snow today. Then she turned to Melena and said "I'm sorry!"

Poor Melena.

We woke up this morning to snow flurries. We are just trying to figure out the weather patterns and what clothes we are supposed to be wearing. Once the temperature hits 40 degrees half the kids at school show up in shorts and flip flops. We are so confused! We are not quite sure when to expect the last snow storm. When does summer arrive?

This is the view out our front door. See all the white fuzzy looking stuff?

No it is not static nor is the picture out of focus.

It's Snow

Here is a close up view of the snow on our deck in the back of our house.

How To Top Off the Perfect Look!

Nothing completes an outfit like a butterfly.

A Beautiful Day for the Park

The snow from yesterday had completely melt by this morning so after spending a couple of hours unpacking we were finally persuaded by Camryn to go to the park. You know the one. Her favorite with rocks and swings and other things.

It's nice to know they love each other.

Just a friendly push to get them going.

Please note the contrast from yesterday's post - Green today - White yesterday!

Big White Surprise!

We woke up this morning to a winter wonderland. It is snowing today. I checked the calender and it is late April you know. Montana is full of surprises

It's A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

I think that Spring is finally here. The weather is so nice I can't believe it. Ethan even wore shorts to school today. It is supposed to be 80 degrees on Wednesday, I just might like living in Montana (for the Spring and Summer at least).
I decided to get out and walk today. There are hills with trails near where we live so I left an hour early to go on a walk before I walked over to the school to pick up Ethan and Camryn. Oh my (to borrow a phrase from Melody), There was quite a bit of up and down terrain and quite a bit of huffing and puffing on my part. There just aren't hills like these in Florida. It takes a little more work to get into good walking condition here but I'll be fit before you know it if I go out walking every day.



Last week when Ethan, Camryn and I walked home from school we went through a little foresty area. All of a sudden a bunch of heads popped up and we found ourselves in the midst of a herd of deer. (It was so cool, amazing, incredible.) They blended in so well into the surroundings we didn't see them at first. The deer are so use to people, they didn't even jump up or run away. I told Camryn and Ethan to just walk quietly and not to make any loud noise or sudden movement. I didn't want to startle them into running into us. Nature up close and personal.

Heading to Billings For Stake Conference

Today we are going to Billings for Stake Conference. We left around noon so that we could get a little shopping in. We needed more paint to finish up the basement. The adult session is tonight at 7pm like every other stake conference except with us we live too far away to return home tonight and then get up in the morning to drive back to go to the regular session. So we are getting a hotel and spending the night. Apparently that is what everyone else does. We are kind of nervous though because we have to leave the children at the hotel while we attend the evening meeting. Again that is what everyone does. I know it sounds funny to say - It's what everyone does - but after much consideration we did what everyone does. We found a hotel close to the chapel so that we wouldn't feel too concerned about leaving Melena in charge. We left strict instructions not to leave the room under any circumstance. (In an emergency they could call us and we were just minutes away.) Thankfully my children are very good at obeying and everything turned out well with regards to the hotel stay. We had actually thought about not attending because of the distance and the hotel situation but then we found out that Elder Dallin H. Oaks was going to be speaking and we knew we could not miss that opportunity to see and hear an apostle speak.
It was well worth the trip. We heard several very good speakers. With very important messages. Elder Oaks' speaking companion was Elder Dale G. Renlund of the Seventy. I can't even begin to explain how spiritually fulfilling the meeting was. A few things that I learned.

1. Stand for what you believe in - it won't always be easy. No sacrifice is to great if it gives us an opportunity to show the Lord where we stand.

2. There is a God in Heaven - He knows us - He cares about us - He sent his son to us.

3. Be of good cheer. This attitude will pull us through whatever comes our way. The future is as bright as our faith.

4. When things get in our way and stop us from doing the things that we need to do. We should be like Nehemiah of the Old Testament and remember "I am doing a great work and cannot come down."

5. When we touch the temple the temple touches us.

And speaking of moaners and groaners - Some members are called to offend and they really magnify their calling. (This is a calling that I have decided that I never want to get.) I can't wait until tomorrow morning for the next session of conference.

Eye Appointment

Yesterday Kyle had an appointment with the eye doctor in Forsyth. The kids were out of school so we all decided to go to Forsyth with him. As an added bonus there was a Dairy Queen in town and my kids love blizzards. Who doesn't - right? I am constantly amazed that whenever we have to go somewhere it is always so far away and there is nothing in between the towns except for rolling hills (mountains, if you are from Florida) and herds of cows with lots of baby cows. Or as Camryn calls them pequeña vaca or bebé vaca which means small cow or baby cow. She is still keeping up her spanish.
We arrived in Forsyth after about a 45 minute drive through really pretty country side. Dropped Kyle off at the doctor and headed over to Dairy Queen - mission accomplished everyone is happy for another day. While in town we saw a large white "F" on the side of the mountain. Ethan asked what does the "F" stand for and Camryn piped up "Florida" It was really funny. We explained to her that is stood for Forsyth. In her mind an "F" could only mean Florida.

What's for Dinner

We got home from church today and found that we had had a visitor - eggs seemed to be hidden all around the house. Camryn had a field day finding eggs with Ethan's help. Melena followed them around taking pictures.

Camryn on the hunt collecting armfuls of eggs.

I think the Easter bunny left us a two year supply.

We had a really nice dinner planned for after church today to celebrate Easter. We had gone shopping yesterday to get everything we needed to make our traditional Easter meal - Ham, a potato casserole, deviled eggs, ect. As we started getting ready to make the potato casserole we realized that we had forgotten a key ingredient - sour cream. In another world - in another place we might have been tempted to break the sabbath and make a quick run to the grocery store but not here. Everything (meaning the grocery store) was closed and we didn't have to face that temptation. We laughed off our mistake and decided to have Easter dinner tomorrow night when we could get all the ingredients we needed. Instead Melena made egg salad sandwiches out of our deviled eggs and we remembered why we celebrate Easter.

Saturday's Birthday Adventure

Today, for those of you who don't know is my birthday. I won't go into the year that I was actually born in but Camryn thinks that I am 23 and that works for me. We decided to take a drive to Sheridan Wyoming (a town of about 16,000 people). Why you may ask? Because there is a Walmart. (I'm becoming a believer.)
It is also a touristy town and we thought it would be a fun scenic drive. It is just about 100 miles away from Colstrip. We drove through the town of Lame Deer (gotta love that name) and Busby on the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation. We saw plenty of deer, antelope, turkeys, pheasants, cows, horses and an Alpaca farm. Every time we saw a different animal the kids had to shout out a phrase. For antelope the phrase was - "You can't elope with an antelope." When we saw the alpaca they shouted - "Alpacas will steal your heart." What an adventure. It was pretty silly but it kept them occupied on the way down and back home again.
We drove to the Big Horn Mountains and saw actual snowmobiling snow and real mountains.





We drove up the mountain as far as the road would take us. The sign says "Road Closed to all motorized vehicles except for snowmobiles and ATVs." Melena snapped a couple pictures of the surrounding area. This is the deepest snow that we have seen this year. Something to look forward to next year maybe. We are still getting used to the altitude. It is a bit of a change to move from sea level to actual mountains.
We had lunch at a Mexican Restuarant and of course ate too much so we walk around the historic district of Sheridan. I tried to talk Melena into getting some western wear clothing. But she just kept shaking her head no. Doesn't she want to fit in? Actually she is perfect with or without ranch wear (as they call it).
No trip is complete without running to Walmart - this time to buy cleaning supplies. I've never been to Walmart so much. This was a really fun day spent with family. One big benefit to our move is that we are a lot closer as a family because we haven't gotten many outside interest yet to fill up our time. We are spending lots of time together. It's wonderful and the best birthday present ever.

Friday Afternoon At The Park

The kids were out of school today and Kyle had the day off from work so we decided to go exploring. This is the first really nice day we have experienced since moving to Colstrip. The weather was warm and sunny (almost Florida like except no humidity and not as hot). Colstrip has lots of little parks scattered throughout the town. Here is one that the kids really like.



This is Melena, Ethan and Camryn climbing all over this huge sandstone rock. The playground area of the park is surrounded by these rocks. They are lots of fun to climb on..

Camryn spending a day at her side job - modeling for Melena - too bad she doesn't get paid.

Ethan the power swinger


Ethan, Melena, and Camryn hanging out in the sun. Still too cold for short.


Here is the whole family except for me. Someone has to take the picture.

This is a herd of deer we see almost every night near our home. They must be taking a break. Usually they are standing up and eating. I love their big ears.