Party!

We had a party last night to get together with the new football staff here at Montana State. We had so much fun getting to know some of the coaches and their families and Morgan and Skylar made some great new friends! Morgan was excited about getting all "dolled-up" because mommy actually had on a dress for once too so I thought it was a perfect time for pictures. Skylar was still sleeping so we never did get a picture of her-you snooze you loose!

Is she not the cutest when she wants to be?

What a cheese!!

More of the Fair

Okay, so pretty much, Bryan and I are gluttons for punishment. We thought it would be fun to buy the 5 day pass (which is basically 3 days), so we HAD to get our 3 days worth! So, pretty much day 3 was more of the same, but a little more heat and a lot more tired...for everyone. The girls had fun, but our luck ran out much sooner each day we went. We tried to go to the rodeo, but when we realized that it was a ranch rodeo (not that they aren't cool, just not exciting enough to keep the attention of a 3 year old and 1 1/2 year old) the fun did not last long before it was pull mommies hair, fall down 504 times and just basically whine a lot. So we stayed about an hour for that and high tailed it back to the Applewhite ranch! I did manage to snap a few pictures of the girls before we had our major meltdowns.

This was actually day 2 when Morgan realized that the goats and sheep really were kinda cool even if their barn stunk a lot.

I'm like totally slowin' Skylar down with the snapshots. Can you tell she just complies and moves on? She's still cute...and she still complies...so I keep takin' the pictures. I hope she never figures that out. I have many evil plans that I have plotted out since thier births. That's one of them. The other is that eventually Skylar can wear Morgan's clothes, but that isn't working out very well either. They were born at different times during the year, and now Skylar is ready to outgrown lots of things Morgan-one being her shoes! It's okay though. I have lots more evil comin' their way :)

Hello Miss Rodeo Teen 2012. Not that I'm in to that, but does she not fit the part?! Now she just has to get used to the smells of the barn and she'll be a sure winner!

Skylar loved these! Every time we walked by she had to go and stick her face in it. Oink Oink! Ciao!

We're Going to the County Fair!

Oh, what fun it was! We thought that they would want to ride on all the rides and go to the petting zoo. Morgan only suggested it 17 times in the car on the 10 minute drive there.

Well, they only rode one ride and we never even found the petting zoo (but that's okay we bought the 5 days pass). We went through all of the barns and said hi to all of the show animals and that was a BIG hit. Who knew!? So we found the bunnies and chickens first and it was pretty quiet in there until we arrived. Let me set the scene for you...There were a few youngsters in there doing their 4H presentations (more on that) so there were quite a few people in there but it was quiet. So we looked at the bunnies first and the girls loved them. I never knew there were so many different breeds. My brother-in-law (super science) did. He tried to make up his own breed when he was in 4H-smartypants. Anywhoo...We turn the corner and see the chickens and Skylar couldn't help but let out a loud "COCK-A-DOODLE-DOO!" Oh, it was priceless. Pretty much dropped Bryan and I to the floor. Everyone, of course looked over and laughed.

**4H sidenote-I had absolutely no idea what 4H was until college when all my teammates were talking about it. Boy did I look stupid when I asked what it was! I am a product of my big city environment.

Okay so then it was on to the cows. Morgan wanted nothing to do with them. Skylar was a little weary so I carried her through, and she "moo'd" at them of course but not with the excitement of the chickens.

Then we actually got to see a cow being milked. I was reminded of my own children's birth. Pretty sure a few mom's there had some flashbacks. We all had that look as he was explaining the process. Poor cows. Poor DeeDee. All out there for everyone to see.

Then it was on to the pigs. Morgan said, "No way! It's too stinky in there." And Skylar was pretty much over it after we saw the first 3 pigs laying in ick breathing heavily from the heat and trying to lick water from the hoses.

Then it was on to the sheep. Again, Morgan was out of there. But Skylar, oh Skylar. How she loved them! I never knew. She "baa'd" at every single one of them and jumped up and down and put on a little show for all the people and sheep. Those were by far her favorite. She saw one get sheered and walked right up to all of them and said hello. I think she liked that they baa'd back. I didn't take any pictures or video of her with them, but I will when we go back!

Next were to horses. Morgan could have been in there for HOURS!! She was in her element. Reminded of her Papa's ranch and all the horses there.

There was even a little baby horse that she named Baby Special Doc after Papa's horse Doc. Morgan touched every horse in the barn and just had a grin from ear to ear.
Skylar liked the baby too. We later found out this was Bee-Bop.



Now on to the good stuff. This one will forever haunt Bryan. Oh, what a man will do for his family! Yee-Haw.

Take Me Out To The Ballgame

Last night we went and checked out our local ballclub and caught a few innings of baseball before lightning and rain pushed us away. It was great fun and the girls had a blast watching (a little), dancing(a lot), and being goofy(the whole time). There wasn't much of a crowd so the girls had the freedom to roam around a bit.

The team was the American Legion Belgrade Bandits. They were 14-18 year olds. They had some great hits, made some great plays and all in all it was a fun night of "America's Favorite Passtime."

Popcorn was a hit. And what's up with them taking turns looking at me? It's like they know when the other one's looking and then they switch.

S-ok now you look

M-no you

S-No I just did-now it's your turn

M-Fine, but then you're next

S-Whatever. Dont' hog the corn!

"Go Bandits," says Skylar. "Go Bandits," yells Morgan. "Where are they going, Daddy?" Oh, that is the stuff I couldn't make up in my dreams. I love that. I eat it up. And then I have to write it down so I don't forget. 'Cause someday she's gonna think she was so cute-oh wait-she already does!

Morgan and Skylar would get up to dance to the music between innings. But you have to watch closely because all Skylar wants is the popcorn and Morgan wants to dance, so Skylar obliges but then when Morgan walks away Skylar looks out of the corner of her eye as if to say, "you done. Good, now let me get back to eating my popcorn. You are such a spaz sometimes. Sheesh!"

Lookin at Myself

Empty your mouth before you watch this-I'm jsut saying-I think it's funny. And if you know Bryan you know how much funnier this is because he pretty much makes the EXACT same faces! Ah, our little diva! Using a dog brush. Makin' a 'fro! This is the kind of stuff that makes a mother proud!

Well, that-and this

This was a pair of "silly glasses" we found at the dollar store that have been the best investment we've had from there. Morgan loves wearing these and they make you laugh out loud every time you see them on her!

A Look in the Mirror

This is just hilarious! Not much else I need to say-you can just see for yourself!

Veggin Out!

Hey ya'll! Come check out my Veggie site!
www.veggininmypjs.blogspot.com

4th of July weekend

We had a blast of a weekend and we are worn out! We headed to Missoula for the weekend to spend time with some of our friends from Laramie. The girls had an absolute blast and came home with power rangers, transformers and some "cool" new tricks that the older boys taught them!

The day we got there we set up the kiddie pool and slip and slide for the kids and let them run and splash.

And Morgan couldn't get enough so after dinner we went in the back yard and her and the boys raced back and forth about 103 times. Well, okay maybe just 47, but it was a lot!

Then we had a break in the action for ice cream.

Hot stuff munchin' on hers with her legs crossed. She has always been such a lady.

Then the following day (the 4th) we went down by the river (I don't know the name of it) and took a carousel ride, played at the playground and had lunch.

We just love these guys! And what a cute family aren't they?!

So, here is when things got interesting. We finished up with dinner around 8, so we had to decide what to do until it was FIREWORKS time. Well, this picture was taken at exactly 8:50, so you can see we still have LOTS of daylight to burn, and we have to keep the kids happy, and we have to keep the kids awake until the fireworks show. So we went to the park for a while and let them run around and swing and play. Great parks there!And a little teeter totter...

until in was finally dark. So we gathered at the mall (they launch them overhead there) and brought lots of snacks and drinks to keep the peace and settled in to wait...and wait...and wait. The fireworks finally started about 10:30! Gotta love NORTH America. I have a feeling winter is gonna be somewhat...hmmm, how can I put this...dim. But summer has pretty much rocked so far.

And can you believe that both our girls made it through the whole show and loved it. We were really worried that Morgan would hate the loud booming and cry the whole time, but she saw the big boys lovin' it and she joined in. Plus there was popcorn...and licorice...and caprisun...and the boys! They crashed and slept until 8:30!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yeah, that's right! A new record for my "up with the sun" daughter Morgan. God Bless America and God Bless 4th of July! We had a great time!

Are we there yet? Are we there yet? Are we there yet?

The Chronicles of pulling a U-Haul trailer 700+ miles:

We left at 6:30am Monday June 22nd and arrived in Bozeman, Montana at 9:30pm that night. It was a LONG day, but the girls were wonderful in that car and Papa did a great job of pulling that trailer. Don't be scared to visit! It really doesn't normally take 15 hours but we were pulling a trailer that couldn't go over 55 and we did have to go through wyo, which we refer to fondly as "windy wyo" so that set us back as well.

On your marks, get set, GO!

It really doesn't take much to put this baby to sleep! Even with tremendous amounts of sun in her eyes and gigantic headphones on her head...this was literally less than 30 minutes after departure. And about 1 hour since she had gotten up for the day.

This is pretty much consitent with what Morgan looked like the whole way there...

Except for about an hour of this...

And an occasional little something like this! Yes that is her microphone and yes, Skylar did try to chime in but really had a hard time trying to find the beat, so she went back to reading. It was just too speratic for her to jump in!

Is this not so funny?! She had like 5 stuffed animals and about 8 books on her lap, but it made for a good pillow, I guess!

Skylar really had a great chance to catch up on all her reading-she can check that off of her "to-do" list! Thanks Nanny for all the books!

And, while the girls did great, Morgan's feet had a little bit of an episode. She informed me here that her feet were "fighting." It was really funny. I have video if this thing will let me load two. Otherwise I will post seperate.

The girls were so excited to see their Daddy again after 6 days without him and 6 months with him! And then Morgan quickly realized that the Germers (who were our neighbors in Laramie and also live in Montana now) don't live next door to us anymore. We had to explain that they were in a different town, but we would visit them. So now, pretty much everyday, she says, "I want to go to the other Montana where Nick and Alex are."

That's gonna leave a mark!

Oh ouch! Skylar had a doozie of a fall last week just before we left for Montana. She was carrying a bouncy ball pretty much the size of her and she didn't see the flagstone step in front of her so she had a "rough" flagstone edge to the lip. She is one tough cookie, though. She only cried for a minute or two and was all smiles after that. Check out the damage-

This was just minutes after so it isn't even swollen yet, but you can see where her teeth entered her bottom lip-OUCH! Or "owie" as Skylar kept repeating the rest of that day. And that is a smile she has on her face.

And this was the next day. Pretty much super duper swollen, but she really didn't fuss about it at all. She has her sister to thank for that. Morgan has done her fair share of toughening Skylar up over the last 19 months!