Does this shirt make me look fat?

And so it begins

Baseball season has hit here in Montana.  Somewhere between 70 degrees, hail storms, a small snow storm, and a day of rain, we managed to have our first baseball practice.  The majority of the time was spent learning where all of the positions are and how to run through first base.  And to think that it all just comes naturally.  Every kid on the team ran to the pitcher's mound when told to run to center field.  Thinkers.

Maci spent her practice day running around with her friend Kimber and picking up a new friend.  That little guy has no idea what he's gotten himself into.  They managed to fill a helmet about half full with grass and put it on Kimber's head, only 2 of the 3 hit their heads on the bleachers and cried, and only one got stuck in the fence.  All in all, a great day!  ;)

New boy (who is either looking at them in awe or thinking the two girls are nuts), Kimber, & Maci.

Ryder, Cash, & Colter

Our family portrait.

Cash drew this picture of our family.  You'll notice one extra person.  Nope.  Not pregnant.  That would be Uncle Rico.  Welcome to the fam little bro!

Pull ups

We told the kids to go downstairs and put their pullups on. There was silence. Then laughter.  Then running and more laughing.  Then there was this......

Kids vs Adults

We finally have a kid's bathroom.  You know the one.....toothpaste on the mirror (how in the world?), unflushed toilets (and I know they didn't decide to go green - yellow let it mellow, brown flush it down), more toys in the tub than in their rooms, and the ever present fight for who gets the middle of the sink.  Ah yes.  Fend for yourselves kiddos.....the adults are upstairs, kids downstairs.

My cook and my princess

Tonight, Cash wanted to help me cook.  So I put him in charge of grating cheese.  I looked over just in time to see his stellar form.  He got the whole brick done.....hard telling just how much he ate.  As for the princess.....lord help us.  She saw these princess dresses the other day at Costco and I told her she'd have to talk to her dad about it.  Apparently she did.  And she got her way.....perusing the selections and ultimately picking pink.  Over purple.  Our little princess.

A little bike ride to the park

We decided to go for a ride/run with a little park in between.  One round of crying, 2 snacks, and a ride home.  Yeehaw

Christmas in March

MT saw a little bit of snow this year, although now we're seeing rain and the world looks totally different, I thought I would throw this picture up to show you just how much snow the kids have been shoveling!  ;)

A little ice time

Well, Cash is officially done with hockey.  He played hard and did a great job, even with missing the first session.  The coach even told him he was most improved (and announced it during the passing out of awards).  However, when relayed to me by Cash....."the coach said I was the COOLEST kid out there!".  I guess similar to the telephone game we played as kids?  Oh well.....I think he's the coolest kid out there for sure.  So....a little indoor hockey to get us through until next season I suppose.

Gymnastics team photos. Love.

Maci found her calling!

A few photos

After a hard day at gymnastics.

Hunting season!

Cash is a really good reader and is teaching Maci now.

From Cash's 3rd birthday party -- he turned 5, but had 3 parties.  If that's the case, I turn 33 and I want at least 20 parties this year.

Cash is #50, right in the middle.

Break is over

Well, I suppose I've taken a long enough break from this blog and it's time to get after it.  We have been BUSY!  Okay, maybe we haven't been all that busy, but it sure feels busy.  Cash has started back up with hockey and I'm not going to lie -- when those kids went skating out there I figured we had showed up at the wrong time.  Nope.  Turns out if you take a season off of hockey, you become one of the kids that is left behind.  He's making it up though, he scored a goal last week and is getting faster every week.  A few more weeks and he'll be playing for the Mauler's, or so he says (local Missoula team).

Maci is finding her own way into the sports realm.  She has taken up gymnastics.  This morning was our first day and boy was she made at me.  A mom can't win around here.  Turns out I forgot her swimsuit??  You're questioning this likely the same way I was.  Yep.  Left the swimsuit at home.  Turns out the other girls were wearing swimsuits and all Maci had was a long sleeve and some running pants.  Not cool.  Way to make a girl stand out -- that and the fact that she was like a bull in a china closet!!!  The girl loved, loved, loved gymnastics and is looking forward to going again next week.  She also proceeded to get mad at me when I told her I hadn't signed her up for dance lessons.  Yep.  She wants to dance.  Lord help me.

Brent is still taking care of the hotel folks every day and spending a night a week playing hockey.  I can't tell you how good or bad he is at it because they play way late at night.  However, one of the guys on the team broke his collar bone the other night and Brent did not.  So….he either is a safe skater or he's not playing hard enough.  Hard telling.  :)

Me….well, I'm trying to relax on the couch in between yelling at the kids to take a nap.  My blood pressure may be higher than it has ever been.  On the bright side though, I have been accepted into nursing school for my RN.  I'll start that up in a few weeks and then it's 2 semesters and out.  I have taken a job (LPN) at a nursing home here in Missoula -- I work in the Alzheimer's unit right now and absolutely love it.  Even when I get told that I'm ugly and I stink.  Hmmmm….nursing is hard on a girl!

So there it is.  I did not make it my new year's resolution to get better at the blog, because I know I would fail, so I made it a monthly goal.  Between work (LPN and bar tending on Sundays), Scentsy, and my new introduction into the world of P90X and Isagenix, I have had my hands full!  I think that either Cash or Maci could keep this blog going.  I'll work on them.  Until next time…..

Coolio

Look...it's a big girl!

Yeehaw!

The fastest horses in the west!

Fish fry

Hiking the L.....

Hiking buddy

Maci and I hiked the M today while Cash was at school.  I promised him we'd hike the L tonight.  Lets hope my legs can handle it!

Easter fun