Grand Menard Discovery Trail

We're prepping for hunting season -- gotta make sure that Cash can hike a fair distance because I doubt Brent will be able to shorten his stride or his overall distance (although he swears he'll do short hikes).  We took a short drive up to the 9 mile ranger station and checked out the Grand Menard Discovery Trail.  Mo was all for hiking, every time we stopped she'd start fussing and throwing herself around.  It's one thing to pack 25 pounds of Mo and maybe 5 pounds of pack, but it's another to pack it in constant motion.  She can be my workout partner for the summer.

I'm hoping to hit all of the hikes in our new hiking around Missoula book. We'll see what the summer and all of our legs allow.

Let's roll.

A mini Bridges of Madison County....

The boys.

Testing out boots.  Time to get some that fit.

We also had a boot fest in the house the other day.  Cash was seeing if his boots fit yet and Mo had to see if hers fit yet too.  A negative on both.  Time to shop around.

Memorial day campout

We had a campout in the backyard the other night.  Brent and Mo slept in the house, Cash and I made our beds in the tent.  Cash laughed and laughed about calling his sleeping bag a fart sack.  We had a great night of yelling 'S'mores!' for picture taking in place of 'Cheese' and threw in a few 'Fartsack!' cheers for good measure. The neighbors must think we're the biggest hillbillies in America with our tent in the front yard whooping and yelling around the ol' campfire.  Of course the pig farmers below us might give us a good run for our money.

Everyone needs a little Mo.

Fire up the bonfire!!

Say S'mores!!

S'mores!!

Yes!!

They're better than we remember.

Picking out our hike for the next day.

Happiness.

The Steak River

At the steak river.

Do bears bite??

Typical family fun....Cash pouting.

Wow -- when I'm not in school, I'm terrible at blogging!  Go figure, I should be studying and I'm blogging instead.  That's what gets the A's....

Ok -- so a little catch up.  I took the kids to Pullman to see Grandma and Grandpa Hobbs and Great Grandpa Hobbs.  We had a great trip!  The kids got to go to the park to feed ducks and play, we went to the Steak River Dam (that's what Cash is telling everyone -- it's really the Snake River for those that aren't sure), and we got to spend some time with the grizzlies.  And don't forget Molly B's Polka Party -- what a great time I had, thanks Grandpa!!  The things I learned from that trip:

• 2 children under the age of 4 are impossible to keep quiet at 6 in the morning.
• Maci's screams are louder in a house with low ceilings -- although I would've thought they'd have been muffled in comparison to the echo that our cavern puts out.
• Rhubarb gives little kids the runs.....don't give it to them raw even if they seem to like it.
• Owning an all black car with no tinted windows is not conducive to afternooon drives.

The girls

Grandpa's chair takeover

Peeling eggs for potato salad -- I might have promised not to put this pic up....sorry ma!  Your hair looks fine!  :)

The jokesters.



Peas in a pod.

Pure.  Sweet.

Follow me, Grandma.  I got this.

Whine again and I'll toss ya in.  :)

Easter (Part 2)

We received a few more pic's from our friend Teri from the great egg hunt of 2012...

Cash thinking "It's pretty tough to beat free candy!"

Dad trying to keep up with a man on a mission

Cash showing off his haul... All 26 eggs, well-earned

Mama showing off her smile and her long hair  :)

The 2 most beautiful girls on the planet

Cash's girlfriend, Landyn

April = hockey season

Cash has 2 more weekends of hockey and I have the best tan ever for April.  Hmmmm....seems strange.  It seems Maci may be ready for some hockey time too!

Where's the ice?

Just hangin' out

School update:  5 finals, 2 days.  Free for the summer.  Back to studies.

Puppy love

Well, Cash has found his first girlfriend (I suppose really it's his 2nd since he has already been betrothed to Landyn).....

Guess I won't have to worry about feeding her dinner or giving Cash money for popcorn at the movies....she looks pretty low maintenance to me.  Cute outfit too.  Wait -- is she kissing him?!?  I'm not ready for this......I'll call her Mom and discuss what kind of girl she's raising.  Maybe I am ready for this.....

Hey Gramps.....

HAPPY BIRTHDAY......a few days late.......YA HONYOCK!

Babies

My baby's baby.

Easter egg hunting

We headed out to Choteau for the weekend to get some Easter egg hunting under our belts.  We heard through the grapevine that the kids could make a haul.....so off we went (because I love jelly beans).  Brent coached Cash on how to pick up eggs and run, not open them and eat all the candy.....otherwise those other kids would beat him!  Oh boy....it's pretty serious around here.  The kids had a great time and even Maci did a little egg hunting.  Cash swore he found 26 eggs and Maci found 2 -- one for each hand.  We also went to a carnival where Brent and the kids ate sloppy joes (I'm pretty sure there's no food more revolting, so I drank coffee to satisfy my hunger), threw some bean bags, popped balloons with darts, went fishing, and ate more candy.  Maci was a little young for the festivities, but managed to find herself a slightly used teddy bear for only 2 tokens!  My little bargain shopper.  I can already tell we'll make a great team on back to school shopping day.  :)

Cashisms

• Dancing on the ottoman:  "Shake your doodie!"
• "Geez the wheeze!"
• "Did you crack your pants?  Yes you did, I can smell it!"

**Brent says that comes from me.  True.  Mom of the year.....again....although I have never said that TO either of the kids.....just in their vicinity.  Again, I am asking for it.  Time to clean it up!**

Cash: "Why is mama studying?"
Brent: "So she can learn to help people."
Cash: "Like give them beer?"

**Maybe bartending isn't family friendly??  Although I am helping people.**

Have you ever.....

Cleaned poop off of a shower curtain?  I hadn't either....till tonight.  I decided to skip photos for this post.  You're welcome.  Instead -- I found this for you.  Moose poop earrings.  Yep, straight from Maine....bet you were thinking Montana, huh?!?  Winters must get long out there.  If you happen to get these for me for Christmas or my birthday, I will not wear them and you will have lost $16 plus shipping, but I'd still laugh! 

Sweet and Innocent

Yes, I've posted lots today -- I'm catching up.  No matter what you think is going on, if there is what sounds like sweet and innocent laughter coming from the bathroom.....don't believe it.  There's no such thing as sweet and innocent laughter.  Ever.

When Dad goes to Vegas

"Maci, I'm Spiderman, you're Batman."
Playin' in the fort....

Yes, all those diapers got thrown onto the floor.

Errrr!!

Brent is livin' the high life (maybe in his mind!) these days -- off to Vegas to spend time with his good buddy and Cash's godfather, Jack.  While he's dealing with the chaos of big city livin, we're livin it up in Frenchtown.  We've spent our days running in the 60 degree weather -- the stroller rides are going much better these days and Cash even cheers me on.  I have to cut a deal with the kid to get him to go though.....you come for a run with me, I'll go to the park with you.  So, that means plenty of park time and his first shorts and t-shirt of the season.  We made forts, homemade mac and cheese, had a bbq with the neighbors, played with the dogs, and even cleaned the house!  We took a little drive on Saturday and found a nice herd of elk, so spent some time watching them and explaining to Cash why we couldn't go bombing through some guys field to get closer.  Then Sunday was Rick Jackson's Country Hall of Fame (my favorite Sunday program, 3 hours of good old country classics) with coffee, chocolate goldfish, craisins, and a drive in the mountains.  Now that's livin' the high life!

Payin' dues

Yeehaw!

Grandpa time!

He said he had fun, but Jim has a different story.....

Not sure who's more excited.

Thanks for all my birthday goodies and wishes!

Not even a little smile?  That's our little sweetie.

G&G O game time.