Pictograph Cave State Park

Yesterday we had an adventure with some friends. We visited Pictograph State Park that is just outside of Billings. It was a fun afternoon. I love this picture my friend Landa took of us four girls. Landa just took a photography class and it was really fun to get some tips and pointers from her (we have the same cameras). We walked the trail around the little "caves." Here they are with their friend Riley Jo. They liked this little teepee. It was great for them to see it as we just finished reading "Little House on the Prairie" last night. Laura Ingalls Wilder talks alot about the Indians and the girls liked seeing the type of house the Indians lived in back then. The girls had fun, got filthy and were wore out...good for me they all took naps when we got home.

Derrick is out of town again this week, and things here with us four girls are going well. We are excited to pick him up tonight from the airport.

We've been very busy around our yard-spraying weeds, pulling weeds, planting and watering the garden and flowers, mowing, trimming, fertilizing, watering, watering, watering...you get the idea.

Road Trip

Our trip to Minnesota was fast but good. We were able to spend four days there. The girls rode so well on the "road trip."
On Thursday, the girls got to play with the Kracht cousins. While the kids were playing outside, Madison told me she had a question for grandpa. She said, "Um, grandpa, my dad said something about riding in a tractor..." So that's when all 4 girls (Madi, Bre, Brae & Chloe) decided to go with Uncle Lucas and Grandpa to fix fence. (Madison got to ride in the tractor and the rest of us on the 4-wheeler.)

On Friday, we went to the National Monument for the walk and played at the park. The girls especially looked forward to celebrating Cousin Rebekah & Abigail's birthdays that evening. We got to see all the great-grands too.

Saturday was full getting ready for the big graduation party for Uncle Bryce. Madison & Breanne loved meeting daddy's cousin Kelly. She's in 4th grade and the girls loved playing house with her.
We were so proud of our girls for how well they behaved on Sunday through a long church service and graduation. They sat very still and even played nicely by themselves at Bryce's Open House. Praise be to God for our wonderful children...even if they drink alot of punch... On our drive home Monday, Breanne asked if Daddy had to go to work that day. He told her that he'd just need to go into work for a little while when we got back to "Montana, Billings." She was quick to say, "Ah, thumbs on the side!" Too cute!

Speaking of cute, I asked Breanne to pray for daddy this morning (he's gone this week to Moses Lake, WA.) She said, "God, be with daddy in Mexico...." After she said "amen," Madison said, "Breanne, Daddy's not in that state, he's just somewhere else."

Today, we took a "road trip to the Zoo Montana," (as Madison puts it.) The zoo itself isn't too much to rant and rave over, but the girls had fun. It was Madison's last time to spend with her preschool class. Madison had fun chasing the ducks (here with Abby) and we got to see the peacock spread it's feathers. Impressive. Here's Madi, Bre and Ana.

In pictures...

Aliya sits in the grass while I pull weeds (yes, already!) and she didn't even eat that much grass.Madison is working on tying her own shoes. She's accomplished it twice so far...sometimes she just gets lucky.

Aliya fell asleep after a full tummy one night...on daddy's lap.

I'm not sure if it's Madi's hat or the smile that makes her look so adorable.

Madi models the new princess bike helmet.

Aliya smiles while she watches her sissies play outside. Hmmmm, she already knows to smile when I take out the camera. Have I got her trained well or what?

Madison wanted to try riding bike without training wheels. She doesn't quite have it mastered. We put them back on for now. But she's trying.We are blessed with some gorgeous tulips in our backyard. A beautiful sign of spring!

I ran in the 5-mile Women's Run on Saturday. Derrick and the girls watched me cross the start line and the finish line. It was so fun to have them there. I finished in 47:21. I'd love to run the Freedom 5K in July with Madi..we'll see.

Round, round get around, I get around!

Aliya will crawl when she sees something she likes...especially paper!

Spring is here!

Ahhh! We made it to May. I am so excited to be working less hours through the next three months and being able to do more with the girls. We've been able to spend lots of time outside the last week riding bike "just around the block," as Breanne says, playing in the backyard, babysitting my plants in the greenhouse and pulling a few weeds today (while holding Aliya so she doesn't eat the grass...what a picture I'm sure!)

Aliya is really crawling now. Not super fast but quick enough. Madison & Breanne have started the countdown of days until they get to play with cousin Braelyn. 8 days from today. They can't wait...honestly, neither can I.

Derrick has the garden ready to be planted. Ahh, I can taste the garden lettuce and green beans already. Amazing how a few warm days can totally get you in the mood for gardening and flowering.

On Saturday, I'm running in the Montana Women's Run: 5-mile run. I'm excited except Derrick just saw on the website that they don't allow headphones....hmmm will they allow earbuds? I sure hope so, music makes the time go by quicker. I'm sure I'll post more on that later...

The Princess Party

Last night, we had a Princess Party at our house. We saw the idea in a Princess magazine Madison got from her cousins for her birthday. We started after dinner last night by getting princess dresses on. "Mom, you have to wear a dress-a fancy dress. And Dad, boys aren't allowed. You'll have to stay in your room with Aliya." The first thing we did was hair and make-up. I have to admit, it was kinda fun to put make-up on the girls and do their hair all fancy. (You can see that Breanne got her haircut again...it's so stinkin' cute!) Madison did her hair like Cinderella and Breanne did hers like Snow White (even with a red bow.)

Next, we had a pillow fight. I wasn't even sure if the girls knew what a pillow fight was. But they thought it was fun to hit each others' pillows and turn the music on. Then we danced a little. It was time to start some crafts. We started making crowns and couldn't actually finish them until today on account of the glue needed to dry. We also made princess baskets. We acted out a story with their stuffed animals. It's hilarious to hear the names Breanne comes up with for her animals. We had a crowning ceremony and I let Madison and Breanne wear my tiara from my wedding since their crowns weren't finished.

Next we got into our pjs and popped some popcorn. We ate popcorn while I painted their toenails and fingernails. By now, Derrick had already gone to bed. We brushed teeth and retired to their room where we read most of the princess magazine and took princess quizes that tell you what kind of tiara you might want to wear. (Both of the girls need tiaras with lots of sparkle!! Don't I feel sorry for their future husbands...or Derrick & I who will need to pay for their weddings...) At 10pm, it was lights out. They had the sleeping bag and pillow all set up for me on the floor next to Breanne's bed. Their prayers were so cute, "Thank you God that Mommy gets to sleep in our room." My original intent was to crawl into my own bed after they fell asleep, but I didn't want to break their hearts in case they woke up in the middle of the night to find me gone. The floor actually wasn't too bad. I probably fell asleep before Madison. I would almost be asleep and then Madison would start talking again.

On a smaller princess note, Aliya started to crawl today with a couple little shuffles. It's so cute to watch!

9 Little Princesses

"Mom, when I went to bed last night, I just felt 5," Madison told me this morning. Our little princess is 5! This morning, she woke up and opened presents from mom & dad and her sisters. She is especially loving the flip flops that her sisters gave her. We sang "Happy Birthday" and had pancakes for breakfast.
Madison was super excited for preschool today. She got to bring a special snack to share: icecream sandwiches & juice boxes. She got a princess crown you can see here.

After preschool, we went to lunch-Madison's choice: McDonalds. After McDonalds, Breanne asked, "Mom, when it's a birthday, do you have to take naps?" I explained that it might be wise to take a rest or else when Madi's friends were over you might be tired and need to go to bed while your friends are playing. Madison thought about it and said, "Good idea!"

At 5:30, her princess friends began arriving. She invited 7 friends to join her. We started with pizza. They really enjoyed playing outside on the trampoline and swing set. Then they did a little candy hunt. We played hot potato, danced (it was a princess ball) and played "musical chairs." I think they really enjoyed the tea party! Each little princess got a tea cup and saucer and got to pour their own tea (or strawberry lemonade.) Derrick quickly got sick of filling up the little tea pots, but the princesses had fun.

I lit the Cinderella princess cake (this is Madi's first reaction to seeing her cake)and we sang "Happy Birthday." Madi was excited to get all the candles blown out with just two puffs. All the little girls played so well and I enjoyed having them over.

And, by the way...Aliya had her first taste of icecream...I'm not thinking she was impressed.