My Aliya

Three years ago, pregnant with our little Aliya, Derrick stayed up all night waiting for her to arrive, trying to figure out what to name her. Breanne became the big sister and Derrick and I became out numbered. (Well, Derrick, he's TOTALLY outnumbered!)

It's been so rewarding to watch Aliya turn 3. In the past months, she's been really turning into a "big girl." She's constantly saying, "...because that's what big girls do," and "probably...." and "it wasn't me," or "that was me." She's just learned to pedal a big girl bike. And she's even making her own friends.

This is her friend Aleena. She made the list of friends to invite to her birthday party. I've never seen a 3-year old play Barbies or Little People quite intently as she does. She has begun dressing herself very cutely in the morning and can even get the tags in the back. She dresses up, wears clip-on earrings, thinks she can operate the ipod, dances like her sisters and still loves her song, "...I love the way you hold me..."

We are so blessed with such a smart, healthy, happy, content little girl. Happy Birthday my Aliya!

First Day of School maybe, but summer's NOT over!

Just because school started this past week doesn't mean by any stretch of the imagination that summer is over! We've had some of our greatest camping and boating yet this summer the past two weekends.

Breanne has started first grade with Ms. Barkac. She loves it! She asked Derrick if he liked going to work better than staying home. She said, "I like going to school better than staying home." She's making new friends and adjusting very well.

Madison started second grade with Ms. Rensvold. She too seems to be enjoying it. It's fun to having her reading more. She can just take over in the mornings with reading what's for lunch and such.

Last weekend, we took a long trip up to Canyon Ferry (over 200 miles away). (Above you can see Aliya's cherry goatee.) We had two family friends join us: the Eknesses and the Ottenbachers. The camping sites were terrific and we had our own little "private beach."

It was fun to watch all the kids play. Gracie and Breanne were inseparable! They had a fort and enjoyed lots of time swimming and tubing. And in addition, all the kids (except Aliya) tried water skiing. Madi was 100% successful! Go Madi. She went across the bay we were camped along and even crossed some pretty big waves Derrick said. When she let go and Derrick picked her up, she was grinning ear to ear and said, "My legs were tired." Breanne is her biggest cheerleader!

This past weekend, we packed up Saturday morning and spent one night at Tongue River Reservoir. It was a great get away after having begun school routines.

Madi got to have Alyssa and her mom, Ms. Laura, join us for the day on Saturday. It was a treat! Alyssa was a little go-getter and even got up on water skis for quite a ways.

Today we just enjoyed a day as a family. Aliya did a little tubing today, but I think we figured out that the highlight of tubing for her is when we stop and she gets to stand up and sing, "I'm surfing, I'm surfing!"

What a joy to see our children playing together, imagining and having fun!

A Special Birthday Wish

to a very special grandpa!

Honeymoonin'

While the kids are away, mom and dad will play! Our girls have been visiting their grandparents and cousins in Minnesota for the past two weeks, so Derrick & I have been enjoying time together-alone! It's wonderful to not have to fight for his attention..to not have to share him.

The last weekend in July, we were able to camp with our friends the McGrails in the BigHorn Mountains. (Yes, Mike, it only took 5 years, but we finally made it there!) It was the perfect weekend to be camping at 9000 feet above sea level as temps in Billings were in the 90s! Apparently, Becky needs to take note that you should always pack a sweatshirt when camping...just in case it's cold at night.

We saw more moose in two days than we've seen in our entire lives! We spied 5 moose throughout the weekend, most of them right at our campground.

We did a little hiking with Doug and Sarah to the revitalizing Medicine Wheel (yea, right) and the Porcupine Falls.

On Sunday, we headed down the mountain back down to 3000 feet above sea level and took a dip (as the girls like to say) in Yellowtail Lake. It was beautiful on the south end of the lake, which I've never seen before. Derrick got in some water skiing and the rest of us got to relax and soak up the sun (or shade!)

This past weekend, we headed out to the Crazy Mountains outside of Big Timber. We hiked in about four-miles and set up camp for two-nights near Granite Lake. We initially set up on a little island between Blue and Granite Lakes until other campers said they had spotted five wolverines near our campsite. I asked Derrick if we could find another site...yikes!

Crazy Peak

On our hike up we watched thousands of butterflies flutter around lots of wildflowers.

And as we climbed, amazed at how much snow is still up on the mountains and actually hiked on some sections of snow! Derrick was nice, he didn't throw any snowballs at me & he even let me use his sweatshirt..because again, I didn't pack one.

Big Timber Creek

The weather was excellent all weekend! We tried our hand at fishing a number of times without any luck but were both successful in finishing 400-page novels throughout the weekend.

On Saturday, we hiked around Blue and Thunder Lakes and went boulder climbing up along a waterfall, which afforded us some spectacular views! (Yes, that is one of many large snow banks still up on the lake!)

On our hike out Sunday, we both agreed that although we don't enjoy the girls complaining about hiking, we sure missed having them along with us to enjoy the sites, smells and sounds of camping! We are both ready for them to come home!

We'll wrap up with a shot of Aliya and Derrick tubing on Yellowtail Lake before she left for Minnesota...

Birthday Bash

We had a terrific backyard birthday party for Breanne! We set up the slip-n-slide (which toasted the lawn..oops!) and had some water games and water balloons (which never last as long as you think they will) for the kids to stay cool with. The temperatures reached about 100 that Sunday afternoon, so we needed lots of water! The kids especially loved soaking Derrick (or at least Faith did).

As is a tradition for her party apparently, the storm clouds started rolling in about an hour into the celebration. We quickly got through dinner, presents and even had to send some cakeballs home with those who had to leave early. We enjoyed hanging out with our friends and even invited all the neighbors who had stay in town for the weekend.

The day before Bre's birthday, we bought a boat in South Dakota. So, Derrick and Madison set out for a quick roadtrip to get it. It was a lot of driving, but I don't think Derrick regrets it. The 36 hours of separation between Madison and Breanne (who do their fair share of bickering and fighting) terrifically reaffirmed their love for each other. They'd call each other and both couldn't wait to be with their sister again. Your siblings truly are your best friends (like it or not!)

We have not let the dust settle on the boat! We've had it out on three different lakes and mostly enjoyed every trip.

Our trip to Tongue Reservior the weekend prior was especially relaxing and we got to try tent camping for the first time in five years. It was really fun (except when we realized that we really do need a new air mattress)! The second night, Madison rolled the big tube in the tent and slept on that. It was a tight squeeze, and she woke up half on the tube and half on Derrick, but it didn't go flat.

Yesterday, we headed to Yellowtail Reservoir. We have fabulous memories of this lake, but the wind, debris and high water levels (thus, no beaches) made it difficult to relax. We'll have to try it again a different time. It is a gorgeous lake and Madison and Breanne got to tube "surf" on the tube. They think they're all that a bag of potato chips...

Summer has arrived

In full force, summer is here. Busy and all, (hence the month that's passed since the last update.) The girls are enjoying time off from school, but I try to make them read 30 minutes a day for summer reading at the library (I know, I'm the worst mom EVER! and they probably don't even like me!)

Breanne's class had a last day celebration that Derrick and I got to enjoy. They sang songs and we had treats. We found out that Breanne will have Mrs. Barkac next year (Madison's teacher from this year.) And Madi is excited to have Mrs. Renzvold in the fall.

We did get to "vacation" a week with Derrick when we traveled with him to Washington. It was very fun and relaxing for those of us that got to sit at the pool all day, not so much for those who had to go to work. However, as much as he teases me about it, I think he enjoyed the company.

Moses Lake is where Breanne's famous, "Hello, I have a mustache and a beard," phrase was born 2 years ago. Every time we got in the hot tub and turned on the bubbles, we'd smear them on our faces and say the famous line.

All the girls made strides in the water over the week. Madison can tummy and back float across the pool (to the deep end!). Breanne is starting to remember the back float and jumping in on her own. Aliya is jumping in the pool and even dunking her face in the water.

On our way back to Montana, we stopped for a day in Coeur d'Alene, ID at Silverwood Amusement Park. The weather turned into a rainy day, but we tried to make the best of it and did things we missed out on last time we were there. Madison took mom and dad on a few roller coasters, we rode the train together as a family and saw the magic show (which really impressed the girls). It was fun watching Aliya for the first time going on ride with her big sisters and riding the train with mom and dad about 30 times!

We headed home for a couple days to wash laundry, work a little and get ready to go again. (That's what I do best in the summer...apparently!) We got to enjoy the weekend camping with a big group of friends from church. We were thankful that the storms that rolled through passed quickly. Unfortunately, most of our last day was cold..too cold to play in the water. The girls had a blast tubing with friends and building "chocolate, vanilla, strawberry rivers" in the sand and flying our kite. Derrick got to ski before the boat ran out of gas and then got to paddle across the lake. We're all really exhausted!