Tuesday, April 29, 2014

Dance Recital

Sorry if this is picture overload.  Maya danced to "Waltzing Matilda" and Gabi tap-danced to "You've Got a Friend in Me".  They had so much fun and did a great job. Special thanks to our "ranch family" who came to support them. :)








Being silly before the performance!









FINALE



Spring Break

For most of Spring Break we just hung around the house and played.  Joe took almost the entire week off and was able to help his parents with some ranch tasks.  On Thursday morning we drove to Billings for a mini-vacation.  Jacob had an appointment with an ENT specialist that morning.  At his 9 month appointment, the Pediatrician was concerned that he wasn't making many sounds (dada, mama, etc.)  So, we had his hearing checked and the audiologist thought he might have fluid in his middle ear.  Sure enough, the ENT doctor confirmed this and recommended that he get tubes put in his ear drums.  We thought we might have to make another trip to Billings, but amazingly she was able to do it the next day!

So, Jacob and I left for the hospital very early Friday morning and left Joe and the girls to hang out.  Jacob was soooooo silly with the nurses, doctors, and everyone else he came in contact with.  He is such a flirt.  I took this picture right before they took him back to do the procedure.

They did put him under using general anesthesia, but the procedure was very quick and he was in my arms less than 20 minutes later.  He was VERY grumpy and any hint of flirting with the nurses was long gone.  The short time that he was gone was so stressful.  I don't know how parents do it when their kids have to undergo much more invasive surgeries.  We were released from the hospital shortly thereafter and told to just go about our day!

Sooooo.....we went skiing!  Jacob was a trooper and the doctor said the altitude would actually help his ears.  Joe took the girls up while buddy and I hung out at the lodge.  After lunch, I took the girls for the rest of the afternoon.  Here's Jacob in pretty good spirits for just having a minor surgery!




 I'm very happy to report that Maya can ski by herself now!  She took an hour and a half lesson and came out a pro!  Red Lodge has the best lessons!  Both girls learned so much there!  Probably because they're like private lessons because there are no crowds (unlike Colorado where it is chaos.)
Silly Maya

Gabi now skis jumps and trees!


Maya in her lesson


Can you see Gabi in the trees?
 The hotel that we stayed at had a very fun swimming pool, but unfortunately with 2 adults and 3 kids that want to swim, there are no hands left to take pictures. :)  We got our fill of eating out and Costco!  Jacob also loved the mirror in the hotel room and gave himself lots of kisses.

We also bought a cute pop-up camper while we were in Billings.  We are already planning lots of little camping trips this summer.  It will be lots of fun.

Jacob...10 Months

We have this big set of tunnels and tents that we usually pull out on rainy/snowy days.  I knew once Jacob learned how to crawl, he would have a blast in them and I was right.

I found this picture of Maya from when she was the same age as Jacob!  They look about the same except for the curly/straight hair, don't you think!? Cute little sly smiles.  :)


We have been new couch shopping for what seems like forever.  We even got desperate enough to pack 3 kids around furniture stores in Sheridan on a Saturday morning.  We all fell in love with the couch below (especially the girls!), but of course it didn't come in the color we want. And so it continues... :(

Because they were such great kids in the furniture stores, we took them to Kendrick Park and they had a blast.  Jacob loves to swing!


To save our trim, doors, cabinets, walls, etc. from Jacob's wild man driving in his scooter around our house, we duct taped padding around the edges.  I thought the duct tape was fitting.  He can fly in that thing!

We all took a ride in Grammy Joyce's new "buggy" (side by side) to check on the cows one day.

Jacob received his first official haircut from a stylist (I wasn't too happy with Joe just buzzing him.)  He did great but sure was wiggly.  I don't know how she cut his hair straight!

Gio was "Happy Camper" last week and wanted Jacob to come to school so his classmates could meet his baby cousin.  His classmates were so cute and Gio did a great job talking about Jacob and answering questions. :)

Friday, March 28, 2014

Playing Catch Up

Here are some of Jacob's favorite things to do!

Cruise around the house in his walker...this was the best invention ever!

 Jump in his jumper...but this is quickly ending now that he is getting more mobile!

Swim!
We took a trip to Billings a couple of weekends ago and stopped in at an indoor water park!  The girls loved it too!

Eat!!


Snuggle...with daddy


Army Crawl


and....CRAWL!! (as of 3 days ago!)



We celebrated Joyce's birthday by having everyone over for dinner.  Here she is with all of her Grandkids! 






I need to get used to Spring not really coming on "the first day of Spring" in Wyoming.  March 21st really is May 21st here.  We have had so much snow and cold weather this winter.  Everyone is ready for Spring. At least the girls love to play outside despite it all!  
Dave and Joyce's dog, Rusty, came sledding with us. :)




Maya had her Spring Program last week.  We made cookies that morning.  I decorated the ones for her classmates.  She decorated the egg shaped ones to share with her grandparents at coffee that day. :)




She did such a great job memorizing her lines and speaking loudly and slowly!  We were very proud of her. She was the Sun.  She is definitely a little sunshine in our lives!

Maya knew every word and every motion to each song.  She's pretty fun to watch!


I registered Maya for Kindergarten on Thursday!  Eek!  We are a little nervous about sending her so young, but all of her teachers have reassured us that she is going to do great and is definitely ready!  She is super excited!

Lots of love!  T

Jacob...9 months old

These were taken at the end of February.  He is getting so big!  Love this boy...




Happy Gotcha Day, Gabs...

Six years ago we brought this beautiful, smart, funny daughter home to be with her forever family.


We've grown a little since then!

Lots of love to you!  Tara