Spring Picture Dump!

Here are all kinds of pictures that were on my camera and our phones from the last couple of months.  So far our summer has been very cool and rainy.  We are all enjoying being out of school and getting to go on adventures and spend time together.

Joe and Gabi climbed Windy Ridge from our house a few weekends ago. She loves that she can do that climb!  It is about 6 miles so we are very proud of her endurance!

Almost to the top!

Jacob is finally starting to tolerate grass.  He hated it at first and threw his feet up and tryed to balance on his bottom when you set him down in it!  So funny!

Hudson is growing fast and getting naughtier by the second!!!!  For the most part, he has been fun to have around...I just have to work on forgetting about all of the bike seats and Gabi's glasses that he chewed up!  Ugh!!

Jacob has spent lots of time in the swing already!  He loves it!

I spent a few days in New Orleans with some other science teachers attending a conference.  We had a good time, but I sure missed my family!

Beautiful sunset...probably the most beautiful I have ever seen.  God's Country at is finest.

So....I have this app on my phone that lets the kids take selfies with mermaids added in.  I found this gem after Maya had been playing a game on my phone one day.

Just because...

Jacob loves playing in the girls' room and especially on their bean bags.  

This is Jacob's favorite new silly pose....

My Mom & Dad moved out of their house in Iowa and decided that we needed this horse at our house now...welcome "Blaze!"

The girls and I went on a long bike ride up the creek one afternoon and Gabi decided to take a run through one of the sprinklers on the way back.

We finally took the maiden voyage in the new pop-up camper.  Everyone had fun even though it poured rain on us all night and we were feet from the very full Tongue River!  Luckily we didn't get washed away!

Silly kids! :)

T-BALL

Gabi & Maya just got done playing T-Ball.  They were on the same team this year and I was the assistant coach.  They improved so much over the season.  Gabi even made some stellar plays and got some outs.  The Buffalo Baseball Association really runs a great program!

Another future t-baller?

With their team in the opening ceremonies parade.

Gabi playing shortstop with her mom looking on.  It was fun to be in the field and dugout with them!

Maya playing catcher

Our lefty

Cutie patooties!

Yellowstone Adventure

My Mom & I took the kids to Yellowstone a couple of weekends ago.  I signed up to run the Yellowstone Half-Marathon and Joe ended up having to be in Denver for some company meetings that same weekend.  I was so thankful that my Mom was able to come with me to help with the kids.  We had so much fun just hanging out and seeing the sights.  We rented the cutest little cabin in West Yellowstone.  The kids loved it all! My Mom has some better pictures so when I get them from her, I will add them in.  

Gabi & Maya with Trent & Suzie (my running buddy, Katie's kids) in front of a museum in West Yellowstone

On a hike around the "Artist's Paintpots."

Feeling the warm steam coming out of a vent

Gabi & Maya at some paintpots, or as Maya called them, "STINKPOTS!"

We went on a big hike down to see the Lower Falls in the Yellowstone River.  They were beautiful!

 Old Faithful!!

It was a great trip!  We saw lots of wildlife and just enjoyed our time together.

Five & One

Maya turned 5 on May 26th.  My Mom & Dad were here to help her celebrate.

Birthday pancakes for breakfast!

Cupcakes after her birthday dinner! :)

Her teacher made her the beautiful crown at school.  :)

More legos from Grammy Mary & Papa Gary for the LEGO QUEEN!!  Awesome sunglasses from Gabi!

Uncle Tom sent her "Dancing Dave"...it is the most annoying toy ever but she loves it!  If Tom ever has kids, I am buying the the most obnoxious toys I can find as payback!  :)

Jacob turned ONE on May 30th!  Can't believe it has been a year since this little guy joined our family.  He is such a happy camper!  His nickname at Ms. Evonne's house is "Mr. Smiles."

Only picture we got of him eating cake...oops.

Big tractor from Uncle Tom (and yes, it makes loud noises!)  It's pretty cool, actually.

Jacob received a couple of big "boy toys".  I thought this picture was cute of his sisters showing him how to play with them.

We had a joint birthday party for Maya & Jacob.  Maya is *slightly* obsessed with the movie, Frozen.  Auntie Amanda made them these awesome cakes for the party!  She is so very talented!

Happy Birthday Girl!

Branding 2014

Jacob's 1st Branding :)

Hard to see but his jeans have JH on the back pockets.  A family friend made these for Gabi when she was little.

Gabi's old enough to be of some help now!  She ran the sticks to keep the calves from backing up/going forward in the chute.

A New Puppy

Meet "Hudson," our new chocolate lab puppy.  We brought him home on April 18th when he was almost 10 weeks old.  He is naughty.  I guess that is what a puppy is supposed to be, right?  The kids adore him anyways and have already learned a few lessons about the importance of putting your toys/belongings away (otherwise they risk being chewed or ripped apart.)

In the car on the way home after picking him up. :)

We knew we wanted to keep with the theme of naming our dogs after towns in Wyoming.  We pulled out the Wyoming map and "Hudson" won the popular vote.

I think Hudson will be Gabi's dog and she's actually the one that I had in mind when I finally convinced Joe to get a puppy. :)  Gabi would rather play with someone/something else than play by herself.  Maya is about as opposite of that as you can get.  So, when I'm busy with Jacob and Maya is working on her own thing, Gabi can go play with Hudson. :) So far, she has really taken to him and loves to take him on walks and play fetch.  She was trying to fly a kite in these pictures and he wanted to play.

 Maybe I should re-title this blog, "The Adventures of Gabi, Maya, Jacob, and Hudson.  He will be a fun tag-along buddy this summer and hopefully for many years to come. :)