Summer Schedule

While we play hard and enjoy our summer I have tried to also have some daily structured planned learning time. Doesn't always happen but I try. Different days include; sports, crafts, cooking, music, mini-school {shapes, colors, letters--the last being the least productive for us} and field trips. Some days are super simple and other days are more involved, it all depends on how much time I have!

This week our craft was what Carson calls "finger puppets." He was the creative side choosing the animal and necessary colors and accessories. His first idea was to make a spider and then once his creative juices got flowing we made a handful.


I was in charge of the glue {I used hot glue...ouch!} The activity was a hit and I was ready to clean up before he was...I wanted to save something for another day.

His finished masterpieces; a spider, butterfly,, frog, chick, cow and a girl.
He even packed them all in his back pack to show friends, I guess that's one way you can measure an activities success!

5 months

Caitlin is five months today and I feel like time is getting away from me. Caitlin has had two teeth for a month now and with her liking to suck on her hands or mine I have to be careful because they are sharp! Her eyes are still blue and they seem to be getting lighter still. She is also super blond. She does not resemble me in the least but looks quite a bit like Andrew did when he was a baby.

Caitlin is an angel. She is alert most of the time now learning about this world of ours. She can roll over from her back to her stomach and loves her exersaucer, play-mat and rattles. Caitlin loves water whether it be the bath or the pool. She also loves to babble and has the shrill squeal where she sounds like she's is unhappy or in pain but just exercising her voice! When she's getting tired or overstimulated she likes to be put down with a blanket right by the side of her face at which time she will immediately relax and often her eyes will close as she falls right to sleep.


Over the last month she has proven to be a marvelous traveler not making hardly a peep on two 14 hour drives. While on vacation she had a couple of firsts; she swung in a swing and seemed to love it and she also accompanied us on a hike.

We love having Caitlin in our family. she is a joy to be around.

P.S. Time please slow down because she is getting big too fast!

Family Reunion

After driving for 14 hours we arrived late in the night and went straight to bed. The ipad saved us on the drive and gave me a break from entertaining Big C so I could help little c.

In the morning with the sun coming up over the mountains the ranch is beautiful!

There is a main house, a barn, an outdoor shower, stables, and four cabins (shown) that have their own living space, kitchen, bathroom, queen sized bed and loft. We stayed in the second cabin, buffalo #2 and it was decorated super cute with retro vintage artwork.



The first day (Tuesday) we rode horses. Carson was super excited to be at "the farm" and kept saying, "whee-haw!"



He rode first with Andrew and then again with me. He was on a horse for about 3 hours and loved it! When the horse would gallop fast he would say, "stop" or "whoa."


That night they had a campfire but we were so tired that I opted out and went to bed!

The second day we rode ATVs...I don't have any pictures of that but I'm sure someone does!

Besides exploring the ranch property we went four wheeling up the countryside where we saw amazing panoramic views, and where wildflowers dotted the rolling hills. It really is beautiful country.

This night we set up a huge projector and watched a movie under the stars. It started pretty late but I had already told Carson about it so we improvised and watched our own movie.


It happened to be the coldest night there with the temperatures dropping to low 30's so we retired early again...I am sensing a pattern here and I'll be the first to admit that I am not a night person!

The third day we went on a hike to Spring Falls.


We wore our swimsuits thinking it would be refreshing to take a dip in the water but the water was freezing and there was still snow on the mountainside, covered by dirt of course but the snow was a useful bridge to get higher on the mountain.



I thought it was super thoughtful that Carson picked a wildflower and tried to give it to Caitlin.

This night we had a dance in the barn. Andrew's Uncle Steve taught us a plethora of line dances and it was pretty fun seeing my father in-law dance for the first time-ever {I'm pretty sure he danced so that he wouldn't get a hard time for leaving to go fishing!}

Preparing the barn for our dance!

My cowboy!


The fourth day we went rafting down the Snake River. It was super fun!

When we were getting off the river there was this girl (I don't dare call her a lady) who we thought had a bad wedgie but it turned out that was just the way her bottoms were...a couple sizes too small!


Andrew and his Dad left this morning (Friday) and headed for Montana for their annual fly-fishing trip. That night we had the annual talent show in which Carson and I participated in. I was in a group number who performed the World Cup Waka Waka dance.



and for some reason the video won't allow me to rotate it so it's sideways, sorry!

Carson sang his favorite song, "Twinkle-twinkles little star." Carson's face was so happy after he sang and we all started clapping, you (I) could tell he was so proud...maybe that's why we got his special break dance performance!



Besides the planned daily activites we jumped on the trampoline, played horse-shoes, the guys shot clay discs, we hung out with family, and enjoyed our surroundings...and I am sure there is plenty I have left out!
-Aren't the views amazing! Every chance Carson got he was jumping on the trampoline...I am thinking Christmas present? hint, hint honey:)
Wherever we go Carson tends to gravitate towards girl, he's already a ladies man I guess. He and Hannah are a couple months apart and played together nicely. One afternoon I caught them on the porch where Carson was showing her his books, "this one's funny" (referring to Moosetache)


One evening Carson begged to get in the sink with Caitlin so after saying no a couple times relented and he was happy...then he took a shower!

The night before Andrew left we took a few impromptu pictures as the sun was setting and had I known that Cait would cooperate so well I would have worn make-up and made Andrew change his shirt because I think this would make a great Christmas card picture!



Being in Freedom makes me almost want to live on some property and live a slower life, I know Carson would be up for it because he keeps asking to go back long drive and all.

After all of this fun I was ready to head back home. So after breakfast Saturday we packed up and headed home. Being as Andrew was fishing his brother Alex accompanied us on the long drive. We made it home safely and the kids could not have been any better but he managed to get a speeding ticket and a rolling tire did some damage to my bumper-bummer!

We had a great time away but walking into our home was like heaven on earth, it felt so good to be home!

Back to the Books

As of August 16th I am back in school. I am mostly excited to be finishing up my last two semesters and can't wait for the relief of knowing that all my hard work has paid off and that I will be an RN. I am also anxious and hoping that I can handle all the time away and the work that school will require. I just received my schedule for the first two weeks of school and they have us scheduled Mon-Fri from 8 am-5 pm. I guess my normal schedule of being gone Mon-Wed night (I plan on staying down there) won't seem as bad once those two weeks are over. Can't wait to be done but oh how I am going to miss my kids...