Ride Em Cowboy!

My mom treated us all to some bull riding. Tuff Hedeman Championship Bull Riding was over at the SouthPoint so we Cowboy'd Up and were in for a great show. The kids of course wanted to wear their Cowboy hats so they could look like all the other cowboys and cowgirls that would be there.We got settled in to our seats, got some snacks and anxiously awaited for the show to start.The show definitely started off with a bang!And there were some great 8 second rides!

The kids made it on the TV cameras quite a bit so I am anxiously waiting for the online episode to be released on GAC to see if they got there 15 seconds of fame or not.

The best part about the whole night however was after the show was over. All of the bull riders came back out to sign autographs and the kids got there cowboy hats signed by all of the riders. It was pretty cool for them to take the time to show their fans some love!

Take Me Out to the Ball Game!

Cole is an official baseball player now. Okay, let me correct myself, an official t-ball player. I am so excited for him because he truly loves playing baseball. Baseball is what makes him happy so I knew there were no ands, ifs or buts about it, he needed to play.

I will be honest, I was extremely nervous for his first practice. My son is not the best listener so I went in thinking that it was going to be rough. Boy was I wrong. I really need to give Cole-man some credit. He was probably the best listener of the whole bunch! Now I can't wait till he gets his little uniform and has his first game! Watch out world, here he comes!

Happy Birthday Charlie!

My honey tuned a whopping 33 today! He loves those two weeks in March when I am actually three years older than him. He never fails to remind me!

We had a great birthday celebration. Charlie's parents came to visit from ABQ. On Friday night we took them to Brio at Town Square. We had been dying to try it out for a while. It was delicious. There calamari was delicious, they fried it with peppercinin's...YUMMY! And they had the best dessert ever, it was a sampling of nine different desserts (all in little itty bitty dessert cups - the perfect portion so you didn't feel too too bad!).

The next night we headed to Hanks at Green Valley Ranch for a fancy-schamncy dinner! It was delicious. We made it just in time for 1/2 price Martinis. It is absolutely gorgeous in this restaurant, talk about swagger!

The next night Charlie decided he wanted ribs for dinner. He makes the best ribs, seriously! He boils them in beer for about two hours and then grills them. They are FABULOUS. Of course this meant he had to cook his own birthday dinner, but he never really minds grillin.


I got him his favorite Cheesecake Factory Cheesecake (Pineapple Upside Down Cheesecake) for dessert.
And my mom made homemade lemon meringue pie to supplement the cheesecake! Cole of course helped put daddy's candles on.

It was a great weekend and I hope Charlie has a wonderful year! I consider my self ever-so grateful to spend another year with my honey.

Our First Sleepover

Well we finally gave in and let Kadence have her first sleepover at our house. She asked her friend Morgan to stay the night with us. The girls had lots of fun playing with barbies and watching Kadee's new Barbie movie. (Our life lately is Barbie, Barbie, Barbie - I don't mind though cuz it brings back lots of memories, Barbies were my favorite!)

We had one little spat, nothing major but it worked out kind of well because it kind of settled them down before bedtime. Amazingly they were out cold by 9:30 pm (not bad I thought).

The next morning we woke up and headed to Dunkin Donuts for a early morning treat
I think Kadee really enjoyed having a friend sleepover and it wasn't nearly as bad as I kind of anticipated. I have a funny feeling that this is the first of many. I just hope she never gets wind of my sleepover's in high school. I literally had the entire cheerleading squad spend the night at my house on more than one occasion.

Thankful For Each and Every of My 35 Years!

Today I am 35. Really, I am 35? How does time fly by so quick? I have had an absolutely wonderful birthday for the following reasons:

* I had a FANTASTICALLY FUN Pre-Birthday celebration lunch with my co-workers. We are a tight knit group and realized once again how lucky I am to have this second family in my life. I love them all to death!

* I had the opportunity to spend an afternoon with just my hubby to realize just how much I am still in love with him. While walking side by side he asked me why I don't hold on to his back pocket like I used too. I responded that he used to say I was pulling down his pants so I stopped. (Note to self: Hold on to his back pocket more often, he misses this).

* I spent the night before snuggling on the couch with Kadee and Cole watching Where the Wild Things Are. We have been looking forward to this movie, because it's Cole's favorite book, and was one of mine when I was young. For the first time Kadee cried during a movie. She was so sad that Max had to leave "The Wild Things" and she wept. My daughter is getting more and more like me everyday and wears that heart of hers on her sleeve.

* Charlie got up early in the morning to give Chance his bottle which meant a couple extra winks of sleep for me.

* My daughter woke me with the sweetest smile just to say "Happy Birthday".

* Charlie cooked me breakfast and made my bacon extra crunchy just like I like it.

* Kadee, Cole, my mom and I went for a walk. Cole anxiously looked for worms and ended the walk with me giving him a piggy back ride.

* I snuggled with Chance as I watched Terms of Endearment. This movie kills me every time, but reminded me all too well how truly blessed I was. Chance played peek-a-boo with me and the light in his eyes when he smiles melted my heart.

* My sister once again sacrificed her free time to watch the kids so Charlie and I could have a date. Outback it was and as always it was delicious.

* Charlie took me to Yogurtland for my new FAVORITE dessert. I split the bowl in half with peanut butter yogurt on one side covered in Reese's Peanut Butter Cups and Cheesecake yogurt on the other half covered in coconut, cheesecake bites, caramel and white chocolate chips. (Yes I am trying to lose weight but...It is my birthday!

I have had a WONDERFUL birthday and I pray and hope it just means that this year will be a WONDERFUL year!

I Would Know This Face Anywhere

So I hopped on the Butte Newspaper's (The Montana Standard) website to try to find the article on my nephew being selected as Butte's new probation officer. I didn't find the article but I did see another article that showed a pic of a guy who looked awfully familiar! My brother Rick! I'd recognize that face anywhere!
He is the fireman facing the picture next to the stretcher. The headline was:

Stand off: No one hurt after man threatens suicide
By John Grant Emeigh of The Montana Standard - 03/05/2010

Happy 72 Dad!

Grandpa turns 72 this year! We celebrated with a delicious dinner and of course, desert! Unfortunately (but in a good way) Dad had started Nutrisystem so he enjoyed the Nutrisystem Meatloaf meal, which he insisted was his favorite and couldn't have any of the chocolate cream pie that Grandma made to help him celebrate.

The kids helped grandma decorate the pie.And of course helped Grandpa blow out the candles. I thank god for every year, day, minute my pops is here with us. He is such an important part of my life and plays such an important part of my kiddos lives. Happy Birthday pops, here's to another great year!

The Funnest Toys Aren't Always Toys...

Okay, I am convinced. The kids just prefer good old household goods over toys.

Maybe I should let them have a playdate with the broom, mop and vaccum...I bet they would find a way to have a heck of a lot more fun than I do with them :)

Again With the Cups!

Once again, I spent how much on a Wii?

And He's Out

Chance was so tired tonight. I got him fed and hurried to get him in the tub before I went to bed. He was humming to himself in the bath and I knew I didn't have much time left. He was singing himself to sleep like he has the last couple of nights. I had forgotten a towel and ran to get one from the linen closet. When I came back out I found him fast asleep! Poor baby. Off to bed he went...