Columbia Falls

Jeremy took 2 tilts off from the Fire Department which basically gave him the month of June off for us to spend some time together as a family. Our last family "camping" trip of his vacation we headed up to Columbia Falls to take Abbie to the waterslides. Remember we had to cancel our camping trip right before this due to some wiring issues with the truck so I was worried that we wouldn't make this trip either, but we left early on Father's Day without any hitches.

Sunday, Father's Day, was just a travel day where we just took our time heading to Columbia Falls and then set up camp at an RV park right in CF. Monday we awoke to a rainy day so we decided to take in some sites around the area. We drove into Whitefish and Kalispell and did some shopping and sightseeing along with some game playing back at the camper.

Tuesday we awoke to a beautiful day so in the morning we took in bumper boats and mini golf. It was perfect since we were there early enough that we were the only ones on the boats so Abbie got to drive her own.

Abbie driving her own boat also meant she got to squirt on her own. She loved to squirt Jeremy and I but didn't like to be squirted. You wouldn't think the 4-year-old would be able to figure out driving the boat and running the squirting component at the same time but wow, Abbie really picked it up quickly. Big disadvantage for mom and dad!

The afternoon we spent at the waterslides. The weather was perfect...warm enough to play in water but not too hot to cook us. Rylee took in the waterslides by playing in the kiddie pool and hot tub as well as relaxing and taking a nap.

Abbie liked the waterslides but took time between sliding to play in the hot tub. Abbie really only likes swimming in pools with water the temperature of her bathtub at home...difficult to find so she opts for hot tubs instead.

Regardless of whether it was Jeremy or me, this is what it would look like as we started up the hill

And this is what it looks like not long up the hill. Abbie is no dummy!

Here they come

And here is the end and big smiles...

Pre-Father's Day

Father's day weekend was a beautiful weekend, one we should have been camping, except we had some wiring issues with the truck and camper that Jeremy had to resolve before we could make the long pull to Columbia Falls. Instead of camping we did take in some of the beautiful weather in the backyard...

The girls and I had already done our Father's Day shopping and had even hid Jeremy's gifts in the camper so that while we were were camping on Father's Day we could pull them out and surprise him as he needed them...one gift was a fold-up reclining chair (something that Jeremy has mentioned for several years) and another was a set of BBQ tools. I was so proud of myself that I had thought of these "camping" gifts and how fun it was going to be to surprise him with them while we were camping...he changed the plan slightly.

We had to go to Ace Hardware for something a few days before Father's Day weekend, while shopping Jeremy saw a 8' windmill that he wanted for the yard. He looked at the windmill several times before we left the store and then point blank told me, "I want the windmill for Father's Day." Now what?? Needless to say the girls and I went back to the store and bought the windmill and figured Jeremy was worth spoiling. I am such a sucker!!

We gave Jeremy the windmill on the Saturday before Father's Day and he put it together that day so I took some pictures of the girls in front of the windmill.

And here is the whole thing..

Rylee at 7 months-pretty cute kid if I do say so myself!

Too Tired to Play

I take Rylee with me in the bathroom, most of the time, while I am showering. Sometimes I put her in the bouncy seat, sometimes in the walker, sometimes on her belly on the floor. Rylee was in her walker with me in the bathroom on the morning of June 19th (this is important only to note that Rylee is 6 months here). Rylee's schedule at this point is to go to bed sometime between 8:30 and 9 pm then sleep until 5:30 where she gets up, has a bottle, and goes back to sleep until 7:30 or 8 am. This is fantastic for me since I enjoy going back to bed for a few hours too.


This particular morning she followed her regular routine and so once she was up and going I jumped in the shower to get ready for the day. I looked out to check on Rylee and was surprised to see that apparently she was still tired and wasn't ready to get up for the day.


I decided to wake her up right after the pictures since I thought the steering wheel was going to leave quite a mark on her forehead.

2nd Camping Trip of the Season

We headed out camping again the very next weekend in June. We left on Friday the 12th and stayed until Sunday the 14th. This was a different camping experience than we have ever experienced before...we did it by ourselves!!! We always camp with other families and this weekend we decided to head up just by ourselves. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy the trips with the other families but I do enjoy our time together as a family as well. This trip ended up being a perfect balance.

We left town Friday morning just after 8 and so had camp set up before 11. We cooked lunch, hiked around a bit, threw rocks in the creek (one of Abbie's favorites), played some games, and then it was time to cook s'mores all ready! Saturday we got up and Jeremy made his famous big camping breakfasts and by the time we had the dishes cleaned up we had company for the day. Anita and Jerry drove up for the day and so did Travis and the kids. It was perfect...family time but we enjoyed the time with Grandma and Grandpa and Abbie enjoyed having Mac and Ryen to play with.

After last weekend's cold and rainy weather I went out and bought Abbie a pair of rain boots so that we wouldn't constantly be changing out of wet socks and shoes. As it turns out she thinks they are quite stylish and wore them most of this DRY weekend too.

Helping Dad chop some firewood

Just relaxing a sec

Rylee took her 1st 4-wheeler ride

Speaking of 4-wheelers. Mac and Abbie spent a good part of the day taking turns driving the 4-wheeler. They sure had a good time...

This is a year of first for Rylee and this weekend was no exception. All of the kids wanted a popsicle and so Rylee tried one out too...

Yummy!

Rylee's Beginning to be On the Move

We had just gotten back from our camping trip with the Ferderer's on June 7th when I set Rylee down on the floor so I could get some things done. She has been getting up in the crawling position for some time now and rocking back and forth but today she was actually moving. It wasn't super coordinated but she was figuring out that both her hands and knees needed to move. LOOK OUT...before long she is going to be taking off!!

Look at me Mom, before long you are going to have to chase me and I am going to be into everything! (I am sure that is what she is thinking since she is smiling so big!)

Rylee's First Camping Trip-June 5-7

The first weekend of June brought not only the last day of school but also our first camping trip of 2009. This was a weekend of lots of firsts...Rylee's first camping trip, the first camping trip in the "new" bigger camper, and the Virts' first time camping in snow. As the last bell rang at CMR I headed home to finish packing and we headed to Hoover Creek with Ronnie and Amanda.

Friday afternoon and evening wasn't too bad, just sweatshirt weather and everyone enjoyed the time outside and around the campfire cooking hot dogs and s'mores. Getting Rylee to bed was a little more of a challenge since we were out of our element and her routine was off. We ended up with Abbie on the couch, Jeremy on the table, and Rylee and I in the big bed.

Another first for Rylee was trying out a strawberry. She seemed to really like it and had such a death grip on it that it was hard to get it away from her.

When we got up Saturday morning it started to snow. Jeremy joined Ronnie out by the fire for most of the day while Abbie would spend time out by the fire until she got to cold and then would come in and we would color, play a game, or watch a movie and when she warmed up she would head out again to brave the weather. Rylee and I stayed inside the camper for most of the day really giving the camper a run for it's money since we kept the heater running most of the time (the new camper lived up to the test) and I did a lot of eating since the snacks were all right in front of me while I sat inside. Occasionally when the snow would let up I would bundle Rylee up and out we would go in the snow.

Abbie kicking it with Ronnie and Amanda

Some quality time with dad on the couch

Rylee at 6 months

Time continues to fly as Rylee ages another month. This month she has really started to figure out where she wants to go and how to get there. She does lots of rolling and scooting backwards. This month she has also gotten up on her hands and knees and started rocking back and forth....she is going to start moving soon. She also sits up alone for short periods of time as long as someone is close to catch her before she teeters over.

She definitely recognizes those that spend the most time with her. She will cry if someone other than Abbie, Jeremy, Grandma Nate, or me gets in her face or tries to hold her. She still is a great baby and fusses only when she is hungry (who doesn't??!!)

Speaking of hungry...she likes to hold her own bottle now if she's hungry enough she's get a death grip on it to make sure you don't pull it out.

Rylee has made lots of transitions this month in eating. We have added many more foods in her diet other than cereal. She likes squash, carrots, sweet potatoes but absolutely does not like peas (makes lots of faces, shakes her head back and forth, and spits it out). We also tried out pudding pops that Abbie and Grandma Nate made....looks like she might like them!

I also did professional Sears pictures for both girls Rylee's 6 month birthday as well.

Abbie is 4 years 2 months and SUCH a GREAT big sister. I often wonder what kind of mother I would be to a second child if I didn't have such a huge helper around.

Sitting up on her own is still a little shaky but she'll do it