State Fair 2009

Each year Jeremy and I grumble about the State Fair coming to town and we talk about how we could somehow divert around the fairgrounds so Abbie doesn't know it's here. That way we won't have to go, but then we get there and we both love to see how much fun she is having. This year she gave me a run for my money on how much I could take on the rides.

Anyone who knows Jeremy well knows he isn't a huge fan of rollercosters or rides with lots of turning and motion....he's an adrenaline junkie but doesn't get the jolt from fair rides. Last year due to my pregnancy he had to ride all of the rides with Abbie so this year I didn't even ask.....I knew it was my turn to take her on all the rides she wanted. I actually enjoy rides and so I was looking forward to some kiddie rides and maybe talking her into the Tilt-A-Whirl as her introduction to the "big kid" rides this year. Boy, was I in for a surprise........

We started out nice and easy. Here is the fun house....Abbie is still smiling because this is BEFORE I fell on her. We all know that I am just as agile as a cat, so as Abbie and I were exiting the fun house we stepped into the giant turning tube...Abbie lost her balance a little, I tried to correct it so I knocked myself off balance and fell--knocking Abbie over and landing on her. The man had to stop the turning tube so we could get out.....


The slide is still my speed....We probably rode it 20 times.


Nice easy rollercoaster...



We went on several more rides in kiddie land, many of them twice. I was having a great time and not getting sick to my stomach at all....This is where it started to go downhill. I like almost any fair ride, except the Ferris Wheel. There is something that bothers me about stopping at the top and the seat starting to swing back and forth. I don't really like it, but Abbie talked me into going on it just one time.


From there I turned the Ferris Wheel over to Jeremy. He likes it and I figured her dad should do some of the rides with her....


And even the BIG rollercoster


Then we crossed over to do some of the "big kid" rides. I actually thought this was going to take some convincing on my part. I thought I was going to have to tell Abbie that I would be right there and she shouldn't be scared. Right!!! We started with the Tilt-A-Whirl. I asked my mom to go on it with us so Abbie would be between us, in case she got scared. She asked to go on it again!

Next we went on the Thunderbolt (I think that is what it's called..it's the ride that they play music really loud and the cars rock back and forth going forward first and then pausing to go backwards). The man who loaded us into the car asked Abbie who was going to scream louder, me or her. The ride starts and the car starts to rock back and forth and I have a death grip on Abbie worried she is going to fall out and she is screaming at the top of her lungs. The ride stops so it can change direction and I tell Abbie that I will tell the guy to let us off. Abbie says, "I don't want off." I asked her why she was screaming then...was she scared?? Her response, "No, the guy told us to scream!!"" Of course, what was I thinking--Abbie scared??!!!

Some of the rides that Abbie wanted to ride she was actually too short for...Thank Goodness!!!

The grand finale was the boat that swings back and forth. I thought for sure she would get scared. Nope, she went on it twice. Once with me and once with Jeremy!!! Next year I'm in for it!

Rylee was a trooper and took all 5 hours of the fair in without complaint.

Camping at Holter

The fourth camping trip of 2009 was July 22-24th at Holter. We decided it was finally time that we took the boat out and enjoyed some time in the water. Holter is always such a busy camping spot, but we found this middle of the week trip to be just perfect. There were enough people around to engage in conversations with and find a playmate for Abbie, but not too many that it was cramped.

We spent very little time at the camper other than to sleep or eat (and we all know that I did plenty of that). We spent all of our time down at the "beach" or out on the lake in the boat. It was such a relaxing enjoyable time with the girls! So many memorable moments.....

Rylee took in a lot of the activities herself. She LOVED splashing in the lake. In fact, as we sat on the back of the boat we had to keep a firm hold of her since she kept trying to get more and more of herself in the water.

"I am swimming by myself!!"

Hollywood---Look out!!

Jeremy decided this was the trip that he would teach Abbie how to fish. She has been asking for this since the beginning of summer, so I picked up the Barbie fishing pool during the Walmart trip and Jeremy picked up the big red and white bobber during his pre-camping shopping trip to Big R. He didn't buy hooks because he was certain that Abbie would spend this trip just starting with the basics and that would be enough to appease her for this trip. Boy did she show him!

Here are is the beginning....





Once we docked the boat for that day, Rylee and I went up to start dinner and Abbie and dad spent a little longer down at the docks working on casting. Jeremy said he showed her one more time and then went about getting the boat ready for the night. The next time he looked over she had definitely figured out casting..not only was she casting out as far as Jeremy could with the Barbie fishing pool, but she had accrued an audience of 10 or so that stopped to watch her.




Since she was now an expert fishermen she decided she should teach me...


We even started Rylee out on the basics


Grandma Nate and Grandma Nita came up and spent one whole day with us. It was so nice for them to drive up and we sure enjoyed having them!!



Some time was even spent solving the world's problems...

Husband Day--July 19th 2009

Family day during the summer has taken a different spin. Because I have chosen to turn down any opportunities to work this summer and instead do nothing but spend time with my family, we can do "family day" any day during the week, not just Sunday. Every day Jeremy is off is family day!

I have noticed, however, that my husband isn't the focus of my summer and my attention is focused on both girls with an occasional "Uh huh" to Jeremy when he offered a comment or question. I had realized the only alone time I had with Jeremy the entire summer was when he took me to dinner and a movie for my birthday, but even that afternoon didn't allow for REAL conversation about something other than our kids. Suddenly it seemed I hadn't talked to Jeremy about himself in months.

I decided we need to have "husband day" one day/evening per month. This is something I have called "date night" in the past but it has fallen to the wayside often so I have decided to call it something similar to our famous Sundays. Family day is something I look forward to all week and hold it precious to my heart, husband day should be the same. I hold Jeremy precious to my heart and he deserves my undivided attention at least one time per month.

Husband day for the month of July brought beautiful weather and a phenomenal 4-wheeler ride in the Highwood Mountains. We saw beautiful scenery and had the opportunity for plenty of conversation! It was nice to hear how he was doing and be able to listen without helping Abbie complete a craft project or change Rylee's diaper.

Please hold me to this....there should be a monthly post about what we did on "Husband Day." What will August bring?

I love him so much!!!

Once we started climbing it seemed like you could see forever...

Only in Montana at the end of July can you find a snow drift this size...

We included Troy and Becky on the first ever "Husband Day" (they don't even know they partook in such a piece in history). We enjoyed their company very much and still were able to have our own alone time while we were riding the 4-wheeler and the drive in the truck.

All it took was someone saying, "I bet your ATV can't make it up there on that rock."

Abbie's Swimming in July 2009

We enrolled Abbie in swimming lessons again this summer since we feel it is so important for her to become a strong swimmer if she wants to eventually tube and water ski. This year Abbie tried out her swimming skills on her own, unintentionally, but isn't there a point after so many lessons that you want to see if your child is actually learning something? How do you test that? As a parent I wouldn't just throw Abbie in and see how she does....Abbie showed us how she would do though.


Abbie and her friend Taylee were dunking their heads under water while they were waiting for their turn to demonstrate their swimming skills to their teachers. One particular time Abbie was dunking up and down against the wall when it wasn't her turn and she dunked, let go of the wall, and got too far away from the wall to grab it again. At least that is what I think happened because the next time I looked over I saw her paddling like mad to keep her head above water and make her way back to the wall. For a split second I thought she really is going to make it back to the wall but during that split second I managed to get out "Abbie, Abbie". Jeremy looked up and the next thing I knew he was in the water, tennis shoes and all, and Abbie was once again holding onto the wall...and her daddy!

The important thing was that she didn't panic, she didn't get scared, and SHE WAS SWIMMING!!









Abbie's Level 2 Class


Wearing goggles has turned into a big deal. Not only does she wear them during lessons but she also wants to wear them in the backyard pool, in the shower, and possibly when she even gets a DRINK of water.


Big success this year--Abbie put her WHOLE face in the water. Last year she thought she was putting her whole face in, but it was really her mouth.

Rylee's Mastered the Crawl

It's now July 14th and we have given Rylee a few weeks to perfect her crawling skills and took another video. She is definitely moving faster and so the gate is up on the stairs and we have to be on our toes at all times. Rylee is a "mover". She doesn't like to be held without standing up, turning over, and moving all about so now that she has the ability to move on her own...LOOK OUT!

When Did Eating Become So Funny?

Jeremy was feeding Rylee squash for lunch today. Was it the squash that was so funny? Actually you can hear Abbie in the background making her laugh. Abbie is the only person who is always successful at making Rylee laugh a good hiccup-causing-laugh. The sound of Rylee's laughing brings a smile to my face because she just lights up when she smiles and laughs.

I know I've said it before but I am so lucky that she is such a happy baby!

Rylee's On the Move

Rylee has been getting up on her hands and news for several weeks and rocking back and forth. In the last few days she has started to figure out to put one hand in front of the other to actually move. Today, June 30th, she actually figured out crawling at 7 months. She doesn't go super fast, but she definitely goes.