Heidi and Jake took a swing while everyone enjoyed the cowboy music. (There was a jumping castle out front, too!)
Monday, July 16, 2007
Heidi and Jake took a swing while everyone enjoyed the cowboy music. (There was a jumping castle out front, too!)
And here are the horses in the field at sunset...
...have I mentioned I love Montana Summers?
***
We just couldn't make it til the fireworks...we were beat (Grandpa Melin always wears us out)...we headed home at 9:30 and got to bed about 11:30...WHEW--what a day!
My Wee Hausfraus
"We're playing Mommies. We're walking our babies so we can be healthy."
Friday, July 13, 2007
Back on Independence Day
Darrin, Laura, & Mom Melin at the ranch picnic.
--Crazy kids playing at the ranch on July 4th: Heidi, Boston, Addie, Alexander, & Jaylee--
--Zuzana and her first s'more --
--Peter & his first s'more--
After the fireworks, Rich picked up Peter and Zuzana from the rodeo and brought them over to make their first s'mores. I also tasted my first roasted banana (yet another thing I missed not going to girls' camp--and no, I still don't regret missing out on camp--not even a delicious banana roasted with chocolate chips, nuts, and marshmallows could make me wish I had participated in the histrionics and catiness of three days in the woods--and DIRT--with adolescent girls, even when I was an adolescent girl). --The Firepit--
It was Norman-Rockwell-eque, and I felt so grateful for all my blessing at that moment--great friends, a fabulous family, liberty, health, education, testimony, charity, home, food, mini-van, Montana weather and beauty...the list goes on and so does my gratitude for ALL OF IT!
Thursday, July 12, 2007
Edify & Rejoice
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
Something Random
He loves baths! All three of my kids are such water babies...
Don't forget to get behind your ears!
Heidi & Addie on June 18, 2007
What they're doing: Greeting Daddy as he comes home for lunch on his birthday
What they're wearing: I made them three different skirts for summer this year and let them choose the fabrics. This yellow fabric was Heidi's choice.
"Yay, Dad!"
Rich took this photo of the moonrise over Livingston--
Monday, July 09, 2007
So You Think You Can Camp...
Heidi the Cookie Monster
James discovered cookies on this trip...
...oooo, those are YUMMY!
Here we are helping Addie write in her Hello Kitty journal, having cookies and milk before bed.
Addie trying to "haunt" us with her flashlight and scary eyes
At about 7am I went to the 'throom, and this is what I found when I came back:
We got up and got dressed and Heidi tried to tell us which way to go using this map. (There is a video of this I will post later).
Kids and the tent
Our pretty spot in the woods at the Crazy Creek campground in Wyoming (which we shared with 7.9 million mosquitos--thank heaven for Deep Woods OFF!). It was very near the western end of the Beartooth Highway
Toward the top of the highway we saw pretty little lakes like these--the Chain Lakes
Looking out from the Top of the World--it's like a lush Grand Canyon!
Rich & James (Addie on the left) taking a walk at the look-out ledge
We Were There.
Me and the kids looking out over the last quarter of the highway before we got to Red Lodge, MT (doncha love our camping hair?!?).
Entertaining little chipmunks at the look-out.
Miles and miles of this breath-taking scenery...
Friday, July 06, 2007
So Long
Tuesday, July 03, 2007
What A Day
Secondly, Happy Birthday to my dear friend, the the always clever, ever-darling Ms. Erin Casper over in England. I have a special post inside my head for you. I'll get it out later.
Thirdly, we now have tenants at our house! You heard me. Two Slovakian grad students (a couple--Zuzana & Peter) came here to work through September and their housing fell through. One of their employers is a friend in our ward and she begged us to consider renting out our guest room and bathroom to them for the summer. We met with them last night, made an agreement ($250/month--which made me think, by the way, Gram and Gramp, what I would owe you after living with you for 30 months--$7500), and they moved in tonight. I keep thinking how fun it will be when Brother and Sister Blatter get home from their mission to Slovenia/Croatia this month--Gramma Suzie, you'll have to come over LOTS!
So how crazy is THAT? We got a good feeling about it and I think it will turn out to be a blessing for all involved. Now, to bed so I can rest up for a WILD INDEPENDENCE DAY! Live it up, y'all (after you look at these pix):
A bucket-o-holiday cheer from my crafty friend Jenn
The vintage cowgirls on the guest bathroom wall
Oops, I need to rotate this, but it's for Jill! I got my soda in this cup at the mini mart the very day after I watched that silly old DP commerical on your blog! Better drink your DP at 10, 2 & 4!
We got the guest room all pretty for Aunt Marti and my sis Lisa to come visit, and now it's rented out and they will have to sleep in the nursery! (Which is almost as cute & comfy... )
Where Peter & Susana will sleep
The "Cowgirl Bathroom"- now rented out!
(Do you love the real live horse shoe from the ranch hanging above the toilet as if to wish you GOOD LUCK in your bathroom endeavors?)
Have a great Independence Day! I'll report back ASAP!
PS: There is a pattern for paper pinwheels here (click). Basically, you need double sided scrapbooking paper cut in a square, then you cut diagonally from the corners to the center, bend, and pin with a brad. BBQ skewers make great sticks and are really cheap!
Giddyup! It's the Livingston Roundup Parade!
Addie, Boston, Heidi, and Alex (Boston's brother, whom Heidi adores and calls "Ally-jander")
Addie drinkin' a cold one wearing the lei's we made on Sunday
Crazy Lynners and Ally-Jander
(Ally-Jander and Boston have a baby brother, Ian, & their family recently moved up from Tempe/ASU where their Daddy learned to be an engineer).
James wating for the fun to begin!
"We've got a Piper down!..."
Sarah, Boston, Addie, & Heidi with Scary-fun Shriner clowns
They'll be great rodeo queens someday--look at those regal waves!
(Jacob Bates & Ferguson Jeffrey look on)
Heidi being her chatty, entertaining self.
A really darling bunch of kids:
FAMILY LETTER 07.28.19
Dear Loved Ones, We have just ...