home on the short range

5 months

2012-02-25T09:08:00.000-08:00

Today, Kase Logan is FIVE MONTHS OLD!

It's gone be sooo fast but we've really been enjoying this little guy!

He's been by far our easiest baby, happy all the time, satisfied just watching his brothers :)

(Well, except for at night...getting up 4 times, sometimes eating all 4 times..)

And I JUST FELT A TOOTH BUDDING! A TOOTH??!!

He's had cereal a few times, but is really ready to just gobble down anything he can get his hands on! Being busy in the kitchen, making baby food by the freezer full is coming much faster then I had hoped! At the supper table, he just stares down daddys food, protesting for just a bite, and tries to grab the fork on the way to dad's mouth. It's cute :)

He will push himself all the way up with his arms, and curl up his legs like he wants to just get up and crawl. Thank goodness that is a few months off...I hope....

So, all five of those months summed up with one word...is, LOVE!

Love Story

2012-02-20T08:04:00.000-08:00

Here was our Valentines Day week :

This is how our Valentines Day card picture taking really went..

Love Farm To Market Pork bacon? You'll love them seriously to the moon and back in these breakfast cups!

Below are the boys with their Valentine Hearts that Grandma & Grandpa Krisher sent! They are so beautiful when the sun shines thru them!

On Tuesday, Logan took the big boys to work with him for the morning... :) ... and Kase and I had a special lunch with Olga & Clara. I brought a diaper i made to have Clara model it..she was so cute in it!

And what 3 year old doesn't want to learn all about RADON? This was (still is) Coy's bedtime book of choice.... "Home Buyer's and Seller's Guide to Radon"

Oh man, these boys all crack m up!

We are back from a fun trip to the Pig Farm, and now my living room is taken over by dirty laundry. Yes, they are alive!

New Schtuff

2012-02-03T07:40:00.000-08:00

I don't even know how to start this post...except that we have been super busy. Busy doing what? Oh nothing that is completely worthy of no blog posts in the past week...but just busy being! :D

Busy with these 3 boys!

Would you not be estatic about a slobbery ketchup kiss?

Now that I type that 'out loud', that does sound really gross! But if it's a kiss from Bentley, I'll take it!

Kase has been growing like crazy! It does make me teary when I think about how much he's grown in 4 months, and how fast I know he will continue to grow. Not that it's not fun, but this little baby stage is so sweet. And not that toddlers aren't sweet too, but....oh my, I am going to dig myself a hole here. ;)

But seriously, he's big. He's smiley. He's beyond cute. He's happy.

He's been up and active a lot more, always watching his brothers, who are usually goofing off for him. He even sat up for about 30 seconds already!

Here is the boys' new bed!! When we were in Ikea in MN, I fell in love with a little toddler bunk bed cause it was perfect for the kids room! However, with a van already filled to the max, and 12000 miles to go, we could not bring it back with us. Plus, Logan's famous words spilled out of his mouth..."I could build that".

Alas...he did build it, and I love it! The boys love it even more! It's only 3 feet tall and very kid friendly. Not very mommy friendly though. It's a good thing the boys dont care how often their beds are actually tidy and made.... ;)

Kase gets up 2-3 times a night still.......

So i finally listened to the several older experienced ladies that swear giving a baby cereal right before bedtime will magically make them sleep thru the night. He did o.k.....wasn't too into it, but he's only 4 months.

And....I would like to prove those ladies wrong. Again.

There's proof under my eyes. Big dark shadows....you can't' miss 'em!

And speaking of, I'm off to a nap.

Wait, it's 8:44 AM? Shoot.

Off to clean up a potty accident, then! ;)

Sew Monkey Butt

2012-01-16T13:11:00.000-08:00

I didn't spell that wrong...I actually DID sew a monkey butt! It's a homemade cloth diaper! Cute, huh?

A friend gave me a old Singer 500A and it's really awesome, but couldn't figure it all out! So Charlotte, a lady in our meeting, came and helped me figure it out and even cleaned and oiled it! So now it works like a charm!

I half printed off a pattern, half made my own for this project. There are parts I need to modify, but for my first one, I'm pretty proud of this little monkey monkey butt cover :D

New Chef Mate

2012-01-13T16:46:00.000-08:00

There's a new chef in town who doesn't mind helping me out in the kitchen!

Actually, he's more like an intern...he mostly just watches and comments on a few things.

My only complaint?

He could stand to lay off eating every crumb.

His chin has over DOUBLED in size!

I can't be too hard on him...he's still in training, super cute....and only just about 4 months old.

1825

2012-01-09T14:09:00.000-08:00

One thousand, eight hundred and twenty-five days (plus a few more now) is how many days we've been married!

Before you get your calculator out...that's 5 years :)

We spent the weekend in Kalispell, and with awsome Grandparents who were more then willing to babysit, we went on the most awesome date ever!

(The other most awesome dates were the one where we first held hands :), and the one where Logan proposed. Of course, all of our dates were nice!)

We went on a Moonlight Dine & Ski up at Big Mountain in Whitefish. We rode the ski lift up to the summit where we had a delicious Italian dinner by candlelight. And of course, hot chocolate resided shortly on our table. We were serenaded by guitar, and looked out to see city light of both Whitefish and Kalispell. Then we had a very very chilly ride back down on the chairlift...decending down out of the the fog back to the ski lodge. It was so romantic :)

3,000

2012-01-05T11:16:00.000-08:00

3,000 - roughly the amount of miles traveled to experience some quality Krisher time :)

We've done it again! And once again, it was fun! And once again, my heart broke a little more while driving on County Road B, driving away from my childhood home, back towards Montana.

But let me tell you what..my heart once again lept with PURE JOY when we turned onto Hwy 93 S...meaning only 25 miles to go till we get HOME!

Phew....what fun our Christmas time was this year...but oh what fun it was NOT to drive all that way with first a carsick toddler, then another 'real' sick toddler, and a constantly hungry 3 month old.

My heartstill smiles, though, thinking of the fun we had and the family and friends we saw!

(A very cuddly babe, and Auntie Sarah)

(Grandma reading to most of the g-kids)

(Grandpa and the boys discussing what looks necessary in this weeks Fleet Farm ad)

(Typical boys - delighted and curious in Great Grandpas dumptruck)

(Vroom vroom! It's maybe a good thing there wasn't enough snow for this beast to make it out of the garage!)

(Great Grandma now reading. I am realizing that most of my pictures are of someone reading to the kids. They were glad to have enough people around to read to them, whenever they wanted :D)

(Oh, and another reader... Uncle Ted)

(More giggles)

These next pictures are poor quality from my phone and out of order:

(Just call Naomi the "baby whisperer". She can put him to sleeep anywhere, anytime! It worked especially well when I was trying to do some shoe shopping with a fussy baby :D)

(While we were spending a few days in Minneapolis, we got up to see Katie, Brendon, Kenzie and new baby sister Macie)

(We went to the aquarium with Justin, Susie, Addie & Miles. Such a cool place! We saw sharks, jellyfish, "Nemo" fish, turtles....awesome sea creatures!)

Litte Remington was admited to the Childrens Hospital in Neenah for observation. He eats so much, but is so little, everyone is wanting to know WHY! Aside from first initial numbers that looked scarry but were later dismissed...everythning looks good. He's spot on for his social development, and within the past few weeks, has been amazingly catching up on his motor skills. Meanwhile, he's living up to his name of "Peanut" :) And, the happiest 9 month old I've seen!! He will continue to see a growth and development specialist down in Little Rock where Lindsay & Kelvin are currently staying for his work.

When Kase wasn't hungry or needing a little cat-nap, he was super cute and happy :) He is talking a lot these days...coo-ing and even laughing. His curious little hands grab what's closest to him, and can often be found in his mouth! BUT MAN, he's getting HEAVY!

Now, we're doing laundry, catching up on mail, re-filling the fridge.

Well actually, now getting ready to go to Kalispell for the weekend, and a special evening out for our 5th anniversary.

Time to make some Mater mac 'n' cheese......

2011-12-14T09:11:00.000-08:00

These days find me very very busy. Not accomplishing much to be prove that I actually haven't been lazy....but just busy mothering!

Here is Coy, our intellectual...working on a crayon dry-erase workbook from Auntie Lindsay & Uncle Kelvin. They are awesome! Thanks guys! Especially good for during meeting :)

But seriously..i do mean intellectual! My brain smiles to think of just how bright he is and where it will take him someday!

But ask him a question that his bright little mind knows?? He smiles goofy, and says "uhhhh" in a clown voice. Groan.

Here is our special little Kase-Kase. He is now 11.5 weeks old! Wow, huh? He is awake and alert more, which is fun, but means he also is needing more and more attention! If he's not being held or talked to, you can bet he is in protest for some love!

We have never actually seen the movie, but these boys are in LOVE with CARS! Coy is usually carrying, or in search of "IcQueen". Bentleys favorite? MATOR! (my fave guy too) Grandma Braaten got the kids some cars legos, and they are one of their most played with toys. :)

Bentley is seeming bigger and bigger everyday. Logan often comments on the size of his hands. Meaning he may be a big guy someday? We always joke that Coy will be the scholar, and Bentley will be the jock. Kase? Don't know yet. Hopefully not the geek ;)

He said his first perfect, whole sentence the other day over dessert...." I like apple pie" :D

Benters has been quite cranky lately too :( He has been just gnawing on his pacifiers, which I presume is for comfort of new molars, which is the reason for the baltic amber teething necklace. But anyway, since the gnawing on the paci's, they have been ripping, and have had to throw them away. He's extra sad about that, but I guess it means it's time to start coping without a paci!

I just love watching daddy with his boys. They spend alllllll day with mommy, and are glad to have daddy walk thru the door in the evening. Someone who will get down on the floor and horse play with them. Someoneo who will be the buckin horse for them, and chase the rodeo clown. Yes, it's true...everynight we have a rodeo performance in our living room. Tickets are free!

Kase loves to talk! He's telling daddy here that he can't wait to ride the buckin horse too someday!

Saturday was project clean-the-fridge day. Logan is awesome at that...specially if he gets to watch a football game while working :D Too bad the Bobcats got spanked...otherwise he might have had a adrenelin rush and cleaned the cupboards too! Haha :)

Kase being entertained for a few short minutes, is a wonderful thing! He's started grabbing at these toys on his swing. Of course, it surprises him when his little hand actually gets ahold of something. Then, if it's something that makes noise? He'll jump, stick out his lower lip, and start wimpering. He'll get the hang of it....soon hopefully!

In a seperate picture where he's sitting there in the swing, I think he looks like Grandpa Pheifer :)

So....roley poley has gotten on the treadmill again! We talked about getting a gym membership, and me going certain days of the week after supper...and Logan would make SURE that I would go. However, i KNOW that will not happen....as any mom of an infant, and small toddlers knows. There's just too many variables to ever have a set schedule. So, I decided that I would take those times and use the tradmill that I begged for last year.

Other then wanting to shed pregnancy weight (X 3), I want to feel good too.

My inspiration?? Mariah Baseman. She's got the determination and will power that I want! Thanks girl!

I dream of just getting out there and running, running, running like I used to do 8 years ago.I would just put on my shoes and run down to the lake, like it was nothing. Nothing but air under my feet. Someday :)

Source: fit2print.tumblr.com via Jenn on Pinterest

Kase - 9 weeks

2011-12-01T09:02:00.000-08:00

Monkey #2 is 2

2011-11-20T01:17:00.000-08:00

It is incredible to think that just 2 fast years ago, Bentley Armour was born into our lives!

Then, it was his perfect little lips and long fingers that had our hearts beating so fast. Today, it's his crazy spikey hair (which I actually cut last night :( ) and his deep dimples and somehow incredibly cuuuute front teeth. And his goofy, care free manor. Care free, yet able to go from 0 to 10 in the "Toddler Fit" scale in about 2 seconds.

You will never see him without his paci - or his big brother, Coy.

When I posted this picture on facebook 2 years ago, a friend said he's got a "built-in best friend"...and that's proved so true! Bentley has such a unique little personality and style of his own, but he never lasts long without his big bro.

Does he not just absolutely melt your heart?

Looking at the picture again just makes me heart skip a beat, then swell right up! And now, he can turn any frown upside down pretty quickly. And can vanish any fear and sadness.

Ha, he still looks like this when he sleeps! Lips squished out...eyes closed tight, but eyebrows somewhat raised.

Happy 2nd Birthday, sweet Bentilee Boo Boo!

Got Milk?

2011-11-15T09:37:00.000-08:00

Today is finally the day I'm sending my donation of 332 oz. of breast milk to Mothers Milk Bank!

Now before you say "Eww" or think that's weird...hold on a second

because

Breast Milk Saves Lives!!

When babies are born premature and sick, the best medicine for them is breast milk. Now most mother readers know this, but it contains nutrients, colostrum and antibodies crutial for tiny little bodies' wellness. Plus, it's easier to digest, making it easier on sick little tummies. A new mothers milk is "Liquid Gold!" Unfortunately, some mothers cannot not produce milk because of stress from having a premie that is sick, or due to their own ilness.

And they use it for medical research, too...because of it's nutritional properties, it's used for illnesses for adults too. Research shows that it's been benefitial for cancer patients and boosting their immnue system.

Parents of adopted babies sometimes prefer breast mil, and rely on donated milk because they can't produce their own.

So that's where I (and other donors) come in.

All this 332 oz. of milk was all pumped within the first 2.5 weeks...meaning I was almost literally, bursting with this Liquid Gold. It was sickening to just dump it down the drain, so I bought boxes and boxes of storage bags (You are welcome, Medela) and put in the deep freezer.

Now this isn't just a free-for-all type of thing. I had to have blood drawn, extensive medical background questioning, and a well check for both Kase and myself. Once it's to the milk bank (in a hospital in Denver, CO) it's pasturized. After each pasturization, it's tested again for bacterial counts, to ensure it's free of any bacteria that may be harmful to infants, especially sick premies.

Still think it's weird?

http://www.milkbankcolorado.org/

It feels awesome!

So to the question, "Got Milk?" I will answer YES I do!

WEEK SIX and about time

2011-11-08T10:26:00.000-08:00

WARNING: PHOTOS GALORE

6 weeks ago we were cradeling a tiny, sleeping baby, and today we're holding a baby who's now wearing 3-6 month clothes, alert as can be, smiling and craving attention!

Wow, time passes to impossibly fast when you know you should be treasuring every second, even though you really are too busy to!

These 3 boys are the coziest boys! Coy was begging to hold Kase and of course once they were cozy, Bentley wanted to be up there too :)

We are starting to see little smiles from this guy! They are sooo cute, and I usually see the first one right away in the morning when I go in and say good morning to him when I hear him stirring. But to actually prove it and catch a full one on camera? - nearly impossible!

His "safe" spot is this bouncer. Also a wonderful last resort in the evening when he's fussing and mommy is busy with supper/clean up and daddy is busy with big brothers.

Coy usually rides his Strider bike down to the mailbox. Bentley has one too, from Grandpa and Grandma Braaten, but isn't interested in riding it yet. This day, for fear of getting bored on the way down, he pushed his dumptruck ALL the way down and back. I will just say that we spent *most* of our morning waiting for the dumptruck driver to catch up.

We had our first snow on Saturday! Beautiful while it was falling, and awesome now that it's gone :D Coy was pretty excited and wanted to build a snowman, haha! They played outside till their mittens were soaked and cheeks and nose red as can be!

SO BEAUTIFUL!

In the guest room/office, Logan set up an old work computer for Coy to play on. He has two pre-school games that he dinks around with. Since kids these days use computer in kindergarten, we might as well get him started, huh? Great for hand/eye coordination practice too! Bentley just watches from afar...

How cute is our little football fan? Just kidding - he could care less about football, but his daddy loved hugging this sweet football! He was feeling a bit deprived because our internet was down on Saturday because of the heavy, wet snow and he couldn't watch any games he was hoping to catch.

I am loving this roley-poley chub! Too bad it isn't quite as cute on adults, huh?

Last week, (at 5 weeks) our midwife weighed him - 12.5 lbs! That means he gained 4 lbs in 5 weeks! We have an appt this week for him, so Im excited to see what he will weigh at 6 weeks!

I am not surprised that he is gaining well - he eats every 2-3 hours! At night included.

This is my good friend, Olga and her little girl, Clara. They live in Missoula where her husband Pablo is going to school, but they are from Chile. It was Olga's birthday last week, so Bonnie Coleman and I took lunch up to her! I am so lucky to have her as my friend!!

Kids spell love T-I-M-E. ~John Crudele

As any mother of more the one child knows (or even with one child, I suppose..I can't remember, lol)..."enough time" is a total fantasy!

I have been struggling with my TIME the past 6 weeks.

(Among other things...like sanity, sleep, etc. haha)

Enough time to get things done, time to spend quiet and alone with God, time being a wife.

But most of all though, enough time with each kid. Obviously, the baby takes the most time, right? I am feeling really aweful when I have to tell the kids "I can't right now", and "It will have to wait 'till later"...but what else can I say when I am nursing, burping, comforting a baby who really does need me most right now? Hopefully I am not scarring them now, and I will be able to balance my time better before they start to remember that mommy ignored them as a child! Sigh.

Then find time to blog? Seriously...if I had time to blog, this post (and the last) would not have taken 2 hours and 11 minutes to complete!

So...until next time, cheers!

Which means, not till next week, or the next week, or the next, I'm sure :)

Halloween

2011-11-08T09:27:00.000-08:00

Since Halloween was already over a week ago, now would be a good time to post about it, right?

We met Aunt Mary at Red Robin (in the mall) for a delicious pre-trick or treating feast, and then walked around the mall collecting candy and looking at all the rediculous costumes that humanity dares to parade around in!

In our little parade was a 5 week old cutie (believe it or not, hes that cute all the time, not just on halloween!), a curious monkey, and shockingly sweet triceratops! And a lucky Gramma Mary, mommy and daddy who got to corral them in all the sugar-high madness! :)

Grandma's Visit

2011-10-30T19:43:00.000-07:00

My mom came for a visit for a few days, and we LOVED having her here! The boys got to know their Grandma Krisher again, and Grandma got to meet Kase :)

Here are a few pictures from her camera that we snuck before she left.

we were lucky to have a few gorgeous days!

We spent part of one morning at the childrens museum downtown. the boys played in the grocery section, the tree house, waterworks table and in the doctors office room! phew...thats covering a lot in one day! :)

heres a sneak peek at what u might find bentley looking like on halloween night!

grandma brought a new game to play! lost count of how many times coy and gramma played it, and weve played it twice since she left this afternoon! he loves it!

gramma and da boys before bed time :)

wow...a quiet moment for just the two of us to take a picture! alone! gasp! ;) mom stayed and played with all three boys while logan & i went on a nice dinner date (moms treat!)! we went to a steakhouse, and then of course to dq afterwards to take advantage of those 1.99 peanut buster parfaits! :)

mom also got them a foam elmo puzzle/floor mat. this also has been a favorite and made very good use of their play time! grandmas just know how to pick the good toys!!

so we sadly said goodbye to her this afternoon :( we are so glad for the time we had, fun we had, presents, cleaning and cooking she did, and the hugs & love she left with us!

we cant wait till next time!

p.s. sorry for any typing errors, as my other hand is currently occupied holding a sweet little sleeper :)

2011-10-21T09:18:00.000-07:00

You don't choose your family. They are God's gift to you, as you are to them. ~Desmond Tutu

iphotos

2011-10-11T14:36:00.000-07:00

Life with 3 little boys now is well, umm...both awesome and very tiring! These pictures are from my iphone and all on facebook, but i have a very special mom and aunties who dont get to see them there.

So here are a few from the past week and a half :)

1 week old

3 years old now! And an excellant Strider rider!

1.5 weeks

Loving big bro, adjusting from being lil bro.

2 weeks old!

Pizza Hut with cousin Ryla, who is 1.5 months older then Kase.

And now 16 days old. Our little love bug, Kase :)

I'M FREE!

2011-10-05T09:31:00.000-07:00

That would be "THREE", actually, but coming from the mouth of the actual 3 year old...this is how we say it :)

On Sunday, Coy turned 3 years old!

I can't believe how fast he has gone from a tiny baby, to being 3!

He's filled with questions, curiosity, generosity, love, wonder and mischeif.

We love having this "big puppy" 3 year old in our lives everyday, making us laugh and challenging us for the better!

We had a little celebration with Grandma & Grandpa Braaten, Gramma Mary and Adrain & Anna!

And Elmo was invited too :)

What fun it was to have a fun afternoon with cousins!

Bentley and baby Kase got lots of love and attention, too!

Of course, it wouldn't be a celebration without a set of grandparents there!

Janette came down Wednesday and stayed until Sunday, generously helping out with the boys and keeping them satisfied and busy while Kase and Mommy got rest and into a little routine. It's a shame we all didn't live a little closer...I could use her more often ;)

There's A New Guy In Town

2011-09-28T14:03:00.000-07:00

The New Guy with his proud brothers!

-and-

The New Guy with his delighted family just one day old!

Kase Logan Braaten

2011-09-26T13:30:00.000-07:00

On the morning of the 25th, we welcomed little Kase Logan to our little family!

8 lbs 5.5 oz, 20.5 inches

7:12 am

It was a very long some 16 hours from when my water broke until I actually started productive labor, and then very intense labor from then till he was born. Thus, leaving mommy and dadd exhausted, and thus resulting in a very quick blog post...but here are a few pictures from the past day we want to share!

Very last belly picture. You can tell I was super tired here, and still had many (unbeknown to us then, thank goodness) long hours to go!

One of the nurses grabbed our camera just as he was being born and took some amazing pictures, most of them private and just for us, but I loved this one of daddy and his 3rd perfect son! The emotion of holding your brand new baby, the tiny miracle you helped create never loses any ounce of special-ness and pure joy, no matter how many times you've done it before!

Gramma Mary stayed with the boys, and stopped by quick on their way to meeting, getting to meet Kase when he was 2 hours old! Logan took a cute video of their first encounter with him :) They love him! They are always wondering where he is, or when he's crying Coy asks "what's he saying?" (this is cute because we don't know what he's saying either! LOL) Bentley always has an extra sassy in hand for Kase, and *gently* offers it to him if he's fussing. They need to watch each diaper change, and kindly hand us wipes. When Bentley finds a stray sock, he brings it over announcing it's "baby sock".

Last night, he slept for EIGHT hours straight!

So awesome for mommy and daddy, huh?

Here we are with our midwife, Jeanne, and a brand new baby! I cannot express enough thanks to her and her nurses for all the work they helped us through!

So now, Im off to cuddle a sweet new baby while the house is still quiet :)

(daddy and the big brothers are currently in town, monkeying around. heehee)

Broken

2011-09-18T20:27:00.000-07:00

Broken...what's broken? My water?

Haha, nope. Wishful thinking :)

In that department, the count-down is down to 12 days. And the day's almost over....so I'll say 11 days because that sounds much better! lol.

It's the computer that's broken, thus no way to post pictures we've been taking these past few weeks. Logans got his work computer home and the boys are busy getting wound up before bed time, so this is the perfect time for me to sit here and get this job done :)

We've had a few fun outings...

We met Anna & her tots, Gramma Mary, and Olga & little Clara for a picnic and carousel ride.

All the Pheifer & Braaten kiddos!

(Ella, Jaci, Aaron, Bentley, Coy, Tessa)

Bentleys new thing is JUMPING! And BOUNCING! And SKIPPING! Everywhere! Logan and I had to laugh the other night as we were getting the kids ready for bed because B was bouncing off the walls (almost literally) and hopping everywhere. Hopping to go brush teeth. Galloping to get a book. Jumping to the bed. He's got jumping beans in his pants...I'm sure of it! And these little benches at the park were a bouncin boys' paradise!

Sweet little Clara!

Love Bentley's wrong-moment-to-take-pic face here :) We were riding the carousel, each surprisingly happy to be on the OWN horse! (Which is good for me, because I can hardly fit just myself on a toy horse!) Both the boys threw their hands up in the air and immedeatly started yelling "Rodeo! Rodeo!" when the thing started moving. I didn't tell Bentley his "rodeo" horse had pink ruffles on it....

This was Clara's first ride! She was a little skeptical at first, but ended up pretty smiley by the end.

Gosh, can you believe that this sweet little boy will be 3 in two weeks? Time is flying sooo fast I hate to think of how fast the next 15 years are going to go! He's doing great at potty training! For the first week at it, anyway :) He's got his big boy undies on when we're at home and not sleeping. He's got a good handle on running to the potty chair *just in time*, but have yet to have a sucessful dirty duty on the chair. He loves emptying the pot into the big potty and flushing it, washing hands, then running to the fridge where we keep his chart and stickers. And of course...where we keep the treats... ;)

He's usually a cowboy, but lately Coy's been a puppy. Almost like a real puppy in fact...piddling on the floor (accidents of course), begging for a bone, and BARKING! I finally told "the puppy" to stop barking and he's pretty obedient. But yesterday he asked permission to start barking. Pretty sure that's the most well behaved puppy ya ever did see!

Three little chums :)

We took the rail off of Bentleys crib and now he's in a toddler bed! Last night was the first night and he did really good! Except for the early morning wake-up we got.....two very giggly boys intruding our nice warm bed long before we were ready to get up! That's one major benefit to an encaging crib railing...they dont get out until you LET them out.....haha!

Here I am at 38 weeks pregnant! We are getting so excited about birth day! I had been too busy and tired to imagine what this little guys birth might be like, unlike with the others where I thought and dreamed about it months afore time. However, when downloading a relaxing album for labor, I started to dream of it.......and got scared! In a panic, I began thinking "I CAN'T DO THIS! It's going to hurt! I'm going to be too tired!!" I called Logan at work, crying and feeling overwhelmed....and Im so so so thankful my husband has faith in me and is so encouraging! NOW, I remember the strenght I got, power I felt, and how amazing it was to birth two children naturally before. And I CAN DO IT again! Im looking forward to it again now, with less anxiety.

Until labor starts...then I'll probably start to panic a little again. :)

These 3 boys make my life so complete...and fun....and interesting :)

And soon it will be 4 boys!

1st of September

2011-09-01T08:24:00.000-07:00

Finally...it's due date month! :)

Here are a bunch of photos from the past few weeks of our little family! I was completely out with bronchitis & suspected pneumonia (couldnt get an xray to confirm though) for about...well, up until now! 3 weeks knocked a lot out of this pregnant mom, but I'm finally on the mend...but still waiting for my ribs to heal from all of the nasty coughing! Painful, I tell ya! :(

I am missing some pictures from Sarah & Chase's wedding reception in Bozeman last weekend, so I'll just tell you about it instead :) S & C and Mom & Dad took a *very* quick trip out to Bozeman so Montana friends could celebrate their marriage! Gramma Mary rode over there with us, and we got there a few hours early so we could hang out with my awesome family before the party was over! It was SO fun to see them again, even if it was just for a couple of hours! At the end of the evening, Mary and I rode back only as far as Adrian & Anna's, and spent the night with them! Again, short little trip, but fun!

And now...to look at the pictures...which is what you all come to see anyway, right? ;)

Our little Bentley is a total clown. He's always making us laugh with his silly little expressions, or by making monotenous, normal things goofy. He's being a ghost in this picture...running to hide, then a few second later re-appearing laughing because he thinks he's scaring the begeebies out of us.

Our back porch is good for lots of things! Mostly storage for dirty, unsightly yard toys, but don't let that fool you into thinking that it can't be cleared off enough for a good picnic once in a while!

Piano lessons?

Again, on the back porch. This little cowboy can't get enough length and strength to actually move this tractor with it's intended pedals, but he stays content and super quiet just sitting on it and hooking everything possible to the back of it. Is he not the happiest little farmer you've seen with a useless tractor?

Here is baby "K" at 35.5 weeks pregnant! The half of a week really shouldn't be that big of a deal, but when you're sooo anxious, it's a huge deal! Every day counts! Speaking of counting....YES, im COUNTING...only 29 days until due date! :D

Up until a couple weeks ago, I was so tired, and busy that I couldn't really focus on this baby. Rather, I was just pregnant. Pregnant. Pregnant....

But now, I am really enjoying thinking of this baby as a being...the little being that is going to be our 3rd son!

And we close with Bentley...saying "Too-da-loo" till next time!

xoxo

P.S Happy happy birthday to an awesome brother-in-law, Kelvin! You're gettin old man, but thank goodness you don't act it! ;) Love ya!

8 Second Fun

2011-08-13T10:37:00.000-07:00

Nothin gets our little guys blood pumpin more then a gallop to the rodeo! (Or "Raaaaaaadeoooooo" as they shout as they jump around the living room, and Coy tackles Bentley and pretends to calf rope him. groan.) We attempted the rodeo at the fair Thursday night, despite my rediculous coughing and contractions, and lasted about half-way thru, which was sufficient enough for the kids :)

During the event, this is what the kids faces are like....staring in awe...but then errupt when the cheering starts!

Coy waits and waits for something to fly out of the chutes. In between rides, he asks "Another one comin out?" Yes son, please wait a minute..at least! Then another bronc and rider come out, then "Another one comin out?" Patience does not run in this little cowboys blood when it comes to this!

Since I've been laid out flat all week being sick, the boys have been super bored and impatient with my boring-ness. So today we made a tent. "The biggest tent ever!" according to Coy. Which was pretty cool for all of about 10 minutes, of course. And how awesome is this mom to even let them have a snack in the tent! :)

Sometimes their attention span reminds me of the 8 second ride ;)

August Love & Fun

2011-08-10T14:40:00.000-07:00

Wow, got home late Monday night from a wonderful, fulfilling trip to Wisconsin to see Sarah & Chase start their new life together! Now, granted we rarely had the camera when we needed it the most, here are few pictures we did get! Lindsay got some spectacular pictures of the whole week, check them out!

So we'll start at the beginning:

Traveling was ok with the boys...as long as Coy could watch a movie, and Bentley had some toes to play with, preferably his own, haha :)

And this sweet lady is to thank for getting us 1500 miles there....and back!

Fascinating clouds across North Dakota. Really the only interesting thing there to ever take pictures of...haha. Just kidding, it was all beautiful. Just loooooong and boring of a drive!

We didn't have too much time to spend with mom and dad because there was so much to do all week to prepare for the wedding, but the kids did get to enjoy a little "kick ball" with Grandpa :)

(Sheila, Shyla, Sarah, Mom, Myself & huge belly, Linds & Rem)

Thrusday us girls went for mani/pedi's in the morning, and it was a total relaxer to prepare for the next few intense days!! Little Remington came along and sat quietlyl in his carseat, sticking his toes out too...as if wanting to have them done too :)

After a full day or working and shopping, Linds, Shyla & I threw a bridal shower for Sarah, which turned out to be lots of fun!! (she's got great pictures of that too!)

* * *

And then came the big day! August 6th 2011...the day that has imprinted upon our hearts, and will be their anniversary for years & years to come! My heart was so happy & full of love, and was so incredibly proud to be Sarah's matron of honor, and sign my name as a witness to not only a legal bind, but a love that is so strong that it will endure anything and make life so beautiful and fulfilling! The ceremony down by the lake was enchanting ( despite the sickening heat and humidity)!

These little cousins had so much fun together, and are deemed to be nothing but best buds (and trouble) all the while they're growing up! Don't have a good picture, but princess Madison was pretty darn good at keeping up with "the boys" :)

I LOVE this picture Logan took of Great-Grandma & Coy!

Instead of a get-away car, Sarah and Chase flew off into their future in Grandpa's little red & white Cesna!

Afterwards, we drove to the hanger where he keeps his plane and his pilot friend, Richard, took some up for a ride! Coy & Logan jumped in for a little ride, and Coy loved it!

Coy has a special bond with his Great Grandpa now :)

Logan took this picture of Mom & Dad's place from the air...how cool!

Well, that's all I have on our little point & shoot....but keep checking our Lindsay's blog for pictures and Mariah Baseman's websites for wedding pictures!!

http://www.basemanstudios.blogspot.com/

Ryla May

2011-08-10T13:32:00.000-07:00

While we were in Wisconsin, our little niece arrived!!! Kenny & Lichen welcomed a *perfect* little baby girl August 1st, named Ryla May.

Lucky for us, we detoured through Great Falls on our way home on Monday and got to meet her!

Bentley seemed just fascinated by her tiny feet, pulling off her socks a few times to peek at them. (she's a little tickleish, by the way)

But Coy was just like "Meh, yeah, she's kinda cute I guess.....now where did I set my Thomas train?" This auntie & uncle are completely in love with her!

2011-07-09T14:08:00.000-07:00

Ahhhh...we love these summer days!

The weather has been perfect for line drying our unmentionables,

and perfect for getting hot enough to have fun cooling off!

Oops...where'd the water go?

Summer time brings special company! Great-Grandparents are on top of the "special" list, too!

Special 4th of July effects!

And hard work!

Just kidding, the neighbor cut and put up our hay, and then Logan sold it right out of the field. Easy as pie for us! :)

Summer brings cool toys! Grandpa & Grandma surprised the boys with balance bikes! They're great!!

We're definately playing it super fun and super safe this summer, hope you are too!

Bonner Park

2011-06-26T20:47:00.000-07:00

This afternoon, Gramma Mooey (mary) met us at Bonner Park for an afternoon play date!

You're My Best Friend

2011-06-24T20:49:00.000-07:00

Logan's been gone most of the week for business, and we've fared pretty well on our own...but today I learned a lesson I'll never let go of..

It's finally the end of the day, and I go to get the kids jammies on. Short story...Coy's poopy again. Not a big deal normally, but he'd wet, and messed 2 pairs of training pants, and 2 diapers today...and I've already thrown the diapers on the wash. I got upset. I change him, and while I'm taking care of the dirty insert, the boys start fighting over the blankets. Over the pillows. Over Snap, the stuffed alligator. And after a whole day of fighting, I am tired of it and I yell at them to just get in bed. Lights out. No story. End of day. I say a quick 'goodnight' and shut the door. Both kids keep screaming. I sit down on the couch and take a minute to breathe...to calm my frazzled nerves, and then open the door back up again. Bentley's up at the end of his crib, waiting for me to pick him up, like he knew I'd be back in...we both needed the comfort.

Soon its me, Coy & Bentley laying sliently on Coy's twin bed with cars & trucks on the sheets. Coy took the pig covered pillow, and I get the Thomas the tank engine pillow. Bentley's cradled in my arms. We lay there...no sound from anyone. I break the silence by telling Coy that I'm very sorry that I lost my patience with him, and my heart hurt. He ignored me, balled up under his John Deere blanket. That's ok, I know how he feels. We lay for a few more minutes. He starts shuffeling,... un-burying himself from his den of blankets and turns overn to face me. He puts him arm across my chest, then moves it up to my cheek, making me aware of my need to cut his fingernails. His oh-so-soft hands and gentle strokes soften my heart, and then whispering, he says "You're my best friend".

Tears stream down my face, wondering what I ever did to deserve a love like this...the unconditional love of a little child. So I lay, wet-faced, between two little boys, cry a prayer of thankfulness & say good night again. This time with a kiss.

And, I am counting...4 hours till Daddy pulls in!

Welcome Summer 2011!

2011-06-21T15:09:00.000-07:00

Ahhh...first day of summer :)

We got out the mini-turtle pool, filled 'er up, stuck a toe in, and Bentley screamed it was too cold. Not enough summer yet maybe? It's supposed to be hot all week, so we'll have time to "warm up" to it!

So in the mean time....

we're reading with daddy,

and hanging out, being goofy :)

Don't you just looooove those dimples?

Logan is in Minnesota for the week, so we're surviving by ourselves :) Wish us luck, lol!

25 Weeks

2011-06-16T20:04:00.000-07:00

And because I probably wont post tomorrow...here is my baby belly at 25 weeks.

Oofta, huh?

It's JUNE?

2011-06-16T20:00:00.000-07:00

Not only is it JUNE, but it's already half over, too!! Wow!

Mom and Dad came out last week, and we LOVED our time with them! Unfortunately, my camera was not on my priority list as it should have been, so we have no pictures! :( They came Sunday (the 5th) evening, and stayed through convention. Which...was absolutely wonderful, by the way :)

Then Uncle Ted came to the end of the weekend of Ronan, and became the center of Coy's little world. Everything is about "unka ted" most of the time now.

Coy & Bentley really miss their family! (we do too!!)

Today at the bank drive thru, Coy told me he needed to "find unka Ted". He also likes Ted because "he is nice to me", he says.

Yesterday Coy was looking thru some photo albums and came across a picture of my Dad and said "That man is my friend!".

Tuesday morning (day after everyone left) Coy woke up in my bed and immedeatly asked where Grandma was!

We are counting the weeks until we get to see them again in August!

2011-06-01T08:47:00.000-07:00

Logan had "Fun, fun, fun till Daddy took the tractor away..."

Haha :)

We were generously lent the tractor to get a lot of our dirty work done this spring, and the time has come, that our dirty is done. (Wait,..is it ever done?) But Logan really liked having a tractor to play with! Brought out the little boy in him again. :)

What did you do for Memorial Day?

In our tribe...Sunday night, Duane, Janette, Gramma Mary & Auntn Sandy came for supper...where we celebrated Sandy's "29th" birthday! :) On Monday, Coy & Bentley loaded up the tractor with Grandma & Grandpa, and then we went into town and ran some errands...bumming around more like. We had some friends over after supper for popcorn and games. So..all in all, it was a nice, relaxing weekend!

My Sweets

2011-05-25T19:02:00.000-07:00

In random order...here are the sweets on my mind today...

My sweet sun tea...brewing to full delicious-ness, with a touch of honey to make it even sweeter.

My sweet monkey...whose new thing is to escape outside with just his socks on.

My sweet new concrete porch. And stinky boots. And freshly planted flowers.

My Our sweet new baby boy, currently 21 weeks & 5 days in the making.

My sweet Benty-Boo...who right now has a fever :( We are home from meeting, both sitting with our eyes half closed. Now I think it's time to cuddle up in a big soft bed and put these bodies to rest :)

*I am missing a picture of my GREATEST SWEET...my husband! But you already knew that, right? That he's the greatest.. ;)

Monday Fact

2011-05-23T11:56:00.000-07:00

Fact: Logan has 3,999 unread emails in his inbox.

Yes, that was three thousand, nine hundred & ninety-nine e.m.a.i.l.s.

100% of which are junk.

Just too much work to hit the delete button.

Emperor's New Groove

2011-05-20T14:03:00.000-07:00

Or something like that :)

We went to watch our neighbors shear their 1 llama & 2 alpacas...having help from another set of neighbors, and 2 enthralled little boys.

Here's "hairy", before the haircut. Battery died before I got an "after" photo. Bummer cause it would have sent you into uncontrollable fits of giggles! He looked SO FUNNY with no "clothes" on, so skinny, and so self-concious.

One of the little (upside down) spectators.

Once their wool was cut off, they put it on a screen to shake off any pasture paraphernalia.

We kept close to the mini-horses too. This one is Skye, because of her light blue eyes.

Coy re-named them all though....Grandpa, Grandma, the Mommy & Brudder. :)

We were offered the deal of an alpaca rug to decorate our house with. They send the wool to some place in Texas and have it made into blankets, rugs, & yarn which she knits with. Even though you may not be able to imagine it when they're prancing around all stinky and matted in the field, the wool is REALLY soft!

The Syverson's

2011-05-19T13:38:00.000-07:00

Fate has determined these two, formally known as just

Sarah Krisher & Chase Syverson, to officially be.....

THE SYVERSON'S!

2011-05-18T08:33:00.000-07:00

Alrighty, here I am playing catch-up again! :) Here are a little peek of the past 2 weeks at our house!

Having a slight craving for chocolate one day, and the only chocolate in the house being pudding, I settled for that, and the kids got to indulge, too! Above, Bentley is licking off the whisk used to make it, and below..well, the pictures speak for themselves ;)

These boys wait all day for their daddy to come home...often waiting by the window, or outside to see the first glimps of his car coming up the driveway. They have a bond that is so special...and so typical for daddys and their sons!

Apparently, either the time-out was too long, or this a clear explanation for the naughtyness that put him there in the first place?

Coys playing with the neighbors chickens.

Our workers, Karen Tenniswood & Marlene Benjamin stayed at our house for one last visit before traveling elsewhere for conventions. It's always a pleasure to have them, and a little fun for me too, since they entertain the boys pretty well!

Karen brought a guitar and sang songs with the boys. And gave a few lessons.

We've been thinking about going on a date Friday night, and wondering what to do with the boys.

Logan's solution : Put Bentley on the lawn tractor - he'll stay there for hours, and give Coy 2 gas cans - he'll be busy moving those from step to step for hours.

Problem solved.

Wonder where we should make a reservation?

*Grin*

I-Ami

2011-05-17T13:55:00.000-07:00

Early, early, early Monday morning, I came home to my handsome husband and sweet, sweet boys! Where did I go?

I went to Ft. Lauderdale to see my good friend, Naomi! I flew into Miami (Coy says I-ami) Wednesday night, and we checked into the Pier 66 resort and started our a.w.e.s.o.m.e vacation!

I used her camera, of course leaving it there, and now waiting for copies to post! It was hot, sunny, and relaxing...hitting the beach, scrumptious restaurants, fruity drinks (virgin of course), shopping, and sitting by the poolside is all we did for 3 whole days :)

We swam in the ocean (duh, that's what you do at the beach), but I was scared at first...one of those fears you get from bad dreams, but so glad I waded out to past my hips. I suffered from severe sunburn, but am now turing a golden brown :)

Can't wait to share pictures! A few more days to wait, maybe :)

IT'S A BOY!

2011-05-05T14:07:00.000-07:00

Course most of you knew that already from Facebook :)

We had a little ultrasound with our midwife last Friday, and she spent at least 10 minutes trying to see gender of this little baby. First she thought girl...then possibly, but not positivly boy, so were were left guessing! Until yesterday, when we had our 20 week ultrasound with a specialist (a week early), who with great certainty, informed us it was "100% boy"!

And I can truly say that even after really hoping for a girl, I was not the least bit dissapointed! A bit surprised, but extremely happy! I have pictures from the u/s but not loaded to a computer yet.

p.s. The phone rings and it's my Grandpa again. And I know he's looking for Grandma. But for some reason whenever he tries to call home from his speed dial, it calls me instead. But that's ok Grandpa - I love hearing you every week, even if it's by accident and only for a few minutes :)

Bentley's Calling

2011-04-25T21:11:00.000-07:00

Gardening is not Bentley's specialty...clearly...

But piano just might be!

Easter '11

2011-04-25T20:46:00.000-07:00

We went to Hugh & Carmen's for this special Easter weekend! We had lots of fun doing an egg hunt and party on Saturday, and family time on Sunday! Here are a few pictures...and I realize that most of them are of my own kids, even though there were lots of kids at the party, and they were all so cute.

(Bentley was extremely frightened of the Easter Bunny. Coy a little skeptical, too. These kids have never seen such a thing before!)

(Gorgeous view, huh? This is in Townsend at H&C's)

(LOVE this picture - 3 boys and their grandpa readin about tractors)

Sleep On This!

2011-04-19T08:28:00.000-07:00

We got a new bed on Friday, and have been sleeping on amazing-ness ever since!

It seems so huge compared to our FULL size bed we've been sleeping on since we got married!

So, here's to hoping our new bed will be less stress on my poor pregnant, aching back!

And it not, who cares because we sleep really good on it anyway :)

We still have pillow and skirt issues, so it's not as cute and decorated as I think it should be... ;)

And certainly doesn't go with the purple walls. But like I said, who care, It's Comfy To Care!

But for the kids, it's given more owies then ever. They tend to forget that it's about a foot higher then our other one...making the easy slide-off far more complicated then that.

Gettin' Dirty

2011-04-14T08:29:00.000-07:00

I can already tell it's going to be a great summer...the boys LOVE LOVE LOVE being outside!

Of course, becoming dirty just comes naturally with the territory.

It actually just come with the territory of being a BOY!

If you're wondering about their hat attire...they hatted themselves... ;) Very nice choices, I'd say! Bentleys hat deemed a little small, (thus the backward fit worked best), and Coy's a little large. It makes me laugh everytime I look at it. :D

As I was watering our new little fruit trees, the boys were playing in the water-leaking, rather water-spraying, spicket...loving the mud it was making, too!

In this house, we all say "CHEERS" to the quickly arriving spring!

15 Week Bubble

2011-04-10T13:19:00.000-07:00

That really should be "15 weeks, AND Bubbles"...but this way makes total sense too :)

Bentley got an ear infection this week, so has been pretty fussy, and one way to take his mind off the miserable-ness is to get in the tub! The kids enjoyed their bubble bath, until Coy dumped lots of bubbly water on Bentleys head..then the fun pretty much stopped.

Now comes my 15 week belly. But I am going to explain myself.

This is one of the smaller pictures of my bump...

You know, it depends on the angle of the camera.... ;)

I must say though, being pregnant for the 3rd time in 3 years, plus having too much baby chub left over from the last one, makes for a pretty big 15 week belly shot.

^^ This is the baby, and the daddy this baby will one day get to know..oh goodness!^^

At my midwife appt last week, I had only gained 1 lb in a month, and only 2 before that, making 3 lbs in 4 months. That's good, right? I hope to keep it that way! Im meeting with a nutritionist next week, just to get my mind fresh again on what I should be eating (and not eating).

And now for the bigger picture...

The Pheifers Came to Visit

2011-03-28T12:04:00.000-07:00

Adrian, Anna & their kids came this weekend - and we had a blast! Thankfully, the weather was great so we spent a lot of time outside - swinging, visiting the miniture horses next door, and collecting "gems" and burying eachother in the stone pile.

Here are a few picutres I got.

This is my new favorite picture :) I love seeing my handsome husband, carrying our littlest country kid!

Patiently waiting for the mini's to notice their biggest fans waiting for them!

Ella, Tessa & Jaci LOVED these fella's! I believe I heard each of the girls ask for a horse for their birthday! More then once, too ;)

While the bigger kids fed them hay, this little guy ran around, joining in the excitement.

Of the 4 mini's. Sky was Ella's favorite, because of her light blue eyes. This one here, is Amber, though.

What a handsome smile, on this guy, huh? (This is Aaron Rio.)

LOVE this picture of Ella. I know I have a lot of her, she was just so involved in what the horses were doing, it made her very photogenic!

Bentley & Adrian. Logan joked "the view from his arms was better" :)

Daddy's shoulders works too! (im madly in love with his dimply smile!)

A brief moment of all the kids together! 6 sweet cuties!

Coy Aaron.

Ella Rose.

Tessa Jane.

Jaci Claire.

3 buddies.

Stretching

2011-03-23T09:12:00.000-07:00

At almost 13 weeks pregnant, my ~~fat~~ maternity pants are now waaay more comfortable!

Dont know wether to think YAY or ~~NAY~~ GARR.

Good news is though, is that Im beginning (beginning meaning like yesterday afternoon, and today so far) to feel a bit more peppy...so I've started Prenatal Yoga again, and am looking forward to the forcasted sunshine that'll get me outside walking again!

BUT who care about that right now....I'm thinking constantly of my new nephew and his mommy, daddy & lucky big siblings! The sun makes me want to start walkin east, and not stop till I kiss those soft new baby cheeks :)

See What the Stork Brought!!

2011-03-22T16:44:00.000-07:00

I am so proud to be an auntie again...this time to Remington Aaron Brotzman!!

He was born yesterday, 3/21, at 8:23? pm. He weighs an ounce shy of 8 lbs, and it 19.5 inches long....19.5 inches of pure sweetness!! I will let Lindsay share the story when she's ready, so in the mean time, this extremely pround Auntie will share a sneak peek of the little guy!

I realize he's pouting...but isn't his pout sooooo cute? It's Cole's pout, his mommy informs me ;)

Coy loves looking at baby "Repington"

We are working on pronouncing his name right..

We starting out at baby "Wupington" HA

(Coy just said "He got SAD, mommy!", referring to his picture above. Then said "He's so pretty". Now he wants to "go see him, please?")

What are Saturdays for?

2011-03-20T20:40:00.000-07:00

Well, you've asked the right person, 'cause we can sure tell you!!

Saturdays are GREAT for working on projects and stuff...

AND for getting as much fresh air as possible!

They are for monkeying around...

and ACTUALLY getting real projects done.

(Logan was burning the grass off of a built in motocross track the last owners put in the field (lucky us). however, we will have NO use for it.. not even when our boys reach their teenage years..;) )

Saturdays are when we take our jobs of fire watching VERY seriously..

and our view watching is spectacular!

We find toys to play with that we discover wont work (such as a flat basketball)..

and we find lots of KISSES that need to be given!!

And most of all...Saturdays are the days that little boys watch and learn from their dads doing their big "daddy" projects

Once it got too dark and cold for the kids, they watched Logan move dirt with the tractor from the window. When Logan was about to scoop up a load, Coy cheered him on saying "Get the dirt, Daddy, get the dirt!" When he got a load, Coy shouted "Good job, daddy!" I wish he could have been heard through that window!

"Sheepies"

2011-03-20T19:33:00.000-07:00

Last weekend we went to Grampa & Grammas. On the pig farm, that is. We enjoyed spending time with G&G, and went on a little outing, too! We went to see Uncle Dale & Aunt Bonnies lambs! Most were born within the week, but we got to see some that were born that day!!

It was so amazing...I was begging to take one home, but Logan was begging me not to. :)

After we left, Coy said that he "wuves them a lot".

See....Logan LOVED it! I can tell he was *secretly* wishing he could surprise his wife with one.. ;)

Thanks Dale & Bonnie for the fun visit and the pictures!

Feliz Cumpleanos Clara!

2011-03-20T19:17:00.000-07:00

Our little friend, Clara, turned ONE on March 9th! And we just got lucky enough to help her celebrate! At the party was Clara, Matias (big brother), and momma (Olga). Friends there were us, Karen Tenniswood & Della Williams, Shelby Coleman and her mom, Bonnie. It was sweet celebration for a sweet, big brown-eyed little princess!

Mother, Do You Wine Much?

2011-03-17T14:26:00.000-07:00

haha...I mean "Whine Much?"

I should be cutting veggies right now, or posting super cute pics of the boys...but something on Facebook has really got me thinking.

A girl, who's sweet little baby girl is just 3 months old, said she was sick of moms "complaining about their jobs. then why did they have kids?"

Whether or not she was pointing at me, haha....most of my status updates are about my kids and motherhood. The naughty things they do, the cute things they do, how tired i get...etc. I AM NOT COMPLAINING!

I LOVE MY PLACE AS A MOMMY!

But seriously, being a stay-at-home mom to two toddlers, just 13 months apart and another one in the oven, is stressful! And tiring! And not always peaches & ice cream!...Just as any job goes.

So how do we deal with it? Some moms are just super moms, and are care3-free and just go with the flow. Some indulge in wine (pun completely intended), some relax with retail therapy.

For me? It helps to make light of the situation. Laugh (after the fact, of course) about it. Like my latests posts, where Bentley relocated the cream of wheat from the pantry to the laundry room floor, and is now self scoop....or rejoicing that I got a babysitter so I could go grocery shopping alone. Sharing laughs with other moms about our kids is a way of connecting with eachother, and encouraging eachother. Being a mom is joyous, but tough, so finding the humor is motherhood helps the day just go by a little easier.

A dear friend wisely told me, "The first child makes you a parent. The second child makes you a mother. The third makes you carefree." We shall see...but until I don't care that my kids have torn the pages out of my bible, an entire box of cream of wheat has been emptied into the laundry floor, or a PB&J sammy is upside down on a freshly washed floor.....I will somehow find the humor in it!

Ok, except for the Bible one maybe.
So, call it complaining....I'll call it funny!

Oh, and soon to come, is posts about
                                    * Baby Clara's 1st birthday party
                                    *Weekend trip to Gramma & Grampas pig farm
                                    *Feeding baby "sheepies", which Coy "wuvs a lot" ;)

Coy-isms

2011-03-10T07:40:00.000-08:00

My camera is got a layer of dust on it, and caught in a spider web somehere I'm sure...and all I've got to post is things my kids say.

Bentley says : "waaaaaaaaaaaaa". and "NO!" sigh. Im blaming this behavior on his eye teeth, all 4 of them, just barely poking through. I hope I'm right! :S

Coy says (As we're walking down the driveway and it's windier then all get out...) "Mama, make a wind shut off up inna (s)ky!"

"Don't be sad at me, mama!" when he's getting in trouble. Does he mean "mad"? Im thinking so.

In the van, instead of the radio, he wants to hear "meeting songs". Right now he's asking for the "Jesus song". This warms my heart!

He dropped his vitamin one morning and couldn't find it, which was pretty traumatic. Logan lifted him up, and turns out he was sitting on it. With the BIGGEST pouty lip and BIGGEST tears, he says "Sooooo saaaaad" and started bawling again.

**Oh, Bentley also says "BUUUURP" cause he just ate THREE (3!) pieces of toast for breakfast!

2+pink+lines

2011-03-05T15:51:00.000-08:00

We want to introduce you to the 5th member of our family!
Rather - EVIDENCE of another member!

Here...Coy will show you

And here's how it began.

Well, you know how it really began, but here's now we found out ;)

On our trip to WI in January, I started feeling nauseas, but assumed it was a stomach bug since we were around a lot of people and you can always bet that someone is carrying something. I took it easy, I layed down, I tried to aviod heavy foods that would make me feel worse, I took my temp...but it never changed.

Dad said "I bet youre pregnant"

I said "No...I just had my, ya know, period not long ago"

Dad still said "I think you're pregnant"

So a week after we'd been there, and I was still feeling sick, Lindsay brought over a $1 pregnancy test. I took it. Negative. Ok, I was bummed a little. So I really wasn't pregnant...I was just fighting a bug. All the way home (then it was blamed on motion sickness) and all that week I was STILL sick!

One Saturday after we were home, we drove up to Missoula to go to a Griz basketball game. Now more and more I was beginning to think that I *could* be pregnant...and when I spotted a Walgreens, I make Logan whip in so I could pick up a test. So all the way from the Walgreens to the Adams Center, we had butterflies, wondering. Once at the game, I stopped at the rest room while the boys found their seats..................

And I came back out with a HUGE smile....I couldn't have stopped smiling even if I wanted to!

I walked into the stadium, everyone else around me seemed nearly non-existant. I scanned the crowd for the boys - and when I spotted them, Logan knew right away by my beaming face that I had seen TWO PINK LINES!!

Of course, I saved that basketball game ticket for the new baby book :)

_______________

We saw our midwife this week, and got to see our tiny babe!

And even after two children already, this sure is NOT old hat, it's just as exciting as the two before.

Hearing that fast, tiny, yet so strong heartbeat is so reassuring and beautiful!. Another blessing. Another miracle!

We are 10 weeks, putting this new baby due September 30. I have been really sick, really tired, and really really hormonal. Even though that's "just pregnancy" and normal, I'm getting pretty impatient for the day when Im feeling better!

2011-02-28T09:53:00.000-08:00

In case you've forgotten what my children look like...here are some new pictures I snapped this morning. SO they are as up-to-date as they possibly can be!

The kids have been as busy as they can be!!

"Busy" is defined as playing, reading, running around like crazies, and of course whining, crying and fighting!

There is no denying in this house that we are going a bit crazy, so we cannot wait until it warms up enough to run some of this energy off outside!!

My goal this spring is to get out and spend more time with my three local mommy friends who also have kids the boys can play with. I am such a home-body, but hope to make a bigger effort to change our scenery at least once a week!

Bentley is working on some eye teeth, so it's been a challenge keeping him comfortable while they come in. One's poking through today, bleeding a little :(

He's also done nursing. For the last 2 months he's only been nursing morning and night, and the past week or so he's been more interested in touching my face and giggling rather then actual nursing. So I tried not nursing one night, worried that he'd eventually get lonesome for me, but he did just fine! It's emotional for me, him not needing me for breastfeeding anymore, but I know that I gave him my best for 15 months! And I loved all 15 months of it! He's a "big boy" now, I guess.

"Big boy" is saying a few new words!!

shawa (auntie sarah)

peeesss (please)

door

haa (hot)

As for the "even bigger boy" - he's showing us how creative, kind, yet bull-headed he can be! He loves to play with cowboy hats, my boots and his rocking horse. Just this morning he was giving his horse a "wash down" (thomas the tank engine term for a bath) with a wipe. His horse also has a band-aid on his ear...cause he got hurt. Somehow. On his ear. Poor horse.

He was playing meeting the other day and wanted FOOD to play meeting with...for the emblems, ya know.

His imagination is going wild. So is his little human nature too! I am beginning to just roll my eyes when i hear screams from the next room, or when he throws a tantrum when we say "no". But I must say, he still makes me smile and very happy, dispite his naughtiness. Don't think that he's the only naughty one in this house either...it takes two to tango...!

By the way, WHERE IS SPRING? I know it's not even March yet, but still....!

Makeover!

2011-02-26T09:07:00.000-08:00

While Duana & Janette were on their 35th Anniversary vacation to AZ, we broke into their house, and gave their bedroom a MAKEOVER! Not that it was terribly out-of-date, but there had been mention of an "update", and we wanted to give it a fresher look!

Most of the credit goes to Ellen & Carmen for doing most of the planning, and us and Kenny & Lichen nodded and agreed excitedly, envisioning what the outcome would be!! Then in one weekend, us and Hugh & Carmen got to work with paint and our decorating skills and......viola!

Take a look.....

BEFORE:

AFTER:

When they got home, they WERE surprised! However, first very confused for a while. We thought the first place they would go after a week long vacation was their bedroom...but the bathroom and facebook came first! I left one of the extra new towels on the bathroom counter...which they thought was odd...but maybe someone from meeting there on Sunday left it?? Next was Facbook, where they found a comment of "today is the day", which really confused them too....

Until FINALLY they opened the door to their bedroom, and found it completely different!

First thing Dad noticed? The new nightstand and new alarm clock...LOL.

Grandma Erna

2011-02-07T09:20:00.000-08:00

On January 30th, my Grandma Krisher passed away, quietly on that Sunday morning. On Monday, we packed up the van and started out journey to Wisconsin, to say goodbye and be with family when we needed family the most. Her funeral was Wednesday and burial Thursday, and even though the road there was so long, we were sooo thankful we could say goodbye to my Grandma, who meant the world to us. During the service, it was mentioned several times of her humbleness, modesty, and commitment to Grandpa, and the truth. She was SUCH a wonderful example that I aspire to be like. Of course it was hard to see her not alive and smiling, but it was so comforting and peaceful to be surrounded by family and friends who's lives she had touched in so many ways!!

We are also so thankful that we got to see her just a few weeks ago when we took our first trip out to Wisconsin. It's going to be hard to forget the look on Coy's face when he saw Grandma, sleeping in her chair, with her teeth hanging out! I bet he never knew that teeth could even come out like that :) Here is a picture of our little family with her, just 2 1/2 weeks before she passed. :)

Since Grandpa & Grandma moved up to a trailer on our place from Medford when I was 7years old, we saw them a lot, and have so many special memories...since they played such a big part in our childhood.

*She alwas, always, always grew tomato plants on the front porch, and an aloe plant on the kitchen counter, which I liked to snap open and squeeze the aloe out of.

*Through the years, they cut out Marmeduke comics and made their own comic book, which got a lot of use from the grandkids!

*They LOVED our dog Chelsea. Grandpa was not where, Chelsea was not. When the dog got in trouble at our house, she'd make a bee-line across the yard and over the barn hill to their place, where she was always welcomed with pats and treats.

* Grandma and Grandpa sat by eachother at every meal. And I don't mean just next to eachother, or across from eachother..I mean their CHAIRS touched. I loved that :)

* I'd like to go visit them up at the trailer, and when I'd been there long enough, I'd know it was time to go home, but not exactly wanting to say "good bye". But thats ok, because I liked sitting in the quiet of their house with them, munching on stale popcorn.

*We usually got a deer count from Grandpa. He'd sit at the kitchen table and count the deer out in the field...and report it. These things you just HAVE to know, I guess ;)

Sigh...and many many more memories!

Frosty's Gone

2011-01-25T13:48:00.000-08:00

As I'm looking out the window at the green grass, I am thinking back to the day, 3 weeks ago when we had SNOW! SNOW! SNOW! How can it be gone already??

Coy and I built a snowman...carefully (and convienently) named...."Frosty"

It was so fun making Frosty, but so sad coming home from our trip and seeing nothing left of him except a carrot laying in the brown/green grass. :( We're having a "January thaw" for sure!

So I hope that either we get more snow soon, or we skip a few months till April. Cause that's what it looks like! Gar!

Wisconsin Pictures

2011-01-21T12:31:00.000-08:00

Im finally getting around to posting pictures from our trip to Wisconsin. We were gone Jan 7 - 17th, and loved everyday (mostly) of it. We suffered from everything from motion sickness (yeah, guess who. groan), colds, crankies, to stomach virus. BUT...dispite that all, it was WONDERFUL! It's so refreshing for me to visit my family. It's always wonderful to remember, and to see and smell, where you came from!

We visited with Aunts, uncles, grandparents ('greats' for the kids), cousins and friends that I rarely get to see.

The ONLY thing we missed out on, was snowmobiling. The boys kind of made up for it by snowplowing, though :) Coy sat right up there in the truck with Grandpa, happy as a clam! Each time they'd hit the snowbank, he'd exclaim "Crash!". He hasn't stopped thinking about it since we've gotten home too; we got a light skiff of snow over night this week and when he woke up, he looked out the window and said "Snowplow wiff Grampa?"

We got to help Madison celebrate her 2nd birthday!! What a sweet little princess!! She got lots of pink toys, and her mommy made seriously THE nummiest cake ever! (can you tell im dreaming of a piece with my coffee right now, Linds? haha) It was really fun for the little cousins to all be together. Now Coy is starting to remember them more, and we can talk about them and he knows WHO we're talking about! Just imagine those little guys (and the little guy soo to be born) in a few years. Grandpa will really have his hands full then ;)

Personalize your own free picture collage

Well, we're home now, and recouperating from the tiresome necessity of traveling. To top it off, I got the stomach bug too, but it's finally wearing off a little. Now we get to look back at the pictures and remember what a great time we had!

2007

2011-01-06T15:59:00.000-08:00

On this day, 4 years ago, I got to start 'the rest of my life' with my one true love!

2010-12-29T12:15:00.000-08:00

Just showing off again...

See Coy at this website, taking a bite of this delicious, organic, fresh goodness!

www.weechef.com

Family time is the best time

2010-12-28T20:18:00.000-08:00

I have come to the conclusion that it's not ME that's so slow and insufficient at blogging, it's just that time passes too quickly for me to keep up!

For special meeting rounds, we had the privilege of having JoAnna Ernsthausen (from ND) stay with us on that Friday and Saturday night! The next night, we got to have even more company! Dan Helenek came, bring friends! :) Duane & Janette and John & Ellen Christiansen showed a slide show from when they went to Ecuador last year.

No, I'm not pregnant, I just look really fat. Perfect timing, really...as I'm posting, I have a muffin that I just took my first bite out of. However, after looking at myself...I gave it up to a little 2 year old who just happens to love muffins. Ha...Win/Win.

I just love this picture of Bentley! This excited expression is pretty common...he'll spot you looking at him and he'll march over to you, excited, squealing, wide eyes the whole way :)

This frozen spider web is enchanting! Until the spring time of course, when there will be an actual spider in it!

The wreath even had frost on it! Looks so cozy and inviting!

So, don't just stand there, COME IN!

Bentley's idea of "hanging out". What a monkey!

* * * * *

For the Christmas holiday, we went up to Logans parents, and was special to be there again! I love my in-laws and glad that our kids love them all too! There was a little (belated) birthday party for Kadyn who just turned 8! Christmas morning we dug into stockings to see what ~~St. Nick~~ Mom & Dad put in them!

This was Kadyn's greatest gift of all! She proclaims to be a Griz fan just to side with her favorite Aunt, but she's been known to cross the fence to where the Bobcats roam too.... ;)

The Christmas/stocking idea was totally new to Coy so he was a little confused, I think, but happy, nonetheless to get new toys and treats!

Once again, not to flattering of myself, but these cousins are the main subjects anyway! Coy really looks up to his older cousins, Trenton, Kadyn & Spencer! Uncle Kenny & Aunt Lichen spent the weekend there as well...being the cool aunt and uncle who plays a lot with the kids :)

(We really missed Quiana, Trapper & Baylon, though!)

Now that we are home, the kids are having a hard time with not being spoiled every minute! We could really use a Grandma & Papa here full time! ;)

* * * * *

TEN days until we leave for Wisconsin!!

2010-12-15T10:44:00.000-08:00

It's a good thing he's so sweet.

Cause being sweet once in a while

saved him after he did THIS:

And that's when we started using toilet paper for our noses.

Cause this way just gets too expensive!

Mis-macth Monday

2010-12-13T07:42:00.000-08:00

Coy walks into our room with a stripped, multi colored babys hat on his head, topped with a lopsided cowboy hat. He's holding his stuffed blue puppy with one arm, dragging an etch-a-sketch by the pen and string with the opposit hand.

Wait - there's more.

He has a pacifier. In his mouth - and he's 2 years old.

He sees me, drops the etch-a-sketch, whips the paci out his peanut butter and jelly covered mouth and exclaimes "puppys fier! puppy's fier!" as he stuffs the pacifier in the puppys sewn shut mouth.

Wait - there's still more.

"Puppy needs food!!!"

More...

"Puppy tinky". Pretty sure it's actually himself that he's smelling.

WELCOME TO MY WORLD WITH A WONDERFUL TWO YEAR OLD!

What I won't advertise, is that he woke up at 6 and was already sent back to bed with a spank by 7:30

Meeting

2010-12-05T19:53:00.000-08:00

We were sick again today, so we missed meeting. Coy was sad, he kept telling us he wanted to "go to meen-een!" Then I got a video of him playing, and singing "Tell Me the Story of Jesus"...which of course is the only phrase of the song he knows. Then a quick "Amen" to close. It's a great start :)

2010-12-03T13:45:00.000-08:00

Now that baby is 1 years old....he's sure not really a baby anymore!

He IS small (18.5 lbs, less the 1%tile) but his pediatrician is not worried at all yet because he's eating great and developing amazingly well! (He's just like his cousin, Madison, really "petite")

She said, just from watching the boys play during out appt, that he's rather advanced in his "trouble making abilities"! WHO KNEW?! Well, for one, I DID!! She claims it comes from having an older brother, very close in age. Great, just great. ;)

Bentley is now walking, walking, walking! He took a few feeble steps on his birthday, then more steps on Thanksgiving day. And now, he's all over the place. It's so hard to get used to.... He comes walking around the corner and I think "Coy sure looks small today!" Then WAIT...its BENTLEY! Haha, sure throws me for a loop most days!

Our bookworms occasionally agree on the same book. Ocassionally.

We went and made Lefse with our neighbor, Jerrian, and we enjoyed them warm with butter and freshly made huckleberry jam. Definatley something to be happy about...just ask Bentley :)

Bentleys bit through his lip yesterday :(

Logan threw up yesterday.

I burnt my fingers yesterday.

Coy threw up yesterday.

I ran out of Lysol...very untimely, yesterday.

Yesterday wasn't the best day ever.

Bummer, huh?

Sentiment

2010-12-03T13:11:00.000-08:00

Bentley shuts his finger in the cupboard door. He speed-crawls towards mommy, half crying, half screaming. He lifts his hands up towards me and I bend down to pick him up. He cries, but stops when he reaches my chest and snuggles in. I think that his soft skin and whispy hair is more comforting to me, then my arms are for him.

In 10 years, will I remember the sentiment of such great love? Will I remember the smell of baby Bentley...and that he's the only one on this Earth that smells like that? And that my heart is so full I might explode? Will I remember that I hear "Hello World" by Lady Antebelum being played quietly from my iTunes?

I HOPE SO

Still Stuffed

2010-12-03T12:54:00.000-08:00

Im late again....here's my Thanksgiving post, even though it was last week. That's how I roll.

Aunt Mary came Wednesday night after meeting and spent the night with us. We were up Thanksgiving morning just in time to get the turkey in! So, here's my first ever turkey, with help from Mary :) It was delicious, too!

The punkin pie was good too, of course. Coy had just woken up from a nap when we were cutting the pie. He was completely out of it...but awake just enough to know to gobble up that pie :)

I took pictures of the boys over a month ago, and just now finally got a print framed for the living room. I like it!

P.S this post has been saved as a draft for , like 3 days....so beware, now that im a blogging mood...there are more to come. Like, today ;)

365

2010-11-20T19:55:00.000-08:00

Here is our little Bentley Armour,

just a seemingly-really-short

365 days ago...

And here he is today,

365 days old.

He is now jabbering, when it seems he was just yesterday grunting in his sleep.

He's crawling, when it seems he was just sleeping in my arms.

He's eating "big" food, when it seems he was just nursing 8 times a day.

We cheered at some first steps today, when it seems like just yesterday we were laying still by his side...waiting for him to smile during a toot. And we quietly cheered him on then too :)

And below, is the daddy, mommy and brother then looooove this little 1 year old sooo much!

Big brother was saying "appy boo-tee babie" all day long. And I mean all.day.long.

He even shouted it out loud during a tantrum!

HAPPY HAPPY 1st BIRTHDAY

BENTLEY ARMOUR!

Take THIS, Math!

2010-11-08T13:38:00.000-08:00

FOUR - number of times I got up with the boys last night
FOUR - time that Coy was up, and ready to go (somehow got him back to sleep after like an hour though)
ZERO - timeouts. WOW!
FIVE AND A HALF - minutes my shower lasted
TWO - pieces of chocolate it took to make me feel good
FORTY - minutes desired on treadmill
ZERO - actual minutes
ONE - new cow book, to satisfy a young mind
THREE - days till Logan gets home from a business trip

UNCALCULATED - # of deep breaths...

TWO - how many dimples it takes to make me smile
ONE + THREE - one "coys sowee mama", and three wet kissed makes me glad im a mommy :)

I Will Take The Fall

2010-11-04T10:46:00.000-07:00

"The old earth is changing;

The seasons turn round.

The autumn leaves flutter

Their way to the ground.

My own world is changing

The seasons conspire

To grant me the peace

Of a rest by the fire"

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

2010-11-04T09:27:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday Naomi!

It's your special day today, Nimi Lee! Happy Birthday to the bestest friend a gal could ask for. I love your (our dry) humor, your persistance, your courage, and your heart that is so generous. Have a super fantastic day, and maybe you'll get to the warm sunny FL beach today?! :) I LOVE YOU!

2010-11-03T14:30:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, our neighbor Jerrian, and her granddaughter Cameron rode their horses over to intive us to play in the leaves with them! I couldn't resist, since Coy and Bentley have never played in the leaves before...we've never had many leaves! Coy was completely confused, but eventually warmed up to the idea of covering mom and Jerrian with leaves. But it was "No Cover Pease!" when we wanted to pile them on him :)

I LOVE fall!

I took some more pictures of the boys today outside...and I'll post them as soon as I find my card reader! It bugs me soo much...it's always been in the way, until NOW, when I NEED it! Just call me super organized...ha

Fall Fun with the Zebra & Tiger

2010-11-02T15:23:00.000-07:00

Another slideshow by Smilebox

We've been enjoying the cool weather with the warm sun. Makes me want to sit and sip a pumpkin spice latte! :) MMmm.

Sunday evening we went to Colemans and had a little Halloween party! We bobbed for apples, swung at a ghost piniata, and played Spoons! It was so fun, and it felt great to just relax, laugh and chit chat!

I know I haven't posted in a while and I'm sorry. I don't know how these popular mommy bloggers with 6 kids find time to sit and make 2 posts a day, sit and photoshop pictures, and dress their kids all cute and perfect...everyday!! Sigh. Maybe they have secret nannies they hide while they spend hours blogging...

It's hard to believe that Bentley will be ONE in less then 3 weeks!!

A-choo

2010-10-19T11:35:00.000-07:00

"A-choo...A-choo" is what the 2 year old says these days! He's fighting a cold, but giving in to some good old Thomas the tank play time! Daddy got the boys a train table, complete with trains, railways, tunnels & signs off Craigslist. To be honest, once the boys went to bed, I spent nearly an hour ~~playing~~ putting together a track set. There's many many more peices, but we'll save those for a rainy day,...in like 2 years :)

These two little stinkers are the best ever!

Bentley's smile just warms up my heart! (and bones) He'll smile his dimply smile, which makes me smile. Which makes him smile bigger.

Which makes me laugh.

Which makes him squeel!

a..b..c.. come play with me!

2010-10-08T16:21:00.000-07:00

The boys have been so good at playing lately :)

Of course not so good at picking them up though! Ha!

Logan had the "great" idea of loading Bentley in the awesome dumptruck Coy got from Uncle Kenny & Auntie Lichen. Coy caught on pretty quick, and drove B. around the living room until he ~~dumped~~ unloaded him out.

Gramma and Papa Braaten got the boys a little table and chairs for their birthdays. GREAT addition to the play room! Its got ~~crayon and pen~~ art on it already, but it was bound to happen sometime! It's the most popular place for Coy's trains, and Bentley intently watches him play.

We're going out for a much needed dinner out tonight. Not a date-date, but a family-date. Nice to not cook OR clean for a night :)
It's an Italian places called "Romeo's". Getting some greens instead of something carb-y tonight...I've only lost 4 lbs in 7 months, and that's with actually trying, so it's time to get down to business. argh.

Have a good weekend guys! If the weather's nice, get your bum outside!! It won't last long! :)

Coy's birthday party

2010-10-04T14:28:00.000-07:00

This photo album generated with Smilebox

i am being taught

2010-09-29T13:22:00.000-07:00

I have very mixed feelings about Coy turning 2 years old in three days. I keep saying "I cant believe it", but in all honesty, I really can believe it! Sadly. Fall is my favorite season most definately, but now that I have babies...it's not just for the colors, cool weather, and pumpkin pie. Each time I've been pregnant, the wonderful experience I've experienced took place in the fall. I can vividlyl remember the smells, the cool air with warm sun, the sweet smell and soft tustle of the changing leaves. With those senses, I remember the kicking, rolling, hiccups of the babes inside me...the wondering, who is this little person? I remember feeling the fall sun on my face as I eagerly waited for contractions to start or my water to break, two years ago this week. I remember distinctly the leaves we walked thru while pushing Coy in the stroller down Mullan Rd. in Clinton while timing contractions the day Bentley was born.

13 months apart?? holy cow!!

thats the reaction i get most when poeple ask how far apart the boys are in age. nthe comes, "how do you do it?" With patience, lots of patience! Being a frequently-needed-mommy to two little ones definately requires pateince. It's calmed me down too. When Coy was a baby, I easily got upset when he was crying a lot, or when he wasn't taking his scheduled nap. I would groan and sigh heavily when I had to take him in and out of his carseat to run errands in town in the snow or rain. When we found out we were pregnant with Bentley when Coy was just 4 months old, I was excited, but super overwhelmed! The one baby that I had, had me strung out and I couldn't imagine another one!!

but i've learned balance. i've learned to multi-task. to take a deep breath. that it's ok that he's crying, it won't hurt him for a few minutes while I clean coy up from lunch. and right now?...i'm swaying, bouncin, eating, typing (and thinking) all at the same time. (wow, thinking?? i know) Bentley sits cozy in the moby wrap (in a new position i've created so that I can move my chin without hitting the head of my very long 10 month old) almost asleep because he's not falling asleep on his own today. i'm eating lunch at 2 oclock because we had story hour, coy took 40 minutes to eat a single bowl of spaghetti, then and i had to read 5 books to coy so he too, would fall asleep. that's my day. my normal day, that i love to greeat every morning now. (as long as it's not before 8 am...haha)

You bet I still get upset and frusterated, but when I remember to keep peacefull and take the day as it comes, I find I'm still happy at the close of day. When Coy was small, there were many days where I wished the day would hurry up and end because I was so tired, and now I'm kind of sad to think of how many day's I've lost saying that. I've stopped growling (most of the time) when I still get up with Bentley at least once a night. Time passes so fast. Too fast for me to be so uptight. So I embrace the challenges of each day, and delight in my babies, while they are still babies.

Of course, somedays i chew up and gag on my philosophy...but ya know....

LOVE TODAY!!...this is what my babies have taught me.

2010-09-27T13:47:00.000-07:00

It being fall and all (except for this week of 80 degrees), nothing felt more right then baking an apple pie! I have tremendous help here, as you can see. It's the little cowboy who does it all, including baking! But, hold off little ladies! Even though he's cute, athletic AND domestic...he's all mommy's!

Here's the end result. Mmmmm. We had it fresh and warm Saturday evening, and have been slowly munchin on it since then. This morning, Logan texted, asking if I had apple pie for breakfast! NOW, WHO would eat such a thing for BREAKFAST??

Me, of course ;)

Just a lil piece...

Tiny piece.

With no ice cream.

No need to get your grunders in a bundle, daddy...he's just playing! Quite the imagination he's got too...heels, shopping bag, cell phone...! I said, he's all mine, girls! In case you were fighting over him... lol.

Now, here's the real boy in him! Him and daddy were workin hard to pull up posts in the yard, and settled on the tail gate for supper.

Just call Benters "creepy crawler". "Crawler" for the obvious reason, but "creepy" because it IS creepy how he knows just what to get into that will push my buttons, and knows just what to head to after I have just picked up his last mess.

and now, i will brush his teeth

2010-09-22T13:46:00.000-07:00

i attemped to take the boys pictures at a friends ranch today.

total disaster.

coy was a rash 2 year old and just about turned him loose with the cows.

my camera bag fell off the log it was sitting on, and got dung in it.

and, this was the last picture i took.

yes, that there, in bentleys little ~~clean~~ fingers, is what you think it is.

if i werent scrambling over there, the face he made after he tasted it was pretty funny too.

yuck.

there are no words...

2010-09-18T20:45:00.000-07:00

bonfire out in the sticks

2010-09-18T20:40:00.000-07:00

It's pretty rare that i post things on the exact day that they happen, but Im set down at the table, and while it's still fresh in my mind...here it is!!

My little cowboy loves to ride his horse. First thing in the morning, he'll run out to his horse (not before he's got his hat though) and ride him. He must dream about them. And about bull riding. He plays "jump cows" first thing too. If he doesn't outgrow it, him and his cousin Trapper will have to circuit together.

Logan got a new Craftsman lawn tractor last week, and now got a trailer to go with it. For some reason, this whole assembly thing had to take place in our living room. Of all places.

I have been complaining that I "need" a new coffee table. So, what sweet, and practical husband wouldn't get his wife one?? I totally was not thinking red, and wheels though ;)

Tonight was a wonderful, perfect night! Hugh, Carmen and the kids came for a visit!! We grilled hamburgers for supper and the kids, though scattered throughout the yard, played together.

Then Trenton made us a wonderful bonfire!!

Kadyn does not like her marshmellows burnt!

Uh-oh! But the kids decided that we could turn off all the lights and use them as torches though. What a great, inventive idea! However, certainly not in my house!!

I think that our little blanket-stationed bug could really end up liking bonfires! He quickly bonded with Auntie Carmen, once she became keeper of the graham crackers.

* I said before that I'm sitting at the table. Alone. My lap, and other parts, momentarily all to myself.
That's because daddy's in reading bed time books to the boys. I was expecting to hear about how "dizzy mixes and rolly rolls", but I am faintly hearing about Mr.Wetherbee grumbeling about something. I like that Coy picked an Archie comic for a book. And I love that Logan didn't hesitate to read it.

little boy stuff

2010-09-09T20:35:00.000-07:00

Bentley just wants to let you all know,

that even though he's pretty scrawny,

he can still do things...like

THIS

Can you do that for more then 20 seconds? Yeah, me neither :)

This is his "im gettin ready to launch someday" pose. Someday.

Today we went to play on the train at the mall with my friend, Kristie, and her son, Preston. While they were waiting for us to get there, Preston was looking all around, saying "Where's Coy? Where's my Coy?" They're so cute together, a year apart, and good buddies! :)

We went to story hour on Wednesday and the letter of the day was "A". We read books about airplanes, then afterwards, the kids "made" airplanes! (he really ate peaches and crackers while I made the airplane.) But he loved it. "zzzzzzzzzzz" is what our airplane says!

I thought about my Grandpa Pheifer and his plane. Maybe some day Coy will be able to take a ride in his airplane :) He'd LOVE that!

meet some "fair" friends

2010-09-07T09:59:00.000-07:00

Meet Coy: Wait, you already know him. :) This however, is Cold Coy.

Last Thursday morning we went to the fair to watch our friend Cody's (we'll get to him in a bit) pig be judged. It was pretty cold though, but you'll get to see who kept him warm.

It was Leilani Price! Leilani has been in our field for the summer, and just went to her new field (good thing it's close by though), and we will miss her! She kept Coy pretty warm, and he's discovered a new great friend in her!

Next, you can meet Karen Tenniswood! She is our older (elder, more like, not older...lol) She is an awesome friend to the kids (and us), and is super handy around the house. She helped us fix the oven this weekend, and FOUND OUR KEYS FOR US!!! I lost the van keys Tuesday night, and searched the house thouroughly, and they were no where to be found. Logan looked. Coy looked. Bentley bugged us while we looked. haha. They were just gone. Then, in came Karen. She looked. And, she found!! They had fallen off the ledge and behing the piano (where we had already looked numerous times), but she thought to actually look INside the piano, and there they were! What a joyous celebration there was!! :)

This gentle lady LOVES horses :)

I would introduce you to this super large horse, but he doesn't have a name. And, he's so large he's rather intimidating.

And, here is Shelby Coleman! She's a spunky, and very, very active kindergartener!! Her mom's name is Bonnie. Her dad's name is Lyle and she has two big brothers, Chance and Cody. She is a fun friend for Coy to have, and keeps him tough :)

And here is Cody! He was showing his pig here,and did an excellant job! He sold his pig for $3.57/lb!! Logan, being a retired FFA member, and former pig showman, was pretty impressed :) Cody and Coy are super good friends, too! He takes special interest in Coy, maybe because they share the same birthday??Iforsee some rather wild birthday parties together :)

Below Cody, is him and his dad, Lyle (in the maroon vest). Lyle helped "control" the pigs. When I say control, I say it in all seriousness. Pigs are nasty! They fight, and bite, and scream, and trample! Maybe they just get overwhelmed at the fair, cause we sure haven't seen Papa's pigs do that!

Here is a goat, owned by a friend, Kaisa.(in the whilte shirt) It was a minature goat of some sort, and won first in it's little class. Cute, huh? I'm thinking we'll get one! (don't tell Logan yet. he'll find out soon....heehee)

You have already met him, but here's Daddy. He's the best, and also known to be the best husband ever, too! I think that the whole looks better from on top of daddy's shoulders!

Karen & Leilani were at our house Fri and Sat night. They love to play with the boys, and Karen even changed a diaper or two :) Here, she is reading Coy a bedtime book. I'm not sure who it put to sleep first, her or Coy, but both were sleeping before the end of the book!

And because he hasn't been mentioned yet, here is Bentley Armour. Drink this little grin in, because in about 10 seconds, it goes from THIS.......

to THIS

As sweet and pleasant as he seems, these days have been far from it. He's teething, having digestive issues, just moved to a weird new house, and is so antsy he's about to crawl!! All this frusteration and uncomfortable-ness leads to screaches, cries, and faces like this one. Sigh. It WILL pass, right??.......

RIGHT??

2010-09-06T21:32:00.000-07:00

We have so many pictures from these past few weeks of packing, then moving. However, obviously not quite so many blog posts, and now it's all too much! But here's a little slideshow of a few pictures.

Free picture slideshow customized with Smilebox

The move went really well!! We closed early Friday morning (8-27) and it went smoothe and quick. Our first night in our new place was saturday night. And by Monday, we were completely moved and said "adios" to Clinton and "HELLO" to Stevensville! The week was long, and eventful. We were broken in to being a "Bitterrooter" right away, going to the fair with some friends. Wednesday night in our new meeting was a special experience. We are much needed there, as it is a super tiny meeting. That night, there were 6 of us taking part. Imagine if we hadn't been there! Karen Tenniswood and Leilani Price stayed with us the weekend then. First worker visit. In our first week here, ever! Sounds like a great start to me!

WE LOVE IT HERE!!!

So, we encourage ya'll to come and visit!!

1 score and 3 years ago

2010-08-18T10:06:00.000-07:00

...+ 1 day....I was born! Now folks, I am 23 years old. That just seems so old, yet sooo young!

I first must say, that I have the most thoughtful husband ever...he got me an HOUR LONG MASSAGE for my birthday :) I'm going to wait till after we move to redeem it though, because I"m sure I'll really need it then! I was spoiled with cards and gifts from friends and family too :)

Logan came home from work a little early yesterday, which made me smile! We played with the boys a bit, and then went in and had supper at the Montana Club (my favorite), where I just plain ate too much! But Logan said not to worry, cause it was my birthday. I think he thought I was worried about calories (probably should be) , but it was the tummy ache that got me! I got the Fettucini Alfredo with garden fresh veggies. And they were fresh for sure...and super delicious!!

Then we went to Bonner Park where we played in the water and ate DQ.

THIS up here is the bad birthday dessert. Oreo, of course. It IS a size LARGE blizzard, thanks for noticing, but we SPLIT it :) And shared with Bentley too...who couldn't seem to get enough!

It was a great and relaxing day, and I'm thankful for yet another year full of blessings. And, there's so much to look forward to again, as I enter my 24th year of this wonderful life!

Oofda...and now I'm heading out for a walk. A LOOONG one, to burn off that carb-hi, calorie-hi, fat-hi pasta.

The blizzard? I'll leave that one here...it was too good to burn ;)

New Lawn Mower

2010-08-18T10:02:00.000-07:00

Anticipating mowing a very large yard once we move, we've been shopping around for lawn mowers. So far, this is the best we found.

** It even comes with a MOWER himself!

getting caught up

2010-08-18T09:37:00.000-07:00

So here I am playing catch up again! *groan*

We went down to the river the other night...possible the last time before we move!! We waded in the chilly water and Coy found himself a little place to sit in the rocks and dug himself a hole. Very productive :)

Sigh..I can't belive his old Bentley is getting! I say "old" instead of "big", cause he's not really that big..lol.

COy has started his goofy stage. Is it really a stage though? Cause I think my husband startet it when he was young...but hasn't quite grown out of it yet.....?? He'll (Coy, not Logan) will run around being really silly, then squeel, stop running, strike a funny pose and then look at me, waiting for me to laugh at him. I usually do laugh!

We went to the Missoula Stampede at the fair last week with Gramma Mary and our friend Colleen. The only "heese" picture I got was of a Charlie Russell rider. Coy was just awe-struck the whole time, watching intently while chewing on his fingers (a molar thing). The bareback event was super exciting, most cowboys getting a good ride. The bull riding? Not so much...with only a 1 in 4 ride. But the BEST part of the night was watching a handsome cowboy do a bellyflop off a bronc, landing face first into the huge lake that unfortunately filled the middle of the arena. Hilarious, and absolutely priceless!!

So now, Coy will, about 20 times a day, randomly talk about the "jump cows" and "jump heeses".

Grandma reminded us of the song "Mama's, don't let your babies grow up to be cowboys". So far, I think our little cowboy is just a hobby cowboy. But he did however, climb on top of me while laying in bed, yelling "jump, cow!!!" and pretend to fall off.....

2010-08-09T06:49:00.000-07:00

Tidbit #1:

The Broztman family of 4 is soon to be a family of FIVE!

Another little peanut is expected to join the family in April, which can't come soon enough for this smothering auntie! :)

Tidbit #2:

This here is our NEW HOUSE!!!!

We've been working on buying this home since end of March. So we're expected to close the 27th of this month, which can't come soon enough!! It's in Stevensville MT (about 25 miles south of Missoula) and on 10 irrigated acres, and has 2 smaller pastures already set up and a round corrall too. Im thinking of a horse, of course :) It's a short sale property, so it's been vacant for well over a year, and has MUCH yard work to do.

This is fun for Logan, because he gets to get a riding lawn mower!! He gets giddy looking at them...must be a guy thing! haha!

So anyway, we're excited about this! There's much packing and cleaning to do. So...if you're feeling generous and looking for something "fun" to do...

Just kidding :)

YesterMidnight Musings

2010-08-07T12:22:00.000-07:00

I wonder how many of my wild blogger friends are going to attend the Testicle Festival? Oh c'mon, I know some of you hang with the rowdy crowd on the weekends! ;)

Im getting a glass of water in the kitchen at midnight after I put Bentley back to sleep. I step on something...something that shouldn't be there. I immedeatly think it's the mouse that's been pooping on the piano (and other places). Come to find out, it's just a pea from lunch. Then im HORRIBLY disgusted with myself for thinking of that stupid mouse, and run back to bed in fear of actually seeing him (or them) for real.

In 2nd grade I was in a gifted group (believe it or not) where Mr. Hedkey (called him mr. keyhead behind his back) took a few of us smarter ones and gave us 6th grade tests to challenge us. One of the questions I remember: "Mary weighs 100 lbs. How much will she weigh if she lifts one leg up off the scale?" It's obvious that she'll weight the same. Sadly, Caitlan Ernst was the only one out of 6 of us who got that right. So,...now I'm wondering which appendage I can cut off to make me weight less. An arm?? Hmm...no, I need that for cooking, nursing, carrying babies, etc. My ears??? They wont take much off, but I think I can do without em....

Im bursting with exciting news!! I'll wait to share it though :)

Coy's Debut

2010-08-03T21:04:00.000-07:00