22 Weeks

Our little baby is not feeling so little this week - moving, rolling, kicking and continually making his/her presence known. Brock gets to feel it often and says the fact that another baby will be joining us is feeling very real now :-)

Easily Pleased

Madison bought a kite at the thrift store for a quarter and couldn't wait to try it out. Naturally, the other kids wanted to fly one too. Isaac suggested he and Hannah use bags for their kites - so we found some strings and a kite was born :-) Not only did they each think their kite was THE BEST, they had tons of fun and I had fun watching :-)

Although Hannah and Isaac's bag kites rarely made it off the ground they never even noticed :-)

Who says you need to spend lots of money to have fun????

One of Isaac's rare moments of getting his kite high in the air. As you can see, it was quite a thrill for him (and seems to have left Hannah a bit baffled).

I love Hannah dancing in the background and Madison so happy to have hers up (for a few moments at least)

I love how easily the kids are entertained, how easily they create and how much joy I get from being a part of it :-)

Hiking to the "M"

Although Jesse and Denise and their family were only here from Thursday afternoon until Sunday afternoon we packed alot in. Saturday afternoon all 11 (12 I guess with the little guy or girl hitching a ride with me) headed for a hike to the "M". Brock and Madison had done it before but for the rest of us it was a new experience. The "M" is a huge (250 ft) M made of white washed rocks that was made in 1915 by MSU students. The hike has one side that is really steep and one side that is longer and winds through the woods. We took the steep way up and the windy way down. The entire hike is just over 1.5 miles and was very fun and even gave you a good leg workout. :-)

Madison and Andi at the base of the trail anxious to head up.

Berlin, Andi, Madison and Izyk
Alex and Isaac taking a break for a picture (Madison and Andi in the background). We weren't sure how the two Isaac's would do but they did great! No complaining and just kept going. Towards the end of the steep side we could hear Izyk S. muttering now and then, "I don't think I can make it". So cute - but he did it and was very proud of himself. Our Isaac was told by Madison before we started that she didn't think he could make it up himself (nice huh) so he cruised up with nothing but determination to prove her wrong. He was very proud of himself when he easily showed her! :-)

Jesse and Berlin checking out the view

Izyk found two walking sticks to help him out - two has got to be better than one right??

Up, Up, Up we go

Jesse, Denise, Berlin and Izyk seeing how far we've come

Two tired (but proud) boys after making it to the top!

Despite the fact that it wasn't real clear at the top it was still beautiful. This was the middle of March and as you can see we still had plenty of snow :-)

Madison and Andi raced up to the top and easily beat us all

The whole crew

The guys (and a sleeping Berlin) as we head down. Although the way down was not as steep it was very wet and slick!!! Quite trecherous at times :-) This huge rock face was so cool. We rounded the corner and there it was, I never expected to see it in the midst of just trees, shrubs and grass.

The "old man" of the group seems to be having a hard time. Not only did he need to rest on the rock but he needed two sticks to support him on the way down :-) Actually, Izyk decided that although he still wanted his walking sticks he didn't want to carry them anymore so Jesse became the keeper of the special sticks :-) Berlin looks so cute in this picture!

Rocks, Rocks and Rocks!!

Denise and I

Spring Soccer

While Jesse and Denise were here there were several games of soccer or football going on in our backyard. Even Hannah and Berlin joined in now and then :-)

First Ski Trip of the Year

I am so behind on blogging! I am hoping that I can get March and April done before May starts :-) Not sure if I can do it considering we had 2 rounds of company in that time (which means LOTS of pics).

In March, our friends Jesse and Denise and their kids were here visiting and everyone but Denise, Berlin, Hannah and I went skiing. It was the two Isaac's first time so Denise and I were anxious to watch this momentous occasion so hung out at the lodge and got lots of pics. It was a beautiful day - bright and sunny.

Brock and Jesse coming down the hill after going all the way to the top and skiing down. A very exhilarating and scary ride according to the two of them

Mr. Isaac who is loving his experience of skiing. He did great and even made it off the bunny hill and went down the bigger one!
Madison, Isaac and Andi heading to the bigger hill
Alex breezing by
Madison and Andi. I love watching these two together - they clicked and have been like two peas in a pod since they first met a couple years ago.

Madison did such a good job helping Isaac. I was very proud of her "big sister" skills

Izyk giving it his all! He did a great job skiing but had no interest in going on the big hill :-)

Unfortunately, Izyk got hit by the chair at the top of the hill so Denise had to ride the chair lift up to check on him. She looked so funny sitting up there leisurely all by herself. Thankfully, all Izyk had to show for his mishap was a big goose egg. He soon skied down the hill while Denise walked down (much faster than taking the slow chair lift) :-)

Hannah and Berlin kept Denise and I company while we sat outside the lodge watching all the activity

Andi did a great job helping Izyk and making sure he was okay. It was cute to see Madison and Andi both doing such a good job with their little brothers.

Brock, Jesse and Alex taking a break

The dads doing a great job teaching the boys the tricks of skiing

Andi and Izyk

Isaac and Brock coming down the big hill - he was so proud of himself

The big picture of the bunny hill as Andi, Isaac and Madison head down

The kids - Andi, Alex and Madison

and Isaac, Izyk, Berlin and Hannah
We have been blessed to have these guys as friends and are so glad that they take the time and energy to come all the way to MT to visit us :-)