My Little Man

I went to the park the other day with my Little Man. We played chase, went down the slide a bajillion times and played hide and seek. I managed to take a few pictures. These are just some of my favorites.

He's still sporting that Wyoming Cowboys hat. It's who he is.

Deciduous

I like a nice evergreen. The wonderful scents, the sound of breeze through a pine needle. Having color all year round. A mountain covered in pines.

But deciduous trees certainly have many positives about them. Watching the buds bulge in the spring giving us hope that winter is waning. The wonderful shade they provide all summer. The fall color they may treat us to.

And then there is this……

An instant fall time playground.

Phew, and I’m absolutely exhausted after all that raking.

Okay, I kid. I only added about 4-5 truck loads to this enormous leaf pile. Our little town has a drop off for leaves and such, there was probably a half acre of leaves there. All of the boys had a blast playing in them.

I even jumped in too. When’s the last time you jumped in a pile of leaves?

Friday Photo Flashback ~ Hunting Buddies

Fall 2001

This was the very first hunting trip for our oldest son, he is 7 months old here. We were hunting up at Lineman's uncles farm. The same farm where he worked for the first years of our marriage. We always enjoy getting back there. The rifle in the pic was made the same year our oldest was born, so one day that rifle will be his. I guess you could say it's a birth gift.... Lineman just gets to break it in first!

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The two oldest boys started Hockey this week. To say they were excited was an understatement. We have an awesome rink and hockey program here. The parents are completely involved and great people. This is our first year and I am totally excited for it! This picture is after their second hockey practice, after a quick bite to eat on the run, after a stop at the grocery store, after the drive home. This could be the normal routine for the next few months but I am seriously excited about the season ahead!

********************52 Weeks********************
52 Weeks is a year long challenge for YOU to be in a picture once a week for 52 weeks. We are always the ones behind the camera, this is YOUR chance to get out in front and be in the pictures with our family. We are glad you are joining this challenge. More importantly your family will really enjoy having you in the picture. Thanks for playing along! Oh, you can just jump in now with 1 of 52, you're not getting off that easy! Now go take a picture!

My Little Rodeo Clown

A weekend to smile about

The weekend started on a good note on Friday night. The two older boys had their first hockey practice which was a total blast, for them and me! When we came home I was singing a song as I walked through the house, I opened up the coat closet, put a few coats away, closed the door and turned around to see……

……my husband sitting in the rocking chair grinning ear to ear at me!

If you haven’t been following long here is the scoop. Lineman works out of town the majority of the time. I won’t get specific but it’s fair to say we get pretty darn excited when he comes home! I was expecting him to come home on Saturday so imagine my near death experience as I suffered a heart attack my surprise to see him sitting in that rocking chair. Oh, he’s a real jokester alright!

Saturday we took turns taking the kids out. They were pretty cute if I don’t say so myself! As I type this I’m chewing on a Tootsie Roll. My oldest has counted all of his candy and knows exactly how much he has, so I won’t be raiding his bag too much.

Each of the kids got a popcorn ball. Really, how many people do that. More specifically how many people let their kids eat them? We live in such a small town not only did we eat them but I think I may have to go knock on that ladies door and get some more!

*smacks lips* Someone throw this candy out before I eat it all!

Friday Photo Flashback ~ Halloweens past

Several photos to flashback to today……

This is my brother and I again, maybe around 1977? What did I tell you about costumes back then. You used what you had. From now on that’s what we’re doing around here!

Here is my mom and I. Sorry you can’t see me too well but I have the blue hardhat on, suspenders, linebelt and line gafs on. Wow, I went as a “lineman”, very original, no? Well, I used what I had. I’m dancing with my mom who is wearing an apron with a tin mug and spoon tied around her. She went around clanging that dang mug and spoon and calling that chuck was ready… she went as “Camp Cook”, appropriate for a Bed and Breakfast owner.

Okay, here is my oldest son on his first Halloween. He is named after a mountain man so that’s what he went as. I made the outfit but it took THREE times, yes THREE times to get that blasted fringe on the outside. Then the little turkey tried to eat the fringe.

See more flashbacks by clicking on the button at the top of the post.

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We've had the Geo Trax in a box for almost a year now. The kids saw the boxes and it was go time for mom. Time for me to set it all up that is. Geo is a fun train set, just as much fun for adults really, I have a blast designing the layouts. Little Man loves it and has yet to wreck the track. I cherish these times he sits in my lap as I know how fast they grow. Fun times to remember.

********************52 Weeks********************

52 Weeks is a year long challenge for YOU to be in a picture once a week for 52 weeks. We are always the ones behind the camera, this is YOUR chance to get out in front and be in the pictures with our family. We are glad you are joining this challenge. More importantly your family will really enjoy having you in the picture. Thanks for playing along! Oh, you can just jump in now with 1 of 52, you're not getting off that easy! Now go take a picture!

The Bathroom Makeover

When we bought our home a few months ago I knew there were two projects that needed tackling. And quick! The bathroom and the kitchen.

The bathroom was fully carpeted. Carpet in a bathroom and a house full of boys DO NOT belong together.

One morning I went into the bathroom and just started ripping off wallpaper. That would set the whole remodel/update into full swing.

We pulled the washer/dryer out of there together. Then I pulled out the cabinet that was to the right of the sink.

I told Lineman I wanted some really neat, old looking fixtures. He found these while working out of town (because there is not much in the way of stores here).

He even found all the matching pieces to coordinate. Yes, my toilet paper is folded into a point. My mom ran a bed and breakfast for 15 years, I guess some things wear off. Toilet paper holder had been a built in unit so I yanked it out and did a bit of sheet rock work to fix the hole there.

I added some eucalyptus in a glass jar for some dimension.

Added a little more depth with the grass.

I found a light fixture that fit the look I was going for.

Then for the big project. Remember I drove all the way to my in-laws near Great Falls, 4 and a half hours away so I could get to a Home Depot. I picked up tile and all the tools needed to get the job done.

I had lots of fun tiling. It’s not too hard but it does take days to get it done. I also painted the vanity “beautiful brown eyes” and I changed out the knobs and handles. The shower curtain is one I made a few years ago that matched pretty good.

Then for fun I added just a little decorative tile. I think I could have used a bunch of these but they’re a bit pricey so I just added them in front of the tub.

And Taaa Daaaa, the (almost) finished project. I have to say I am very proud of myself for accomplishing this. I just need to add some art to the walls and add some open shelves and a bench where the washer/dryer were at.

One more look at the “BEFORE” ……..

And the “AFTER”