Fun at the Hill Climb

What a busy weekend we had!! Saturday morning Hailey, Ryan and I got up and enjoyed their favorite...Krispie Kreme donuts that we got Friday night. Then we went to downtown to the Farmer's market. They did very good...but I should have brought the wagon so they both could have had a ride!! :) We brought our purchases home, and headed to the Great American Hill climb to watch our friend Ed Taylor (and the kids wanted to play with Hailey and McKenna too!!). We got there around 10:30 and it was HOT outside!!! Ryan was so excited to see all the "bikes...blue bikes Mommy...more bikes..." -- the poor kid was overwhelmed at first!! He didn't know where to look :) Hailey's time at the hill climb consisted of the following : chasing Hailey T, playing in the camper, eating watermelon, and just overall playing. She didn't really care about the motorcycles at all! :) Ryan on the other hand was all about the bikes. He just sat in the chair and watched to begin with!!! (see pic below) He was always looking for Ed and would stop when he heard a bike going up the hill. It was so cute!! I think he is Ed Taylor's "smallest" fan!!! :) We didn't leave the hill climb until 2:00 PM. We got home...kids took a bath since they were dirty and HOT...and then off to nap-land! Ryan didn't wake up until 5:00 pm and then we went to Pizza Hut for supper. Hailey wanted to rent a movie, so we got a movie to watch and then just relaxed on the couch.

Sunday morning we were being lazy around the house and Rainya called to tell me she had another ticket if I wanted to buy it. Ryan was already asking about Ed and going up the hill, etc. by this time. When I told him we were going back, he really did scream and jump up and down!!! It was so cute!! They were both happy when I told them we could stop at Krispie Kreme to bring donuts for everyone too. :) Sunday we left around 1:00 PM and just came home for naps. Hailey got to play with Crystal after her nap, Ryan got me! :) After supper they had fun playing in the swimming pool. Hailey was the "teacher" and Ryan was the "student in swimming lessons." They both loved it!! :) And it was fun for me to watch too and see what Hailey remembers from swimming lessons! :)

Here are the pictures of the hill climb :

Ryan just waiting for another bike to go!!

Ryan ate SO MANY of these avocado chips I couldn't believe it. "More green chips please"

When we went to see Ed race, Ryan was chanting (all on his own) "Go Ed Go! Go Ed Go!!" It was so cute (and of course I have video)!

What were the girls doing when Ryan and I were watching Ed?? Playing in the shade. Sorry Ed...they could care less about the bikes! :)

Sunday...another HOT day!! We took the kids in the wagons to get ice cream/snow cones. Wouldn't you know it that the Haileys wanted to pull the wagons! :)

And...them enjoying their treats (and Ryan acting crazy!!)...

One more of Ryan playing with motorcycle toys. NO ONE could play with those...they were all his! :) (well...they were someone elses, but he was the temporary owner :))

Couldn't forget Ed!! :) Here he is leaving the camper...and riding the bike Ryan loved the most "yellow bike...go Ed go!!!" And he is going up the hill in the second picture.

All done with swimming

Last night was the last night of swimming lessons (only one more session left for us...but first week get 2 weeks off!!). Ryan did AWESOME! The little man wouldn't hardly get wet at the beginning, but by last night he was putting his whole head under water, and was even jumping in WITHOUT holding on to our fingers!! We are so happy with how well he has done. Here are pics of him trying the blue slide thing they do on the last day....

Then there is Hailey...the little fish! She did AWESOME again. Since she will be 5 during the next session, she was given a ribbon for passing the "Seahorse" level. Ages 5-10 can go into 3 levels. Hailey was given a "free pass" to go right into the middle level!!! She will go right into "Star Fish"! :) Congratulations Hailey...we are SO PROUD of you!!!

Sports Camp - Week 3

Wednesday was the 3rd of 5 weeks for Hailey to be in Sports Camp. Chris took her this week, and the sport of the week was Track and Field. Ryan and I stopped by at the end after swimming lessons and it sure looked like she had fun!!

There must be something about wearing halter tops to Sports Camp!! :) Nice backs, Hailey T and Hailey P!!

Good jumping Hailey!!

Running ... time for a water break! :)

My door

Okay...so funny little story from last night. We went over to Clay and Marjie's to have cake to celebrate Catherine's 17th birthday (HAPPY BIRTHDAY AGAIN CAT!!). It was late coming home, so it was a quick bath and to bed. Chris put Ryan in his crib, and I was getting Hailey in her bed. All of a sudden I hear "Mommy....my door....close my door." I go in there expecting him to be standing up...but....no....he is still laying down and just wanted his privacy so he could go to sleep! :) He is such a good sleeper!!! Goes RIGHT DOWN!! I hope this continues when he gets his big boy bed (it is ordered...but we might not get it until November unless the guy makes another trip closer to Billings...but we are in NO HURRY).

Just a little story...no pictures yesterday (can you believe it!?!?).

Little fishies

More pictures from swimming lessons last night. Ryan is doing SO GOOD!!! I cannot believe this is the same boy that didn't even want his swimming suit on a few months ago...and now he is putting his face in the water! :) I LOVE IT!!! Looks like we might have another little fish on our hands :)

Look at Hailey...back float...no help. She is just amazing to watch.

Now to Ryan...practicing his back float....

Using his "muscles." He was suppose to be swimming on his tummy using that and practicing kicking, but he got on his back and was kicking. Good job Ryan!

Look...Daddy and Ryan have their faces ALL THE WAY IN THE WATER!!

Both kids are really doing great and LOVING the water. It has been busy taking them to lessons every night, but since they enjoy it so much, Chris and I will continue to let them go. After this week, we only have one more session (two weeks) for Hailey. Then we will get her in lessons at a different place...inside. :)

Another weekend at the cabin

We went this past weekend up the cabin again. We weren't able to leave Billings until 9:30 pm on Friday night as the kids had swimming lessons and Chris had a softball game. So...it was late getting up there, but thankfully it only takes an hour and everything was already to go when we got there! :) It is amazing how fast the kids fall asleep at 11:00 PM! :)

Saturday we got up and took our time getting ready. We left to run to town for a quick visit. There were THOUSANDS of motorcycles in Red Lodge for a rally and it was fun to see them all line the streets!! We got to wave at my parents via the Red Lodge webcam. Kind of fun to know they got to see us downtown Red Lodge!! Then we decided to eat lunch at the Red Boxcar. Hailey has been asking to do this, and we timed it great and it wasn't too busy yet. Nice to sit outside in the shade and eat lunch together. I am sure you can guess what the kids wanted to do next..........FISHING! :) No big ones, but it was still a fun time (and of course got some GREAT pictures!!)

Hailey posing....

Look at this CUTE picture of Ryan......I just LOVE IT!!

Ahh...a cute moment of them NOT fighting :)

A few more of them at Will Bill lake.....

After all that fun, it was time for NAPS! :) I couldn't believe the temp when we got up...it was 94 outside the cabin!! It usually doesn't get that HOT in the mountains. Given that...it was PERFECT time for ........... POPSICLES!!!

After baths, the kids decided they needed to watch a little Elmo (we haven't watched that since Hailey was TWO!). Ryan was LOVING the music and signing and both kids had a good time dancing along...

Sunday we stayed around the cabin in the morning, went on a nice 4wheeler ride, and then went to Scoops ice cream BEFORE lunch (heee heee...Hailey liked that!!). We drove home after ice cream to avoid the heat, and Ryan became VERY UPSET when he saw our house. He just kept YELLING "No house...CABIN." He thought we were just driving around and going back to the cabin so he wasn't happy to see the house. Poor guy! Nice, relaxing weekend of family time! :)

Sports Camp -- Week 2

Hailey had to miss swimming lessons last night to go to Sports Camp. This week they got to learn about softball/baseball/t-ball. She has been hitting the ball when Chris THROWS it, so hitting it off a tee was no problem-o! :)

First they had to STRETCH (nice, appropriate outfit for sports camp again!!) ->

Then they practiced HITTING the ball ->

After that it was off to RUN THE BASES during a practice game ->

And finally CATCHING the ball during their practice game ->

And a special treat of a Wendy's frosty when done! :)

One final picture of the "two Haileys" after Sports Camp!!

Future Storm Chasers

Tuesday night we were all ready for swimming lessons...supper in tummies, swimming suits on, ready to go...when we got the call that no lessons! There was a nice looking storm coming with TONS of lightning and thunder (and even a little MUCH NEEDED rain!). So, we went outside to watch it and made it into quite the night. The picture above is of Ryan telling the lightning "NO NO" and "No storm". Then Hailey decided to go dance in the rain...she was in her swimming suit after all! :) She would go down to the end of driveway and shake, shake, shake her body! :) LOTS of good laughs! :) Then Ryan even got into it a little!! :) I have some GREAT video of the dancing to share later :)

Then the stormed passed, the sun came back out, and we went shopping to Target :)

The fun of having a girl

When I asked Hailey what theme she wanted for her birthday party this year...I thought for sure it would be Princess again! She looked through the Oriental Trading catalog, she picked out LUAU!! Yahoo...something different and fun!!!!!!!!!!! :) Take a look at the FUN invitations we got for her to give to her friends.....

I have a few BOXES of things ready for the party...but still need to get more. It should be a fun party for the kids...her first "kid party" so it has to be good!!!!!!! :) Just wait for those pictures in August :) If anyone has any fun ideas...please pass them along :)

Little swimmer

The first day of swimming lessons went good for Ryan. He went right in the pool with Chris and was even blowing bubbles in the water before he was asked to. He had fun laying on his back KICKING and SPLASHING (see cute picture below). When Chris took him down to the deep end of the pool, he was all excited until Chris asked Ryan to jump in. He was screaming "NO DADDY!" but each time Chris would still get him to do it and Ryan would smile! :) Chris just kept telling him "just one more time, Ryan" ... until it was time to go play some more! :) Sorry for all the pictures, but there were just too many I had to include a few!!

Hailey of course did GREAT with her swimming lessons as well. She is in the "Seahorse" class for the 3rd time this summer...and this is because it is the top class for her age. Next time she starts swimming lessons she will be a STAR FISH...because she will be FIVE! :) It will be good for her to be in a different class. :)

Making a SPLASH at Big Splash

Wow...what a weekend we had...especially Hailey!

Saturday I took both Hailey and Ryan to the local water park...Big Splash. We got there a little before they opened at 10:30 so were ready to go in right away! Marjie and Catherine met us there...and I welcomed the help! :) First...Ryan...well, I think he was a little overwhelmed by everything going on. He didn't even want to stand in the water! He did have a good time sitting in the little chairs, and did go down the slides 2 times before Chris came to get him around 12:15! :)

<-Catherine taking Ryan down the slide

Now Hailey on the other hand, I cannot count how many times she went down the slide!!! We were there from 10:15-3:15 (and it was over 100 degrees when we left!!!). She absolutely LOVED it there and would just keep going up and down all by herself. It was so much fun to watch too!!! :) And, another big thing for her...we skipped nap!!! With no nap and being outside that much, she was OUT when we finally put her in bed that night. :) By 9:00 pm on Saturday night it was quiet in our house....NICE, very very nice!! :)

Sunday we all went to Summerfair at a local park. They just have art vendors set up in this big park and got to go around and look at things. Then we had 5 people over for supper so it was a busy day again.

Tonight is the first night of swimming lessons again! This time Ryan gets to go in the water too (with Chris or myself). Should be interesting!! :)

Take me out to the ball game

Last night we took the kids to their first baseball game...the Billings Mustangs. Chris wanted to take them at least once this year to the stadium that he used to go to Mustangs games with his dad and grandpa with. The Cobb stadium is being tore down after this season and a new one put up...so we had to go at least once.

The kids were ready....with their gloves in hand...and tummy's ready for snacks!! :) They did pretty good...watched a little of the game. Ryan waited and waited to catch a ball, and kept telling us HE wanted to do down to the field to play with the players!! Maybe in a few years, buddy! :) We had to leave at 9:00...and it was only the 4th inning!!