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!!

Ready, Set, KICK!

Hailey had her first night of "SPORTS CAMP" last night. It meets once a week for 5 weeks and they go over soccer, kickball, softball, track and field, and the last night is a little Olympic night. She had a BLAST last night with soccer! :) Look at that KICK!!!!!!!!!!!!

Picture comments :

(1) Yes, that is my daughter in a skirt and fancy tank top for sports camp! Doesn't she look all old (& sassy)??!!!

(2) Practicing soccer moves.

(3) Water break...and nice pose for a picture showing off her outfit again. :)

(4) Ryan getting a little time to play ball with Daddy during Hailey's camp. He is getting quite the arm on him now!!!

A Dollar

For anyone that knows me, I welcome $$ in any form!! So, last Thursday (July 5) Hailey came down after getting up in the morning and handed me a dollar bill, and then gave one to Chris too. I looked at her (lovingly) and asked her why she gave us some of her money. She looked up...completely innocent....and said "This money is for you because you buy me so much." She also wanted to know if I would keep it forever. Well....normally I would put in my purse, but this dollar bill will go in her scrapbook along with the story so we can always remember it! Ohhhhhh.... very happy and proud moment. Gotta love that girl! :)

No Thank You

Last night was just an ordinary night. Chris went to get the kids from daycare while I made supper....tacos. We both knew that Ryan doesn't usually eat the tacos, but thought we should try again. After Ryan got home, he was standing watching me make the tacos and get the plates ready. We put his plate on the table, and told him it was time to sit at the table and eat his taco. He looked at us and so nicely said "No thank you. No taco. No thank you." Come on...you have to laugh at that!! We kept trying to convince him it was time to eat and out would come "No thank you" again!! At least he is polite!! :) And...we were able to get him to finally sit at the table, and actually eat the taco too! :) Probably won't happen again! :)

Two Haileys + One Fish = Fun Weekend

This past weekend (July 6-8) we spent the weekend at the cabin with the Taylor family (Ed, Rainya, Hailey & McKenna). The kids loved having each other to play with .... and the adults enjoyed it too!! :)

Friday night we left Billings at 4:00 PM and it was 107 outside!!!!!! By the time we got to the cabin (a little after 5PM) it was only 77 there!! I cannot believe the difference...........but we sure enjoyed the difference. We got to play outside and have a nice fire (with s'mores of course!!).

Saturday we went to the Red Lodge zoo again, and then more playing outside. Ryan and Hailey went on A LOT of 4 wheeler rides over the weekend. They were able to see a lot of deer. I guess Ryan kept telling the deer "go home, deer, go home!"

Sunday we took the kids to Wild Bill for a little fishing. They weren't quite into it that much...but Hailey did catch one fish!! :) Ryan spent more time than she did fishing, but then was ready for a nap...as you can tell (in he was mad at me ... telling me "No pictures!!"). =D

And a picture of Hailey picking flowers, and one of the "two Haileys" together.

Little Firecrackers!!!!

Happy 4th of July from our little firecrackers!!!

We started our 4th of July (also known as "our fun day" according to Hailey) with Krispie Kreme donuts...they just love them! :) Then we left to drive to Red Lodge to have a picnic lunch (see the pictures above...Hailey is eating her star sandwiches!!) and see the parade. We met up with Chris and Shane who were recovering from 4 days of fun hiking and fishing and drinking with friends from Rochester. The kids were excited to see both of them!!

Here is Hailey patiently waiting for the parade...and Ryan being the good little boy and putting his hat over his heart during the anthem!!

And of course Hailey getting candy and Ryan giving the parade "two hi's" (trying to get twice the candy maybe?!?!? :) ).

After the parade, we drove home...took naps...then over to Grandma and Papa Pilcher's for a BBQ. The kids got to go swimming, play, get everyone else wet, eat, and of course play with fireworks a little! :) After a few at their house, we did go to the big show in town ... LATE NIGHT...they didn't get to bed until after 11:30PM!

The Swimmer

Here...if you need a good laugh...here is one for you! Take a look at Ryan with his goggles on!! This is the boy that won't put his face all the way in the water, but his sister has her pair on so he has to as well! :) Isn't he just ADORABLE!??!?!