First Day of School for Carson!

School started August 30.  Carson is to go on the bus this year but it was running late so Clarke drove Carson (we had been planning on meeting him there to make sure he made it to the right class and settled in as we didn't even know who his teacher was yet).  I met him at school at the end of the day to make sure he made it on the right bus to go home.  He loves his new teacher, Mme. Siwy.

 Ready to walk to the bus stop - the stop is just around the corner from our cul-de-sac.

We all went to the stop to see him off.  Jay will be with him starting next week.

The bus bringing Carson home.  He is the last one on the bus and the last one off.

Jay rode his bike to go pick up Carson with me.

Nathan turns 3!

We made it back from the north country before planned so we had a quick get together with friends on Nathan's actual birthday with plans to have a party with little people on a different date.

 I asked him what kind of cake he wanted and he said cupcakes.  We went to bulk barn for sprinkles and he chose to put gummy bears on them as well.  While we were in Peace River he saw an ice cream cake at Wal-Mart and thought he might want one of those as well.  We thought we would try it as we hadn't really done anything special for him for his birthday.

 He was excited to blow out his candles and after having woken up 3 days earlier singing Happy Birthday to himself he was ecstatic to have others sing it to him.

 He insisted I take a picture of him after he finished his cake.

 At the end of the night after everyone left he realized there were some presents for him by the fireplace.      They were there all night but he was obviously having enough fun that he hadn't noticed.

He got a Nemo fish that swims in the water that we had seen last fall while visiting Great Falls as well as a couple of other small presents.  Oh the joys of a simple birthday where everything is wonderful.  I wish it were that simple still for the older boys!  (The ice cream cake was horrible and the ice cream didn't melt when it was left out - we threw it out!)

Hanging with the cousins...

The kids posing nicely for us on the rocks at Thanksgiving Pointe. 

 There was lots to do in Utah.  We took the kids to museums, Thanksgiving Pointe, a magic show, a swimming pool or two, BYU, outlet stores, the movies, and family dinners.  They also just played at the park once in a while.  

Being goofy!

Veteran's Memorial Pool - This was one of the pools we went to.  It was great.  There was this little wading pool/spray park area and then there was a big pool and waterslides for adults and older kids.  Best part was the $1 admission!  The boys had a great time here.  We sprayed them down with sunscreen every hour as well so it was nice that no one burned (except Clarke, who doesn't believe in sunscreen!)  This particular day was also Sienna's 9th birthday.  After swimming we went and ran some errands and then went back to their house for burgers and Birthday Cake.

Jay

Nathan

Cool man, Carson!

From Montana to Utah

So we left Montana and drove all the way through Idaho, stopping only for gas.  Our first stop in Utah was in Tremonton, at McDonald's.  Not our favorite restaurant by far but we thought the boys would do well with some exercise at the Playplace.  We stopped at this McDonald's on our last trip through Utah.  Carson got stuck at the top and Clarke had to climb up and get him.  I was worried that they would both get stuck on the way down!  There were no mishaps on this stop, thankfully.
     We then hopped back in the truck and drove through to American Fork where 'Uncle Smokey,'  Clarke's brother was working.  We met up with him there and chatted for a few minutes before heading on to Provo and the KOA, our
home for the next 5 nights.  Other than being a little close to the I-15, it was a cute little campground.  We didn't spend much time here, mostly just sleeping and breakfast but the boys loved it.  They especially loved feeding the ducks each morning.  We gave them Rice Krispies.

Some of the numerous fowl at the park. 

Sleeping hard!

Jay ended up right against the mesh and was attacked by sandflies.  He almost looked like he had chicken pox with all the bites that he had, poor guy!

Carson crashed hard as well.

You can see how scrambled they were on the bed.  They were all in a different spot each and every morning.

Utah and back - summer 2011

The kids don't get to see their cousins very often so this year we decided to go visit.  Originally we planned on going north to Spirit River but about 45 minutes from home the rain started and it was to rain the whole time we were to be gone.  We turned around, drove home, grabbed our passports and went to Utah instead.  We were late starting with our detour to Brooks first but we pushed through with the boys watching lots of movies.  We drove to Camp Fortunate, MT (near Dillon) at Clark Canyon Reservoir.  Camp Fortunate dates back to Lewis & Clark days.

 These are quotes I found about the camp:   

August 17, 1805

"I had not proceeded on one mile before I saw at a distance Several Indians on horseback Comeing towards me.  The Intertrepeter & Squar who were before me at Some distance danced for the joyful sight, and She made signs to me that they were her nation, as I aproached nearer them descovered one of Capt Lewis party; the met me with great signs of joy... those Indians sung all the way to their Camp... Three Chiefs with Capt. Lewis met me with great cordialliaty embraced and took a Seat on a white robe, the Main Chief imedeately tied to my hair Six Small pieces of Shells resembling perl which is highly Valued by those people"
Captain Clark

" Shortly after Capt. Clark arrived with the Interpreter Charbono, and the Indian woman, who proved to be sister of the Chif Cameahwait.  the meeting of those people was really affecting, particularly between Sah cah - gar-we-ah and an Indian woman, who had been taken prisoner at the same time with her, and who had afterwards escaped from the Minnetares and rejoined her nation ...  we now formed our camp"  (Camp Fortunate)
Captain Lewis

The 'Boys' in a dugout canoe at the campground.

This is a campground on the other side of the reservoir.  Can you tell the water is a little high this year?

 The boys went for a walk with me to the flag while Clarke was hooking up the trailer.  They love throwing things in the water!

This is the view looking across the reservoir to out campground.

Mowing the Lawn...

So, normally I am the one mowing the lawn as Clarke doesn't seem to notice when it looks like a jungle around our house.  It helps that way back when I worked for a landscape company so most of the time I don't mind doing it.  Nathan likes to help mow.  This is the first time that Clarke mowed all year and my first time to catch Nathan 'helping'.  He pushes and goes right along with you the whole time you are mowing.  It's really kind of cute.

A sunday afternoon bike ride

Don't help Nathan with his helmet!

The 3 Amigos ride again!

He is such a big man!