may showers

Mark took this picture out our front door of the maple tree sprouting it's leaves during a rain shower. It's been one of the last to let it's new leaves out, but it has made this whole process even sweeter. Just as these two:

practice makes perfect

perfect match

While Buckwheat is only 9 pounds, he still controls the speed of Emmy's walking for the most part when she's the one with his leash. Pretty funny watching these two zip around to satisfy Buckwheat's need to sniff and search. Emmy couldn't be happier than when she is outside with some sort of animal, be it Buckwheat, a bird she's chasing, a deer she wants to hug, a horse, a sheep or a chicken. She loves them all.

clay pigeons and water jugs

Friday morning I took the kids to our friends' house for a visit and a bit of play, and as we got to talking, we decided to do a spur of the moment date night. With a last minute yes from a babysitter, we raced off for some target practice with a couple friends. I hadn't shot a gun since Mark and I were first married and visiting the Reeder Ranch for Thanksgiving. It'd been almost 7 years! I wasn't that great, but I did hit my first clay pigeon using our friend's shotgun. I wish I had stopped with that one.. because I missed the next three. : )

Here are two pictures Jenny took of the fun:

sailing ships and sealing wax

 Our nephew Maxwell turned two on May 14th, and as I look at our children... pirate ships seem to be all the rage right now with them. ha ha - So a "pirate" ship was painted and sent off in the mail. It's the smallest I've ever done, only 4" x 5", and it took me quite a while.. so much little detail that required so much time! I'm laughing at it, because it was such a challenge! Water might be the hardest thing I've painted.. I kept repainting over it and layering, then getting frustrated with it and doing it again. I believe it was redone 3 times. There's a good amount of paint on this little canvas! Maybe he'll like it for a few more years before it moves to a box. Happy birthday, funny boy!

springing

The buds came out this week and we have been out to see every one of them. While we're still in coats and pants, it's nice to know the plant life is even acknowledging some sort of atmospheric change! ha ha

17/52: three amigos

I love these three of mine!

Link to the hilarious article I mentioned below: http://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/2156

Enjoy. : )

Lawrence Welk's birthplace

About a year ago, Mark introduced me to the actual Lawrence Welk show. All I'd seen prior were the clips from SNL's renditions. Both the real thing and the clips were hilarious. Mark was doing a little research Lawrence Welk and read that he was actually from North Dakota! What?! The article we read had us both laughing so hard. It was brutally harsh on why he left and never came back to North Dakota. While we like it here, he did not have our same experience; not in the slightest. Here's the wiki link. He was born in the german-speaking community in Strasburg, ND, and was the sixth of eight children. His parents spent their first ND winter under an upturned wagon covered in sod. Can you imagine?! When Mark told that to me, I couldn't wrap my head around it for a good long while. I cannot even fathom that. These winters are far colder than the ones we spent in Anchorage, Alaska. Those were some hardy folk.  Anyway, this past Friday we went to Bismark for the ward temple trip. It was our first time going, and we had a lot of fun. Then on the way back on Saturday afternoon we detoured to Strasburg, North Dakota!

We were heartily let down to drive up to it being closed with no tours beginning until Memorial Day. No accordion music for us to follow off the highway. ha! But it was still very nice because we had the whole place to ourselves to run explore a bit; it was warm, windy, and quiet.

Mark said "all his North Dakota dreams had just come true!" ha ha!! What a sport. 

16/52: ready for California

We're gathering clothes and fun things for a summer trip to California to visit a certain mouse in another month. We can hardly wait! For the trip and for Summer!

painting pals

This week we painted quite a bit.. on this particular morning, I needed to finish a small painting of my own, but I knew that would be impossible without satiating the need my two pals have to want to paint. Did that make sense? I knew they had to paint first if I was every going to be left in peace to finish my own. And it worked! Emmy and Mont painted for about 2 hours together. I was standing near, replacing water jars and dispensing fresh paper when they reached their fill, and lots of elbow wiping. But after those two sweet hours, I was able to turn on a little movie with a snack, and set to work myself. I carried on through nap time, then I was done when they woke. It was definitely a win win, and their paintings were showed off to a proud papa when he came home from work that night. I think we'll be doing this again very soon!

all in two short days

Emmy woke up with a small fever, but I didn't think much of it, until around nap time when she started whining more. 10 am was steadily approaching and I needed to take a shower still, before later taking Mont to the dentist in town for his 6 mo. checkup in a few hours. I decided to put Emmy down while Mont stayed awake a little longer; but before putting her down for her nap, I gave her a dose of Ibuprofen like I've done in the past, then laid her down to sleep. I jumped in the shower, and 10 minutes later when I was out, I heard Emmy through the monitor crying/whining. I sent Mont in to sing her a song while I dressed and toweled my hair - just to keep her happy for a minute until I could get there. I went in and found Emmy rubbing at her eyes, crying. Her eyes were swelling, and she couldn't leave them alone. What happened?! I texted Mark this picture, moments after I scooped her out of the crib, saying, "I'm worried about Emmy!" He raced home and took her to the pediatric clinic in his uniform, hoping to push through nurses who we thought would likely turn us away.

Thankfully they let her right in with her swelling! We did the right thing.. We've never had an allergic reaction around our house like this before, but they said we did the right thing by bringing her right in. You don't mess around with reactions! Good to know.

While Mark was with Emmy at the doc's office, I had to take Mont to his dental appointment where he was the highlight of this hygienist's day. He talked her ear off and told her all about his future plans, about how he will wear the sunglasses and he won't be afraid. She laughed so hard and was so sweet with him. He had a grand ol' time (as you can see):

The next day, Mont was the sickie, with a fever that hit 106º for a while. It was insane. I was on the phone with the same nurse that had helped Emmy the day before. She said to keep him home even with such a high fever because that was his only symptom of sickness. He wasn't vomiting, he was still drinking water, using the toilet, talking, and bugging Emmy, so he was just fine... just burning up like no one I've ever seen before. I put a cool cloth on his forehead that he said "feels good" to, I kept the cool water coming, and he took ibuprofen and tylenol with no reactions. Thank the heavens... didn't want to have to use Emmy's new fancy epipens on him! His fever reduced during the next night and he was just worn out the next day. Gosh... what a couple of days.. 

bird hops in snow

Thousands of birds migrated back to our area the about a week and a half ago, flooding the area with bird song and fluttering shadows in the trees. It's the sign of spring I usually trust whole heartedly, but this year these poor creatures have been braving the winter storms with the rest of us. I bet they regret the return trip, wishing they had stayed in the warmer trees of the South.

Yet after the snow storm, they still ventured out, hopping around the little snow piles near our backdoor, probably looking for some sweet morsels of food! I'm not sure how they are making it! But good news, the snow from the storm began melting fairly quickly... perhaps the birds won't have to wait much longer.

very merry unbirthday party

Yesterday, our church was shortened to Sacrament Meeting, and 15 minutes of an abbreviated Sunday School lesson. We were expecting a really huge winter storm, and our Bishop wanted all to be home and ready for it, not on the road heading home from church (some travel for 2 hours to reach our chapel). We were dividing the ward yesterday, so there was going to be quite the turnout to hear all about it. With all the excitement in the air, and wanting the kids to feel some of the excitement too, we came home, took baths, and I declared it our Very Merry Unbirthday! So promptly after our pjs were on, at about 12 noon, I began to make a huge chocolate cake from scratch (using the Hershey's Cocoa Powder box as my recipe - it's a good one, trust me!) while the kids took their naps.

After dinner, we took turns blowing out candles while clapping and singing the unbirthday song to each of us. It was pretty fun, and I got to eat cake for days. Please don't look too closely at it, bc it's not that pretty! But good thing we judge cake by the way it tastes, right? ha ha

15/52: spring?

We're not quite sure where Spring is. 

melting

While there was snow still on the ground, there was a light 'mush' falling from the clouds, landing heavily enough to push some snow back into water. I think it's officially started to melt out there! There might be some more snow fall, but overall, the snow piles are shrinking!

snow flakes

The snow just keeeeeeeps on falling. Buckwheat is about as happy about it as I am. So much for the shift in the universe I imagined a couple months back.. the days are certainly staying brighter longer, but the temperatures are still hovering around the low 20s to mid 30s. When I took this picture, the kids were running around in their mediocre snow gear (I will never learn how to dress for the cold), there was water pouring out of the rain gutters.. it's so weird! Cold enough for snow to stick, but warm enough for the ground to melt the lowest layer of ice. I can't figure this year's weather out. Maybe next week will be 70º. ha!

14/52: double vision

I'm sort of cheating on this week's portraits because only one of the following was taken in the 14th week of the year (the second one down). But since the camera arrived today, I will hopefully be putting a stop to these iphone pictures and picking up at a fresh starting line. Here's hoping. 

The two little ones watching a new/old movie together Monday morning:

On Emmy's birthday, while she wore/held all the presents she could, Mont pushed her around in the doll stroller making her look nothing shy of 90 years old. We were all laughing so hard, I'm grateful Emmy never got embarrassed (that has happened before, sweet girl!). She and Mont just kept going around and around. 

This morning [of the 10th], after I had gotten ready and opened the door, Mont and Emmy (now friends after the last 20 minutes of crying) poured into the bathroom with all their Easter eggs and new treasures. It was so cute watching Mont divvy out the treasures and eggs, watching Emmy just go along with whatever he was dreaming up. I am reminded looking at these pictures late at night what treasures my two little knuckleheads are; they really are so fun. I'm one lucky mom! : )

girls girls girls

My mom and sister and daughter (still feel like I'm getting used to being a mom, using that word!) all have April birthdays.. and as a fun little thing, we had the thought to celebrate by having a girls trip out to visit yours truly. I only now wish that I had made Tessa and my mom blow out candles as well! Mont would have loved helping. 

Here we are the first night all together at Little Bangkok in East Grand Forks for some Thai food.

At Pier 1 searching for some elusive bicycle book ends... AH! 

Finally just had to pre-buy them. (what? Online shopping??)

While browsing stores, Tessa and I fell in love with the same pair of pajamas, and in true sister fashion, my mom bought us each a matching pair. HA! We haven't matched in years and I am now realizing what all the fun is about. Awww, Tessie! 

Pretty sure I laugh my hardest when I'm around my mom and sister.. they are absolutely crazy sometimes and it's just the fun I love and miss. Maybe next year when I con them in to visiting again, it will be above freezing!! Maybe Dad will come plant some flowers! Mont would like to take care of some, too.. he even has a new rake and trowel at the ready. Maybe we'll bring them in our carry-on to Washington to visit (haaa).

turning two

Our sweet and sassy Emmy had her birthday on the 4th, making her an officially terrible two year old. Actually, she's still pretty dang sweet, and hopefully it's the sticky kind of sweet so it'll stay around forever. We sure love this little beam of sunshine and are so so grateful she's ours. Today I saw the sweetest thing.. I'm backlogging this, so this happened on the 10th of April: While playing with another little boy, Mont thought the boy was going to claim Emmy, so in a rush Mont ran up to Emmy, hugged her face tight to his chest, and said, "No. She's MY sister. Not yours." Emmy's smashed face and wide agreeing eyes was all I needed to see to know she was happy right where she was. She hugged him about as tight as he was hugging her. Nothing would have been able to pry them apart right then. I just wish they would be amicable like that all the day long! That might be my birthday wish. : )

Emmy eating her birthday pancakes; I figured she must be recounting all of the many experiences she's had in her two little years. This girl has been all over the place! 

Her shabby birthday cake. My friend (@ashtonscurr - bless you) said it looked pretty and whimsical. 

I'll take that over shabby! ha ha! At least it had "sparkles!"

Waiting for the song to hurry up so she could get to the cake!

I screenshot this during a video my sister Tessa took on her phone, so it's not all that clear... but I just can't get over her cheeks in her hands... She couldn't even contain her excitement! It looks like her elbows are resting, but they're not... she's just that happy about everything in this moment:

She blew her candles out like an expert! One.. then two! 

First pair of heels and already she's got her hand on her hip.

Happy birthday, my sweet little honey bee. 

13/52: bunnies

Sorry for friends who follow my instagram feed... the next several posts will probably have the same pictures you've already seen. We sold my actual camera, so while waiting for the next one the phone pics have had to compensate! (nothing too exciting on the camera front, just an updated version. But I'm plenty excited!)

Anyway, here are the two bunnies after they hunted for their eggs, but before they opened them (at least for Mont). When we got home from church, and after the kids' naps, we were getting ready to eat dinner, then afterwards have the egg hunt. Well as I was finishing up some dinner, Mont went upstairs to visit my mom who was visiting, and happened to look in her closet. AH! Having been sleepy from late-night stuffing, my mom simply laid the baskets of eggs down on the closet floor, just waiting for a wandering child. AH! My mom felt so bad, and my teasing probably didn't help, but I thought it was the funniest thing in the world!! Mont was so excited to have "found the eggs" and wanted to show me SO badly. I quickly explained to him that the Easter Bunny still had to come hide the eggs for the hunt, and we shouldn't look at/in them until the hunt-game has been finished. Not sure how it went over, but he seemed happy with that lame explanation. So we had our friend Andrew ring the doorbell so we could make a big deal that "The Easter Bunny's here!!! Go wait in your room until he hides them for you!" Eh. At least Mont picked up the concept that Easter is about something more important. He loves to say, "Jesus came alive again!" I just clap my hands and say, "That's right, Mont!! You're so smart. Isn't that wonderful?!" He said it tonight (April 10th - I'm backlogging these posts, sorry) again and all the excitement and wonder was still all there. Happy Moments.. happy moments.