October 2008

Cheese!

Aunt Betty's birthday

Cousins at Aunt Betty's

Glassing for elk

This playing is hard work!

Ian wishing Kelly a good hunt

What's new this month? Hmmm... A schedule. Yes, that's right. I've always had my list of things to do that I plug away at each day. But a friend let me borrow a book called Managers of Their Homes by Steve & Teri Maxwell (I think) and I learned how to work out a schedule to help keep the kids and myself on a daily "plan" and it's helping me be more productive with my days and also a better "manager" of our home. The kids have fewer discipline issues because they don't have as much time to get bored, they're learning how to do chores, I spend more time playing with them because I've designated times to play with them or read to them, the house is generally less cluttered and more often clean because I have a plan to do a little housework each day. I haven't made up a month's worth of meal plans, but once a week I plan our meals, then grocery shop once a week according to what we need for those meals. There are still things I'd like to do different and days that the schedule goes out the window, but in general, it's been a good change for us.

Ian is loving Cubbies (AWANA). Each week he learns a new verse and reviews a couple he already knows. We started out using M&M's as incentive to practice his verses, but now he doesn't even ask for them- he just likes to try to remember them. Every week they play games too and Ian tells me his favorite is "Chase".

Kelly went elk hunting several days during the 2-week season, but didn't see a thing while he was out. While he was driving for work one day though, he watched as a 5-point bull crossed the road and headed into the trees. Hopefully deer season will go better!

Esther is becoming more and more little girl every day and loves to play with her dishes and try on her shoes. She also loves to wrestle with her brother!

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September 2008

Esther ready for church

On the farm at Grandma & Grandpa's house

Ian helping Grandpa

Out to see the full moon with Grandma

Playing in the hay loft

Ian watching the bulls in the barnyard

Esther loved the animals!

Getting a closer look!

Digging in the garden while we picked raspberries

Building sand castles at Fort Peck Lake

Cousins- Olivia, Esther, & Natalie- in Laurel, MT

Ready to go for a ride!

Cousins- Jack, Ian, Daisy, & Esther- at Aunt Betty's

Dad, Casey, & Kelly working on the shed

Ian working on puzzles with neighbors Zane & Abby

We have sooo much to thank God for, so many blessings each and every day. His provision, safety, family, health, guidance, and the list goes on. This month Esther finally took off walking, Ian started Cubbies in Awana on Thursday nights, Kelly made a week-long trip into the Bob Marshall Wilderness to help prepare an outfitter's camp for hunting season, and I took the kids out to see family in Northeast Montana. Hope you enjoy the pictures!
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Summer '08

Garden at the beginning of July

Ian at Priest Lake

Canoeing on Chase Lake

Natalie & Ian walking down to the river

Corbyn & Esther

Ian & Brendan

Ian with his cousins

Steve & Bonnie's family

Ian helping Kelly build the shed

"Ball!"

Kelly working on the shed

Kelly showing Ian how to reel in a fish

Esther likes to climb up on things

Taking a break to eat some peas

Esther loves flowers!

Esther, Ian, & Olivia

Naomi & Jeff & Olivia

The shed is coming along!

Is Fall really in the air or am I just imagining things?! Nearly every day now I check the weather forecast.... should I cover the tomatoes or should I not? Some sweet corn would be sooo delicious, or how about that watermelon or canteloupe? Maybe I'll have to try again next year because there is a chill in the air and I think this year's garden is running out of time!

What a treat to have my brothers and their families stay with us for part of their summer vacations! Esther is finally walking, though she still resorts to scooting on the floor more often than walking. Ian is growing up fast too. He helps me out a lot around home, whether it's taking the slop bucket out to "feed" the trees, or holding Esther's hand so she can walk around the house more easily. I wrote down some of my favorite things Ian has said this summer. These are some of them:

Ian was out helping me cut some fence wire for the peas to climb up this summer. When we were finished he ran off to play and hollered, "Thanks for all your hard work, Mom!"

One morning while I helping the kids get dressed in their room, Ian said, "It is beautiful today so I will turn out the night light."

"After my nap I can play with my John one." (John Deere tractor)

Talking to Kelly on the phone as Kelly was about to go, "But Daddy I have a question for you. Daddy come home!"

Have a great rest of the summer, whatever is left of it!

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5 Years of Wedded Bliss! (smile)

Hiawatha Trail- June 21st

Father's Day- June 15th

Scobey, Esther, & Ian at the garden

Ian "taking a bath"

Esther playing with beads

Actually, we LOVE married life and family life- what a blessing to be happily married and raising 2 wonderful kids. For our anniversary this June, we enjoyed a day of biking the Hiawatha Trail (a 13-mile stretch of old railroad bed up around Lookout Pass) while the kids hung out with Grandpa and Grandma Lynch. The ride included 7 or 8 high trestles and I think 9 tunnels. Most of the tunnels were fairly short- long enough to feel the pitch black though- but we decided to skip the 1.8 mile tunnel at the end of the trail, as we didn't pack along very good lights. Of all the days people can ride the trail, we happened to run into our pastor and his family the same day we were riding, so we got them to take a picture of us together!