August 2010

Well we have some news - Gary is going back to school at Mitchell Tech for Power Lineman. He is getting burnt out of welding and there seems to be no opportunities and we are always worrying about layoffs so he's had an interest in lineman for about 4 years now. We are hoping this will be a better occupation and have more stability and better advancement, pay and opportunities. We had to go to Mitchell Aug 6 to register for classes and we took the girls. We got to stay in a mohotel as Malaya says and it had a swimming pool. We had fun although it was a long trip!! And...the trip home was busy with all the motorcycles. He starts school August 30th and that's just around the corner!!

Then my daycare was on vacation that next week so my next door watched the girls. I think they had lots of fun. And....Malaya finally decided to open up to me and along with that and talking to other moms I decided to not send the girls back to the daycare. My neighbor is going to watch Miranda and Malaya is going to the YMCA. I'm super excited about the YMCA for Malaya. We told her she's going to school and we even went and bought her a new lunchbox and waterbottle. The neighbor boy is starting kindergarten this year so Malaya, JT and Gary will all be starting school August 30th. And the Y is across the street from where I work and Miranda will be right next door so I'm really excited about all of that.

So, for the next 2 weeks, my neighbor, my parents and mother in law are helping out.

Twila took the girls to storybook island yesterday and they got to see the Princess & the Pea at the theater and at the end Malaya got to go onstage and dance with the Princess. We found out that they were actually taping that performance so we are going there tomorrow to get a copy of it. I guess it has 4 different shows they have performed this summer.

Storybook Island

Malaya & the Princess

Riding the Magic Carpet

Dr Seuss & Reading Books

In the little pigs house

Malaya put baby vicks in Miranda & her hair. I can't get it out. We've tried dawn dish soap, baby powder, baking soda, and now eggs are tomorrow

Cuddling on the couch

Such a pretty smile

Brush teeth is their favorite time

Cuddling the bear

being cute

Summer nights - the guy on stilts

The girls got their faces painted

Shy seems to take over their couch

Malaya at Bear Country

The girls at Bear Country

Feeding the bears

The girls

Big Bear

Big Elk

July 2010

Here it is Aug 1 and where did July go?? On Sunday, July 11 we had gotten up and I was going to make blueberry pancakes and I was out of eggs so Gary said he'd go to the store for me. The girls and I started a movie and it seemed like he had been gone awhile so I go to my phone and see that I have 3 missed calls and a voicemail from him. Long story short - he had gotten in a fender bender on his way home going over the bridge on 79. He said he Northbound traffic had stopped so he was trying to see why and it looked like 2 people were pulling a young child across the road so he thought that someone had hit this kid. When he turned his head back, Southbound traffic had stopped as well. Come to find out it was a Large snapping turtle!!! He hit a guy from Wall who wasn't upset b/c he had almost hit the person in front of him. Thankfully no one was hurt and the girls weren't with him. We had asked Malaya if she wanted to go b/c she LOVES going with daddy, but thankfully this time she didn't want to!!!! We got quotes on fixing our car but decided it was too much money to spend b/c our car already has 140,ooo miles on it so we just replaced the headlight and it's good as new. Thanks mom & dad for letting us borrow your car until we got ours fixed!!!

Gary had told his parents he would help paint all the buildings on his grandparent's place this summer and time was running out....so, he headed to Wall on the weekend of the 17th. The girls & I headed to Spearfish and went to the Festival in the Park with Carey & her boys. Then we stayed the night with Sheila and went garage saleing in the morning. Sheila also had the girls for 3 days this week. Miranda had her 15 month check up. She weighed 21lb 3 oz and was 31 1/2 inches long.

The weekend of the 24th we went camping in Spearfish with the Brakke family. We had a blast!!! Saturday morning we went on a 10 mile bike ride and the kiddos got to play at the park. Then we went on a drive through the canyon so the kids could sleep and ended the night with a campfire & smores.

This week has been SUPER LONG!! Monday night Miranda started a fever and Sheila had the girls on Tuesday. Then Tuesday night around 7 Malaya said her ear hurt so took her to the doctor and she had an ear infection. Then Wed my parents came to our house to watch the girls b/c Miranda had a really rough night. Took Miranda to the dr. on Wed and they did blood work and it was a viral infection. My parents came again on Thurs and Friday Gary took the girls to Spearfish. Thanks Sheila, Mom & Dad for helping out this week!!

Malaya got to to the lake with the neighbors yesterday. Sounds like they had a good time!!

I took Miranda back to the Dr. today and he said she had Hand, Foot & Mouth. He said it's a viral infection and causes a rash, which she had everywhere, said it's very contagious until they stop a fever. And, she also now had pink eye in both eyes!! So, good thing I went. Gary is in Wall again working on the trim. He said he should be just about done after today. Maybe 1 more weekend!!

We are headed to our neighbors for steaks tonight & some wine!! Have a good month!! :).

The result of Gary's fender bender

Gary's co-workers had this sign for him when he got to work

Gary's version of Red Neck painting!

The girls at Storybook Island

They loved the train ride

Miranda on a slide at Spearfish park

We rode the whole bike path!

Miranda drinking lemonade

Miranda got herself stuck in Malaya's hamper

Miranda helping me water

She did a great job

Malaya wanted to help too

Miranda loves wearing Malaya's bike helmet

and carry things around

The clematis on the vine below the tree grew up into the tree and we thought this was such a pretty picture

The girls watching Letter Factory

It's one of their favorite movies