A VERY long post, with WAY too many pictures, about the BEST day EVER!!!!

   Alright... perhaps I was a little over zealous in declaring this to be the BEST day ever!  After all, there was my wedding day, not to mention the days that each of our children were born...

But this day is right up there on my list of favorites-that is for sure.

On Friday afternoon as soon as John had finished work we loaded up the van, and the kids, and a LOT of snacks, and made our way to Choteau, Montana.    Now this may not sound like much of a destination to you, but there is a cool little thing about the Choteau areat that we learned about from John's sister Sarah and her family.   Every year at this time, thousands of birds, particularly snow geese and tundra swans, migrate through the area and spend a couple of weeks grazing in the nearby fields and resting on Freezeout Lake.    (Just google Freezeout Lake Montana and see for yourself)    Anyways- we had planned to go last year and meet up with Sarah and Ed but ended up backing out, though I made John promise me that we'd check it out this year.

Hence our trip this weekend to "the middle of nowhere Montana."      AKA...Choteau.

This is a picture of the hotel lobby of the Stage Stop Inn where we stayed.   I know this doesn't look too exciting to you, but my kids apparently thought this was pretty darn cool.   Really.  You would have thought we'd arrived in Disneyland the way they kept going on about it.  

Suffice it to say that a lot of time was spent at the hotel swimming with the kids, eating junk food, relaxing, watching America's Funniest Home Videos while eating popcorn (not junk food), and visiting with John's sister Sarah who met up with us.   I think it is safe to say that if we never had gone out to look for birds,  my kids would have been perfectly happy with all of the above.

 Oh yeah, and Nate spent the night puking.  

I was not happy with that.

Alright- now for the amazing part.   The birds!

So there is this lake (as I mentioned earlier) called Freezeout lake.    And true to it's name, it was pretty much frozen over and sat fairly empty for a large part of the day.  

But this lake won't stay empty for long,  because the 70-100,000 geese who are passing through the area are currently out feeding on leftover grain from farmer's fields.   

Like clockwork, right around 11:00 am, you begin to hear the faint sound of geese in the distance, and soon a dark cloud of birds begin to make their way to the lake.

It's a pretty impressive sight to see as they get closer.    This photo shows just one group of snow geese.    From every direction, groups of similar size begin to make their way back to the lake.

It's a bit of a frenzy as they all try to find somewhere to land, and the noise is unbelievable!    Even from as far away as we were, it was still an incredible sound.

The weekend we were there, the bird count also indicated that there were about 4000 tundra swans at the lake.

Every couple of minutes another flock comes in to land.    Sarah made the comment that the lake was more like an airport, the way some birds came and others left.

Sure enough, some smaller groups would take off, and I suspect they were beginning the next leg of their journey.     (I've heard that the next stop is in northern Alberta)

Aside from the 70,000 snow geese and 4000 Tundra swans, we also saw a cool flock of pelicans.

And we saw a LOT of other birders out.    Some people camped in this cold weather right by the lake.   I suppose they are what you would call "enthusiasts."         ....I wish I could be like them.

The landscape was dotted with these mounds of dirt, which we suspect are nests for the Canadian geese in the area.     

The snow geese were beautiful to watch when the lighting was right.    

This particular flock was HUGE!    The trail of birds flying in seemed relentless and I would never have been able to really capture the size of it.   Which is a pity.   But really- this isn't the type of thing that really can be captured on camera.    There is too much to take in.   Too much to hear!

One of my favorite moments came on Friday night.  We had just arrived and were excited to see our first "Fly In" but the weather was really poor which had thrown off the bird's normal routine.    It was freezing cold, and snowing and very very foggy.    Finally after what seemed like an hour, and just as the sun was going down the birds began to come in for the night.    It was such a serene moment, and as John, Sarah and I stood watching these birds lift off and soar right above us toward the lake, you could literally HEAR their wings beating the air!   

I put my camera down and didn't even try to take a photo.   I guess I just felt like that was a moment I wanted to experience completely.     That moment made the trip down totally worth it.  

  Every thing after that was just icing on the cake!

Speaking of icing on the cake:  This afternoon when we got back- John had me go wash the van and I couldn't help but notice that there was not a single bit of bird poop on our van.   Not a speck!    

Now how lucky is that? 

John was so awesome to video tape a couple of the fly ins and he has added some of my photos to make a bit of a slide show.   Feel free to check it out - you'll feel like you were there yourself! 

                                                                                                         

Never Grow Up

I noticed one morning this week that Nate sits at the table like a "big boy" now.    Sure, seeing his teeny little legs dangling from the chair helped to soothe me a bit and remind me that he is still small - but I'd give anything to have him happily sit in his high chair again.       Stop Growing NATE!

This morning I asked Jessica to go and get dressed for the day and this is what I found her doing a few minutes later.    She didn't even know I was taking her picture, but I love how she is smiling at herself.   She's obviously pleased with her makeup skills - though I admit she was the only one;)     What is it about little girls and make up?    

Abby sang at the Music Festival this week a couple of times.   On Tuesday she sang with her grade 2 classmates, and on Wednesday she sang with her Junior Choir.    I love listening to her sing.    (It beats listening to her talk, seeing as she is always trying to talk like a TEENAGER these days.)     The other day I told her to go "practice her piano or else!"  to which she dramatically exclaimed, "What!  I totally don't deserve to be treated this way!"    

I met with Sam's Teacher this week during parent teacher interviews and she had nothing but good things to say about him.    Of course that made me happy, but I'll admit it made me a little sad too.   I mean, what happened to that rambunctious impossible little boy he once was?    It's become much to easy to talk and reason with him and he seems ...well....older.

Sometimes when I am talking with one of the kids I will playfully try to make them promise me that they will "never grow up."   They usually just roll their eyes and tell me that "they can't not grow up."  

"Like...duh!"  (abby would say)

I don't know though.

  I think that if I could find a way to stop time-

I'd do it in a heartbeat!

***********

A bit eager perhaps?

The weather this past week had us all feeling hopeful that spring would be just around the corner.  The kids spent a lot of time outdoors, which for some reason makes me feel like a good mom.

(kids - TV = good parenting right?)   So ...good for me!

Sam got his very first skateboard and subsequently his very first goose egg.   (Well... first goose egg of the year at least)  I really admire his determination.    It seems as though with each and every fall or crash, his resolve to figure that skateboard out only intensifies.  

We've gone on several family walks lately, and Abby has become my own little walking buddy.    (I'm trying to condition my ankles after a long 8 months of being way too immobile. )   With hiking season approaching we've got to get ready!

On Friday afternoon I left the kids with John for a couple of hours, and came home to this cute little scene on our front yard:

Apparently, our kids (along with their friend Katie) had decided that it was the perfect day for a, get this...."WATER SALE!"  

Doesn't it look like the perfect day to you for such a thing?    Jessica is practically shivering in her winter coat!  

While Jessica managed the water, and the "till" Sam and Katie wandered the cul-de-sac trying to drum up costumers.     What would you do if two little rascals showed up on your doorstep asking you to come buy some water?   John just let them knock away.  Probably because, well for one thing - we have AWESOME neighbors!   And secondly, it seems as though very few of our neighbors actually spend any time in their houses these days.  He didn't really see any harm in letting the kids go from one empty house to the next while shouting out, "Water for Sale!"  


And boy do these kids know how to sell water!    I had to shell out THREE DOLLARS for my little glass of water!!  Can you believe that?     As soon as I drank that measly little glass - I went inside and poured myself two more glasses from the tap just so I could feel like I'd drank my moneys worth;)  

Little do Sam and Jess know that Ill actually be stealing those loonies as soon as I decide to wash the van;)

  All of that fun outside play came to a crashing halt yesterday when the temperatures dipped back down around zero (gasp!!!) and the snow began to fall.     I think I complained about the weather more yesterday then I did back when we were experiencing minus 25 temperatures.  Go figure!

Oh well.   We'll take the warmth when we get it.

Happy Sunday!!!!

What Spring looks like

Oh my the weather has been nice here lately.    There have been several days this week when I've been able to open up the windows in our house and feel the fresh air waft through.    There is nothing better then enjoying fresh air after a long winter cooped up inside.  

Nathan will be the first to agree with that.    He's logged a lot of hours playing outside this week, and it makes me happy to see him enjoy the outdoors so much.    Unfortunately letting him outside poses a couple of problems.    1)  We inevitably must bring him back inside, which always seems to provoke the worst temper tantrums I have ever seen.   2)  In an effort to avoid being taken inside- Nate often attempts to run away.    And this kid is QUICK!    Not only is he quick, but once he knows that you are coming for him- he kicks it into overdrive and really takes off!    

Needless to say - his outside time is being closely monitored and limited now.

Here are a few pictures of the kids enjoying a warm (albeit wet and muddy) morning at the park.

1st time this year!!!!

Note Jessica playing with the icy puddles.    You know it has been a long winter when THIS is our warm day worth celebrating;)

And in case you have forgotten what March is all about, it happens to be the month when the eagles return.     I've begun scoping out my favorite bird watching spots, and have been thrilled so far to see many of the same places are once again occupied by these beautiful birds.      The kids flat out refuse to join me this year, (the bums), so it looks like I'll be doing a lot of driving alone as I watch them;(

(I know this picture is blurry, but I was using a lens that does not have auto focus)

Well, that is pretty much the most exciting news for us this week.    We've spent the past few days glued to news reports and images about the damage in Japan.    Even Abby has been touched by the loss there.   It makes me feel so grateful (yet again) to live where we do.  Even if our "warm days" are really not that warm at all.    

I wouldn't want to live anywhere else!

I'm not one to complain (ok maybe I am), but I think it is worth pointing out that this has been the first year since John started teaching that we have not had a "SNOW DAY" at some point.    The last couple of years, we had already enjoyed two or even three snow days by the time March came around.    This next week is supposed to be absolutely gorgeous, and it's a pretty safe bet that we won't be seeing any snow days in the near future.   In fact, with Spring approaching-  I feel all hope of a glorious unexpected day off slipping further and further away.  

Sometimes it is just not easy being married to a school teacher, I tell ya.    

I mean- having to wait until APRIL for the next week long break?    Can you imagine?  

Sigh......

In the mean time- I guess I'll just dream of lazy summer days without schedule, and do my best to remember that they are definitely worth the wait.

(photo taken last spring by Haley Brooks)

Too much in common

Abby got the movie Megamind for her birthday, and I'm not kidding- we've watched it every.day.since!   

When the kids aren't watching the movie, they are rambling off various quotes and re -enacting their favorite scenes.    

Sam especially can do a couple of really great impersonations, and overall Sam really does remind me of this evil(ish), albeit very funny villian.

It's quite uncanny really!

8 is GREAT!

Well, against all of my pleas for this little girl to "never grow up,"  she has gone and done it.   Turned 8 years old on me!    It has been a busy weekend to say the least.  One which has revolved entirely around this little girl.   (thanks Mya for this cute little owl!)

On Friday we threw a birthday party for her, and she was allowed to invite 8 of her school friends.   Years ago I had told made a deal with her that she could always invite as many friends as the age she is turning.    That seemed perfectly harmless back when she was 3!   I'm thinking we might have to renegotiate the terms and agreements of having a birthday party.

8 kids is a LOT!

Luckily, John was on hand to help all of the kids build their own rockets out of duct tape.     After 40 minutes, a few rolls of tape, and a whole lotta noise - this is what they created:

John loved that Abby wanted to launch Rockets for her birthday.  



I had to throw in this picture because it just so perfectly depicts what Sam was up to most of the time.     Sam had apparently grown tired of the whole "celebrate Abby thing" and this is just the sort of thing he does whenever he needs some attention.

Don't worry though, Abby has no trouble commanding attention.   This is how she insisted on opening all of her gifts.  Perched high and mighty for all to see!

After all of that we ushered the kids outside to launch their rockets!    I was nervous about John launching these things in the cul de sac.   (John has a history of launching things on to other peoples roofs or into back yards etc.)    However,  seeing as half of our neighbors are away so much these days I figured who would know right?    ;)

In the end the only eventful thing that happened was when one kid's Rocket landed in the back of our one neighbor's white truck just seconds before he came out to start it.  ;)   

 Ha.  I'm sure they love us!

Believe it or not, I was actually a bit sad to see all of those kids leave at the end of the party.  Perhaps I had actually gotten used to all of the shrieking, high pitched laughter, and dramatics.   Or perhaps- their absence just meant that it was time for me to start cleaning up.       Conveniently the rest of my family all disappeared as well,  leaving me to deal with the aftermath.  

I don't know.   Methinks we need to include a clause in our future "Birthday Party Addendum"  

"She who MAKES the mess- CLEANS the mess!"

***********

Saturday was a fun day for our family, and a first for John and I as parents.    It was a truly fun experience for me to see Abby get baptized, and I was so grateful for this sweet girl.    She's worked hard this year to prepare for baptism and she smiled the whole day!

I got a little choked up sometimes when I would watch her cuddle up next to her Daddy.      

I asked Abby what some of her favorite things about her baptism day were and she said:

* "Getting baptized" (good answer)

* "How Auntie Jewel said that life is sort of like a dryer."  (you had to be there;)

* "My coin from Uncle Chad."  

* "I liked the desserts and how they were decorated" 

Speaking of the desserts-  check out these cupcakes that Aunt Rachel made!   Weeks ago she had phoned asking Abby what her favorite color, animal and flower was.  (to which Abby replied purple and blue, a horse and tulips!)    

Rach worked hard to give Abby the perfect cupcakes consisting of All her favorites!    

Of course, the day was made extra special by all of the friends and family who joined us!   (and helped in so many ways)   To the Hardy, Stevens, Rausch and Payne families- thanks for travelling to be with us!

It really was seeing all of our loved ones that made the day so wonderful for Abby.  

PS:  sorry about Jessica's hand in her nose.   And ....about Sam.    

We are a classy bunch eh!

Funny Talking Animals

Sometimes it is difficult to find something that ALL of my family enjoy doing together.   Usually spending a little bit of time as a family requires a bit (or a lot) of deliberation beforehand to be sure that everyone will be happy.   I've found that there are a few guaranteed requirements.   1. -if it involves candy or popcorn-then my kids are all over it.   2.  If it involves something educational- then John is there.   3.   If it requires zero set up or clean up - well,  now we're talking.    

That's why I'm thinking that a movie night is in order- and these Walk on the Wild Side segments might just be the perfect thing to watch!  

So fun!