Baby blankets

The girls had been asking me what they were going to get for the baby when she's born. I am not sure where where they got the idea that they needed to get her something, but I finally decided what they could do. So we went to JoAnn's today and let them each pick out what material they wanted me to make a blanket for the baby. They had such a good time going through and looking at all the different patterns. Icelynn did a really good job finding two things that matched, Shylee needed a little assistance. But all in all, they all turned out really cute.

This is the one Shylee picked out. If ya look closely, some of the butterflies are sparkly.

Icelynn picked out the yellow to go with this butterfly print all on her own. She is so artistic.

This is the one I picked out. I was really hoping to find purple stuff (since that is my favorite color), but to no avail, so I settled for this. It says baby in white print on the back, I think it turned out pretty cute.

With the left over material, I decided to make some burp rags. I made them simple and just ragged the edges (sorry no pictures). I didn't get anything else accomplished today, but at least the girls have something to give their new baby sister when she arrives.

1st day of school

So I think I might have just survived the 1st day of school. We had to wake up crazy early because I had to get 4 of us ready by 7:45. It was nice that they all had already had their clothes laid out ready for morning. Cayge is getting so old... He wouldn't even let me take his pictures for "the first day". Especially once we got to school. Once we got to the school, he just ran from me, stating he was WAY too old for pictures by his mom. Icelynn and Shylee of course LOVED getting their pictures done. I just can't believe that all three of my kids are in the school system, and that one is in 3rd friggen grade!!!! Where has the time gone? I feel so old!!!

Icee in her outfit. I think it is so cute that her skinny jeans are baggy on her :)

Icelynn is such a natural beauty. Pray for my salvation in 10 years!!!!

This is the only individual picture Cayge would let me take. He kept telling me he was too old for this stuff!!!

Shylee was so nervous to be in Kindergarten. She kept telling Rayce and I last night that she doesn't want to be afraid of her teacher, but she really is. (It is the same teacher that Cayge and Icelynn had, so we knew her pretty good, and she is a SUPER nice lady!)

My three babies. It doesn't seem like that long ago that they were all just little babies. Cayge is in 3rd friggen grade, I swear he was just a toddler!!!!!

On last pose right out side of the school. It is such a beautiful area. Right next to the UofI campus none the less. Perfect for Rayce and I.

Headed across the bridge to the school grounds. I am really bummed that this is a blurry picture because it is so cute of all three of them.

Icelynn in her classroom. She was so excited to get the same 1st grade teacher as Cayge. (that happens alot when there are only 2 teachers in each grade to choose from) She seems like such a big girl here. Even though she was in school all day last year, it just feels totally different now that she's in 1st grade.

Shylee waiting for her bus to take her up to the kindergarten. (The kindergarten is on the college campus, so they gather at the elementary then ride a bus to their classroom)

She was SO nervous, but she was so brave! I just can't believe that my baby is 5 and in Kindergarten!!!! Seems like just a few months ago that she was born. She has been my baby for so long, I am not quite ready to accept that she is getting old enough to be in the school system!!

They just announced that it was time to load the bus. Her VERY 1st time to ever be on a school bus.

There she goes. She must be a big girl now!!

(I am really fighting the tears at this point!!!!!!)

All in all, we survived. I almost had a melt down though. It was a good thing I had to leave right away and go to class. But about 10 minutes in class my phone started buzzing. Checked my voicemail right after class and found out that Icelynn got stung by a bee while outside waiting for the 1st bell to ring. I called the school right away and they told me that she was fine. Just got a bandaid and an ice pack. When they got home from school, she had nearly forgot all about the sting. She is such a big girl. I love my children SO much, and can't wrap my head around the fact that they are all getting so big. And I know they are going to seem even bigger when the baby gets here.

I HATE MONTANA!!!!

In 2004, we bought our 1996 Dodge Grand Caravan. It has never been a FANCY van, nor has it ever been that reliable. But it always seem to hold itself together for one last trip, or when our other cars broke down. But on August 2nd, she finally passed away. It happened on the ONE trip that we didn't have our kids. So in a small way, it was a blessing that it happened. She broke down just as we passed out of Idaho into Montana. We limped her along for about 25 miles, then she was done and wouldn't go an inch farther. It is a really curvy, busy stretch of freeway, and it happened to be the one spot that our phones didn't have any reception. So Rayce decided to walk to the next town, or until he had phone service. I stayed in the van to babysit the thousand dollars worth of tattoo equipment we had with us. I was in there for 2 1/2 hours before Rayce got back, and not a single soul had stopped to see if everything was okay. He had walked about 4 miles before a family stopped and gave him a ride (in the back of their pickup) the other 4 miles to town. Rayce brought back with him a tow truck, and they towed us the 8 miles to the next town. This is actually really sad pictures for me to post for two reasons: #1 I really do love this van, even if it has always been a pain in my butt and #2 because now we are vehicle-less. (Well, technically we have other vehicles, they are just 600 miles away and we have no way back to them)

Getting towed off the freeway
Back in the town of St. Regis, Montana

The town only had one reenky dink motel, and it was all sold out, so Rayce and I slept in HOTEL LA' VAN. It wasn't the best night of sleep we had ever had, but at least it was a place to lay our head.

Rayce's Dad was our life saver!!!!!! He got up at 4 the next morning to come and get us home (to Shelley) Don't know what we would have done without him!!!

It is never good to break down, but we do feel blessed that it happened on the ONE trip that we didn't have our kids, they were already down in Shelley. So now it is the quest to find a replacement van. We knew we needed to buy one before the baby came, but we just didn't think we would have to do it so soon.