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.

Crazy Busy Summer (sorry, it's a REALLY long one)

Wow, this summer has been crazy, to say the least. We have been going, going, going, which is really nice because come fall, we will still be going, but in a less fun way.

To start off this EXTRA LONG blog post, just a little update on our baby to be. She is growing like a weed, but still small for her gestation. We had a bit of a fright a few weeks ago, when she quit moving. I went right in for a stress test, and everything looked good. She was moving, but she had a low heart rate, and they discovered that she is pushing on the cord which (at the time) was laying across my cervix. She is back to her kicky little self these days. She is moving so much, the kids love to feel and watch her move. We are having a terrible time deciding on a name for this little Angel, and we can't wait to meet her. Time is just flying by, and before we know it, she will be here.


I forgot to mention in my last post that the first week we got to Shelley, that we went to the circus with the Kirkhams. It was fun to watch the kids have such a great time. The wind was blowin pretty hard, but they didn't seem to mind. My girls' favorite part were the trapize artists, and Cayge loved the elephants. All in all, we had a great time.

The 6 cousins headed to the circus

Shylee and Katlin watching the show (not exactly sure what Katy is doing)
Icelynn and Naomi

Cayge and Conner (and Brianna)

The boys got play swords and went right to work on sword fighting :)

Rayce, Conner, Cayge, Brianna, Shylee, Naomi, Icelynn and Katlin enjoying a little treat

Icelynn watching the elephants

Shylee also watching the elephants worried that they might get away and come get her

This was the storm we watched roll in and cut the circus short. Although we got to our cars just in time before it hit, it was a little intimidating.

The kids got to do swimming lessons at the Shelley pool. They loved it.

Shy going down the slide

Shy going off the diving board

Icee going off the slide

Cayge perfecting his dive

Icee doing a cannon ball

It was freezing water with a nice cool breeze to make things a little "Icee"

While we were there, we got to go camping. Rayce's parents on some property by Celars Creek, and it is just a beautiful get-away. We love it up there, and about 10 miles up the road, my grandparents have a cabin, so that is where I stayed the night. It was beautiful while we were up there, and it even rained a little. The perfect camp trip.

On our nature hike while camping

Shylee hanging out with Grandpa Brian while camping

On our way home from camping we stopped and hiked up 40 Horse Cave by Wolverine Mountain. It was pretty tough (seeing since Rayce had us start up the wrong side, so it was extra steep). We all made it though... even me!!! I was pretty proud of myself.

This is the 4 of them at the bottom before we started up.

Shylee and Cayge about half way up. We stopped and rested in some shade.

Icelynn was pretty scared. Getting a little help from dad here.

Just about there (you can see the mouth of the cave). Icee wouldn't stand up and walk because she was afraid that she would fall over backwards.

Cayge says "I didn't realize indians wrote on cave walls like this." Rayce and I had a pretty good laugh about that one.

I think this is just a really cute picture even if it is a little blurry

You can tell the girls are a little nervous

Headed back down.

We all made it down with out any mishaps. I was really proud of the kids for doing such a great job. It was a fun afternoon.

My grandparents plant fish in their pond every few years. We lucked out that we happened to be there this year when the did it. It is pretty cool.

This is my dad Ken, and 5 of his 6 grandkids.

Hayden, Icelynn, Shylee, Chance and Cayge watching the fish come out of the back of the truck

These kids get along so great together. (I told the kids to turn and look at me so I could take a picture, and Chance looked at me and flexed while he grunted. It was too funny) Chance and Shylee hanging out while everyone fished.

Stud muffin Chance

This picture makes me laugh because the four kids are more worried about finding worms than fishing.

Daddy helping Shylee fish. As you can tell, neither one of them are really that into it.

When we got back to Moscow, Icee had to get some dental work done. This is before the dentist. Icelynn had to get 3 teeth pulled, and parts of another one cut out. She was so brave, and didn't cry at all. The dentist did an amzaing job, and Icee says she still likes her dentist (which is extremely important to me!!!!)

Givin you the stare down!! After the dentist. She was such a trooper. I am so proud of my sweetie.

This picture is kinda yucky because you can see the tooth holes, but I still think she looks REALLY cute in it :)

All in all, we have had a really great summer so far. This week the three kids are in Shelley while we are still in Moscow. It has been lonely for me, but I have been hanging out with Rayce at the tattoo shop. We will be in Seattle for the weekend before we go pick up the kids. I am not sure if I am more excited to go to Seattle, or get back to my kids!

The Month of June...so far

The month of June has been really exciting in this Bird's Nest. A lot has been going on. We started the month off with Rayce and I's 9th Anniversary on the 2nd. It amazes us both how much we have grown as a couple, individually and as a family in the last nine years. We have gone from just the two of us to been parents of 3 beautiful children, with a bun in the oven. Sometimes I think back to when we first started dating 13 years ago and think about how madly in love with Rayce I was. Now the love I have for that man can't even hold a match to the love and compassion I feel for him now.
On the 8th, we got to find out what we are having...It's a GIRL!!!!! Cayge wasn't too happy about having yet ANOTHER sister, but once he realized that he doesn't have to share his Daddy-son time with anyone else, he has decided that it is pretty cool to have another sister. We were really hoping for a boy, but we will love this precious little girl just the same!
The kids also got out of school on the 9th, so we packed our bags and headed back "home" to Shelley. We were so excited to get here to meet both baby Lucy (Sarah's baby) and baby Hailee (Danyelle's baby). We have had soooo much fun snuggling these two little angels, it makes October feel like years away for our baby to arrive.
Since we have been here, we have gone non-stop! Birthday parties, get togethers, and just hanging out with family has been so fun! The kids are also taking swimming lessons at the Shelley Pool, and boy does that bring back memories! Both just seeing the pool and taking lessons there when I was young.
Rayce also left for Sacramento & San Fransisco to do some tattoos, and has been very successful there. Although he missed Father's Day, it makes me so happy to see him doing what he loves and people loving what he does. We are SO excited to head down to SLC to pick him up from the airport tomorrow night. He has only been gone a week, but it feels like eternity. Then, we are headed to Lava Hot Springs on Thursday with my mom and (almost) all my sisters. (Wish you could come Steph!) I can't wait. I only get to see these girls & their kiddos every few months, so I love spending every second I can with them.
Now that I have typed your ear off, I will post pix the next time I post, PROMISE :)