Summer 2010

 Summertime is always fun around our house! We have celebrations from the 4th of July, to Xander's birthday on July 13th, lots of pool parties with the neighbor kids, hiking, climbing, rafting and bike riding. We take vacations and road trips to see good friends. Chris and I also celebrate our wedding anniversary August 7th. This Summer our new house was completed and we moved in June. I have been so blessed with many memories, experiences, and people in my life. It was a great summer.

Xander in Virgina City - age 6   (was over 100 degrees that day!)

Me Climbing at Bear Mtn Canyon

Camping with the Matteson's - Hike to Lava Lake

Chris and Xander on a hike in beautiful Montana

Xanders 7th birthday party

Me and my boy -  hike to the Falls

Our new house completed in June

Xander's last day of 1st grade

Camping at The Cabin

At the demolition derby in Livingston

Wedding Anniversary - August 7th - Celebrating 11 years!

My little boy - age 7 and ready for 2nd grade

June 2010

Wow! June has flown by. With many exciting expectations for the month it's hard to believe it's already July. In June we celebrated Xander's final days of first grade. His academic success lies in reading where he has scored at a  2nd-3rd grade reading level the past 2 quarters. So proud of him! The final stages of our house was completed in June and we closed the 15th.  I am working p/t for the summer and Xander gets to be involved in a summer camp during days Chris and I work. He gets to play sports, take swimming lessons and do gymnastics. So far we haven't gone on any trips or hikes yet. The weather has been so rainy and cold - plus with moving and transitioning into a new routine has been eventful in itself. I look forward to posting pictures and updates of new adventures soon!

Family Day at The Ranch

Lost Tooth!

Xander FINALLY lost his top tooth after losing 4 of his bottom ones already. The other top tooth is barely hanging on.

Xander's Short Stories

#1  "My favorite place is my back yard. It has a big yard that I can play football the grass is shiny as an emerald.The spring water makes the grass shine like green glitter. This is the best place ever."

#2   "My favorite desert is chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream. It's as cold as an ice cube. It's icy as a popsicle stick. The chocolate chips tastes like frecled chocolate. This is my favorite desert ever."

Easter

Birthday Trip to Vegas

So, Chris decided to 'secretively' plan a trip for my birthday. His plan was to take me to Vegas. He booked the flight, hotel, etc for April 2nd-April 5th. A few days later I informed him, "did you know Easter is the Sunday after my birthday? (April 4th) he seemed to get a funny look on his face and said, "nuh-huh." "Uh-huh," I said! So, he checked the calender and sure enough it was! Therefore, he thought it would be best to give me the news then. He told me about the trip. I was so surprised! And like any good mom I asked, 'what about Xander.' He proceeded to tell me he was going to call my dad, but hadn't yet! And he was going to call my work for the day off on Monday, too - but hadn't yet! WHAT! And he already planned this trip. To top it off - it was Easter! I felt so bad. But determined to make this an awesome trip and knew everything was going to work out. And it did. We had a great time. Xander stayed with Grandpa and Grandma - had a memorable Easter with his cousins. I had no problem getting the Monday off I needed.
Thank you to my husband who is always thinking about me, and about US. I LOVE YOU.

House Stages

On March 15th the process of our house being built FINALLY began! We are very excited and cannot wait to move in it sometime in June. Great timing since our lease here on the house we are renting is up July 1.  Hoping to really feel like we are 'home.'

March 15

April 15

April 24th

May 1st

Firefighters Wife's Prayer

Lord I thank you for my husband. This firefighter that I love. Give me strength to give him support with your guidance from above. Make me a good partner, attentive listener, my husband's best friend. When I chose him I chose a firefighter, and the job on which we depend. Lord, keep my firefighter safe when our plan's have gone awry, Answering an emergency call with a life or death cry. Keep the gusting winds and raging flames from being his final fate. Help me cope with the trauma of being a firefighter's mate. 

Snowboard Love

Today was a very exciting day - mostly for my husband. He bought Xander his first snowboard. Chris has been a huge snowboarder since the day I met him...well actually since before I met him.  He was a snowboard instructor when we met. :)  When we found out we were having a baby boy snowboarding was the first thing Chris was anxious and looking forward  to do with our son. He actually made a snowboarder mobile for Xander's basinet!!  So, as you can see it's a pretty big deal in our family! We took him to Bridger Bowl today for his first lesson. And of course daddy is teaching him. Xander loved it! He had great balance on his board and looks like a natural on the slope. We are looking forward to many more family trips and spending more time boarding now!

**Valentines Day**

For Valentines Day I surprised Chris with a champagne breakfast in bed. Then we went to Yellowstone Park and soaked in the Boiling River. Memorable and fun. I think he has planned the last few years of fun on valentines day so this year he said it was "my turn." 

Winter Fun!

Ok - we had a wild hair to go snow-shoeing! So, we went and bought all our gear and headed up to Hyalite. Spent the day following some cross country ski trails. Then found ourselves off the trail into some nice, deep, thick powder. Finally, after an exhausting hike up a steep slope we had some fun sliding down on our rear's! We had a blast.
~And LOVE living in beautiful Montana~

Snow Shoeing

http://bozemandailychronicle.com/articles/2010/02/02/news/000snowshoe.txt

Check out the link! Xander went snow shoeing with his first grade class and made it on the front page! He had so much fun!! The program is part of a, "No Child Left Inside."

Chris's *31* Birthday

For Chris's 31st birthday we went out with some friends. Had a couple drinks and played some pool. We bought him a laptop and made his favorite cake. Xander always has to be Mr. funny guy and bought him a Barbie doll as a big joke! It was too funny.