Yoga Partner

Brielle really enjoys exercising and loves to jump at the chance to join me when I head to the school to workout.  She is pretty good at it and I enjoy having her as my partner!

She is so cute and just jumps right in with all of the other women, it makes me smile!

A New Van

Before Taylor was born we purchased our first van.  At the time we just had Payton and Kenzie and Taylor would soon be joining the family so a bigger vehicle was much  needed.  That was approximately 9 years ago and we have since filled that little van up and added many miles to our Dodge Grand Caravan.  We have been looking for the right deal to replace our van (one handle on the kids' sliding doors you couldn't get in and the other side you couldn't get out).  Although the van had seen better days it was still running pretty well, was paid off, and was a great car for our family for a lot of years.

It amazes me how much our family has grown and changed since purchasing that first van.  This was the last family ride in the old van as we dropped the kids off to school on our way to get the new van with Gavin (the kids were so excited to see what the new one was like-it was fun watching their excitement).

While I was in Great Falls at times, I liked to peak at the dealerships to see if there were any great deals.  I spotted this one and they were going to give us a great end of the month deal.  After talking to Mckay we decided this was going to be our new car.

After sitting in vans and checking them over, Gavin was thrilled to be coming home with a new car too.  It runs so nice and even the kids think there is so much more room in this car (it has an 8th seat when needed and that is a nice feature we were hoping for).  When the kids got home from school we Face-timed with Mckay so he could see their reaction and then we all piled in and went for a test drive.  It was sure fun hearing their reactions as they noticed all the features.  The automatic sliding doors have been a hit, we are excited the sliding doors open and shut once again let alone on their own!!  Here's to hoping this one is as good to us as our last van!

1st Pinewood Derby for Taylor

It seems like the Pinewood Derby always falls during Mckay's busy time, thankfully it isn't quite in full swing yet.  Taylor was excited to build his first car with Mckay.

Headed to Swensen's shop to use some tools.

Mckay cutting out the car while Taylor supervises.

Now for the sanding.

Time to paint the car...bet you'll never guess the colors?!

Taylor was good at painting.

I think he had a good time getting it all ready.

Of coarse it is Blue and Orange for this BIG Boise State fan!

Taylor's car was voted this award.

It was a fun project for Taylor and Mckay.

Winter Field Trips

The kids have had a couple of recent field trips and I was lucky to tag along.

Payton and I are on the bus heading ice fishing.

We had high hopes of catching some fish...

I even took a picture of the bait we were using so I could show Mckay for future reference because we have actually had no luck ice fishing thus far.

The scenery was beautiful although it was very windy and chilly at times.

The icing on the cake was the company, I really enjoyed my time with Payton and had a blast hanging out with him for the day.  Except for a few bites we got skunked and didn't catch a fish all day!

6th Graders

Later that same week the school paid for our 5th and 6th graders to go to the movie Wonder.  Both classes had read the book and I had read quite a bit with Payton as well.  We were eager to see the movie and met a few other schools at the Roxie in Choteau.

After stopping at the office to see Mckay, Gavin and I met up with the kids at the theatre complete with some snacks.

Kenzie, Payton, and Gavin waiting for the movie to start (we are going to purchase Wonder when it comes to DVD so the rest of the family can see it as well).  It was such a great show!  Gavin learned a new move we call the Auggie while watching this and hearing the entire group giggle.  He crosses his arms and makes a kissing face while shaking his head, it is seriously the funniest little thing.  I love that the school did this for the kids, it was so fun for them!

Kicking Off 2018

January is in full swing and we are soaking up time together as tax season is fast approaching.

To say that Brielle likes Yoga type exercises would be an understatement.  She loves exercising and joins me in my group classes when she can.  One afternoon she put on one of my videos and enlisted Gavin and Taylor, it was so cute!

I enjoy doing my girls' hair.  It is fun to try new things and practice on them.  Kenzie is rather particular about her hair and I have had to start over many times if she happens to find a bump that seems out of place...cracks me up!

Gavin enjoys going to the mall and shopping with me, he is my little buddy while I run errands.  It sure is hard for him to pass this part of the mall without getting on one of the rides and hoping I cave in (sometimes I do).

Early January we headed to the cabin for a quick weekend before tax season is in full swing.  Payton was having the time of his life driving the snowmobiles, I kept wondering how is my son old enough to be driving these around, but he was actually good at it and very responsible.  

While at the school I spotted this New Year's resolution outside Taylor's classroom.  My favorite part...finish 2nd Nephi, Finish Jacob, be kind, etc....it melted this mama's heart!

Love it when they still phones for a quick selfie.

Silly kids.

This mask was handed down and Gavin thinks it makes for the perfect Spider Man mask!

Gavin would go to Mckay's office for lunch everyday if I let him.  He loves to spend time there!

He loves seeing Mckay in the middle of the day!

More of our trip to the cabin.  The highlight that weekend was family time and riding on the snowmobiles in a winter wonderland.

It was the best mini date with my sweetheart!

Beautiful country!

I love my life...

...and I LOVE him!

This is after being pulled behind the snowmobile, Kenzie and Taylor were covered in snow!  Thank goodness for their new neck warmers I made for Christmas, they have really been handy!

We had a blast driving around.

Winter fun!

Payton definitely has a new hobby after that weekend at the cabin.

Another birthday in the books.

Sarah made this delicious chocolate cake for me, so sweet of her!

We have had a great start to the year!

Gavin is a Sunbeam

Our baby is now in Sunbeams...Gavin sure makes an adorable Sunbeam but on the other hand it is not fair that kids grow up so fast!

Ha Ha...guess this is his reverent demonstration!

So handsome!

All 3 of my boys have shared this suit.  I'm sure the suits will continue to be shared and passed down as time goes on.

Foodies

I just gotta say...my kids love trying different food!  They love going out to eat new places or making new things at home!  They sure enjoy this part of life, trying new foods and flavors as a family is something we all enjoy doing together.  These meals as a family, even if it is just around our own dinner table, is a family favorite past time.  Throughout the year the kids try different food and develop new favorites they want to eat on their birthdays (when they get to pick the menu).

The big kids' table.

Mckay and Gavin and we were also joined by Great Grandpa Swensen and Grandpa and Grandma Swensen.

Gavin and I stopped at the new Panda Express in town.