It's @#$%! snowing in Bozeman...

I don't have time to write much. It's been days since my last shower...seriously. All three of my guys have been sick with a nasty stomach bug...puke, diarrhea, and crabbiness. Somehow, I managed to avoid it all...except the crabbiness :). However, we passed it on to my mom and dad, Lane, and Matt's mom. Sorry! Anyway, we are on the mend.

Just when I thought my crabbiness had subsided, we woke up this Spring morning to at least 3 inches of snow on the ground, a howling wind, and more snow to come. I won't repeat the foul words I expressed upon waking, but for pete's sake, I am tired of winter!

Check out the link I added to the right...our business website.

Here are some pictures of my little ones from the last two weeks or so.

Trying to get an Easter picture with my little loves. I'm clearly enjoying it...they're clearly not.

One at a time is much more successful. Mama and Mason.

Mama and Smith.

Boys and their Easter bags from Grandma and Grandpa Schuyler. Who needs presents when you've got a bag with tissue paper in it?

Smiggy relaxing with Aunt Kayla and Grammie Laurie. We had the pleasure of staying at the Schuyler's house over the Easter weekend. The Aunties and Grammie took over feeding, diapering, and entertaining the boys and then said "Thank you for letting us do that!" Ha! Thank you!Aunt Lanie and Smiggs. Lane coined a nickname that we won't be using...ever. "Smigarette".

MayMo playing in the rocks outside our house. Yes, they are dirty and cold and he just had to put them in his mouth.

After they had emptied my linen drawer, I designated the drawer for the boys to have as a play receptacle. It's a big hit.

Seeing that I had my camera out, Smiggy crawled over to me and made this wonderful face.

Later in the morning, I was enjoying my work out, in the living room, without being mauled by two small children. They were busy playing with their drawer. Upon finishing my work out, I found Mason in the drawer. How nice.

Puffs and other stuffs...

I guess there was some confusion about the previous post...my poem, that is. So, here it is: Puffs are star shaped,puffed rice morsels (like Rice Krispies). They are flavored with fruit and are nice and sweet.
M and S love puffs. They love the word "puff". They love the sound the container of puffs makes when I shake it. They hear the rustle from across the room and come "running" (crawling) just to get a puff. When they are hungry and fussy and I need just a minute to fix their meal, I sit them in their chairs and sprinkle a few puffs on the tray and POOF! - they are quiet, silently stuffing as many puffs in their mouths as they possibly can before they gag. Puffs are wonderful. They have a magical affect on my children and, apparently, a magical affect on me - inspiring me to pen a silly poem.

Smiggy walkin' in his daddy's shoes. They almost fit.

Spent a weekend in Red Lodge with the Moores, Kavanaghs and Oberlys. We rented a 4 bedroom house within walking distance of downtown. We ate well, laughed, played cards, soaked in the hot tub, fished, laughed, ate, shopped, laughed and ate. It wasn't restful, but it was a roaring good time and we're looking forward to doing it again.

Peter and Sam preparing Saturday morning breakfast...home-made biscuits and gravy!

Naomi and Sara reading the Bible over coffee...what good little Christian women :).

Sara and Mae-Mo reading a magazine.

Saturday night dinner and smiles all around.

We made Frogmore Stew. You boil potatoes, shrimp, corn, and sausage in one big pot and season everything with Old Bay Seasoning. Then you dump it all on the table and dip every bite in butter or cocktail sauce. It was good!

This is one of only a few pictures snapped of me during the weekend...and it's not so good. Matt's not lookin' too good either. Nevertheless, we have alcohol and we're having fun.

I don't know why his face looks like this but it's darn funny. This picture is to show you all the system we jimmy-rigged to keep Mason from sliding out of his high chair. His restraint relies on a system of carabiners, webbing, and a phone book.

It might look unsafe but we're pretty confident it is...unsafe.

A poem...from my collection

Ode to the Puff

You who are so sweet and fair...
I see you sitting there
without a care
without a cal-o-rie.

When plopped on my tongue
you melt till you're none
ten seconds of fun
diddle dee!

Wherever I stroll
I must have a bowl
else mom pay the toll
mightily!

I can't get enough
please give me a puff
or else I'll get rough
speedily!


For Mason and Smith...who love puffs, from Mom.

I was looking through all the photos on my computer this morning and ran across this one. It is a great picture, evidence of some great times. But, it also underscores how things have changed for all of us. We lost a life and gained two new ones. There will be many more great pictures like this but I treasure this one.

March madness

First time in a swimming pool! Mason was cool as a cucumber and really enjoyed himself. Smithy was a little apprehensive and clung to me like a little monkey. There were no tears or hysterics and Auntie Gail said they were swimming superstars!

Smiggy's not so sure about all this.

May-Mo doing the superman like a pro.

Kale and Naomi. Despite the look of fear on his face, he really enjoyed himself and was deemed a swimming superstar, as well.

"Wuz up?"

Auntie Gail with her two little buddies.

Smith doing his impression of Mason.
(Actually, his mohawk is due to the fact that he smeared his lunch in his hair and I had to wash it out with a washcloth.) He sure is cute! Great set of cheeks to nibble on.

All three of Grammie's sweet boys in the bath tub. She volunteered to bathe them all at once...she's very brave.

Blakers with Grammie.

Mason was feeling mellow the other day and so he and Dad shared a rare moment of cuddling (i.e. sitting still for 3 minutes or more). Yes, that is a beer bottle he's holding...don't worry - it's empty and Mason didn't taste a drop of it!

Smiggy felt this was very important business...pushing the stool around the kitchen. He didn't seem to have any destination, just the task of pushing it around and around. I was lucky to get it on video.