Kalispell Time!

We always love our August weekend in Kalispell. This year was extra special because Art and Diane had a party at Woodland Park to celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary! That's awesome! Here is some of the many guests there. It was a lot of fun!

Jordan, Abbey, and Terri arrived on Saturday while we were at the park. Teague was thrilled to see them. Mom, me, and the kids made it up very late on Friday night. They had just got home on Thursday from North Dakota, and Mom had to work Friday. We stopped in Missoula and ate with Callie (their were terrible thunderstorms and the hardest rain I've ever seen on the way there). Then we continued through the coolest and scariest lightning and a super dark night (a terribly sad wreck too). It was not our best driving experience. We were awfully glad to see Diane at 11:30!

I was not very good on camera duty. This is the only picture I have of Aunt Diane and Art together.

These two are so pretty :)

I love this picture. When they are all together, you can really see how much they look alike. They had some pictures from Diane and Art's wedding there. It was really neat to see the dresses and how young Bill and Terri were!

Avery called this "the banana squeeze". That's a lot of kids there!

Time to feed the ducks. Dana was smart and brought a ton of bread. I was at the other playground with Teague but joined them shortly afterward. We have L-R: Carter, Kolt, Luke, Avery, Josh, Jada, and Madeline.

Maddy, Josh, and Jada on the cool climbing tree.

These two of course can't look at me!

After the party, we headed over the the water park. We all had so much fun. Teague wrapped himself like a rock and thought he was really funny! It was a gorgeous day though.

Jada and Maddy take a gymnastics class, and they were very impressed with Abb and Jord's skills.

Swimming makes you hungry!

We always love the lazy river. Carter is pretty brave now too. He pretty much just takes off, and I have to keep up with him.

This is what happens to little boys who have been playing in the sun all day! It's so cute!

We went back to Art and Diane's and had the funnest night. We had some fierce bean bag toss games between Art, his friend Jeff, John, Dacia, Kathi, Mike, me, Dana, Jordan, and Abbey. We just laughed and laughed. As you can see, the kids had fun too. That's Carter getting splashed!

I love this action photo! Luke's running away and Josh's jump is pretty impressive. These three got along great. They were playing inside and made a no grownup zone. They didn't seem to cause any trouble though so we let them!

These two are trouble together - I think everyone said that this weekend. They both have a tendency to cause problems especially with their little brothers.

Teague loved the little pool when he woke up. He made Jordan sit by him and just wouldn't let her leave.

Gymnastics time. They did some impressive handstands, flips, and cartwheels. They were amazed by Abbey too. She did some backflips and aerials for them.

I can't believe how blonde little Kolt has become. Almost all the red is gone!

We stayed out at Dana and Jason's house Saturday night. When we woke up they made a great breakfast for us, and then we explored their yard. This is their pony Pepper. She is so nice. Carter loved her.

Ave loved her little ride on Pepper.

The little boys enjoyed the toys more than the animals. I think that's to be expected.

Feeding Pepper some carrots was a big highlight for Carter.

They have chickens too. This is Avery being a chicken!

You can always get good smiles out of the three girls!

All 6 on the trampoline! Fun, fun, fun. These kids had such a good time, they are spoiled rotten!

That afternoon we went to Whitefish Lake and the beach. It's so shallow, it's the best. Ave just headed right out when we got there.

Carterman loved it too. He started out trying to build sandcastles though. He and Ave made some lovely decorations on them.

Grandma actually let me take a picture of her. She enjoyed the lake also. It was a perfect day for it. Jordan and I were jumping off the dock at this time. It was nice to have so many people (Diane, Mom, Terri) there to help!

3 little monkeys hanging out at the beach!

The whole Stevens family joined us out there.

A lake photo. From L-R: Jordan, Teague, Jada, Maddy, Mom, Carter, me, and Avers.

Kolt was a maniac in the lake. He does not have any fear about the water! Dana had to put his swimming diaper on him out in the water because he didn't want to get out.

Just more playing.

Dana and I tried paddleboarding. It was pretty tough! Getting up on the board was quite a feat for both of us. It was fun though! There was thunder in the distance however, so we had to come in.

Last but not least, Mr. Teague in the net. He thought he was pretty funny! Thank you so much to everyone. We had so much fun!

ND vacation for Carter and Avery!

Carter and Ave got to go on a 6 day vacation with Grandma and Papa Burgman to visit Erica, Landon, and Sean in North Dakota. They were so excited! We decided to take another car and drag Teague on a 9 hour trip would not have been too fun. He and I stayed in Butte and hung out with Chris, Terri Jo, and Drea (who I wish I had a picture of, she's so cute!) at Fairmont and Silver Bow. It was rough on Kyle and I seeing our kiddos go so far away, but we knew they would be somewhat well behaved... Anyway, I think this might be part of Teddy Roosevelt Park. These pictures all came from Mom's camera.

The 3 monkeys hiking around with Sean.

Landon spotted this little white lizard, and Sean picked it up. Apparently Carter held it for a minute but got a bit nervous when it squirmed away from him.

Reunited and it feels so good! Peaches and Herb knew what they were singing about!

Papa always loves a good hike.

This is a very cool view. Who says North Dakota's flat?

This might be the aggressive buffalo they were warned about. They stayed far away - Mom used her zoom here.

Carter has always loved Erica's giant bean bag - it's perfect for a worn out boy.

The next day they played a little baseball at the park before Landon's last soccer practice.

Landon's coach was super nice and invited Carter over to join in. Ave watched from the sidelines and kicked a ball around herself.

Dad said Carter had a blast!

Lando working on his skills.

Ave took a detour over to a cool playground. She loves to climb, and right now she's definitely my most coordinated child!

This picture is just so typical Avery that it made me laugh. Miss you Erica and Landon!

Some more rock climbing. I think this is by where Erica and Sean live.

They made a trek to South Dakota next. Mom and Dad thought it would be cool to take them to Mount Rushmore and Crazy Horse. Ave and Carter told me all about the movie they watched at Crazy Horse, and how they used dynamite to make the monument. They also can name all the Presidents on Mount Rushmore although Thomas Jefferson is a tough one to remember for them.

They look so cute all together.

And again...that tooth that Carter lost kills me. It's a huge space!

Ave always has a cool pose for the camera.

They went to a huge bouncy place the next day. Mom said there were a lot of big kids who just shot them up in the air, they loved it!

A little miniature golf is always fun too. Although Ave had a meltdown there...it happens.

Carter made a hole in one apparently. He was pretty proud.

Ave does look thrilled here!

Carter and Landon did a little rock climbing too. Poor Ave was too small. You had to be 45 pounds, and she's only 32. Carter likes this picture. He was sad he didn't make it to the top, but Mom found out later he was climbing the "difficult side".

Landon looks like a pro here! I'm so glad they got to go visit and enjoy themselves. Maybe next year for the rest of us!

I can't believe it's August!

I don't have too many here, but they are cute. I borrowed Mom's camera until Saturday when she, Dad, Carter, and Ave headed out for North Dakota to see Erica, Landon, and Sean. I'm jealous, but Teague would not have enjoyed a 9 hour trip. He's having a good time here with lots of attention. Ave all of a sudden remembered she had a bike last week. She was quite timid around the block the first time, the next 3 trips she was flying!

Teague did not want to get off his buggy. I love this little face! He's been making some very silly little smiles lately.

Carter was wearing this awesome shirt with a record on it, so we decided to play some records. They thought it was really cool. Carter even put the needle down very carefully. Ave likes Elton John, so we listened to that first. I got out some Led Zeppelin, Linda Ronstadt, Bruce Springsteen, and Jim Croce for next time. Mom and Dad have an impressive collection to choose from.

We've been making late trips to the park. About 7:30 or 8 it's just perfect for these little fools to run and play!

We always have to do all four colors of cowboy swings of course. Here's that silly face again!

And again! He was peeking out at me from the tunnel by the slide.

How can I not take a million pictures of this? He's such a funny little man.

Do you think these two might be related? I  sometimes just look at Carter and can't believe how much he looks like his Daddy.

We went up to Copper Mountain the next night with Grandma and Papa. It was a beautiful night, no wind and no mosquitos up there too (that's rare)! Teague calls this little thing the Post Office and says, "You want some mail?" His Great Grandpa Winks would be so proud.

My pretty girl. I miss them so much. 2 more days!

My Carterman in his awesome ninja turtles shirt. That missing tooth kills me. Apparently he got to go to soccer practice with Landon in North Dakota and loved it. He held a lizard too. He'll have lots of stories when he gets back. I bet they are having a blast!

I got them some fingerpaint for the bath and asked them not to use all of it. Guess what, they did! Oh well, they had fun. Teague got out, and Carter and Avery stayed in forever. It sounded like they were making an infomercial. Carter would paint the walls. Then Ave would say, just use some side effects DNA. It tackles tough stains! It was hilarious!

Lastly, my only picture from the Relay for Life. It was at the Mac this year, and we were mostly inside. Mother of the Year here forgot jackets. We had lots of fun though. We bought our luminaries and did some laps. Then Jordan helped Ave with art projects. Carter did one and then ran like a crazy person around the gym. It's always a great event. Sean's sister was in charge this year, and I thought she did a great job. We are heading to Kalispell Friday and coming back Monday, so look for another Tuesday blog next week!