Summer is always a whirlwind

What a busy spring and summer!  I won't bore you with too many details, but in the spring our schedules were filled with Paula's soccer and softball games, then when school was out we started going to Flathead Lake any chance we could get.  We spent the week between Shane's birthday and the 4th of July there, and many other weekends.  We went swimming at the pool at the Ranch Club, I played golf with the girls on Monday nights for ladies league, we soaked up every ounce of summer we could.  Now Paula is a 1st grader and Nathan started pre-K.

Paula's last day of kindergarten

Nathan's last day of preschool in the 3/4 class in May

Easter Sunday 2014

Visiting Tennessee in April 2014

Paula and her star skills in softball

Paula scoring in soccer

Majestic Flathead Lake

Paula being brave jumping off the dock at Flathead Lake

Jumping off the boat near Wild Horse Island

Nathan (aka Scuba Steve this summer) and his buddy Bugle

First day of 1st grade for Paula

Cute kids in September before church one Sunday

My big 1st grader

Snowy February

We have had an exciting and fun winter!  Since my last post, February nearly become the most snowy February in history.  We were edged out by 1936, which was a leap year so they had one more day on us.  We got snow 26 out of 28 days totally 40" for the month (Missoula average is 42" for the entire winter).  Needless to say, by the end of February even I was tired of the snow!  But we got lots of skiing in so that made it worth it.

Sweet Coal

We said goodbye to our sweet Coal.  He turned 10 in October and has been battling arthritis for several months.  Although hindsight makes me wonder if he ever really had arthritis.  Last Wednesday I went to pick him up from having a dental at the vet and they said he started acting strange, was disoriented, vomited, and was walking oddly, but they thought he might be having a reaction to the anesthesia.  They gave him anti-nausea medicine and said hopefully when we get him home he will calm down.  But when I got him home and out of the car, he couldn't walk and laid down on the garage floor.  I called the vet immediately and he said to get him back there and he would meet me there.  By the time I went to lift him into the car he had stopped breathing.  It was a gut wrenching ordeal.  I knew he was gone the minute I went to lift him up.  It was one of the most vivid moments in my life, and I know I will never forget it.  The kids watched me crying hysterically as I lifted his lifeless body into the car.

When I got him to the vet, upon immediate examiniation the vet determined he died from a ruptured tumor in his abdomen.  A tumor that had been growing most likely for 6-8 months, which is when we started treating him for arthritis.  Either way, had we known it was a tumor, there really isn't much we could have done for him at his age, so we would have just known he was dying and been even more upset.  I am thankful he had 10 years with our family, that our children grew to love him like Shane and I love him, and that he went peacefully, without pain, and quickly.  We didn't have to make the choice to put him down, and for that I am truly thankful.  He was such a sweet, gentle, loving, and caring member of our family that we will always cherish.

December Arctic Blast

We have been snowed in since Tuesday, literally!  It rained all day Sunday and Monday and then we woke up with 6 inches of snow.  Then the temp started dropping and we have barely made it above 0 since Wednesday.  Paula's school doesn't go outside if it's below 10 degrees (including wind chill) and she did not make it outside all day Thursday or Friday.  Friday's high was 1, Saturday 3 and today 3.  All the nights have been in the negative degrees, last night was the coldest and made it to -14.  I got the dogs some heated beds to go in their crates in the garage and they have been surprisingly warm in there.  The garage temp hasn't been below freezing, so they are good.  But they run out to go to the bathroom, eat and get water and run back in to their crates.  We are hoping to be back in the teens/20's by Tuesday and that will feel fantastic compared to these temps!  We are staying warm and are very thankful to have a warm home to live.  The shelters are at capacity and it really makes you realize how incredibly difficult this area was when it was being settled.  I don't know that I would have made a good pioneer woman back in the 1800's!  This is my first experience with negative temps and it is piercing!  We have never gotten this cold since we lived here, and they are saying it is a 40 year low.

Stay warm family and friends!

I tried to get an annual Christmas tree pic of the kids.  Of course, the outtakes are the best pictures.  Luckily I already had a family picture for our Christmas card from when we were in HHI this summer. I should have the cards out next week in the mail.  Enjoy!

Christmastime!

We got the tree up yesterday!  We went to the tree lot we got one from last year and picked a fir the right height for the great room.  I love having a real tree now!  I never had one growing up, and even after college I always had a fake one.  We got rid of our tree before the move out here and decided the first year to try a real one and I have to say it is wonderful.  I love the smell and it is almost easier than a fake one, minus the lights and watering.  Last year we got some different lights and Walmart was spot on when they started selling the lights on a round, wraparound holder.  When I took them down I wound them back on the holder and packed in a christmas colored tub.  I was bracing myself this year for needing more lights because strands weren't working but to my surprise, they all were in full working order.  Hallelujah!  The kids hounded me the whole time I was stringing lights though and was about to hurt someone.  Shane put on a movie for them upstairs and they left me alone to finish.  They just couldn't wait to put their ornaments on it.  Now, the bottom half is full of ornaments and the top half is barren, but we will get all the balls on later today.  I just love Christmastime!

Thanksgiving/Early Christmas in Texas

We had a great time visiting my family in Texas.  I flew with the kids to Houston since Mimi was visiting Scott and Kim's children.  We had a great visit and got to spend quality time with my brother and his family and my uncle and his family, and of course my children's great grandmother.

Last Soccer game and Halloween Pictures

Paula had her last soccer game last Sunday.  She scored 9 goals!  I'm not joking!  She just loves soccer and it is effortless for her.  She had a couple goals hit the goal posts and a few more that she was a bit outside the goal.  She is definitely a dominating player!  It is so fun to watch her (and sometimes frustrating because I remember she is just 5 when she goofs off with her teammates on occasion).  She had a great season, and is starting indoor soccer one day a week tomorrow.  She doesn't want to stop playing, and begged me to play indoor, so we will see how she likes it.  They have classes on 6 week schedules, so she can decide as she goes if she wants to continue playing after the first session.

Last week was Halloween and it was a hit!  The kids had a blast and loved their costumes.  Paula dressed up like popstar Barbie and Nathan was a red power ranger.  So fun!  I took Nathan to Paula's kindergarten class party that day, and he was the class little brother:)  He had so much fun and joined in all the activities.