The Wild West Rodeo.....

Tonight was a big night for the littles....All three got to take part in the Y's Men's Wild West Rodeo for children with disabilities. Each year the club puts on this event prior to the first night of the rodeo. All the participants get a hat, a T-shirt, a bandana, and a rodeo number. They are then escorted one by one by either a Rodeo queen or a cowboy where each child rotates through eight different stations--riding a horse, a "mechanical" bull, roping, etc. Here's a group shot of our posse' right before the big event (with caregivers Chelsey & Stephanie)....

You know how Grace likes the boys? Well, she roped herself a cowBOY!

She is quite pleased with her catch!

Grace riding her horse....

And Bella.....she LOVED it!

And, Nole', not so much....

All in all a fun time at the rodeo. Can I get a "Yeehaw!"?

The Wild West Rodeo.....

Tonight was a big night for the littles....All three got to take part in the Y's Men's Wild West Rodeo for children with disabilities. Each year the club puts on this event prior to the first night of the rodeo. All the participants get a hat, a T-shirt, a bandana, and a rodeo number. They are then escorted one by one by either a Rodeo queen or a cowboy where each child rotates through eight different stations--riding a horse, a "mechanical" bull, roping, etc. Here's a group shot of our posse' right before the big event (with caregivers Chelsey & Stephanie)....

You know how Grace likes the boys? Well, she roped herself a cowBOY!

She is quite pleased with her catch!

Grace riding her horse....

And Bella.....she LOVED it!

And, Nole', not so much....

All in all a fun time at the rodeo. Can I get a "Yeehaw!"?

Daddy's MSU Homecoming Parade Post.....

Daddy took the kids to the Minot State University Homecoming Parade. Here are his pictures from his phone and his take on the outing.... We went to the MSU parade. The whole gang was excited beforehand!!

Grace was proud of her Jim Hill band!

Bella grabbed a lot of candy and attention with her cheerleader outfit!

But Nole' only liked the quiet things which meant he was tucked away in the safety of his big brother much of the time!

We had fun! Love, Daddy-O And, on another Homecoming report, Sister came home from college last night. Oh, did we have a joyous reunion. After all of the hullaballoo, the three littles settled in with Sissy to watch a Little Bear episode. And, for this Mother Bear, all was right in the world....

Daddy's MSU Homecoming Parade Post.....

Daddy took the kids to the Minot State University Homecoming Parade. Here are his pictures from his phone and his take on the outing.... We went to the MSU parade. The whole gang was excited beforehand!!

Grace was proud of her Jim Hill band!

Bella grabbed a lot of candy and attention with her cheerleader outfit!

But Nole' only liked the quiet things which meant he was tucked away in the safety of his big brother much of the time!

We had fun! Love, Daddy-O And, on another Homecoming report, Sister came home from college last night. Oh, did we have a joyous reunion. After all of the hullaballoo, the three littles settled in with Sissy to watch a Little Bear episode. And, for this Mother Bear, all was right in the world....

The Nole' Model....

Hi Friends! Where, oh where, did our summer go? I am not going to make a list of excuses as to why I did not blog all summer, but let's just say time got away from me! Earlier this summer, a friend Mandi Carroll asked if she could take some pictures of Nole' for her new photography studio. She really wanted to be sure to include some diversity in her photos displayed there....I was so happy to hear that she wanted to do this, so I said, "Of course!" I have the hardest time getting a cute shot of Nole' as he usually just looks at me with a blank stare when I take a picture. However, Mandi, with her mad skills, was able to get Nole' dancing, posing, and laughing. Don't they say the proof is in the pudding..... So here are some shots she captured during his foray into the modeling world......

Yes, she is a true professional! Take a peek at her site to see more.... www.mandicarroll.com
I think he is ready to be a model! Anyone know of a good agent? :)

The Nole' Model....

Hi Friends! Where, oh where, did our summer go? I am not going to make a list of excuses as to why I did not blog all summer, but let's just say time got away from me! Earlier this summer, a friend Mandi Carroll asked if she could take some pictures of Nole' for her new photography studio. She really wanted to be sure to include some diversity in her photos displayed there....I was so happy to hear that she wanted to do this, so I said, "Of course!" I have the hardest time getting a cute shot of Nole' as he usually just looks at me with a blank stare when I take a picture. However, Mandi, with her mad skills, was able to get Nole' dancing, posing, and laughing. Don't they say the proof is in the pudding..... So here are some shots she captured during his foray into the modeling world......

Yes, she is a true professional! Take a peek at her site to see more.... www.mandicarroll.com
I think he is ready to be a model! Anyone know of a good agent? :)

It's Always Better When Someone Holds Your Hand.....

Every morning Grace and Bella get dropped off for "other school" (as they call it). It is really our neighborhood school's community learning center (CLC)--a place for ALL children to go for fun, activities, field trips, and play before and after school....and from 8:00 to noon during the summer. This is what we have always utilized for Grace, and now Bella too, for extended school year. Extended school year is for children with special needs that require additional schooling during the summer. The rule of thumb the special educators use is if the student regresses over longer breaks such as over Christmas break, summer, etc., then the student can participate in the extended school year program. Apparently, Grace and Bella have shown no regression during school breaks, so they do not qualify for extended school year. Personally, I love the CLC program....the inclusion, the languge models, AND they also get lunch & breakfast which is a big plus for mom in the summer. So each morning when dropped off for "other school", this is the sight you would see as the two sisters mosey into school.... It's always better when someone holds your hand, don't ya think?

It's Always Better When Someone Holds Your Hand.....

Every morning Grace and Bella get dropped off for "other school" (as they call it). It is really our neighborhood school's community learning center (CLC)--a place for ALL children to go for fun, activities, field trips, and play before and after school....and from 8:00 to noon during the summer. This is what we have always utilized for Grace, and now Bella too, for extended school year. Extended school year is for children with special needs that require additional schooling during the summer. The rule of thumb the special educators use is if the student regresses over longer breaks such as over Christmas break, summer, etc., then the student can participate in the extended school year program. Apparently, Grace and Bella have shown no regression during school breaks, so they do not qualify for extended school year. Personally, I love the CLC program....the inclusion, the languge models, AND they also get lunch & breakfast which is a big plus for mom in the summer. So each morning when dropped off for "other school", this is the sight you would see as the two sisters mosey into school.... It's always better when someone holds your hand, don't ya think?

International Buddies.....

Bringing Ukraine and Serbia together for this nightly international event....courtesy of Daddy!

Bath time is a highlight in our house! But for me, the best time is afterwards when we gather on the couch to watch "Little Bear" and they are all clean, lotioned up with lavender bed-time lotion, and snuggy-poo in their jammies. Is there any thing better? After a long, harried day, this is a tired Mama's sweet reward!

International Buddies.....

Bringing Ukraine and Serbia together for this nightly international event....courtesy of Daddy!

Bath time is a highlight in our house! But for me, the best time is afterwards when we gather on the couch to watch "Little Bear" and they are all clean, lotioned up with lavender bed-time lotion, and snuggy-poo in their jammies. Is there any thing better? After a long, harried day, this is a tired Mama's sweet reward!

Too Cute Not To Share....

I have been looking through my photos on my computer to prepare a Powerpoint to present at the Minot Right to Life Banquet this coming Thursday. In the midst of the pictures, I came across these adorable photos of the three littles at Christmas time....


My cousin Ken's daughter Sammy took these. She is a great photographer! These photos are just too cute not to share....even if it is months later, huh?

Too Cute Not To Share....

I have been looking through my photos on my computer to prepare a Powerpoint to present at the Minot Right to Life Banquet this coming Thursday. In the midst of the pictures, I came across these adorable photos of the three littles at Christmas time....


My cousin Ken's daughter Sammy took these. She is a great photographer! These photos are just too cute not to share....even if it is months later, huh?

Happy Easter 2012.....

From our family......
To yours!

He is risen! He is risen, indeed!

Happy Easter 2012.....

From our family......
To yours!

He is risen! He is risen, indeed!

Easter Eggs.....

Tonight we dyed Easter eggs. What fun! All the kids, from the littles to the big, seemed to enjoy it.

We talked about the significance of dyeing eggs and Easter and then did a little research on the computer.



Did you know that the first Easter eggs were dyed red to signify Christ's blood flowing at the foot of the Cross?

Or that Easter eggs symbolize "new life" that we have in Christ?

It can also be the symbol of the Christ's tomb "cracking" open and Christ's resurrection!

Whatever the meaning of the eggs, we will celebrate the risen Lord on Easter!

Easter Eggs.....

Tonight we dyed Easter eggs. What fun! All the kids, from the littles to the big, seemed to enjoy it.

We talked about the significance of dyeing eggs and Easter and then did a little research on the computer.



Did you know that the first Easter eggs were dyed red to signify Christ's blood flowing at the foot of the Cross?

Or that Easter eggs symbolize "new life" that we have in Christ?

It can also be the symbol of the Christ's tomb "cracking" open and Christ's resurrection!

Whatever the meaning of the eggs, we will celebrate the risen Lord on Easter!