Free Range Family

I did not post too much this last weekend, except for my Memorial Day post and my nomadic walking post, but neither were about our weekend. This was because we had quite the busy weekend. It rained all weekend (has it even ever stopped raining lol?????) so we were stuck indoors, but we still had a wonderful time! Saturday morning I had my last art class for the month of May. We made Memorial Day campsites, Animal Faces and American flags, as well as had our art show for the parents. It was fun and most of those kids won't be back until next fall, I will miss them greatly! :) After my art class, I went home for lunch with my boys (ham sandwiches and vegetable soup yum!) and then we went out to one of Lon's good friend Sean's new folf field to check it out. For those of you that don't know, folf is Frizbee golf. Plain and simple. :) Grandpa Steve had been helping Sean out with the folf goals, or whatever they're called lol, and Lon helped them put some of them up

Memorial Day is pretty important in my family, as we have a lot of loved ones who served or are serving in the military. My husband was even almost in the Navy. He was only turned away because of his eye problems (he has blood pressure issues in his eye and doctors are concerned he might have glaucoma in later years). But Uncle Chris is in the Navy, Uncle Cameron is in the Army, cousin Joseph and his mother are in the Air Force, and Great Grandpa Louie and Great Grandma Audrey are both vetrans. Not to mention all of our friends that serve in the military. I just got a message from a good guy friend of mine that he was to be stationed in Greece for the next two years. I love you buddy, be safe. :) And all of my girlfriends whose husbands serve in the military, I don't think I could count how many there are with two hands! My point is, Patriotism and the Military are very important in my family, and thus we take holidays like Memorial Day, Veteran's Day and the fourth of July ver

I have this crazy theory kicking around in my head. I would like to share it with you, my readers. Please bare with me, I may get a little wild with this one. :D I'm very passionate about it. There's a reason why people, why my family in general as well as everyone else, is not happy about their daily life and it is because humans are no longer listening to their natural instincts of being nomadic.  In a completely natural world, humans would be nomadic. Think Native American or some African tribes, they are a wonderful example. Humans (in nature) travel with their prey, whether it be a pack of deer, antelope, or gazelles. They have developed somewhat portable shelters, and they follow the pack wherever it leads them. Its a really simple, yet beautiful concept. This obviously is not the case with modern day people. We spend all day inside moving from one shelter to another. We start in the morning at their house, then go to their car, to their job, back to their car, to a

Hope everyone has a wonderful day today! I know mine will be long and most likely stressful because I work from 10 am to 8 pm with a half an hour lunch break. But at least Saturday I only work two hours and then I have my childhood friend's baby shower. Then Sunday is Family Day and its also my good friend and co-worker Kari's graduation party. It will be a good weekend for us, and I'm so proud of Kari! Congratulations lady! I love you! Me and the beautiful Kari! The weather is starting to get better here in Billings. It has only rained lightly the past few days. I have been able to walk to and from work the past three days, and that has been an awesome stress reliever for me! I have to post about my theory on modern walking and pedestrian travel, hopefully sometime this weekend! Here's Five Question Friday!! Enjoy! Do you apologize to your kids? Of course I apologize to my kid and to all children, if I have made a mistake or an error in judgment. Children

I am very proud to say, that I am hosted in this edition's Toddler Talk Thursdays! :D Thank you to Lolo and the girls of TTT for choosing my question. This week's topic: What is your toddler's bath time routine? Alan loves to take baths! Its one of his favorite things to do, hop in the tub and splash for a half an hour. :) Last year, we struggled with bathing him because of his fear of running water (faucets scare him lol, poor guy!) but this year he is a fish! Don't you love how that works??? Our bath time normally starts with Alan and I going into the bathroom and turning on the faucet, then having Alan throw all his bath toys into the tub. I try to have him be in the room with me while the tub is filling, so he continues to get used to the sound it makes. Then I put in his seat and he goes in after it. I use a cup to rinse his head, and always make it into a splashing game so he doesn't get scared. I wet his head and body and then lather on the shampo

This was quoted from a close friend of mine, Korbin's mother Erica, on Tuesday. Ever since I have been a child, I have heard how Montana is stuck in a drought. I've heard it from my grandpa, a rancher and farmer, and my dad, an avid outdoorsman, as well as many various people. Now I don't know if this drought is a real drought, or a fictional mind block in the majority of Montanans lmao... (Just poking fun here, I don't need any offensive comments on this post). But whatever drought it is, its gotta be over by now!!!! It has been raining here for about a week now, almost non-stop. I guess it has been raining most places around the US but man, has it made a lot of problems for Montanans. Via There is flooding all over the state, and there are flood warnings for most of Montana in place until Saturday. Alan's great aunt and uncle are stranded in there house outside of Molt, MT. And Korbin's (Alan's BFF) family is stranded on the reservation due to fl

Good morning everyone! Today is Alan's LAST art class for the school year! :( He and his father get the summer break off from art class so that I can take Alan to swimming lessons and we can go camping several times in the summer, guilt-free. :) I'm still really said that its his last class with me for a while, he's only been going for 3 months now, but I'm already used to having him. Plus I love all the art work he makes each class. Our house walls have never been more decorated. :) Oh well, he will start up again in September. I just have to remember to grab my camera for pictures- today we have our family art show! The Undomestic Mama has not posted a Top Two Tuesday blog hop yet, so I will go ahead with Oh Amanda's Top Ten Tuesday! Enjoy! Top Ten Baby Names!! ***This baby names are copyrighted- In the sense that no one else in my family can steal these names for their own children!!! Lol not that anyone will want some of these names, they are German an

Things have been so stressful lately (though it doesn't seem that way from my posts, I try to keep my blog positive), I didn't even realize that today was Lon and I's one month anniversary of our wedding! This month seemed to fly by for us, as I'm sure the next few will. :) I love you so much Lon, I will be happily married to you forever. This is just the beginning of a beautiful relationship and a wonderful family. We may be at a stressful point in our lives but we are so strong together, life can only get better from here! I love you and Alan. You are my life. These photos are of course thanks to the ever wonderful Jeff Bryson. Thanks again Jeff!

For Motivational Monday today, I want to share with you bloggers a video that was shown to me by my boss at work on Saturday. This video is more about leadership than motivation but its beautiful none the less. I also just LOOOOOOOOOOOOOVVVVVVVVVEEEEEEEEEEE that a corporate company like Ted and IBM (the company's this video was made for) used a hippie dancing at a festival for a leadership speech! Watch this and enjoy, its really cool and it makes a point! Happy Monday! Btw, I used to be the "Lone Nut" all the time at hippie festivals and I'm a little jealous after watching this. I want to go to a festival!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :D

Yesterday was a great day for us. We spent the day hanging out together as a family and then went over to my parent's house for dinner. We decided to not go anywhere in the car yesterday, so we walked to and from Grandma's house. For dinner there, we had fajitas. Yum! They were so good and even Alan ate some! :) Good day altogether. This week I work my usual 40 hours and then Saturday is a childhood friend's baby shower and Sunday is Kari's graduation party. I'm not too excited for the work week, but can't wait for the weekend lol! After co-sleeping with us last night (which resulted in me getting zero sleep), this morning Alan woke up the earliest he has ever woken up: at 6:30 AM! But today is payday for me, which means its really everyone else's payday and not mine lol because all of my money is already being sent off. Blah gotta love adult hood. :P For now though, here's Meet Me on Monday!! What is your favorite bagel flavor? Lol we had bag

Last night was my baby sister's ballet recital. Although she primarily dances at Diversity Dance Studio, she studies ballet and pre pointe at the School of Classical Ballet. For the sake of less typing lol, I will refer to them as DDS and SCB. :) I am an alumnai to Tracy's School of Dance (what DDS used to be named) and of SCB, and am very proud of her for following in my footsteps. :D This recital was for SCB, though she didn't preform any pointe. She preformed two dances that were both beautiful! Alan and I went with my family, and gave Lon a break. I ran into some old classmates, teachers and students, which was fun because they all got to see how big Alan was and got to see my wedding ring and talk about the wedding. :) I love all my dance girls! The first dance April did as an a Capella piece called X13, choreographed by the wonderful Leigh Schanfein. I have taken classes from her, she is an amazing dancer! They did a interpretive dance that involved running and

That is the question currently consuming our minds. Our one year lease at our current apartment ends June 17, 2011 and as of July first we will automatically be switching to a month to month lease. Before Lon became a SAHD, we were planning on moving out and renting another place for six more months before buying our own house. Now that Lon is a SAHD, our plans have changed. We have two options, and neither of them sound good to me right now lol. But we have to pick one... We could move to another, hopefully cheaper apartment. This is option one. There are already some "cons" that I can think of for this option. I don't know if we can afford a deposit and a first month's rent right now, with all that I am already paying for by myself. I know that we could use an apartment with cheaper rent, but I fear the process of moving will cost too much. Unless we got our full deposit back from this apartment, which isn't likely in our eyes because of the messes my son

Today is Alan's best friend Korbin's second birthday. Via Yesterday Alan went with me to work (another advantage to SAHD:Alan stays home too!) to celebrate Korbin's birthday. Alan, Lon and I drew Korbin an Elmo birthday card. Korbin loved it. :) Then we let the boys play and they ran all over, terrorized other children lol, and climbed just about everything in site. When we were ready for a break from them lol, we threw them up in a high chair for cupcakes. And they were some yummy cupcakes! Alan and Korbin enhaled theirs in under a minute lmao. What wild boys. :) Overall, it was a great day with Alan and his best friend. Happy birthday Korbin!

Happy Friday everyone! I work from 9:30 to 4 with an hour lunch break on Saturday but Sunday I have off! This weekend will be good for us. :) Unfortunately, today is another rainy, windy day in the Big Sky. It is day two??? Or maybe day three of constant rain, but I guess that has been the case with almost half of the United States. This stinks for my family though because I have been trying to walk to and from work everyday, so that we can only use my car and save on gas. Lon keeps the car at home with Alan for emergencies and I walk to and from work. But today is the first day that Lon has declared it too rainy for me to walk lol. Darn. :) So I will be taking the car in and Lon will be left with his car for emergencies, which isn't that bad except that it has no gas lol. But for emergencies it will suffice. :) Tonight, after work we are going to Grandma and Grandpa's house for dinner. We haven't seen them hardly all week, and Alan really misses them! Plus it'll be

I've been debating on whether or not to share some information with you, my lovely blog readers. On one hand it seems slightly too personal to share online because it deals with a family dispute but on the other hand it is about a major change in my family's life, thus should probably be documented. As you can tell, this debate has held me back from posting these past few days, its given me somewhat of a writer's block. And this I apologize for. I have come to the conclusion to let you know what you "Need to know" as the military says lol. I will not share the family dispute with you, because that is uneccessary and unfair to the other members involved. So I will share with you this: For his personal mental health, Lon has quit the Village Inn. He felt that he could not work there any longer in the mental state he was in and could not wait to find another job first, so he quit last Friday. Our plan for him right now is to take a break from the work world for a

So I still do not know what is up with The Undomestic Mama, but am at least grateful she posted again six days ago. For this week, we will be linking up with Oh Amanda at Top Ten Tuesday. Similar to Top Two Tuesday lol. :) Only with this blog hop, you choose your own Top Ten... Hmmmmm what to do.... Top Ten Favorite Zoo Animals I love going to the zoo, especially our zoo in Montana. :) So I thought that this would be a fun Top Ten to do today. We are hoping to go back to Zoo Montana asap, because Alan also enjoys it and they have the grizzly cubs now! Can't wait to see them! #10 Peacocks... Because they're obnoxious and ruin zoo garden weddings lol. :P My cousin had her wedding in the zoo gardens and during the ceremony, one of the male peacocks got really confrontational with the priest and was "ca-awing" at the bride and groom lol. It was really annoying but made for some really beautiful wedding photos. :) #9 Hippopotamuses... Because they are just we

I know, I did three Ralph Waldo Emerson quotes last week but when I came across this poem today I couldn't resist using it for this week's edition! I would also like to announce that as of today, I have had over 2,000 viewers on this blog! Whoohoo! I want to thank everyone who has ever read my blog and a big hug to all my followers! I love all of you! :) Enjoy this post and have a great Monday! See you tomorrow for Top Two Tuesday! :D Success by: Ralph Waldo Emerson To laugh often and much; To win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; To earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; To appreciate beauty, To find the best in others, To leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, A garden patch or a redeemed social condition; To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded.

Happy Monday! Today we are planning on getting some more wedding gifts put away, continuing with Alan's potty training, and then I work from 3 to 8. Not too exciting of a day lol. :) But for now, enjoy Meet Me on Monday! Crunchy or smooth peanut butter? Definitely smooth peanut butter. Crunchy peanut butter grosses me out for some odd reason. I like peanuts, just not in my peanut butter lol. Weird huh? :) What is your favorite color Rose? I'm traditional when it comes to my roses. My favorite color of rose is red. And do I love red roses! :) They are one of my favorite flowers, right up there with sunflowers and calla lilies. I even had red rose petals in my wedding. :) Love this photo, look how my photographer Jeff Bryson caught the petals falling! Do you remove your shoes when you walk into your home? Yes we do. My husband and I are very clean people and we prefer to keep the outdoors, well outdoors lol. We vacuum all the time to keep the floors clean for A

Today has been an awesome, sunny, beautiful, lazy Sunday for us. The three of us have yet to actually leave the house or talk to anyone (except for maybe online I guess) but we are so happy spending time alone together, away from all the drama. Here's some of what happened today: Alan surprised us just before nap time lol. He was playing in the living room while Lon was working on his invention in Alan's room and I was doing some cleaning in our bedroom. When we are at home we usually just keep him in underwear/diaper or underwear/diaper and a shirt, but he has *yet* to learn to take them off. Well it got real quiet in the living room so I went in to investigate. And I came across a bare butt Alan running around giggling and slapping his boy parts. Lmao! :D It was seriously the funniest thing I have ever seen! We quickly clothed his little butt and looked everywhere to see if he had had an accident, and he did not pee or poop ANYWHERE!! Go big boy! :D This potty training

So I was going post another wedding photos post tonight after I got off of work, but among many other bad things that happened, our laptop's mouse died (or so Lon claims). Let me explain lol, since Lon is an inventor, as soon as something electronic dies in our household my husband immediately snatches it up and dissects it for his inventions. So I came home from my overly long work day to a mouse-less computer and an excited husband. Grrr. :P I think he's gonna use it in his arm lol. :) And I DO. NOT. USE. LAPTOP. TOUCHSCREEN. MOUSES. Nope. Lol that's kinda a lie, cos I'm using it right now. Shhhh. :P But I cannot seem to get the touchscreen to work enough for me (or maybe its my fingers) so that I can upload more wedding photos on here. :( I'm sorry. Today was a stressful day for me, both at work and in my personal life. I have only relaxed and spent time with my boys since I got off. I don't really have a lot to write about, but hopefully tomorrow I

Happy Friday everyone! Today was a beautiful day outside, a balmy 62 degrees lol. :) We didn't have a lot of time to spend outdoors, but we spent ten minutes before work out on the porch and out in the front yard. And some tulips bloomed in the planter by the porch! Alan thought they were "soooooo peety" lol. :) Then I worked from two to six at a super slow Child Watch. Alan got to see his best friend Korbin, and they caused terror around the daycare. :) As some of you may have noticed, I am missing my last two posts from yesterday on here. This is because they were removed by Blogger during the shutdown (though I do not understand why) and for some reason, were not put back. :\ I hope this does not continue to happen. Has anyone else experienced this???? I work most of Saturday, and then Sunday is our traditional Family Day. As for now, here's Five Question Friday! Tube socks, calf socks, crew, ankle, none? Ankle socks if I have to wear some. Otherwise

As most of you read in my earlier post, Aunt Natalie is getting her tonsils removed today. This is just one day shy of a week since her car accident, and the big sister inside keeps worrying about that fact. But her surgeon said she was fine to continue with the planned surgery today. That was not my only anxiety about Natalie's surgery, I had another. Natalie is afraid of needles, IVs, and surgeries; and all her life she has had her big sister (me) by her side when she has to encounter these things. I have always gotten out of school and sat in the waiting room with my mother until she comes out. She's never really had a surgery and has only had a handful of ER visits, but I've been there for all of them. I was one of the first people she asked for while the EMTs were loading her on the stretcher last Friday. <3 So naturally, she asked me to come with her to her tonsil removal surgery this morning. I couldn't say no to her, so I said yes. But then began the

This morning I am taking a great risk and embarking on quite the insane little adventure with my toddler in tow... I am taking my sister to her tonsil surgery appointment. *Deep breaths* This involves me taking Alan and Aunt Natalie to the hospital, and waiting with a nervous Aunt Natalie, all while entertaining a bored Alan, FOR ONE WHOLE HOUR. If not a little bit more time, depending on when they take her back. *Gulp* :) This Toddler Talk Thursday topic fits perfectly with today's adventure, as I will tell you WHAT exactly I have packed to *crossing fingers* hopefully sway Alan from having any "I'm Really Bored and You Won't Let Me Play With Things I Know I'm Not Supposed To" meltdowns of nuclear proportions (This is no exaggeration, my son can throw one hell of a tantrum!). So here's Toddler Talk Thursdays! This Week’s Topic:  What do you pack for a day out with your toddler? Very simple. Or kinda simple I guess lol. :) I think I just prec

So this post just kinda snuck up on me lol, but its my 100TH POST TODAY!!! Wow, it doesn't feel like I have been blogging for that long (though in reality if I had blogged November through February I would have already hit this point) but here I am! Happy 100! I hope for 1000+ more posts lol! Today is the wonderful Martha Graham's 117th birthday. Martha Graham is a brilliant dancer and choreographer who influenced a lot of modern dancers, such as myself. For those that don't know, I studied dance for 12 years at Tracy's School of Dance. Dance and movement in general is very important to me, and Martha Graham felt the same way. She developed a wonderful technique and many different moves that are now used all over the world today. She was so important that Google dedicated their name doodle to her today. I urge you to go online to view it, I can only get the photo of it on here, and the movement is what is the best. :) I love how she spells the word backwards too. Ch

Today is my oldest brother Darren's 23rd birthday. Via Darren, you came into my family's life just 3 years ago but it feels like you have been my brother all my life. I love you to the moon and back. :) You may only be just a few months older than me, but I definitely think you're the perfect big brother for me. :) You've always looked out for me, taken care of me a few times when I was sick, supported me when I was pregnant with Alan but too scared to tell Mom, and I know you'd do the same for my son or husband. <3   Aunt Rachael and Uncle Darren at the wedding You were Lon's Best Man in our wedding, and deservedly so, because you are a great friend to him too! I can't wait until you marry Rachael and we can celebrate your love for each other. You're a wonderful father to Connor and a fantastic fiance to Rachael. They're both lucky to have you. :) I guess what I'm trying to say with all of this rambling is thank you for everythin

Happy Monday! Hope everyone enjoyed my Before Wedding photos and I hope you enjoy this week's Motivational Monday! Here are a few quotes from the great Ralph Waldo Emerson! “Whatever course you decide upon, there is always someone to tell you that you are wrong. There are always difficulties arising which tempt you to believe that your critics are right. To map out a course of action and follow it to an end requires courage.” Ralph Waldo Emerson  "...Every artist was first an amateur. Every experiment, by multitudes or by individuals, that has a sensual and selfish aim, will fail. Every fact is related on one side to sensation, and, on the other, to morals. The game of thought is, on the appearance of one of these two sides, to find the other: given the upper, to find the under side. Every hero becomes a bore at last. Every known fact in natural science was divined by the presentiment of somebody, before it was actually verified. Every man has his own courage, and

Since Mother's Day was yesterday, there will be no Meet Me on Monday this week. However, you can still stop at Java's blog to see what's up in her life here. My Mother's Day was grand! Lon let me sleep in until 10! :D The boys got me a hand drawn card and four roses- one for each family member, even Rosalie! Then we took a nap together and went out to dinner with my mom and family at Hu Hut Mongolian Grill. We had never been there, and it was quite the delicious experience! :) Alan even ate egg rolls! It was a wonderful Family Sunday and a great Mother's Day! Hope everyone else's was grand as well. :) Okay, I've been getting so many comments on here and FB about the wedding photos that I have posted my second set of pictures there, so its my blog's turn now! Please enjoy these Before Wedding photos! :D Jenelle lacing me up. Tying the bow. Kari did my makeup and Jenelle did my hair. :) They both did a wonderful job! I couldn&#