Getting in on Harvest

We got to take an unexpected road trip last week out to the farm in NE Montana.  Usually by this time of year, harvest has been finished for a month or more.  Not this year.  This was a year of crazy amounts of spring rain that delayed seeding (if it happened at all - some of the farmers around Dad didn't even get into their fields), making for an unusually late harvest.  So when Ryan got off the phone a couple Sundays ago, he told me that harvest was starting and Dad could use some help.  Did I want to go?  Sure!  Of course when the kids heard about the prospect of combine rides, grain truck rides, dune buggy and 4-wheeler rides, and (best of all!) seeing Grandpa Larry, well, the deal was sealed.  A few days later we were looking at scenes like this:

The home place nestled into the wide open prairie.

 First order of business?  Combine rides.

Lots and lots of combine rides!  Morgan wasn't too sure what to think of the big noisy machine.  It took her almost an entire round before she started saying much to Grandpa Larry.  Dad and Ryan would head out early and the kids and I would bring out lunch and dinner.  The kids kept asking me when lunch was (they call every meal 'lunch') because it meant rides on the combine and in the grain trucks.

Once Farmer Lane realized walkie-talkies were involved, he kept us all quite entertained.  He'd get SUPER excited when one of us would respond to his inquiries.  I'm sure we went through more batteries on these things then Grandpa usually would!

Emptying the grain truck was a highlight too.  Grandpa would grab handfuls of wheat every few minutes and dump them into buckets to get an idea of the quality of his crop.

Take a few handfuls of wheat, add two kids and you end up with lots of fun!

When we weren't out in the fields begging for rides, we explored a bit of the yard.  I hadn't ever seen the reservoir with this much water and Dad says this is the only time he remembers there being any water by late August.  One of his fields still has water running out of it! 

A thunderstorm came through Friday night and rained just enough to keep the combine out of the fields Saturday morning.  The kids didn't mind though.  It meant dune buggy and 4-wheeler rides with Daddy!

Maybe if Daddy sees me sitting on this thing, he'll take me for a ride?!

This is what a farmer loves to see - grain trucks filling up!

The kids enjoyed playing in the wheat - they ended up with wheat from head to toe! 

My happy husband.

Logan decided the straw was too poky to do any crawling.  Of course, right after this picture was taken, guess where that handful of straw went? 

Relaxing for a few minutes after dinner...

while enjoying a beautiful end to another busy day.



The Imp is Mobile

This little blue-eyed imp just started crawling.  He pretty much figured it out overnight.  At least that's how it feels. 

At first, his big siblings were quite excited.  I heard a lot of "Mommy!  Look!"  That lasted, oh, maybe 24 hours.  The newness wore off quick.  Now I hear a lot of "MOOOOMMMYYY!  He's getting my _______ (insert toy here)!  Come quick, MOOOOOMMMMY!" 

No worries.  It doesn't phase Logan one bit.  No sirree.  He's a determined little guy.  And he's determined to join in!

Someday...

My garden will look like this ...

maybe about the time the kids are all grown and gone.

Oh, who am I kidding?  It'll happen about the time I hire it done!  In any case, I enjoyed this beautiful garden in Nelson.

Beautiful British Columbia

Every once in a while, the urge to go exploring grips me.  I have many fond memories of epic road trips and infamous day trips taken when I was a girl.  A few of the infamous day trips of my youth have become legendary in that they usually involved short-cuts that were quite scenic, but definitely not shorter.  Ahh, but they made for great memories! 

Recently, the urge hit again.  Please, honey!  Can we take a road trip!?!  So we grabbed the map, started planning, and came up with a nice little (kid-friendly!) road trip north across the border to a part of British Columbia that neither of us had ever been before - the Kootenay Rockies.  Their license plates are correct - BC is truly beautiful! 

 One of the peaks in the Valley of a Thousand Peaks.

 Panning for (fools) gold in Fort Steele - a historical heritage town just north of Cranbrook.

The main attraction (at least for our family) in Fort Steele.  A working steam train.

Watching the steam blow, listening to the whistle, handing our tickets to the conductor, seeing the engineer (both of whom were dressed in period costume), feeling the cool breeze - what wasn't to love about the train ride?

The next day, after surviving a winding drive up the East Shore of Kootenay Lake , we were glad for the opportunity to get some fresh air and hike up to Pilot Point Lighthouse.

We were amazed to find the door unlocked and invitation to climb on up the steep steps. 

It is no longer a working lighthouse but the views from the top were lovely.

  

Exploring seems to agree with us, don't you think?

Day 2's main event - riding the ferry across Kootenay Lake.  During the summer months there are two ferries plying the waters and Lane was so amazed that we didn't even feel the wake of the ferry we passed.

We camped at Kokanee Creek Provincial Park, an amazing campground.  It has a huge sandspit with lots of shallow water that the kids decided was a bit colder than our home waters (even if it is quite warm by Canadian standards).

 Relaxing around the campfire after another busy day.

The campground was situated on Kokanee Creek and had all sorts of hiking trails and bridges along the creek.  We were surprised to find that the Kokanee were already spawning!  These fish are so fun for the kids because they are so bright red that they are easy to spot (there are 6 in the picture above). 

Looking for Kokanee.

Happily perched on Daddy's shoulders. 

And our final attraction?  The electric streetcar in Nelson that runs along the waterfront.  Nothing like planning a road trip around kid-friendly rides!(: 

Fun in the Backyard

We had a scorcher the other day.  We hit 87 degrees!  (Those of you reading this from anywhere other than the Pacific Northwest are probably chuckling about now...)  For someone who thinks that the perfect temperature is in the mid 70's, anything nudging towards 90 feels a bit on the hottish side and requires intervention.  So we pulled out the hose, removed the slip 'n' slide from the box and engaged in some good ol' backyard fun. 

With Cora's help, our kiddos were introduced to the wonders of a spray covered slip 'n' slide.  Kris and I were entertained listening to one certain 4-year-old boss his sister and cousin around and get especially frustrated when they continued to do their own thing...

 like this.  Surely you can understand the frustration of an older brother... 

 "NOOOO, Morgan.  Like this!"  To which the girls clapped...

 and then went back to doing their own thing.

Oh, well.  At least there was one little guy hanging on to Lane's every word! 

A Handyman

Will work for candy!

A Summer Tradition

Summer doesn't feel complete without a trip to Bumpa and Grammy's house.  Not only are Bumpa and Grammy there waiting to spoil, but there is a crocodile pool, a big pool and all sorts of other fun.  Even better?  Sharing it all with cousins!

Logan enjoyed lots of snuggle time with his grandparents. 

I think maybe they enjoyed it too.

The crocodile pool exceeded expectations since it 'grew' slides this year.

Can you see the evidence of the Dilly Bar she just finished enjoying?  Grammy sure knows how to deliver the goods!

Don't you wish you knew what babies were thinking?  I think this conversation would have been quite entertaining.

Fun times in the sandbox.

Baseball, preschool style.  Make sure everyone has a bat and ball and let them loose! 

I love those grins!  

At last!  A trip to the big pool. 

Thanks Bumpa and Grammy! 

Summer Happenings

Hello again.  We're still here.  I think.  I'm not really sure if we're coming or going and the kids aren't sure either.  Monday I was restocking the diaper bag and Lane asked me what I was packing for this time.  I think he was a little disappointed that we were only headed out to run errands. 

So here's a glimpse of our busy summer days:

 Exploring our big backyard.

 Where there's water...

there must be fish.  A 1 lb. 3 oz. perch (Ryan assures me that is a big perch) was cause for excitement.

Of course, water also means swimming.  And jumping.  And splashing.  These kiddos do not tire of the water.

Even Logan played happily ... once he got used to the temperature.  He looks a bit indignant here.  Let me assure you that he is quite capable of letting us know when he's not impressed.

Cool water aside, we've sure been enjoying the sun and a string of cloud-free days!