Merry Christmas!

This will be short and sweet! We are heading home today and should be back to good ole Montana by Thursday! Here is a picture of the kids Ashlee, Kacie, Evan and Colton. Next year it will be expanded by two! Hope you all had a great Christmas! Love, Cortney

Baby Gaga Cartoon

I found this on a website recently and thought you guys might enjoy. Eventhough I don't have a coffee addiction, I just can't stay away from chocolate!!!

SST: Baby edition

Well, Jackie once said that I must have a gift for little boys and I am beginning to believe that she was right! Our ultrasound today revealed that the little one is a boy! I quickly google-d baby boy shoes and these were the only ones I thought were cute and didn't have sports equipment or superheroes on them! Ugh! Anyway just wanted to share the news and a few pictures, now we gotta figure out what we're going to name him!!!

Profile

Close up of his face (if you can make it out!)

Just another Manic Monday...oh we oh!

OK so it's really not that manic, but any excuse to hum fun 80s tunes...well
This week will include:

1. Have Jesse pick up Christmas pics/cards today so they get sent out this week!
2. Print off address labels for said cards.
3. Laundry, laundry and, yes, more laundry.
4. December Bunco at the Dea's tomorrow night and make a Spinach-Artichoke dip! (Bunco always makes me miss Jackie!)
5. Pack and re-pack as condensed as we can! Since we will be returning with Colton and the entourage that comes with it!
6. Pick up some ingredients for the kids to make Snowman Soup!
7. Thursday morning we have our 20 week appointment! (Which means we get to find out if the baby is a boy or girl!!!)
8. Talk to my sisters about a hundred more times before Friday because we're excited to see eachother!
9. Pray for good weather and safe travels! I hear an arctic wind is coming our way!
10. Try and contain my excitement about getting Colton and spending Christmas with my family!

Sassy Shoe Thursday- Winter in Montana edition

Stats:
Price: $1.50 Thrift store (sanitized and deodorized)
Comfort: 7 (scale of 1-10)
Style: 4 (c'mon it does have the fuzzy top)
Warmth: 10!
Not freezing my toes off when shoveling or sledding: Priceless (ah, you know I had to say it!)

So between growing up with a hunting-obsessed father and a year and a half in survival school in Washington, I learned that Sorel brand boots are your foots' best friends! (sorry, not sure if that is proper english-too many weird plurals) I saw these at a thrift store and with the prospect of at least a few more Montana witners, I figured eventually they would be handy! Imagine me with my dork glasses and these goofy boots- Susie, Angela, Amber, Rachel, anyone...help me please before I end up as one of those examples in the magazines that are on the "Don't ever do"!!! Hee Hee! Really I would not wear these in public!

Christmas times a 'comin

So I don't know why, maybe between putting up the tree, shopping with various forms of christmas music playing or planning the next month's worth of crafts for the kiddos, I just totally fell into the christmas spirit!!! I just happen to love this time of year! I am all about playing christmas music throughout the house and it just gets me into the spirit to cook goodies and gigantic meals! I am pumped to watch Charlie Brown's Christmas, A Christmas Story (sad to report that Jesse has only seen a little bit of it), and Dr. Seuss's How the Grinch stole Christmas (cartoon version). Having trouble getting into the holiday spirit? Check out this site that will give you a plethora of ways to get you into the spirit! And then if you are really having problems, please give me a call and starting December 1st ABCfamily has scheduled great holiday movies every night until the 25th. I'll stuff you with christmas cookies and come watch them with you (or maybe just over the phone, if you are more than 20 miles from me)!
I double dog dare you!!!

Dork

So if there ever was any question if I was truly a dork at heart, I think this will put any speculation to rest. This is not a joke. Saturday Jesse and I had eye appointments and the doc gave me new contacts. Well the combination of forgetting the case for my glasses and vigorous shopping, my poor glasses were pulled out of my purse in two pieces. Since I my new glasses won't arrive until at least the end of the week, I can't fight my dorkiness anymore!

Happy Thanksgiving

Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving and spent a little time with people you love! We went to the Melone/Mclean house to get our fill of turkey and all the trimmings. It was a lot of fun. Today I actually got my buns out of bed and joined all the crazy people standing outside of the mall at 4:45 am. I wasn't dedicated enough to be one of those that got a $10 gift card for Sears (first 200 customers), but I earned up a free, little Mickey snowglobe from Penneys. It is always a psychological study when you get half of Great Falls into the 3-4 main stores and give them bargain-hunting "treasures" to find throughout! You just never know how people are going to react when you test them under those conditions! Besides a few people throwing a fit because they didn't open the mall doors, to get to the other stores, but most people were in a cheery, caffeine-induced, christmas shopping bliss! Let me know if you had any crazy Black Friday shopping experiences.
PS The little turkey guy is what we made on Wednesday for our craft. I even joined in and made one, at least between sneaking Dots in my mouth!

Flashback Friday- The Atchley's

These are my wonderful in-laws. This photo was from November 2003 when Jesse and I were only dating about 6 months, taken at a luau they had at their church. They accepted Colton and I with open arms! This picture makes me smile because I just remember how nervous I was to meet them and hoping Colton would have good behavior (like that is ever a problem! Ha!) They have truly become my family and I just love them so much!

This other photo is Jesse's grandma, Althea, who is by and far one of the most amazing women I have had the privileged of knowing! Her and I really clicked right from the start. We surprised her with a cake on her birthday two years ago when they came to visit us in Montana! She had a stroke last year and I am sad that our kids won't be able to know her the way that we remember her. I wish everyone was as lucky as me to have such a generous, loving, and completely amazing family for in-laws!!!

Midnight Musings (ok, technically 1:00, but midnight sounded better)

(This is a glimpse at my inner-monologue that I have on a random night while foraging for drink/snack in the middle of the night)

(Still lying in bed) Ug, Jesse drank all of the water...Grrr...grumble, grumble...

Hmm, I'm hungry too. I'm so sick of peanuts. I wonder what Susie is having for a late night snack...or Amber...probably something wholesome...

(out of bed now) Chocolate chip cookies...would that get me through til morning...do I dare open the refridgerator? (I do), Eeeeeee bright-light, bright light(thought in a voice resembling a Mogwhy from Gremlins)....(then turning to the song) "Blinded by the light, hmmm, hmmm another rumor in the night"...

boston creme pie yogurt...that works...why does this taste lemony...(bored eating it halfway through and throw it away)...

hmmm, I wonder if this would be funny enough to blog about...hmm, sounds funny to me...eek do I dare let people know the dumb thoughts that run through my brain?...

I give up, I'm going back to bed...a murphy bed would be a cool idea if we turned this into a guest room...I've only ever seen them on tv...

ugh, why didn't I go the bathroom when I was up?...well, now I'm awake...I could blog about this...

(And here we are friends, blogging at now almost 1:45. Sorry if it was dumb/boring, but that is your glimpse into the random things running through my head while foraging for food like a mamma bear right after hibernation...ha,that's kind of funny...definitely a run-on sentence.) good night...

Your Celebrity Sisters Are Jessica and Ashlee

Beautiful, feminine, and stylish. Who care's if you're a bit of a daddy's girl?

Who Are Your Celebrity Sisters?

Sure, I think they seem nice.

Your Celebrity Style Twin is Jessica Simpson

Flirty, feminine, and fun.

Who's Your Celebrity Style Twin?

Um, maybe we, like, really are sisters!

Your Fashion Style is Classic

You like what's stood the test of time... Simple, well styled clothes that don't scream trendy You stay updated and modern, but your clothes stay in style for a while You wouldn't be caught in animal prints, fake fur, or super bright colors

What's Your Fashion Style?

I agree.

Your Ideal Hairstyle:

Long and Framed

What Hairstyle Is Right For You?

Hm...basically how I wear my hair now.

Well, that was fun.

Salt Lake City

Well, we had a great time in Salt Lake City. It was a great getaway for all of us and Colton was very excited to spend some time with his dad. Here are a few pictures from Disney on ice, an arcade we played at while killing some time and Colton being gobbled up by a huge statue outside of the Mayan restaurant! We ran into a little bad weather on the way home and had to spend an extra night in a hotel. Driving home was bittersweet, but time will go by so fast that it will be christmastime sooner than we know and we will be heading back to the midwest to visit family and join back up with Colton!

First baby pics!

So here is our first glimpse of the little one that will be joining us! The official due date (drumroll, please) May 3, 2007. Been feeling better which is a testament to the fact that I am 3 weeks farther along than we were thinking (14 weeks today) and totally out of the first trimester! The heart beat was 167, which convinces my sister that it will be a girl, along with the increased nausea and sleepyness that wasn't as bad with Colton. Jesse was getting his heart rate up to 164+ at the gym (fun?! I guess! hee hee) and was laughing at himself through a red face as I shook my head. Poor kid, doesn't know what it's getting itself into. Anyway our next appointment will be December 1st and puts us at 19 weeks! We're hoping she'll order another ultrasound for us to find out the sex! This one seems to be flying by!!!! We'll keep you posted when we find out more! Next weekend we are taking Colton to Salt Lake to spend Thanksgiving with his dad and we plan to suck as much of the "big city" as we can in two days. Plans: leave Friday morn, Disney on Ice friday night, meet his dad for "the handoff" at The Mayan (think disneyland TikiRoom with cliff diving and enchiladas) for lunch, and then back to Great Falls that evening! Busy but it will be fun!

Here's one more picture because I just love having pics of my kiddos!

Happy Halloween

Can you guess who's is who's?
Hope everyone had a safe and happy halloween! Here are our pumpkins we carved the day before. Except that the day even before that, we woke up to 8* temperatures and snow on the ground. No biggie, I love snow. Well the pumpkins were frozen solid, so I brought them in to thaw them, but they did not return to their plump, firm selves. They were sweating and half mushy/half frozen. Colton didn't care, after I nearly got frost bite cleaning out the guts, he went to town on mutilating the outside with the scraper tool (the only one I felt comfortable letting him use!)

Halloween night we went met with the Melones/Mclean's, had some pizza and ventured out a few blocks. Since they were heading to Georgia for a wedding the next day, they called it a night and we stopped by the GFCC Fall Festival. It was a lot of fun if you were able to go and Colton even won one of the door prizes, a family fun movie night! Sorry no pics from the party, it was too dark with my camera. Here's a few of the pumpkin carving and Colton's costume. He was the Thing from Fantastic Four, but he's never seen him before...adveritsing works on a 4 year old!

PS. Pumpkin order: Baby's, Colton's, Mine, Jesse's

Angela's blog

1.YOUR ROCK STAR NAME: (first pet & current street name) ~ Ruby Fourth

2.YOUR GANGSTA NAME: (fav icecream flavor,favorite cookie) ~ Chunky Monkey Rainbow Chip (um...not very flattering!)

3. YOUR "FLY Guy/Girl" NAME: (first initial of first name, first three letters of your last name) ~ C. Atc

4. YOUR DETECTIVE NAME: (favorite color, favorite animal) ~ Green Dog (maybe from a Dr. Seuss book)

5. YOUR SOAP OPERA NAME: (middle name, city where you were born) ~ Rae Sioux City

6. YOUR STAR WARS NAME: (the first 3 letters of your last name, first 2 letters of your first) ~ AtcCo

7. SUPERHERO NAME: (2nd favorite color, favorite drink put "The") ~ The Blue Ginger Ale

8. NASCAR NAME: (the first names of your grandfathers) ~ Darrell Clyde

9. STRIPPER NAME: (the name of your favorite perfume, favorite candy) ~ Ici chocolate

10.WITNESS PROTECTION NAME: (mother & father's middle name ) ~ Lynn Duane

Ha Ha. That was pretty fun! Hope you all try it!

Flashback- Halloween 1981

Sorry I missed the memo on the flashback, but here you go. (Jesse kept stealing my keyboard to use with his work laptop to work on reports at home- seriously, I think we have our priorites crossed! hee hee) Anyway this is my sisters and I Halloween 1981. I guess we were dolls or Raggedy Ann something or other... either way I guess people gave us candy so I don't think we cared.

Am I the only one that feels like costumes just aren't original like they were when we were little. Your choice was to wear a vinyl suit that was barely hanging on by the end of the night, with a plastic mask that had tiny slits for eyes and was extremely suffocating while running door to door! Or you could try and come up with your own costume (which I prefered, or my mom preferred because she wasn't going to waste money on junk! I've said that to Colton before-scary) and had to get really creative! Well here's to a safe and fun Halloween!

Highlights from our midwest trip

Get Your Own! | View Slideshow

We had a whirl wind week! Between driving back and forth from my moms and my sister's houses (45 minutes apart) we packed in a lot of fun! The harvest party was saturday and lasted late into the night (with 22 people staying the night at their house!), sunday morning was the baptism and lunch. Monday was fun at Chuck E. cheese and then Tuesday was an awesome turkey dinner celebrating my mom's __ birthday!!! It was a busy, great time and I'm so glad we went!

Ashlee and Kacie's Baptism

Wondering why you haven't heard from me for a while? Well, Colton and I took an impromptu trip to the Midwest for my sister's Harvest Party and both of my nieces were baptized in their church! After a little coercing (Colton chasing Kacie around the back of the church) Kacie dipped her finger in the water and touched her forehead! Then Colton said, "But I thought I was gonna be baptized too." So the pastor "baptized" him also! (We plan on having him get a full water baptism when he really knows the impact of his decision-according to our beliefs) It was pretty crazy and cute! Never know what 4 year olds are going to do!!!

Saturday 80's flashback

Ok, so Jesse and I already know that we are dorks and we revel in the fact that we liked the 80's. Saturday night we got caught watching an 80's show on VH1 and it hooked us until almost 2:00 am. Why... I have no idea! But it was fun reminicsing (sp?) about the crazy music things we remember, and what we were doing at that time- he's 6 years older so his 80's experience was vastly different than mine! While he was rocking out to VanHalen and DefLeppard, I was watching Punky Brewster, having contests to see who could keep the beat to "We will rock you", and memorizing all the words to Bangles songs!!! Good Times!!! We both engaged in some form of horrid hairstyle and played Atari and computer games (we've actually been keeping our eyes open for an original version of Oregon Trail and Kings Quest-Ha!) I'm sure you all have great 80's memories and it is fun to go back to when life seemed a lot simpler. I just dread what Colton's teenage years will be like...Ugh

Flashback Friday- Sisters

For happy times shared through the years,
for the loyalty, love, the laughter and tears.
For the special things only you can do,
for all these things, I thank you!

Time and space may separate us,
but heartstrings know no end.
I'm proud to call you my sister, happier still to call you my friend.
Author Unknown
Picture: Me, Connie & Carrie 1999

Losing our Cool!

So we are doing great. Why is my title "losing our cool", you ask? Well we have to monitor our computer use due to the fact that our fan that cools the computer (um, very important), has broken and if you are anything like us, you know that half of my day revolves around the computer; blogging, email, printing out preschool papers or just connecting with the outside world!

We looked at laptops this weekend. Ugh! I really don't care how much Gig my harddrive has or this one has this much more Ram than the other one! I just want something I can plop myself in front of and have it do what I want it to! Jesse has concerns if he will be able to finally get World of Warcraft (another thing I can see both of us getting addicted to!). Part of me feels guilty that we have become so dependent on our computer! Besides, I really don't want to continue putting off our remodeling projects for goofy stuff that keeps breaking down! Our goal is to have the basement done before next April (baby due), which is very ambitious since it would include digging two egress windows and a lot of sheet rock! Anyway, I must monitor my computer use and start backing up all of my preschool and pictures!

Jelly Belly Bliss

So normally we don't get Jelly Belly beans, but we were at Shopko last night (yes, that is what we do with our Friday nights) and there was a small display of Jelly Bellys. Colton being unusually cooperative at 9:00 while Jesse and I were browsing random things, I thought he earned a little treat. It took me back quite a ways since I have had some Jelly Bellys and the excrutiating decisions of colors, flavors and the exact combinations that will delight the senses. While checking out their website for a pic to add to my blog, I found out that they were the favorite candy of Ronald Reagan (and were a staple in the Oval Office and Air Force One), he had even inspired Blueberry flavor so he could have red, white and blue at his inaugural party! Funny! They were the first jellybeans in space in 1983 when they were a presidential surprise for the the spaceshuttle Challenger and 1st female in space, Sally Ride! Just a little fun weekend info for you! Yummy!

Check, Check, 1,2,3

Sorry I don't know if anybody else is having problems viewing my blog, but I am. So this is a test to see what's up with my blog.

Naps are God's gift to Moms (and Dads)

I truly believe that naptime is a gift from God. He has instilled in our children the need for rest halfway through the day and I believe that this is the reason many parents don't go insane! I love my child and my daycare kids but it is so nice to be able to have a little time for me to clean (ha!), blog, do devotionals, paint toenails, nap!, etc. God in his infinite wisdom said "Here, you tired, weary-laden parent, this is my gift to you; naptime! This is totally my opinion and if your child doesn't take naps, that is absolutely your decision and that's cool. But I will make them lay down for 2 hours everyday until they go to kindergarten! I am blessed with a child that desperately NEEDS naps or he just gets absolutely irrational at about 6:00. It is a time for refreshing for both of us and it makes me a better mom! Welp, that's really all I wanted to say, selfish little me and my coveted naptime!!!

Prayers go up, Blessings come down

As many of you know we've been trying to expand our family and we've had an answer to our prayers. God has blessed us with a baby! It's still pretty early and we have our first appointment on the 19th. We should be able to hear the heartbeat, so about 10-12 weeks along. We're praying that everything goes well and the baby will be safe. I know it's not good luck to announce anything too early, but this is what's going on in our lives and I wanted to share the good news!



In the meantime we are still battling the flu bug, but on Saturday afternoon we got a little cabin fever and cured it with a game of mini-golf. It was a really fun time and was really nice to get out of the stuffy house! We didn't keep score and but we celebrated with a piece of laffy taffy!

Where'd the week go?

So sorry to all of you blog ladies! I have no idea where an entire week went! Within this past week each of my daycare kids have thrown up (thankfully at their own homes! *guilty grin*) Except that our family is exhibiting the same signs as them (Jesse took two sick days), so I have a sneaking feeling that this weekend is going to be filled with videos, blankets and barf buckets! (is that too much info?). Anyway, just wanted to apologize for the slacker that I have been!

In the meantime, here is a picture of me and Colton almost exactly 3 years ago! This was our little family picture taken for Christmas cards (which reminds me it's that time again for Christmas card pictures!) Eventhough we were going through a rough spot, God was watching over and taking care of us!

Flashback Friday

This is my sister Connie and I on a kayaking trip on the Blackfoot River in 2002. She could see what was ahead of me before I could. We really got close when we moved to a small town north of Sioux City, IA right before highschool. There were many trials that we went through, but the stuff that I remember more are the simple memories. Like when we would hide in eachothers' room and scare the crap out of the other, or making up words to songs on our long trip to school(45-60 minutes each way), and the long nights of staying up late playing double solitare and talking about what was going on in our highschool lives! She knows me like very few on this planet do and always thinks of others feelings above her own. She is amazing and loving, and her support has got me through some of my toughest times! Love you so much Connie!

CellPhone Fiasco

So for everyone that has tried to call me in the past month, sorry I couldn't let you know what was going on by changing my voicemail, like, Jackie, Jess K, AmyT.... But my cellphone was lost somewhere between here and Oregon City, OR where we stayed on our way home from N.Cal. Well we tracked it down by the calls the other person was making (yes, they were roaming) and it pointed to the maid that cleaned our room. So there was an investigation and I didn't want to let them know we were on to them. *mission impossible music playing in the background* Well, the hotel has been extremely cooperative and are paying for a new phone and all the charges the lady incurred! The charges only came to about $40, but my phone would've been a minimum of $140 to replace with the cheapest phone available. (Get insurance on your phone...it is worth it!) Here is my plug for the Rivershore Hotel and Kathy, the manager, whom I will thank personally when we stay there next time we travel that way! This entire resolution was such a blessing from God, because we had already chalked it up to our own foolishness and she did not have to take the financial responsiblity for the ladys theft. In the meantime, all of my phone numbers that are in that phone are completely lost, so to save me calling 411 or looking on the internet for everyone I know, if you could shoot me an email to cortneyatchley@gmail.com
Thanks! Looks like Jesse's not the only investigator in the family!

Ten on Tuesday(monday because tommorrow I just won't have time!)

1. What do you get when you cross a 4 year old and a roll of green crepe paper:


Colton's version of the Incredible Hulk (with a green sword)

2. Frosted Flakes turn into concrete if you don't rinse out the bowl immediately after eating.

3. No matter how many times you ask or make them go, if try to go somewhere with a van full of kids, someone will have to "go" as soon as you pull out of the driveway!

4. I will no longer buy my son white underwear...use your imagination.


5. Making meatloaf is fun no matter how old you are!

6. I wish SpongeBob was educational because it is just way too funny. In the meantime we have Little Einsteins!

7. A couple of nickels can go a long way at the Big Springs Fish Hatchery.






8. No matter how many times I look through Colton's baby book, I still cry!

9. Special treat for myself: Fun new socks.



10. Good friends may come and go, but the time spent together is priceless.


Bonus:
Amber's lil' sister up on stage with Apologetix at the DownPour Festival!

School Transitions

Hello all! Just a quick note today because I have two extra little ones! As the school year starts, though Colton doesn't start til next year, my two that I am watching/teaching are. :( Sad. But that also means that I get new little ones and God provides! Today I am watching 4 year old and 3 year old brothers of a recently single dad who is starting college full time next week. If you all know my story, of my ex and I, it is eerily the same, except that the mom has removed herself from the picture. Prayers are needed! Anyway on a lighter note, I get the priviledge of watching and teaching these two cuties! I will also start watching another 4 year old boy on a half-day basis. Yup, you heard it, add it up...4 boys! I pray they don't call a mutiny and Jesse will find me tied up with them dancing around me like Lord of the Flies!!! Hee Hee!

Also my sister, Connie, found out yesterday that they are having a boy!!! (Due in January) With all the talk of babies, Colton has informed me that he wants to grow small so that he can fit in my belly and crawl out again! Funny! (Just so I didn't pique your curiosity, we're not preggo yet!) :( Soon hopefully!

Vacation Highlights

Here are some highlights from our Northern California trip! We had a great time and really got to spend some quality time with family!

Thanks LB for www.slide.com :)

New use for treadmills!

If you are getting bored with your treadmill workout, check this out! Ha!
You tube: Here it goes again

Why I like capris/gauchos

Sorry everyone, I'm still in vacation mode and yes I still have a partially full suitcase. Eventually the clothes will cycle through being worn, then washed, then into the closet, so really I am saving time by not putting them away. Um...even I'm not buying that logic! Anyway I am in the process of getting the pics uploaded, which really means I haven't done that yet either! So here's a blog that really has nothing to do with anything.

Why I like capris/gauchos:
1. I only have to shave up to my knees.
2. They look cute with flip flops or sassy shoes
3. I can change the look of an outfit from casual to sassy in the change of shoes (see #2)
4. I can pretend that it is still summer eventhough it's getting chilly at night!
5. I feel somewhat trendy (please don't let leggings come back into style)
6. I can relate to a pair of pants that really doesn't have an identity- are shorts, are they pants, they really don't know!!!
Yes, I do realize that my blog wasn't very clever, but I think I am funny!*chuckle at myself*

Vacation Blog

Sorry it has been so long since I have blogged! Vacation has been great! We are in Northern California (not hot, sunny beaches-think chilly, cloudy redwoods and cold beaches)! It has been very refreshing to get away from home. I have been taking care of Jesse's grandma while his parents took a much-needed getaway for 5 days. His grandma suffered a stroke almost a year ago and loss control of her left side and speech. (Picture from summer 2005, Helena, Montana a month before her stroke). We celebrated her 79th birthday August 1. Prayers are always welcome!

Anyway, Jesse and I got to sneak away by ourselves to Trinidad for a walk on the pier, fresh fish & chips and clam chowder! Jesse also fixed a delicious crab dinner with a crab scrabmbled eggs the next morning with the leftovers! Yummy! We also spent an afternoon on the beach "agate hunting" and burying eachother in the chilly sand(pictures when I get them uploaded). Today we are going to the beach again to do surf fishing and play in the sand again! Being from the midwest I really haven't experienced much of the "ocean stuff". More to post as soon as I can!

Self-discipline!?!

The Setting: Storytime at the library. Colton is sitting next to me due to the previous behavior of crawling all over another child and talking really loud.

Colton: I'm gonna tell Jesse and he will give you a spanking!
Me: No me and Jesse are a team and he does not give me spankings. You better stop right now or you will lose your cowboy boots. (yes, the coveted ones)
Colton: *tongue out at me with angry eyes*
Me: (without a word pull off cowboy boots and stuff into library bag)
Colton: Grrrrr! *Angry eyes and squeezes my arm*
Me: Alright that's it. Time to go.

*Me carrying Colton (I wouldn't dare put his boots on him to let him walk) crying, kicking and screaming all the way to the car*

In the car:
Colton(now seeing the error of his ways): But am I going to get a spanking?
Me: I don't know. Do you think you need a spanking?
Colton: Well, I like spankings.
Me: You do? Then how many do you want?
Colton: Lots of spankings.
Me: OK, I can give you lots of spankings. If that is what you like.
Colton: Yeah, I like lots of spankings.
Me: OK
(long pause)
Colton: Um, I mean I don't like them, I was just kidding.
Me: Oh no, if you really like them, I think I should give you a lot.
Colton(starting to tear up again): No, mom, I don't need any, I will make good choices.
Me: I'll have to think about it. When you behave like that, I get very frustrated and I don't like it. The other kids are trying to listen to the story and they can't hear if you are doing that.
Colton: But I will make good choices now, mom. I really don't need any spankings.

Ok, so I love it that I have a fun, creative, silly little boy, but sometimes this kid...ugg! Just to let you know I showed a little mercy and opted not to spank him, due to the facts that he is recovering from a cold and didn't get very good sleep last night. Lunch time and nap time soon followed after we got home! If any one has any good advice, I'm up for it! This only child business is ridiculous! This kid needs a little competition and sacrifice!!! (Kudos to anyone that decided to have only one child, I am not judging you in any way, I just believe that you learn a lot with a sibling!) Vacation...starting Thursday...clean clothes or not I am ready for it!!!!

Four-wheelers and Fun in the Sun!

This past weekend we traveled down to Helena to visit my dad and step-mom. Saturday we played around on the ATV-my dad's new toy, and Sunday we went boating on Holter Lake through the Gates of the Mountains. If you have never taken the 45 minute drive from Great Falls to experience this natural beauty, than you have missed out! They have a tour boat that is a very reasonable price (if you don't have a father that lives in Helena and will give you a personal tour!) and also goes into detail about various rock formations, indian paintings, and a tribute to the smoke jumpers of the fatal Mann Gulch fire. I have been on the tour boat for the past three summers with visiting family and have enjoyed it every time! If you are in the area and are looking for "Montana" stuff to do, add this to your list right below Glacier National Park! It is a lot closer and can be done on a day trip, though I would recommend staying in Helena, for it is also a treasure trove of history and entertainment! Here are some more photos of us, for more check out the links on the sidebar! =o)