Backyard Camping

One very warm September day, I headed to Red Lodge with some friends and Megan while Daddy had his girl at home.  I had been telling Jason that he needed to set up the tent with Katelyn and sleep in the back yard since he's been gone during some of the summer and busy working long shifts.  This was the day to finally set it up.  So when I got home later that afternoon this is what I found.

 They were watching movies on the computer and relaxing, eating pretzels.

 Since we didn't go camping this summer, I suggested they spend the night outside.  They ventured out at night and slept until the early morning when they got cold and climbed into bed with me and Megan for a warm-up.
                                      

Making Apple Sauce

I was lucky to have someone I know call me up asking if I wanted some apples.  "Yes Please".  Since last year wasn't the year of the apple, this year promised to be a better crop.  It seems, or so I've heard that apple trees do better every other year.  This was the year for apples again.  With my faithful helper by my side in her Strawberry Shortcake night gown and helper number 2 perched on the freezer in my kitchen, in her bouncy chair, we peeled apples.

"Look mommy, C's."

 So after getting about 4 dutch ovens full and only burning the bottoms of two batches, we have apple sauce in the freezer.

New Wheels

We had to upgrade Katelyn to a bigger bike because the trike was just too small. So we headed to Walmart to see their selection. We came home with this sweet little bike, complete with princess helmet and princess bell.

We met her friend Oriah at the park one day and saw she had the same bike and helmet but a different bell. So that's how we told them apart. We had to learn how to brake the hard way after a few falls but she kept getting back on. Now she knows how to slow down when we go down a small hill.

Thank goodness we started off with a helmet, because she would have kissed the pavement a few times with her forehead had it not been there the few times she's tipped over and we don't have to fight her to wear it. We went for a long walk the other evening and she rode her bike. Daddy did have to help quite a bit with the curbs and the occasional off balance, but she did great. We walked past main street and back. Probably a good 14 blocks she pedaled. She had no trouble going to sleep that night. We've put a few miles on that bike this summer.

North Fork Fishing

Sunday after Jason's graduation, we went up the North Fork after church with some friends for a milk can supper and some afternoon fishing. A milk can supper consisted of a new milk can purchased specifically for this type of cooking, from Cabelas. It basically is a pressure cooker you put on a propane burner or over the fire. Tracy had put in red potatoes, corn cobs, carrots, onions and sausage mixed in with some beer, butter and other things. It was really good. So while Tracy, Megan and I sat around the camp site, Quin and his step son Corey, Jason, Katelyn and Malissa all went fishing. Katelyn was quite excited to go fishing. I think this was her second time going. Jason got her rod ready with some new tess on it and away they went.Malissa was more the photographer than fisher woman.

Fishing was slim or next to nil, so they all headed back in for some food, which was great by the way. Megan had her own sort of fun, sleeping and photo obsessed auntie just had to manipulate her as long as she was sleeping.

Graduation

We got home from Canada on the 7th of July. My parents stayed Sunday and drove back on Monday. That next week was spent slowly packing things for the drive down to Douglas for Jason's graduation from the police academy. We left Thursday morning at 9am. I had a few errands to run before so it was good we left early. 10 was my goal and I made it. I had to stop in Cody and Thermopolis to feed Megan, but other than that it was a straight shot to Douglas with a couple pee breaks. I had a bag packed with activities from our Canada trip, so that came again. It was a good thing I had it since the dvd player decided to be difficult. So no movies for Katelyn. She didn't really miss it either. The ride was pretty quiet most of the way with the occasional fussing from Megan. We made it in 6 hrs.

Jason got us a pretty nice hotel room for cheaper than what it was, thanks to his gov't discount :)

We picked him up from the school and drove back to Casper for supper to meet his parents, sister and friends, John and Theresa, who all drove down. We went back for some pool time with Katelyn.

It was nice once it cleared out and we had the place to ourselves. Megan could sleep on the lounge chair while we all jumped in the water. Katelyn is a very brave girl and thought she could swim by herself. She found out that she couldn't and needed some help from mom or dad.

Friday morning was a wave of busyness. Brought breakfast up from downstairs while we got ready and waited for my in-laws to come to watch Katelyn for a while. Jason and I went to a presentation they were giving for families. I had to rush back and get Katelyn to go back for the graduation while Jason had a last minute meeting. Graduation was good and the girls, more importantly were quiet and well behaved. Jason was awarded the Top Shot for his class. He shot the best during firearms week. We got a tour of the facilities after and left to get to Casper for a late lunch with all our friends. Jason had to take the city car they drove down every weekend, back to Powell. So his sister hoped in with him and helped keep him awake while I drove back with the girls. We made it back Saturday around 9 pm. It would have been nice not to have to rush back but to have taken our time and stayed another night. Oh well, it was fun while it lasted. So Jason is back on the job and the stresses of the first year are now behind us. I survived the 3 months he was gone and am so glad that we don't have to do that again.

The Budding Photographer

Katelyn took these on our way to Canada

Breakfast through the eyes of a 3 yr old

Canada Week 3

July 1st was Canada Day. Canada day celebrates the signing (July 1st, 1867) of the British North American Act which united 3 colonies into a single new country called Canada. We went to my parents church that morning. Since it was a long weekend, there were a lot of people missing, but still some familiar faces I had not seen in a long time. The pastor gave all the kids little Canadian flags. For supper we planned a wiener roast again. Even though it was extremely hot and humid, we had a wiener roast.

We love having fires. My little pyro girl!

Even though there really were no mosquitoes (which was extremely rare for Manitoba) we still kept Megan under the net as long as she was happy

We completed the meal with homemade fudgesicles. We did not even crack out the "knock zote" (pronouced k-nock) aka: mennonite marijuana aka: Sunflower Seeds! It is a staple food for around the fire

Even mommy found one of her favorites!

Ketchup Chips! Sweet and tangy goodness! One of my take home staples to be conserved as long as possible.

We had some more rain on monday with a good thunderstorm in the afternoon. Since Nana and Papa live in the country, going outside in our pajamas and boots is acceptable.

Katelyn spent some alone time with Grandma when I ran to town or went to Winnipeg with a friend.

Megan spent a lot of time on this blanket

We spent some time during the week revisiting the sprinkler park one last time, going to Great Grandpa's again to play with Sephira and making a last run to the store for treats to take home and for the long drive back.

Katelyn made a tent and Grandpa joined her under there. It was quite comical to see a blanket and hear them singing the ABC's.Auntie had to get under there too.