Tourists on our "Stay"cation.

I have tried to take advantage of every day that I am off from work. Sometimes the weather does not cooperate, but their are still a lot of things to do. (It's not like it's been blizzarding this month.) Being a native of Rapid City, I knew we had cool stuff around here, but now that I have kids, I am trying to see all of the fun that the Black Hills has to offer.

We will not be going on a BIG vacation this summer, but hope to pack in all the sights around here. We've done some things this week to get our tour started.

We planted a small (very small) herb garden with some tomatoes. I DO NOT have a green thumb, so I am relying on Gabbie to help keep this garden alive!

I really want to plant some tulips, peony bushes and dahlias this year!! If anyone has any suggestions or tips, PLEASE comment! I am gonna need all the help I can get.

OOPS! Gabbie got a little out of control with the hose. Sorry Fin.



I think Gabbie will survive! She had a little spill on her bike.
The first of many, I'm sure.

Gabbie is learning to ride the bike. It seems we are a bit behind, but Gabbie loves it! Our goal is training wheels off by her birthday in the fall.

Finley wants to ride a bike too!

Sorry Fin, that's a little big.

Gabbie had her "End of the Year Program" at school.

The pre-school program was great this year. They concentrated on ABC's & 123's.

These girls are her "best friends" and we enjoy watching them all grow.

ONE SHOT!

(is all this picture took!)

Good Job Gabrielle Amelia!

We visited Bear Country USA last week. It was a little COLD and REALLY windy, but it was fun. There were only a few other cars going through the park, so we really took our time.

Do you think the "DO NOT TOUCH" sign also means "DO NOT SIT"???!!!

The Buffalo

The Bear

Doesn't he look friendly?

The Reindeer

Our Mother's Day Brunch
Gabbie & Finley and Brayden & Hadley

The ER Kids at a baby shower
(and there are more to come!)

Finley at Reptile Gardens.

We love this place and they really give the locals a great deal! We will visit MANY TIMES!

One of the birds at Reptile Gardens. There large bird show starts this week.

Nana Betty, and us in the dome at Reptile Gardens.

The shy bald eagle and not-so shy Gabbie

We hope you are all having a fun Spring! I hope we can add many fun pictures to our Stay-cation album!

Big Little Brother!

My little brother, Shelby, turns 30 tomorrow and we went to Deadwood to celebrate.

Food, family and fun!

Jason and Shelby were having fun at The Oyster Bar...YES...there were oyster shots involved!

Happy Birthday Shelby!!!!!!!!

HOPPY Easter!!!

We hope you all are enjoying your Easter Sunday!

Gabbie, Jason & I dyed Easter eggs last Sunday.

I am so glad I started getting ready for Easter early, because of our busy schedule this week.

I also realized that the simple, no-gimmick dye kits are the easiest and the prettiest.

OOPS!!!!
We had only one sacrificed out of 1 & 1/2 dozen...not bad!

On a side note:

I added a couple of new blogs to my faves.

Check out "The Celebrity Juice".

It is a SHAMELESS obsession!

Swimming and Snow Drifts

As many of you know, South Dakota has made major weather news several times in the past month. We had a really nice week in March and then on the 22nd we had a record breaking WARM day. It all went down hill after that and we are currently digging out of our 3rd BLIZZARD since.

Gabbie is finishing up her first sessions of swim lessons at the YMCA. She has done awesome and we will probably sign up for one session, since we OBVIOUSLY won't be going to any public pools for awhile.

Self Portrait

Gabbie and friends in the pool at the YMCA.




Gabbie trusting her instructor, Jamie.

Finley is enjoying the snow. She doesn't have the snow gear to go outside this year and neither does Mom, so I opened the patio door and let her have a little taste...LITERALLY!

Our driveway being abused by the neighborhood kids. Gabbie loves playing with her friends and it will be so much easier once the sun shines.

Sisterly Love

Sisterly Unlove

Cabin Fever

Jason and I are doing fine, as well. Lots of work, kids and repeat! We really feel blessed to have a healthy family and to also have jobs during this time. We have no big plans for summer yet. Some old friends are visiting in May and July, so that will be fun. I am DREAMING of SUN!

UPDATE! UPDATE! UPDATE!

Well, it has been over a month since my last update, so little did she know that she named my post. :)

We have been pining over SPRING! It has teased a bit, but we all know that it is coming!

I am still loving Facebook and anyone that is not on it...NEEDS to be!

I found a new "Mom Blog". I just stumbled upon it, but I think I will be an avid follower, mostly because she has "Meal Planning Mondays".

We went to High School Musical on Ice with some of our friends. Avery's mom found these shirts so the girls would match and isn't this the cutest picture. I can't help but morph them into teenagers in my mind.

Avery, Aspen, Gabbie & Ella

Here are the BFF's!

Gabbie, Aspen and Ella have been going to daycare together for a long time. It is so nice when you can be friends with your kid's friend's parents. These 3 girls will probably not go to school together and it is already starting to make me a little sad.

I put this self pic in here because, sadly it is the ONLY pic I took last Friday at the Spirit of Peace Banquet for WAVI.

As many of you know I am on the SART Team (Sexual Assault Response Team) at the hospital. We depend on WAVI for many things and the banquet was very fun! WAVI is an amazing organization and I am proud to support them. Plus, it is always FUN to get dressed up!





Lastly, my little Fin's personality has emerged.
Likes:
Food
Food
Food
rough housing
animals

Dislikes:
people in her "bubble"
authority
Gabbie's turn to get her hair fixed by mom

Blah, Blah Blah..

This is how I feel about my blogger skills lately...

I have to admit that I have been on Facebook A LOT! It is just so easy!

I have also not been getting the camera out a lot.

BUT

We have been doing some fun stuff!

We try to stay busy this time of year or I go crazy!

I have a few new favorite blogs Check them out here & here.

They post several times a day so there is always a quick little read (or look). I have found a few really cute little things on them.

I went on a movie spree this week. I saw this. It was SUPER CUTE and girly, yet realistic. I think they made a nice connection with the Sex & The City episode. THANKS Greg Behrendt!

I also finally saw this! It was in the cheep seat movie theater (which I love) and it was so good. I don't think people should go without reading the book, but I loved it and can't wait for the next one!

I also cannot wait for this one. Oh, I am so pathetic, but she's cute and funny! Gabs will like it too. I actually have the opening day marked in my calender (4/10/09).

So, as I said, I am in a blog slump, which you can see by the post, but we aren't in a slump. Life is BUSY!

January 20th...

My Thoughts:

EXCITED

ANXIOUS

HOPE

CHANGE

DIFFERENCE

FUTURE

I just cannot let the day pass without posting about this historic event. The obvious reason for the hype is very cool, but I just feel like people are EXCITED for so many reasons!