Everest, Nathan and Grami's trip to Montana

We did not tell many people, but Nathan, Grami and Everest took a trip to Montana 3 weeks before my due date. Everything turned out fine and I had plenty of people here to support me if I needed it. 

We still own our cabin in Montana and it was in need of maintenance and a few other things. 

Nathan and Bonnie took turns driving 34 hours straight with Everest playing, sleeping and watching DVD's in the back seat. Once they reached Montana, they camped in our yard and got to work. My aunt Mary and uncle Roger came down from Columbia Falls to help out. They worked for 3 1/2 days cleaning out our root cellar, pressure washing and staining the house and gate posts, and putting in new doors and windows. It was a lot of work.

On the way out, they stop in Stergis at a grocery store. This is what pulled up in the parking lot. Everest was so excited and this man let him sit on his motorcycle.

First morning of camping. Both boys seem happy to be laying down to sleep after being in the truck for 34 hours.

This was another reason for the trip....Nathan's motorcycle has been in Darby for 5 years. He was ready to bring it back. There is no seat on it (we have it in Indiana), but Everest and Aunt Mary didn't care, they were busy being motorcycle fire fighters. Notice Mary is on the radio getting important information.

This is our cabin after power washing and a coat of finish. It sits on a bench overlooking the valley. We have 2 acres with an apple orchard. We miss it a lot, but it is WAY too small for a family of 5. Someday we will vacation and maybe retire here.

Our neighbor Tex, let Everest drive his tractor.....not alone, but Nathan said he completely steered the tractor from our house up to Tex's house. Tex even let Everest put the bucket up and down. We always enjoy visiting Tex when we are in Darby.

On the way home, they would stop at rest stops, gas stations and grocery stores. Each time they stopped, Nathan and Grami would take turns running with Everest, or blowing bubbles and having him run after them. This is a rest stop where they had lunch and as you can see, Everest played on the motorcycle.

Leaf and got a lot done at home while they were away. We would have loved to have been in Montana, but I do not think either of us would have tolerated a 34 hour drive. We hope to get to Montana again soon.

Riding

The boys have done a lot of riding the lately. I can't ride with them anymore (and haven't since June). Everest misses riding the tag-along, but he started riding his bike more often. For the first week, Nathan would run beside him or close to him. We let him ride on our road or the elementary school parking lot, because they are smooth surfaces. Once he got a little more comfortable, we had him ride on the sidewalk (in our neighborhood, it is really uneven). It took about a week, but he is comfortable riding without Nathan near him. It also took about a week for him to figure out how to start by himself. Doug and Lisa came to visit for 2 days. While Lisa was at work, Doug and I took Everest out riding, with Doug's encouragement, he started by himself.

Turning around in the neighbors driveway.

Riding on our quiet neighborhood road, Nathan is walking behind him, but he is at least 4 houses back.

Finally learning to ride on the sidewalk.

Leaf borrowed the neighbors little car, he loves to push it around and ride it.

Everest borrowed the big wheels from the neighbors (they have been away the month of July...we miss them). He likes riding down our driveway on it. Yes he has sweat pants on...they are Purdue pants and he loves them. It was in the 90's and he refused to put on shorts. I had to hide them so he doesn't wear them for now. It is just TOOOO hot!

Homemeade Popsicles

We have been making homemade popsicle all summer. They are cheaper and better for you. The boys LOVE them. I was reading a post by Soul Mama about a cookbook called The Perfect Scoop (it is recipes for homemade ice cream and popsicles.) We were headed to the library that day, so I checked it out. It is definitely a cook book I want to own. We still had a few frozen black berries from Grami's garden, so we decided to make raspberry yogurt popsicles but substitute blackberries. YUM!

I got these popsicile containers at Target, but do not like them very much. I found the recipe for the raspberry yogurt popsiciles and a great idea for popsicile containers here.

It has been so hot and humid. The camera had condensation on the lens when I took it outside to take a picture. Everest ate his before I could get the camera out, but Leaf enjoyed every last bit.

Savoring.....

All done. That is my messy boy!

If you like popsiciles or ice cream, you need to check out The perfect scoop. So many good recipes!

Riding bikes

It has been very hot and humid here, but it hasn't stopped us from enjoying the outdoors. The boys have been riding their bikes around. Leaf has inherited Everest's first tricycle. Everest still tries to ride it sometimes, it is hilarious to see him on it. 

Leaf is still hanging out in the buff, but he is peeing in a bucket more often. He was out cruising on his trike and I had to take pictures. His legs are not quite long enough to reach the pedals the whole time, so he is still not moving too much. He is having fun though.

Everest is relearning how to ride without training wheels. He was doing great at 2 1/2 with no training wheels, but for some reason we put them on for him (I think he fell and was scared to ride again.). He does really well, but he doesn't have the confidence to ride without Nathan right beside him. Once again (I was pregnant with Leaf when he first learned), I can not run beside him waiting to catch him. Nathan does it every time (sometimes even carrying Leaf-who always wants upppppppp) and never complains, even when the bike falls on him and bruises his legs. He is a great dad.

 We rode the bikes around the Montessori school parking lot one evening. Everest was tired and didn't want to ride home, but Leaf did. Everest's bike has pegs on the back tires (for doing tricks-why a bike that small would have them is beyond me, but they do come in handy). Nathan was pushing the bike and then riding along with Leaf. Of course, Leaf loved it, he wants so much to be like Everest.

Playing in the dirt!

We had a little bit of a rough morning today. Not sure why, maybe it is the heat. It has been VERY warm in Indiana, especially when you are 6 1/2 month pregnant. I can't bring myself to turn on the air. I am not a fan of air conditioning for many reasons: it feels too cold for me no matter how low you set it, I hate walking outside after being in the air conditioning, and of course environmental and financial reasons.
Once things settled down a little, I worked in the garden and the boys...well they did too. They had a blast. Many people would freak out about the kids in the mud, especially when one of the kids sucks his fingers, no matter how muddy they are. Long ago, I gave up trying to keep Leaf's fingers clean. The boys played together and had fun, that is all that matters. 

The boys have their own dirt pile at the edge of my garden. Nathan had dug a hole to check the down spout, but the boys decided they had a better idea for the hole. They filled it with water and went fishing.

Leaf had a good time putting things underwater, then finding them. He giggled every time he found something.

Everest was digging to make a stronger damn so the water would stay in. He wanted to be like Leaf (no pants, but I persuaded him to go topless instead.

Can you tell who has had their fingers in their mouth? A dirty little boy only a mama (and daddy and a brother)  could love!

In the late afternoon, we headed out again. We ditched the clothes from earlier. It was so hot, I just let Leaf go natural. We have some really cute pictures of him, but none that are appropriate to post on the internet. He was just as dirty this afternoon as he was this morning. He and I took a shower before bed. Nathan and Everest opted for a bath. So both boys went to bed clean.

This evening, they filled their pool up with dirt. When they got out, they both looked like they had on mud socks. It was really funny, but the pictures we have, we can't share because of naked Leaf. What is with Everest? He went inside and put on a long sleeve shirt. It was in the upper 80's today with PLENTY of humidity. He loves his fire truck shirt (friends-Courtney, Nolan, and Meredith- thank you so much) got it for him at the beginning of school.

My parents will be here tomorrow!!!!!!! Can't wait. I am sure we will be playing in the mud some more, it is supposed to be hot all week.