KandL

My Grandson's First Birthday Party!

My grandson Caleb turned one year old April 22nd.  I can't believe its been a year already since he was born.  What an adorable little boy. I am the luckiest grandma ever! I really wished I lived closer to them so that I could help babysit.  I'm so proud of Steven & Danielle, they have done an awesome job as parents.   We celebrated his birthday at the Ramada Inn in Bozeman, MT on Saturday.  Tara, Michaela & Larry were the only other ones able to come with me as the others had to work or had prior commitments. A great party with family and friends, pizza and cake and a short time in the pool...we got kicked out of the pool because the manager didn't realize it was a party and thought it was outside people just coming to swim. Larry got it all fixed with the management but everyone had already dried off and dressed. Caleb had a blast playing with all the kids and being the center of attention.  Sunday morning it was breakfast at Perkins then we got to go check out Steven & Danielle's new house that they will be moving into in mid-May. It's beautiful, I'm happy for them. Now all they need is a puppy!  I happen to know where they can get one! 

Winter on the Yellowstone

I love it when the weather is nice enough to be able to walk along the Yellowstone river in the evenings.  This is the view from last night!

     

Spring is coming, the ice is starting to melt!

 

I love sunsets!

  

I like this picture, it looks like the clouds have wings!

To My Valentine

I love you!  I love you for seeing the good things in me that I can't always see in myself.  I love you for giving me a push or the many little pushes to step outside my comfort zone and little box of my somewhat limited and naive little world.  Your encouragement to experience life not with fear and insecurities, but with love and laughter.  I love you for holding my hand in public (especially in front of your biker buddies). I love you for giving me wonderful romantic memories of bridges and lightening storms, park benches and kissing in the rain, hot chocolate and cuddling on the couch. I love you for being my GPS so I take the "scene it" route less often, and texting in rhyme to the rhythm of Dr. Seuss.  I love your 'other way' of doing things. But mostly, I just love you for no other reason than I couldn't not love you if I tried. I just love you. I'm so glad to have you back in my life again.  Happy Valentines Day.  PS- I love you more than there are chocolate kisses and candy hearts on valentine's day!

21 Years Ago Today (February 10, 1988)

21 years ago this morning, I was a full time college student, pregnant (one week over due) single mother of two. I sent my son, age 8, off to school, took my two year old daughter to the college daycare and attended all my classes including taking a government test in the afternoon.   I was miserable. My friend Carolyn was able to convince the doctor that he needed to induce me.  So later that night she along with my son (who carried my bags in for me) proceeded to check me into the hospital.  It was kind of scary being in the labor room all by myself for the first few hours with no family around to help.  My friend had to go home to take care of my kids and hers.  She ended up bringing my two year old daughter in later that night to the emergency room sick with Virile Pneumonia...too dangerous for a newborn baby to be around. I was told I couldn't see my two year old for 10 days. I might contract the disease or pass it on to the baby. Try making a sick two year old understand why she can't come home and why mom can't see her...especially when the new little baby gets to.  Thank god for good friend(s) and moms who drive through blizzards when help is needed. 

21 years later....my daughter can't make it home for her birthday today because all the roads are closed due to a ND blizzard. Keeping my fingers crossed that both daughters & Larry make it home for the weekend and our planned birthday/basketball trip to Billings. 

Enough of Winter

I know its only the end of January but I'm so tired of below zero temps, icy parking lots and roads. I need summer, sunshine and warm weather!  I came across this picture taken (near where I work) a summer or two ago, and was surprised at how beautiful and green the badlands looked....or is it just me looking through winter weary eyes? (Kristi)