Weekend at Echo

I have all of August to catch up on and all the adventures we had! It was a busy fun month and I still can't believe it's September. Not cool.

For Dan's birthday weekend we decided to go hit up his Uncle and Aunt's Cabin. Dan's cousin Whitney and her kids were living there for the summer so it sounded like a blast! Boy oh boy was it ever a blast! Whitney's husband, Collin, and Tony and Sassa were all coming down for the weekend! It's always fun when everyone is there!

We got there Friday evening and the kids travelled so well! They always do when Paw Patrol is on. :) Parenting WIN!

Saturday morning we went to the Echo Lake Cafe for Breakfast. The food there is delicious! the boys loved it. We don't often take them out. It can be chaotic.
When we got back to the cabin we spent about an hour or so loading up the boats/seados, and everything we needed for the beach. Tycy and her kidlets were waiting for us already down by the water! They had showed up at 10:00 (while we were still eating breakfast!)

We got down to the water and boy oh boy did we start playing! Sand castles, swimming, jumping, boating to the swimming hole, more swimming, food and snacks constantly. That's about how it goes!

max fell asleep on the boat on the way to the swimming hole

this kid. 

Once Tony and the Comin's finished their triathlon they came and joined us on the beach and we started the tubing!

definitely some good wipe outs.

We may have spent way to much time outside. By the time we got back to the cabin at 8:00pm I was so tired, had a headache and felt so nauseous. After feeding Max food I got him to bed and the rest is sort of a blur. Daniel handled the rest. He gave me Evan at some point and bless that little child he slept SO GOOD that night. So that Sunday Morning I felt better. Still tired but better. Sunday, definitely a day of rest at the cabin! We went to church with Tycy and her gang and than came back to the cabin, ate some leftovers and then slept. Brilliant.

Sunday evening we played some cards visited, ate dinner and watched the kids run wild. as always. Tony, Sassa, Whitney and Collin even got Daniel a cake. Because Sunday was his 28th birthday! Yay for them! I was going to bring stuff/buy stuff but with how wiped out I was Saturday Evening and even into Sunday I am so glad they bought one! It was a hit with everyone! Dan sure did love it too!

It got hot that weekend! haha My car read it higher than it was but it sure felt like 40. It was wonderful!

It was a early (ish) bedtime for us that night.

Monday we headed back to the beach in the morning and than around naptime we cleaned up, packed up and started our journey to Kalispell where we did some shopping (at costco where else) and then met up with my sister and family again for dinner at Hu Hot. SO YUMMY! We'll count that as Dan's special birthday dinner! It was fantastic!

We didn't leave till about 7pm for home. So it was a late drive but the kiddos did okay. And survived the transfer to their beds at home.

It was a fun weekend! and no one got sunburned so that was a win! YES! (oh wait... Dan did a little. but not major like he normally does! Still a win!)

What a weekend. I'm so grateful to family and the fun weekend we had! Such a blast! They are Awesome!

We're at 5 months people!

Man oh man. my baby is 5 months old. I honestly think he just skipped month 4. It went by way to fast! I just don't know what I'm going to do with this kid, He's growing so fast.

He has become such a happy baby. He's pretty content most the time but as soon as you give him some good old eye contact he is all smiles! Eyes, ears, mouth, nose some how they all turn into the best gummy smile. You just can't not smile back and start making yourself sound like an idiot just to get him to smile again.

I do find that I don't care anymore what outsiders may think when we're out and about and i'm making dumb little noises or sounds to get him to smile and laugh. They may roll their eyes at me but as soon as he lets out one of his belly laughs they are laughing too. (you're welcome) I could seriously listen to his laugh all day! (that goes for all my kids though too. I just love it.

Not sure where he is weight wise but his so flippin heavy! I feel like i'm always adjusting him and switching arms. Not only that but my back has developed muscles i didn't know existed. My infant car seat only goes to 21lbs so i'm starting to look at getting him a new one already. yikes!

Not sure where he is weight wise but his so flippin heavy! I feel like i'm always adjusting him and switching arms. Not only that but my back has developed muscles i didn't know existed. My infant car seat only goes to 21lbs so i'm starting to look at getting him a new one already. yikes!

sitting. we're getting there.he really likes to just fold in half and squish his belly. Then he gets a little grumpy.

 hes still such a cuddle bug. loves his snuggles when he first wakes up and when he goes to bed for the night. i don't mind.

hes getting into his toys now. now that he knows he has hands and is figuring out how to grab stuff. anything he grabs goes straight into his mouth! try to put a soother in there though and he spits that puppy out! unless hes in the carseat or stroller though!

happy 5 months!!!

Who wants to see a fat baby??

Evan is 4 months old! Time is starting to fly! I can't believe it. Slow down a little. haha

Evan is seriously getting happier every day! You wouldn't believe it. Every day he is happier than the next! I hope there is no end to this! He does like to randomly start to cry, but typically Max is around or to close and that is typically the reason.

He's so fat, I love it! More rolls every day. He weighs 17 is my guess. I'll find out on Tuesday at his immunizations.

Was only waking up once a night but now is starting to do 2-3. I don't like this.

size 4 diapers and I've gotta move him up to 6-9 month clothes! what a tank.

You can get the best grins and smiles out of him. They take up his whole fat little face! If you are super special you'll get a smile from him.

Loves being held and cuddled to sleep. All the time. what a kid.

ps I seriously think my photo skills are taking a hit... this three kids is exhausting

Apples Apples EVERYWHERE!

So far this summer Southern AB has gotten at least 2 really good hail storms. The last of which knocked quite a few apples off my in-laws apple tree and did some damage to the ones that still managed to hang on in the tree. They offered up the apples if we came and got them. I was a little hesitant because I have my own apple tree that's just about ready to pick. Then I figured eh why not. So we went out to pick and clean up the yard!

Lindsey and Brad and their kids came as well. They took all the really bad apples home to feed to their pigs! Lindsey and I loaded some up in boxes to take to my house to make into jam and applesauce and whatever else we could think of.

 We had to stop by their house after the apples and show Sean and Max the pigs and horse. Lindsey tells me they'll have a "funny farm" one day with all the random animals they will get.

Sean and Max were completely enthralled with the animals. Dan even showed Sean how to feed the horse apples and Max watched Kolton in how to throw the apples to the pigs. Once we convinced the boys to leave the animals they ran around the yard for over an hour or so while us "grown-ups" got to visit.

It was one of those perfect summer nights! The kids were playing so well so we just left them alone and let them play. The babies were content to just sit on our laps and Lindsey and I got to chat and so did Dan and Brad. Gotta watch the sun set. It was just a perfect way to end an evening.

After our quick weekend trip to Beauvais Lindsey and I got together and started our Apple mess. Once we got the juicer going we realized we had a ton of apples. So she found a recipe for apple pie filling. We're going to make more of that next time!

We were pretty skilled working our canning magic and somehow managing to take care of 5 kids. #momwin!
The only time, without fail, they all managed to need or want us was when we had to pour and put apple jam in the jars. we made three batches of the jam and EVERY. SINGLE. TIME. All 5 kids needed us. It was chaotic. And then of course as we were done and could help them they were all fine and didn't want us. It's no wonder kids drive us to the point of insanity.

It was a good day! A LONG day and a lot of hard work but so worth it!