Sunday, October 30, 2011

Montana Hunting Trip

Seth's dad and brother flew in last weekend to spend a week hunting. The guys were on the hunt for Mule deer/ Whitetail, Elk, and Black Bear. The guys were able to fit a lot of hunting in and we all fit a lot of site-seeing in.
 Hailey's Beautiful sign she made to welcome the guys to Montana

 We hiked up to Palisade Falls the day the guys got in!

 Hailey was beyond ecstatic to have Grandpa here!

On the hike up!

 Sonny captured this awesome picture! Looks like it should be in a car magazine.

 At the Hyalite Resevoir

 So beautiful!

Lookin' good guys!

The girls were just a weee bit out-of-control the first couple of days...

 I was the cook/bottle washer (as mom calls it)

 And the hunt begins... it rained & snowed pretty much the entire first day for them...

 Good guy time

This is the cabin the guys roughed it in for the first few days.


Headed into Yellowstone! (Notice the fabulous boots Seth got me for my birthday!)


The amazing buffalo!

We spotted several coyotes!

Grandpa & Hailey...

The bull elk was bugling... such an awesome sound~

After a loooong day in Yellowstone, we headed home for pizza and cake to celebrate Melanie's b-day. Hailey was right beside her "helping" her out.

Melli-Bell's favorite gift by far- bracelets from Hailey!

All the festivites...

I got the night off one evening, and Seth took us all out to Famous Dave's.

Melanie was quite relaxed!

Melli- Bell's fancy boots  that Grandpa got her for her birthday!

And the hunt continues...

Such a darling!

Loving some Grandpa/Dad time!

Rodeo style

Lol, Dad's must have said 30 times throughtout the trip. As he looks at the time, "It's 4:00 here, wow, it's 6:00 back home".  Needless to say we were constantly updated on the current time and Michigan time!

Such funny boys....

I was laughing so hard taking these pictures... the guys kept coming up with more "photo- ops"


Hailey & Melanie

 Hailey helping feed baby Jackson.

 Hailey LOVES Awana and loves her Cubbies teacher. She has memorized John 3:16, Genisis 1:1 and 1John 4:8b

Making donut acorns

A few cute quotes/incidents of Hailey's...

"Would you like to see my baby that I got at the baby shelter?"

"I can't push my tummy cause God and Jesus is in there."

Hailey & Dadd were going on a shopping outing. A half mile down the road, Hailey says, "I don't want to go on a date! I don't take dates! Especially not a grown-up and a little kid!" (Seth was just a little hurt by her sudden outburst of refusing him a date.)

Taking a very rare mid-morning nap.

 Melanie, has become such a daddy's girl! She loves hims sooooo much!

Melanie Mae... Happy 2nd Birthday!!

A few of Melanie's new words...

"Nack" (for snack)
"What is dat?!"
"Top" (Her cowgirl hat)
"Big Buck" (Whenever she sees a deer)
Will tap her chin & say, "Hmmmm"

Often after being scolded, Melanie will put her little hands on her hips, and with fierce scowl will give me a talkin' too (Oh, how I wish I knew what was going through that little mind at those times...)

Sunday, October 2, 2011

Lithia's Grill Out

The big Lithia grill out! Seth's dealership in Billings joined the Century club (which has never happened in Montana)! So we were able to put a little party on for the Sales group.


The girls being such the cute supporters.

Taking a minute to dance with each other.

He is quite the grillin' machine! Love it!
We love our trips with daddy! They have become a little more infrequent as we are involved in so much now in Bozeman. So when we get to take a day or two with Seth, it is quite the big deal! Not to mention Billings has my favoritest store ever (Hobby Lobby)!

320 Ranch

This was right before the horse thought Melanie's finger was a carrot!


Hailey practicing her "rodeo style"



Took a mile hike out to the Ousel Falls in Big Sky




Hailey taking a breather. Such beautiful scenery!




This was right before the sign "Beware of Grizzlies"!!




Enjoying some smores'




The girls had so much fun playing in the tepee.


Such a wonderful weekend get-away. It was so quiet and soooo relaxing. We have been so thankful for our time in Montana!

Sunday, August 28, 2011

Hailey's Summer Ballet


















Hailey took ballet classes through Main Street Dance Theatre this July here in Bozeman. She absolutely LOVED it! She will start back up again in another week.



At the end of there month of classes they perform at the local Farmer's Market.

New Home!

We are getting all settled in at 365 Coral Dr!
Just a little insight as to how God has worked out so many little details with this move.First we drove up to Montana shortly after Seth took over the area to look for housing. We came away from the trip quite discouraged because housing was outrageously priced for a house in these crammed in subdivisions. We looked at a couple that we figured we would settle for one if it came down to it. One was very, very new, but on the small side and off of a main road. The second was new also and in a subdivision we really liked; however, it was over what we initially wanted to spend by quite a bit. As we drove around the second subdivision we told each other we would love any of these homes if they were just in our price range.
The following week we were back in Denver and a house in the exact subdivision @ we liked & at the exact price popped up on Craigslist. We were soooo elated. We immediately jumped on it and after much praying we were approved. Since we hadn't seen the actual house (except a few pictures) we were extremely nervous. But from the beginning God's hand had been it and we love it here. Also come to find out the landlord and his daughter's family (who lives a couple miles away) are all Christians! So neat!
The first week we were in Montana we all traveled with Seth to some of his dealers since our moving truck was about a week behind us. The girls have been awesome car riders and have certainly made the process easy on us! The movers came and everything arrived safe & sound.We only have a couple of pictures since the rest of the house will be having a few upgrades throughout the next couple of weeks.
Thank you all for your prayers as we have continued on this journey!

Busy Winter!

Seems like this Winter has been a complete whirlwind! We were able to make it back to Michigan twice. Once for Christmas and then again towards then end of January. Seth had training in Auburn Hills and he was able to take us girls along. We had a wonderful time! Hailey got lots of "cousin" time and I got lots of "girls" time.

February has been just as busy as January. On February 4th, Seth was given a promotion as Area Manager of Western Montana. So for us that means yet another move! The following week Seth had to travel throughout Montana to meet all of his new dealers. During the week he was gone all three of us girls came down with the stomach flu. Not a fun week!

Last week we all headed up to Montana to see the area and look for housing. We had narrowed our housing options down to the city of Bozeman. Bozeman is absolutely gorgeous! It is in a valley so in any direction there are beautiful views of the mountains. I feel so blessed to see such a vast part of God's creation everyday!We didn't nail down any housing in Bozeman the week we were there. It is incredibly high living and many of the subdivisions had the houses crammed sooooo close. That kind of living is just not us. And to top it off we were discouraged because we couldn't find a good church either. We have since found an awesome house and two really good church possibilities.

We are now currently in the moving process. It looks like it will happen in just a few days!Thankfully Chrysler is sending in packers and movers. So I'm hoping this move will be a little less crazy!

Hailey- 25 months

Hailey- 25 months

Melanie- 3 months

Melanie- 3 months

Family Pics in the Rocky Foothills

Family Pics in the Rocky Foothills

Hailey- 23 Months

Hailey- 23 Months
All ready for her Sunday School Christmas Party

Melanie Mae- 6 weeks

Melanie Mae- 6 weeks
Such a happy little girl

Daddy and His girls

Daddy and His girls

Mommy and Her Girls

Mommy and Her Girls