Bird City Kansas ...

July ended with another fun vacation in Bird City, Kansas at the Annual Tri-State Antique and Engine Show.  This year, despite my protest Justin graduated to driving the full size tractors on his own. He did great and loved it!

~ Justin driving the Allis Chalmers ~

Since Justin abandoned the driver seat on the mini tractor Brandon (my nephew) jumped in and learned to drive the mini tractor on his own and was smiling ear to ear!  Makenna and Emily were happy to tag along with the boys in the trailer.

 ~ Brandon Driving the Cub Cadet through the Parade with Makenna ~

Engine Show Fun ... Makenna and Emily enjoying there time together!

 ~ Tug a War with the Little Engine ~

 My niece Taylor had a softball tournament so Uncle Charlie, Taylor and Caleb missed the show.  Aside from a smaller family gathering it was a fun mini vacation for all of us!

Summer Ball ...

June and July was full of baseball and softball.  Justin played his 4^th year of Youth Rec Baseball.  This year it was entirely kid pitch.  Which Justin loved … his favorite position is Pitcher!  His team had a successful season … one game away from playing in the Championship game!  Justin improved his pitching, had a few real big hits but most of all had lots of fun!  One of his best friends … Cooper Bigge played with him this year which made the season even more enjoyable for all of us. 

 

 Justin Pitching!

 This is the 1st year he has played catcher ... he loved it!

 The "Team" ... not sure Makenna realized she was not actually on the team!  Gotta love a girl who always wants to be by her brothers side!

Dwight and I played on a Coed Rec Softball League this summer with Darren and Audrey and several other “Hodge’s” relations.  It was fun but didn’t take long to prove how old we are.  I tore my quad during the 2^nd game and was out for about a month then Dwight sprained his ankle towards the end of the season and hobbled through the rest of the game.  Sadly I never took any pictures at the game so we just have stories to be told.  Wednesday nights made for some good laughs … hopefully we are all brave enough to do it again next summer!

Two Wheels ...

Daddy decided it was time for 2 wheels so he took of Makenna’s training wheels!  It didn’t take long and she was off …….. Pedaling fast and dragging her feet or jumping off to stop is her style of riding! 

 

It works ... she's riding on her own and LOVING it!

So fast even the camera couldn't stop her :)

Photo Shoot ...

My friend Nicole DeHaven has recently started a Portrait Business and asked for some models.  Who can’t resist adorable fabulous photos of their kids?  So …I volunteered Justin and Makenna for an afternoon photo shoot. 

We did the photo shoot down by the Poudre River. 

~ I took this photo of Nicole at work with my 2 adorable models ~

 

A few of my favoite ...

 

 

 

~ Justin really does love his sister ... this was towards the end of the shoot and Justin was done smiling ... but I still love the look on Makenna's face ~

 

Nicole is amazingly talented and affordable … check out her website http://dehavenphoto.com

Cookies for Mrs. Claudia …

Yesterday was a sad day for us.  It was Makenna’s last day at The Learning House.   I knew it was going to be crushing for me!   The Learning House has been a part of Justin and Makenna’s early school experience for the past 7 years.  Both kids started in their 2 year old play group and now 7 years later it is time to say goodbye.  My babies are growing up … can you believe Makenna will start Kindergarten in the fall. 

It has been a privilege for our kids to have been taught by Ernie, Mary and Claudia … Makenna has academically grown leaps and bounds this year and we decided to say THANKS to her teacher Mrs. Claudia with a special cookie jar.

~ I'm one Smart Cookie thanks to You! ... Makenna's photo and hand written note is under the lid ~

~ Makenna marching in the crazy hat parade ... an annual last day of school event for The Learning House ~

~ Makenna with her friend Rachel ... there was only 3 girls in the class and 6 boys ~

~ Makenna and Mrs. Claudia ~

One full day of fun ...

The Easter Bunny stopped by and left 3 baskets at our house!

Makenna ... Elmo ... Justin all got some goodies from the Easter Bunny!

Celebrating Easter at Aunt Sheri's and Uncle Bob's with Great Grammie! 

 Hanging out with their cousins made Easter Extra Special!!

Easter with Grandma and Grandpa Michael

Easter Bunny came to our house + Easter service at Timberline Church + Lunch and Easter Egg Hunt at Aunt Sheri's and Uncle Bob's house + Easter Egg Hunt at Grandma and Grandpa Michael's house = ONE full day of fun!!

Easter Party Fun ...

For years it has been tradition for me to host an Easter Party for Makenna and her friends.  To make it extra special for the little kids I generally have the party while the “big kids” are at school.   This year I had a little pinch on my heart knowing that next year Makenna will be one of the “big kids” and at school. 

The last few years the weather has not been ideal but this year it was PERFECT!  Makenna along with 14 friends had a wonderful morning. 

 

~ Petting the baby lamb ~

 

~ Ready for the egg hunt ~ 

~ Makenna on the hunt for some treat filled eggs ~

 ~ My great nephew Memphis (age 3) ~

 ~ My nephew Caleb (age 5) ~

~ Little Miss Marlie (age 18 months) ... 

the little girl I get to love on 2 days a week ~

~ Checking out all the goodies inside their eggs ~

 ~ My niece Emily (age 3) ~

 ~ Makenna and her friend Carli ~

~ Bunny Tail treats for Makenna's friends ~

After all this fun I might just have to break tradition and have the party on a weekend next year.

Underneath that Big Montana Sky ...

We have talked about it for years and I know Kraig and Jennifer thought it would never happen but it did ... we road tripped it to Kalispell, Montana for our spring break vacation this year.  Kraig Trippel is one of Dwight best friends from High School who has lived in Montana for 15+ years. We have  talked numerous times about visiting but never have.  On March 8th we headed out to surprise Kraig and his wife Jennifer for a week of Montana fun.

The kids have gotten pretty good at traveling which actually makes road trips enjoyable for all of us.  We split the 14 hour drive by staying in Billings, Montana.  Jennifer recommended a great hotel with an inside water park.  The kids LOVED it.  We swam after dinner and before breakfast.

~ Hello Montana Mountains ... it was dark when we arrived in Montana so this was a beautiful site to wake up to ~

Next stop was Butte, Montana … we had to stop and pay tribute to Dwight’s childhood hero … Evel Knievel. 

~ Beautiful Flathead Lake and National Forrest Mountain Range near Polson ~ 

The rest of the week was spent catching up and reminiscing about the good ole’ days, shopping, sight seeing and of course no “Michael Family Road Trip” would be complete without a tractor or in this case it ended up being 2 we drug home from Kraig and Dwight’s endless hours of “junkin”.  Pretty sure Dwight and Kraig are well on their way to being the next “American Pickers”!

~ Bonnie, Dwight, Jennifer and Kraig ~

 ~ Glacier National Park ~

 ~ Trouble ... lots and lots of trouble ~