Memorial Day

So I've already shared our last trip to Fairmont.

We had planned to head to Chico and spend a day in the park but the weather was just COLD.  Snowy.  So on Thursday I called the hotel and snagged a room for two nights.  I did something called the FAMILY FUN PACKAGE and I recommend it.

We loaded up on junk food and snacks Friday night and got a tank of fuel.  I packed things up and piled it by the door.  I was, seriously, afraid to load the snack bag for fear of it freezing solid overnight.  Do you know what a mess a frozen juice box makes?  Uh-huh.  Hear me now.

We took our time Saturday morning.  Tidied the house, did some laundry, and finished some things that needed doing.  We got to Fairmont around 2 or so, checked in, and hit the pools.  In the snow.

Turns out some other folks had "get out of town" plans as well.... we ran into SARAH P.  Well.... I wouldn't have known but she recognized my kids.  So we sat in the play area and visited for a while.  I wish she lived in Helena because that girl is FUNNY.  Her husband thought we were weirdos.  He might be right.

Part of the family fun package is 4 1/2 day water slide passes.  So the kids took advantage... although the place was booked so they had to stand in line.  Not something my off-season traveling kids are really ok with but they made it work.

Fairmont has 2 hot pools and 2 warm pools... one each inside and out.  We took advantage.

I packed bagels, deli meat, cheese, tortillas, microwave mac-n-cheese, pizza roll ups, egg rolls, mozzarella sticks, hot dogs, soup, crackers & squeezy cheese, graham crackers, marshmallows, chocolate bars, hot cocoa, wine, chips, apples, cantaloupe, carrot sticks, sugar peas & anything else that seemed microwave-safe or picnic-oriented.  

We never did get to picnic or play mini golf.  The weather was just too wet and cold.  But we had a fine time writing our names on crackers with squeezy-cheese and watching dual survivor during rest time.

I've determined that bringing food is the key.  The hotel encourages it and we just weren't up for driving into any of the surrounding towns for dinner.  We ate in the restaurant a few times but, honestly, the prices are significantly higher than last time (summer season maybe?) and the food is fine but not that great.  And who wants to put on real clothes when you can lounge in sweats and eat carrot sticks in front of the tv?

We almost ordered a movie one night but realized it was $12.95.  For a movie in a hotel.  When they have more than 5 channels on the regular tv.  We watched more dual survivor and everyone read their books for quiet time.

Bugsy fell asleep in the pool.  Don't worry... I was holding her.  She napped for a long time while we both turned into prunes.  Then while daddy & the big kids had quiet time we went on an adventure.  They have a play area with a play kitchen and things.  And we looked at the gift shop and sat by the big fireplace and looked at all the art displays in the hallway.  Nice to sneak in a little one-on-one.

The kids were in heaven to have daddy in a pool.  They did lots of "swimming lessons" and shark attacks and games and races.  All three kids have improved their confidence in the pool.  Me?  Still don't like to get my face wet.

We stopped at the fish hatchery on the way home and got home fairly early on Monday.  Unpacked in a clean-enough house (the advantage to having all Friday evening to pack and Saturday morning to tidy) and made some dinner and lounged.

Sweet loved the animals....

Wow.... who parted Bugsy's hair like that?

Tuff with two of the three little white goats.... they named them again.  Apple.  Uh-oh. and the third was a toss up.  I voted for Goatules or Goatini but I think they went with Goat.

Poolside.  Inside.  I had a few before that were even cuter but my camera lens was steamed up so they are foggy.... quality photographer am I.

Tuff giving Bug a swim lesson....

I hope the fashion police aren't around.....

Kites

Nothing says "Spring in Montana" like gale-force winds..... summer has been a little slow the last few weeks so we are making the most of spring.....

This is after we blew out the cheap kite and I had to dig the good kite out of the back of the barn......

Nice boots....

Just to prove we got it airborn.....

Park Lake

On May 20th we went for a drive up to Park Lake.

Dude casts like his mother.  Actually..... I got a few pretty hot casts in with the old spin rod.  Enough to make my husband remember why he married me.  Ok.  That's not true... he married me for my fly casting.... but a nice spin cast is still a resume builder.

 

This one has some pretty good concentration.  And a rocking Barbie rod.

Chilling after lunch.  Fashion is goal one.

Speaking of casting like her mother..... I felt like someone should yell "fore" every time.  She has no hook.... just a lead sinker on her line.  Which, of course, means she scares the fish away wherever she goes..... but better than than hooking a casual bystander with every cast....

See that log behind her?  That became the potty chair log.  Ahh.... potty-training in the great outdoors.  One trip to the camper toilet (past some very scary red neck dogs) was enough.... she said she'd rather hold it.  So we made our own.  And, yes, she pooped.  Was that TMI?  I did what every good camper should do and covered it up....  So does everyone else live in mortal fear of dropping their sunglasses down a port-a-potty style outdoor toilet?  No?  Just me?  Ok then.

Team B:  Happy after lunch.  We had roast chicken breast and cheddar on bagels, veggie-chips, carrots, chocolate chip cookies and some Easter candy from the freezer.  Granola bars and pretzels for the drive home.

Sand Pail

We are working on the SUMMER BUCKET LIST.  Does anyone else dislike the term "Bucket List" at all?  But I don't have a better one.... sand pail. 

FOOD
1.  The Donut Hole for maple bars.
2. Cafe Zydyco for beignets (Saturday mornings only).
3. Dipper.  Ice cream.
4. Parrot.  Milkshakes.
5. DQ.  Blizzards & chocolate dipped cones.
6. 3 lunch dates... one pick for each kid.
7. Papa Murphy's take-n-bake.
8. Frozen Moose.  More ice cream.

PLACES TO GO
1. Waterslide (I just learned the Broadwater Athletic Club waterslide won't be open this summer.  I am so bummed I think I will drop my membership.)  So we have to figure something else to do..... there is a water park type place in town but it is for older kids.  Sigh.  We will try it anyway.
2. Holter.
3. Every park we can think of in town.
4. Tizer Gardens.
5. Spring Meadow.  (with chicken bones from Van's for dinner)

ADVENTURES
1.  Geo-caching or stamp art collecting.
2. Hot springs (either Chico or Bozeman or Fairmont).
3. Colorado.

HOME
1.  Picnic by the creek (we did this last weekend).
2. Scavenger Hunt.
3. Rock painting.
4. Top Shot competition.
5. Fishing the creek.
6. Tent in the yard.
7. "Drive In" movie with a projector on a sheet.
8. Adventurer's Day Camp.

THINGS TO DO IN COLORADO
1. Ikea.
2. Trampoline.
3. Hair braiding.
4. Nail painting.
5. Board games.
6. Green smoothies.
7. Fargo's Pizza

the weekend list

*went to Costco (without a list... more as a social outing with my Grandpa, kids & aunties).... actually managed to remember and buy everything on my list except cat food.... and we have enough for a while so all is well.
*had breakfast with gramps and crew at ipod.
*went to Ross.  twice.
*wrapped a gift for a birthday party on the 11th.
*immediately got an invitation for ANOTHER birthday party on the 11th.
*got the kids started on Valentine's cards for classmates.
*found 100 things for each kid to take for 100 day on the 8th.
*washed coats and mittens.
*had a Valentine's celebration with Nana & the kids.  Painted Pot, lunch at Taco del Sol, ice cream at The Big Dipper.
*made a delicious ham and lovely cheesy potatoes.
*grocery store trip (quickie for football chips, sunflower seeds for salads, bananas & sour cream).
*stopped to pick up Hot's driver's license... forgotten at the local sporting goods store.
*returned the WRONG paint and got the RIGHT paint.
*folded eleventy-million pounds of clothes during the Super Bowl.
*drank some wine.
*fed the clan some lovely simple suppers.
*received a jewelry box of Grandma's old jewelry.  so happy.
*talked about a plan for a birthday bash for Grandpa this summer.  complete with cake and crafts.
*cleaned the fraggin' oven.  (you are thinking.... "how fraggin' hard can it be??"..... BUT.... when the microwave died it took out the controls for the auto-clean.  and the delicious cheesy potatoes spooged all over the oven.... it was horrific.)
*requested flex childcare and medical.
*gave up on balancing the checkbook for 2011 and started fresh for 2012.
*cleaned Tuff's desk and restored order.
*gathered tax materials.
*bought a lottery ticket.  A FIRST EVER.  And on my "better than a bucket" list.
*packaged up another box of toys for garage storage.
*picked up a reserved book for Hot at the library.
*bought some Tervis glasses on clearance at BBB for mini-Valentines gifts.
*downloaded the digital copies of Jurrassic Park.
*updated iTunes.
*compared our budget to our actuals for January.
*read some trashy novels.
*broke my ceramic compost bucket
*watched "Blackthorn" & "A Dolphin Tale"
*planned for the kids' week:  outfits, hot or packed lunch, dinners & events (Tuff ice skating on Monday, School kids snowshoeing on Tuesday, pay daycare on Friday, treat shop money for Friday, Valentine's writing, 100 days stuff)

Still to do:
*finish painting the bathroom and restore order.
*wash Tuff & Bugsy's sheets.... apparently Bugsy smuggled a sugar cookie into bed last night.
*buy & wrap another birthday gift for the 11th.
*finish Valentine's cards for classmates.
*find a box for Tuff to use for a Valentine mailbox.
*find a backup box for Sweet to use for a Valentine mailbox... I know it is coming... just no request yet.
*put a new light bulb in the night light.
*put a new light bulb in my reading light.
*put new light bulbs in the THREE dead spots in the bathroom.
*change batteries in the closet light bulbs
*get a split pea soup recipe.
*drop tax stuff off.
*order a roller thing for my IT band.
*wash all of the couch blankets & cover.  (Yup... more sugar cookie.)
*reorganize and restore order to the pantry.
*think about Valentine's gifts.  To do or not to do.
*heat up the oven and see if it smells like cleaner.
*pay car insurance.
*pay credit card.
*put giant box of toys in the garage.
*pick up stuff from Painted Pot Wednesday.
*spray paint a frame to make a magnet board.