Oh what a day

Dear girls,

Someday you might look back and wonder what exactly your childhood consisted of.  On a day like today, I'm happy to tell you.

7am:  Daddy leaves for work, and we're all up to say goodbye.  He's branding today in Bridger, so we'll miss him for lunch and dinner tonight.

8am:  Jammies are still on.  Reese is watching Dora's Enchanted Forest - again - {nearing close to 78 times this week} and Ella is watching Curious George.  We decide on cereal for breakfast, and both girls want some milk, too.

10am: Girls are in the bath.  Lots of splashing and bubbles.  Reese ends up with soap in her eyes, and bathtime is abruptly over.  Ella packs up her Disney Princess dolls and My Little Ponies from the tub to their princess tent, set up in the living room.

12pm:  Normal lunch time, but since Daddy's gone, we opt for yogurt, pb&j sandwiches, and pretzels.  Neither girl eats the crust of the sandwiches.

2pm: After packing just about every toy into the princess tent, the girls get a little tired of each other and the close quarters.  A few tears later, we head outside to the sunshine.

3pm:  Grandma Mary stops by after hearing us outside.  The girls show off all sorts of tricks and routines on the playset, and we peek at our growing flowers.  We all love the Lambs Ear that's spreading in the garden.

4pm:  Since both Ella and Reese insisted on working with Grandma, the house is quiet, with only the sound of the laundry.  I miss you both when you're gone.

5pm:  You return with hugs and again, a few tears.  Reese is ready to nap {at 5?} and Ella is ready for a little quiet time.

7pm:  Reese wakes up.  Ella and I have been busy moving the princess tent and toys back to her room, where she traps Charcoal in and plays for a while.  Reese really wants to go to Harlo, but we settle for a light bite to eat.

8pm: Things start to quiet down more.  Ella snuggles up in bed, picking out Care Bears to watch.  Reese cries a bit that she didn't choose Dora.  Reese is distracted by the iPad and her toys and the cat and running down the hallway.

9pm:  Ella's asleep.  Mama's drowsy too.  Reese is chipper and asks again to go to Harlo.  I ask her if she'd settle for me tickling her back.

10pm:  Reese, still awake.

11:09pm:  Reese finally falls asleep.  So much for those early evening naps. :)

midnight:  bedtime for Mama too!

So there you have it.  A typical day in the life.  Now tomorrow... well who knows?  With my funny little bunnies, anything can happen.

march madness

All is well.  We're happy and healthy, enjoying this mild winter that is turning into a pretty beautiful spring.  Calving is busy but good, and we're adjusting to keeping things a wee bit quieter during the days while Spencer sleeps.  Then we drag the nights out a bit to spend time with him, and when we're dreaming sweet dreams he is out delivering baby calves and keeping watch on the heifers.



Me and the girls have done our spring traveling to ND, and enjoyed a trip visiting friends and family.  Now we're busy dreaming up our garden, and planting our starters which are watered very lovingly every morning by two eager spray bottles.



Yes, life is good. :)

{922-1000}

The end.  Or maybe the beginning of something much more beautiful to come?

Oh, we've had our share of sadness and tears, but it has been so full of joy, because I made the choice to see it and dwell in it.

And not always did I make that choice, but it is slowly becoming habit that in all things, to look for that joy.  To live it.

My goal for this year is to radiate to others.  To share.

My cup overflows.

and I am oh. so. thankful.

the old cook house, which shields our family from the crazy mountain wind
sunrises and sunsets.  by myself or with miss ella the earlybird.
a dog who is always enthusiastic to see us and chase birds out of the yard
listening to the guys load the cakefeeders in the morning
slowly converting to an early riser, and ditching my night owl roots
peppermint tea with honey
cups of hot cocoa
little laundry helpers who love to sort and match socks
washing the floors daddy's socks to scrub
and singing into brooms

a little help in getting organized, all at my little fingertips
mint
cozi
flylady
moneysavingmom
and pinterest
all with apps for my phone, but still no service at home :)
sweet pictures of my girls while I scribble lists in a journal
google calendars
and my lovely google reader

tired puppy laying at my feet
snuggly girls in "mama's chair"
snow, finally
sledding down by the creek
snow gear keeping the frosties at bay
reese barely able to walk with her puffy pants and coat
girls making snow angels in the soft powder
eating their body weight in snow
playing horses
rosy red cheeks

cleaning sesh in the "princess castle" porch
shoveling snow before it becomes ice
looking for animal tracks in the snow
Ella sure a badger was on the creek
collecting icicles, my favorite outdoor activity
playing in the snow fort
"I'm thirstttttttttty"
warming up with chairs by the stove
wet snowpants drying by the fire
practicing cutting in magazines for scraps to build a fire

grilled cheese {with extra cheese} sandwiches
trips to "harlo" in boots and mittens
"where did you get that beautiful dress Reese"
"in Harlo"
basketball games while the kids play in the bleachers
concession stand popcorn
preschool kids reading books together
and organizing a game of duck duck goose
crafts and snacks, by very creative mamas
practicing letters with unsteady hands

wintertime bubble baths
all 3 of them daily
toys in the tub, making water slides and rescuing shipwrecked barbies
an ever shrinking ironing pile
audio books on montana2go.com
painting toes and fingers
Daddy even helping
white elmer's glue
piles for taxes, ready to go
trucking blessing us yet another year

the blessings I can never fully deserve

my salvation

that handsome cowboy

two sweet girls

happy healthy lives

strong foundation, happy childhood

loving parents

supportive best friend sisters

marrying into a very special family

friends that truly nourish and feed my soul

all this, and more that are whispered daily, all gifts given graciously to me, 

a thousand counted here, not even consistently, and not even close to naming them all

encouragement to keep counting here.

praying that I never stop the counting, remembering the full life I am given each and every day

how very blessed I am, in good and bad

learning and practicing to be thankful and full of joy

in every moment.

and this little gem:

{811-921}

joy cometh
fruit of the spirit
plus sign language
multi colored pen pack for 2012
yummy new snacks
and questions about 144,000
radiate that joy
2nd annual retreat
homework or not
fellowship

sisters snuggling together
calling a bunk bed:
"theirs"
reading 3 little pigs
over and over and over again
with voices
knowing their love firsthand
seeing it bloom and grow
and knowing how much it will bless them
their whole entire lives

my own three sisters
source of so much joy
looking back - memories, stories
same laugh, smiles, same heart
being present
and moving forward
but always staying the same
straightening hair together
and sharing makeup, clothes, fashion advice
and lots of love and hugs

a quick day trip to chico, a girls day out
a thanksgiving feast, with the company and the food
and a quick trip to bozeman
leaving with packages stowed on our laps
and 3 boxes of trees
turkey leftovers
wrapping little presents, like mom did for us (minus silkies)
TSA unwrapping most (playdough needs to be claimed!)
a mini dance party

the ranch and its sprawling miles
loading firewood while the girls danced on the truck bed
in pink princess dresses
taking turns stacking kindling
and spotting coyotes
the weathered corrals
and many stories of the past
tossing cake to hungry cows
feeding the "pet" who sticks her head in the window
and Spencer scratches her back

that same shy smile
raising daughters
teaching them how to dribble a ball
cheering them both as they practice in plastic princess high heels
still quiet, always calm, always has a plan
watching a Tudors together
assembly line of envelopes for paychecks
the perfect dinner salad overflowing, always
coffee brewed fresh
for a hardworking man

that same man making a path for our double wide stroller in packed security lines
and traveling with two small children with a smile on
taking our family to the beautiful beach
where the girls played in the sand
the waves tickling their toes
then to the pool, diving underwater and blowing bubbles
and back to the beach, to soak up the sunshine some more
bedtime snacks of ice cream in waffle cones -- sprinkles too
a breathtaking beachside wedding with a gorgeous bride, and the best friend in the world
and the topper?  beach volleyball -- and for two old mamas we played pretty dang good

a Christmas holiday full of blessings
an evening with two excited girls
playing with corrals and new horses
and their grandparents who love them so
checking out the ranch Christmas lights
a drive to make it to the candlelight service
sitting next to Grandma, snuggling the girls
baby Betsy snoozing through church
Reese playing with the same nativity I had played with for years
a house full of love, another generation busy being Christmas elves

Christmas day, an early morning to serve
sharing joy while preparing meals
passing out blankets and towels,
stockings filled with goodies
and more than enough help to run things smoothly
a quiet church service --
except for Reese.  :)
appetizers and lettuce wraps
7 come 11, and the most powerful number in the world
3 fancy girls watching Inspector Gadget and snuggling

Cousins playing peacefully,
not yet making up videos and playing war
while the sweetest babe sleeps in someone's arms
swimming, shopping trips,
golf on Christmas day
family pictures
...and a long trip home
stomach bugs and stalling cars
but a mean game of words with friends together
{I won}

ringing in the new year in style
my sweet journal with my 12 habits
lots of goals to work towards
and a whole lot of to-dos getting crossed off the list
organizations, budgets, appointments, and declutter
cleaning up Christmas decor while the girls keep singing
"Deck the hallways"
taking down outside lights
 in a tshirt...
... in January

do get up

you catch way more beautiful sunrises.

my one little word

{check out the original one little word concept here}

Last year, I picked create, which was really interesting and manifested in many different ways.  In fact, I could probably do one post alone on how 2011 as my most joyful year to date, all because I chose to see differently and create that joy for myself.  I plan on carrying create with me this year as well, because it really helped open my eyes to more abundance.

This year, my word is:

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

-Phil 4:13

So this is kind of a big word for only two letters.  It has already taken on so many directions for me, and I am looking forward to what else I may discover!  I am sort of queen of starting things up, and never finishing.  Or, I think of great ideas and never really see them to completion.  This year, I just want to do.  I also am thinking of some do not's I will be focusing on too.  I'm just super excited to see this take off in 2012!  It's going to be a great year!

see ya later 2011

2011 was such a beautiful and blessed year for us.

January we had a hair cutting experiment {first of a handful this year} and lots of fun snow to play in.  I started counting my 1,000 gifts too!  We otherwise stayed pretty quiet and cozy in our house, and finally took our Christmas decorations down the last week of January. :)

February gets a bad rap, but with our ranching season of calving kicking off, we love it!  Our first calves are born usually right around my birthday, and we take a little break before that busyness starts and get a good hotel stay/swimming in for the rest of the winter.  I suppose it helps that its my birth month too.

In March we experienced a couple of huge weather swings, which made it a little challenging during the heaviest calving, but we very much enjoyed the variety of activities we could do outside.  We quickly befriended a sweet but not-so-healthy calf "Buddy", and checked the heifers calving just about every night with Spencer.  I've mentioned it so many times before, but calving is my absolute favorite season of the year.

April brought a trip back to ND for Easter, and the end of our stay happened to be some of the most beautiful spring weather we could have asked for!  The adults weren't quite ready to run through the sprinkler, but we did enjoy some summery watermelon and iced tea!

May marked the beginning of another busy ranching season:  branding.  We love the sights and sounds, but the girls and I are mostly in charge of feeding the ones who are actually working.  I started a pretty big gardening and landscaping project which kept me happily busy all summer long, and at the end of the month we headed back to celebrate Jenna's graduation and a friend's wedding!

June was jam packed with fun, sun, and a lot of mud.  Central Montana had widespread flooding, which we thankfully avoided, but we did have lots of water in our creeks and reservoirs.  Spencer and I celebrated our 4th wedding anniversary, probably with little fanfare but I am forever thankful for him as my husband.  We had a blast spending time at my parent's cabin on Leek Lake, and took a quick girls trip to Minneapolis, which we've done every summer for a long time!  Once back from our busy trip, we tried to salvage our garden from all its rain, played most days in the sprinkler/pool/slip n' slide/mud puddles, and just enjoyed the beautiful Montana June.

July came fast and brought with it many nights spent at our roping arena, and a first for the girls in our family:  Sweet Reesie was bucked off her horse in the arena!  She fell on her bottom and wasn't hurt, and that little cowgirl was ready to ride again.  My mom and sister Sarah and niece Sadie all came and visited for a wonderful week!  We also experienced much sadness when our sweet Poppy, Spencer's grandpa, passed away.  We talk about him often and miss him so much.  That same weekend of his service, Reese celebrated her 2nd birthday.  We love that sweet little bug so much and are so proud of the little lady she's becoming.  Some Harlo girls and I took home a Big Sky State Games championship medal, and that same weekend a tragic car accident took the life of a former teammate who was returning home after the tournament.  Constant reminders of living in the moment and being thankful for the now.

August was spent enjoying the last bits of free time before volleyball started.  We played out on our swingset, went on adventures with Grandma Mary and Krista to Car Body Coulee, and spent the rest of the time harvesting the fresh veggies in our garden.  Even though we didn't have a huge wheat crop this year, we loved visiting Spencer and the old John Deere combine out in the fields.  We spent a little bit of the keeping him company in the swather too.

Once September rolls around we're pretty busy.  Volleyball season is in full swing, and Spencer's trucking company is at its busiest.  The ranch is also busy riding and getting ready to ship our calves, so we just buckle in and hold on for the busy fall.  Thankfully I have lots of people willing to help us out and watch the girls, but they also LOVED coming to practice and games and playing with the team.  We {me and a few other friends with kids around Ella and Reese's age} started a preschool co-op, which has blossomed into something truly amazing that we are so very thankful for.  Ella started ballet and tap class, and is so excited for her April recital.  Ella also turned 4 in September, which we celebrated with friends and princess cupcakes.  I am so blessed with such a sweet daughter who continues to bring me joy everyday.

October was in the thick of volleyball and trucking, and I was determined to make it back to see Jenna play in her first season of college volleyball.  We had a wonderful weekend in ND, visiting a pumpkin patch, helping my dad insulate the attic, and getting ready for our sweet niece to arrive!  On the volleyball front, the team was making a run in the post-season, and after a 3 win season last year, I was so proud of the growth and development of the girls.  Coaching will always be bittersweet, as the weekend before tournaments marked the second year of losing a fellow coach and friend in Tina.  We were also deeply saddened with the loss of my sweet Grandma Marge on October 31st, and even more devastated that I wouldn't be able to be home for the services.  I take comfort in knowing she is healthy and has all her memories of a life well lived now.

November brought with it the excitement of hosting Thanksgiving, even though we would be missing the Rongstad clan {almost baby time!}, and the tail end of working calves, preg-checking, and other important ranch duties. The girls spent the month wearing princess dresses and changing outfits at least 4 times a day, just to do it all over again the next.  We did recognize that they began to really play well together, which led to the girls sharing Ella's bunkbed at night.  Thanksgiving was an absolute beautiful weekend, and we enjoyed having the company and eating some delicious meals!  

It seemed like December has flown by too, but we spent almost half of it away from the house.  The first part of the month we were so blessed to be a part of the wedding of my best friend Jenny in the Dominican Republic.  We decided to make it a family trip and are so glad we did.  The girls absolutely LOVED the beach and pools, and Spencer and I had so much fun relaxing and enjoying the beautiful weather and great friends.  Jenny and I even had two days of beach volleyball, which was one of the many highlights of the trip.  Upon returning home, we dressed up our house for Christmas, took part in the Christmas program at church, and got all the Christmas shopping done before we had ourselves a very Merry Christmas.  It started at the ranch with Spencer's family, and then we traveled to ND to cuddle the newest niece Besty Joy and spend time with family and friends back home.  We're planning a pretty quiet New Years to compensate all the busy.

I'm realizing I stopped the updates on the blog in August.  I kind of have a lot to catch up!  I was telling Spencer that we have taken more family pictures in December than we have the past 2 years since Reese was born.  We have so much to celebrate and be thankful for.

 I really like glancing at the past before looking forward to the new year.  The history teacher in me obviously loves it, but I also think it's a wonderful and humbling reminder that even in the darkest of moments, there is always joy around the corner.

Wishing you and yours a joyous and blessed 2012.