Good Fortune?

I went to Jade Garden with some friends from work for lunch yesterday. This was the message inside my fortune cookie:

Time heals all wounds. Keep your chin up.

I'm not sure if that was a good one or not. Of course, I didn't read it until I had spilled my wonton soup in my lap and then realized that I had forgotten my leftovers. Sigh....

Random Thoughts

So, right now I'm wondering why I thought it was a good idea to pick up happy meals in the McDonald's drive-thru tonight. My kids love the idea of happy meals, but they never really want to eat their cheeseburgers and fries. I've literally had to bribe them to eat their dinner....guess I should've gone with pb&j's and fruit tonight!

Anywho, yesterday we went for a hike/horseback ride up Trout Creek Canyon with Grandpa and Grandma McCauley and Uncle John and Auntie Ann. For some reason, I assumed it would be a mile or two....it was three miles...each way. I'm not much of a hiker, but I made the best of it. Well, except for being a little bit whiney. After our hike/horseback ride, we decided to have burgers at the York Bar. That would've been a great thing except there was a 30-year reunion party there and folks were drinking...and cussing...a lot. We inhaled our burgers and headed home for baths/showers and ice cream sandwiches.

This afternoon we went swimming at Grandpa and Grandma Miller's house. The kids had a blast...and they ate waaaaaay too many cookies. Hmmm....now that I think about it, that might be why they aren't eating their happy meals.

We have an interesting week ahead of us....on Tuesday Marc and the kids are going to take Uncle Ryan to Bozeman to catch a flight back to California. It's fair week here in Helena and Marc is planning on taking the kids to the stickhorse rodeo on Wednesday morning and the Kiddie Parade is Thursday morning. Speaking of Thursday, that is Marc and my 10-year anniversary! And, it also happens to be the last evening of t-ball. After Kellan's game, we are planning on going out for a nice dinner minus kids. We haven't seen each other much lately (have I mentioned how much I love hay season?!) so I wonder what we'll talk about. On Saturday, we are going to take the kiddos to the fair and the rodeo.

This Friday we are going to a little bbq and bonfire to spend some with some of my cousins. I have LOTS of cousins on my mom's side of the family.....I think there are 20 of us....and we don't see each other often. My aunts took care of us during the summers so we all spent alot of time together when we were growing up....it will be fun to spend some time catching up with them.

I'm currently reading "Julie and Julia"....I loved the movie and, of course, I'm enjoying the book even more. I really like cooking and I really like blogging so it seems like the perfect book to read!

Now, it's time to throw away most of the McD's food that my kids didn't eat, give them baths/showers, and put on a movie. Only two hours until bedtime....Whew!

Swimming

It's been pretty hot lately so we've been spending a lot of time at my Grandparents' pool. This is the first summer that I've been able to take all three kids to the pool by myself without frantically checking on them every few seconds. Jacksen is slowly getting brave about playing in the water. Yesterday he decided it would be okay to jump in the water with a lifejacket on and an innertube thing around him. TODAY, however, he realized he could swim around with just a life jacket on...he was so proud of himself!

Random Thoughts

I love summer....but it's kinda tiring, too.

This week Megan and Kellan spent the mornings at Vacation Bible School and then Megan participated in Bruin Basketball Camp Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday afternoon. Megan is sleeping over at her friend's house tonight. I kinda miss her, but I'm sure she's having a great time.

Marc bought a hay truck this week. He has his own business, Big Sky Contracting Service, and he hauls hay for Sieben Ranch. He pretty much leaves right when I walk in the door after work and doesn't return until it's dark outside. Sometimes, even though I'm spending time with my sweet kiddos, I feel a little lonely.

I've been thinking about what we should do to celebrate our 10th anniversary at the end of the month. We've talked about staying at Chico and then driving through Yellowstone Park, but haven't had time to make a decision...maybe this weekend...

I am taking the day off work tomorrow. I had a hard week at work and I feel like I need a fun day. I'm going to sleep in a bit, take the kids swimming all afternoon and then make something delicious for dinner. Maybe I will even give myself a fresh pedicure!

And, to start my long weekend off right, I am going to go to bed before 10:30 tonight...I'm exhausted!

Bluebirds

This summer I've noticed an unusually large number of bluebirds in our area. This afternoon there were several flying around our deck and I happened to catch a picture of one:

4th of July

We had a nice, quiet 4th of July this year. We started out the day with a treat....donuts at The Donut Hole. I have to admit, that was more for me than the kids...I LOVE Donut Hole maple bars!!! Uncle Sean and Vanessa flew back to Denver yesterday, but not before some wrestling and soccer. In the afternoon we joined Grandpa and Grandma McCauley for a little fishing and a picnic at Dog Creek. Afterward, we did some fireworks in our driveway and then sat on our deck and watched fireworks all over the Helena valley.

The Fields' Family Firework stand

• Aunt Katy and Jacksen selling fireworks
  
  Chai tea and sparklers
  
  
  

  All-American Jacksen