A Poem by Kellan

Roses are sweet
so is my mom
I just want to kiss her
She is the bomb!

Yep, he made this one up all by himself....what a little charmer! It's a really good thing he's full of charm 'cause he would get in a lot more trouble if he wasn't! More on that later....

I'm not a loser anymore!!!!

So, have you ever noticed some people seem to win more than others? It's like they lead these crazy charmed lives....my twin sister is one of them and it's always kinda pissed me off a little bit. In one year, she won two ipods and a flat screen TV in drawings at work! Our employer (YES, we happen to work for the same company!) used to do weekly drawings for tickets to local sporting events. For quite a while I made it a game to enter every single ticket drawing....just to prove to myself that I'm one of the unlucky losers in this world. Well, I can't say I was surprised that it took me over a year to win anything....and I didn't really win 'cause there were more tickets than there were entries....figures.

You can imagine how surprised I was when, a few days ago, I got an email from Julie with Leelou Blogs advising me that I am the winner of her giveaway for a gift card to Harpari Swimwear! I was so excited that I called my sisters right away to tell them what an awesome winner I am....besides being such a winner, I am also a huge dork! Anyway, I've been visiting the Harpari website everyday trying to decide which swimsuit I should choose....tough decision 'cause they are all so cute! I'm leaning toward this one right now:


I have the fake tan, but I need the body to go with this....good thing I'm gonna start training to run Bloomsday next year!

I can guarantee that my sisters will read this post and think to themselves "That Christy is a real winner!"

Cinco de Mayo

It seemed like a good idea to celebrate Cinco de Mayo this year....so one of my favorite girls, Ristene, and I met up at The Brewhouse for a few celebratory beverages....

I know this isn't a great photo, but it was taken with my cell phone by a chick who had probably had a few too many. We had a lot of fun....so much fun that I think this should be a new tradition!

Goodbye Floor Hockey....

...Hello, Soccer! (Now, if we could just get some Spring sunshine....)

I got a new phone today....

...it's a droid. I have to admit I'm missing my Blackberry a little bit...but I'll adjust. Anyway, I'm downloading some music onto my phone, which made me think of the days of recording tapes. You know...those things that came before CDs? Well, anyway, I was just reminiscing about making tapes for friends...and boyfriends....tapes full of really cheesy songs. I just had a little chuckle with myself!

While trying to figure out how to use this thing, I've learned a few things about myself:

1. I'm a little bit dependent on my cell phone
2. I'm not very patient
3. I'm apparently very nostalgic
   

I learned the first thing when I realized my old phone was turned off but my new phone was not yet activated this morning. I had to drive all the way to work without talking to anybody...well, except myself. Then, when my phone was finally working, I couldn't figure out how to make a phone call ...yes, a simple phone call. I know...I'm lame. That's when I figured out that I'm really lacking in the patience department. As I mentioned above, the third issue came to me when I was downloading music. I would bet my kids could have informed me about my lack of patience long before today!

I have a feeling I'll be digging out my old cassette player and tapes after I put my kids to bed tonight. I just have no excuses for myself...

Babies...

Baby lambs, that is!

Spring

It's official....I have Spring/Summer fever! I'm ready for warm days, lounging in my bikini while my kids splash in the pool, exercising outside, a nice natural tan, green grass, a road trip or two, shorts and tank tops and flip flops, barbeques....the list is endless!

Well, until the weather really changes, I'll keep dreaming of this:

Viva Las Vegas!

So, last weekend I went to Las Vegas for a Bon Jovi concert with two girlfriends, Shari and Tanya. I had never been to Vegas before, but Shari and Tanya had so I had two great tour guides! Even though I didn't like the creepy guys standing on the street with those little cards, I really liked the rest of it!

After meeting up at the airport on Friday afternoon, we headed to the MGM, where we were staying, to drop off our luggage and freshen up. Then we went to Margaritaville for dinner....they really do have some great nachos! After dinner Tanya suggested that we go to her favorite little piano bar at New York New York. Now, I have to admit I wasn't so sure about that idea....BUT, it turned out to be so much fun! We had a great time there and met some really cool people.



On Saturday morning we ate a much-needed breakfast at the Rain Forest Cafe and then hit the strip for some shopping. We didn't even stop for lunch! Then we headed back to our room to get ready for the concert. Bon Jovi rocks....what an amazing show! They played for three hours and I wasn't ready for it to be over. It was so cool!



We slept in on Sunday and then decided that we needed another Rain Forest Cafe breakfast. After breakfast we walked down the strip and then met up with the cool guys from the piano bar for a drink...which turned into a few drinks. I don't think I've ever just had margaritas for lunch before....but it was a good time! We hustled back to our room to change and then went to the Blue Man show and to dinner at The Cheesecake Factory.


That's a quick recap of the weekend....I'm still trying to catch up on my sleep and get used to eating meals at normal times again. We were so busy having fun that we missed a lot of meals and we walked a lot of miles....I lost 3 lbs!

Anyway, while I was gone Marc kept the kids really busy. Megan had a sleepover, they spent Saturday in Bozeman, Kellan went to a birthday party on Sunday, and then Grandpa and Grandma McCauley brought dinner Sunday evening and they rode horses. We are all going to bed early this week!

A Double Bad Day

What a day! Despite staying up until the late hour of 10 pm, Kellan had everybody up and out of bed shortly after 6:00 this morning. At first I saw this as a good thing 'cause I had lots to do; however, by the end of this afternoon, I was feeling pretty tired!

While I was doing my usual Saturday house chores, the kids and their cousin, Cody, decided to build a fort in their bedroom. I was grateful for the distraction until Jacksen decided to jump out of the top bunkbed. He hit his little leg on a bar stool (NO...the kids don't usually have bar stools in their bedroom - it was part of the fort!) and has a nasty bruise. Not even twenty minutes later he somehow managed to fall off the back of the couch and smacked his face on the floor. This resulted in a fat, bloody lip and a very sore, bloody nose.

After spending quite awhile getting the kids' bedroom back in order, we drove to Target to shop for some items for a care package for a friend whose little girl is in the hospital in Salt Lake City. I have no idea why I thought it would be a great idea to attempt this with three children in tow, but I did it. I don't think I'll do that again....at least not until they are ALL past the age of 15. Maybe not even then. We went to lunch at McDonald's and then Auntie Ami took Jacksen to her house while I dropped Megan off at a friend's house for a playdate, took Kellan on a quick grocery shopping trip to Walmart and then took him to a birthday party at Burger King. After the party I picked up Megan and then went to Ami's to pick up Jacksen. Whew! We got home on time to put away groceries and throw a lasagna in the oven.

While I was putting together the lasagna, Kellan and Jacksen chased each other through our house with lightsabers. Well, Jacksen tripped and scratched up his knee. Then Kellan spilled an entire glass of milk on my arm during dinner. The final straw was Jacksen having a little intestinal issue just while he was preparing to take a shower. Ugh.

After the shower, which was sorely needed after the little "intestinal issue", Jacksen and I were checking out the bruise he got after he jumped out of the bunkbed and discussing his sore lip and nose....he said "I had a bad day. I had a DOUBLE BAD DAY!" Yeah...I know a little something about that...

All I had to do...

....was blog about being sick of winter! Today was a beautiful almost-Spring day! If I had known that I just needed to blog about the weather for it to change, I would've been writing about it long before March!

Anyway, after a long week of work and school, it was nice to have a day of fun and relaxation. I started my day with a a few minutes in a tanning bed....I know it's pretty early in the year to be worried about a tan, but I'm heading to Vegas in less than 2 weeks and I need a little glow! I then dropped my vehicle off for new tires and spent some time with my favorite twin sister shopping around for some new accessories for our house. We've only lived here a few years, but I've finally decided on a color scheme and I'm changing some light fixtures and window treatments. Ami is an amazing interior decorator....I don't know what I would do without her!

Just when I decided I was pretty tired of home decor stores, it was time to meet my family and some good friends for lunch. I have been looking forward to this lunch date all week. We met up with three other families for some pizza...there were 9 kiddos there!....we don't see each other very often as some live in Missoula and some live across the country in Rhode Island so it was great to catch up!

Marc and Auntie Ann took the kids skiing this evening so I took the opportunity to do some weekly cleaning, bake an apple crisp, and watch "Footloose." There is nothing like watching "Footloose" to make a girl feel nostalgic!

The groundhog was full of it....

I. Am. Sick. Of. Winter.

Generally speaking, I really like living in Montana. I've always enjoyed the change of seasons, the slow pace of life, and the beautiful scenery....and I consider Montana a great place to raise kids. HOWEVER, this winter has felt absolutely endless...too cold and too snowy to endure much longer. I've been grouchy and tired the last few weeks....and I'm pretty sure I'm suffering from too much winter. The kiddos seem to be totally over snow and skiing as well....we're all looking forward to sunshine and warmer temperatures!

With a little break between sports, it was nice to have a weekend of fun and relaxation. In an attempt to remedy our cabin fever, we spent a couple hours at Exploration Works yesterday morning:



Yeah...that groundhog needs to get his act together....

Random Thoughts

What a weekend! We did pizza Friday night....basketball games Saturday morning...grocery shopping this morning...Valentine's Day shopping and cake baking this afternoon...and I'm tired! Sigh....

I decided to rent "Pure Country 2" Saturday night....and it wasn't exactly what I expected. The original "Pure Country" was not the best movie ever, but it was definitely better than "Pure Country 2"! I'm not even sure how these two movies came to be connected....they are nothing alike. "Pure Country 2" is one of the cheesiest movies I have ever seen....but at least the music was good. Sigh....

We've been hit with a harsh reality lately. Naptime in the McCauley house appears to be a thing of the past. Jacksen has pretty much outgrown naps. For the last 8 1/2 years, we all thoroughly enjoyed the hours between 1 and 4 every Saturday and Sunday. The house was quiet but for a movie quietly playing for Megan and Kellan....and anybody who was tired could get in a little nap. But not anymore. Sigh....

We have six more days left in the winter basketball season. I tried to talk Megan into trying volleyball but she is insisting on playing floor hockey, which begins on March 1st. Only about 10 days between the end of basketball season and the beginning of floor hockey. And then Spring soccer will start. Sigh....

And I really need to stick to my diet and workout routine 'cause I'm going to Vegas in 33 days. Oh....and I need a tan. There just aren't enough hours in the days! Sigh....

Reality Check

So, I was just reading one of my favorite blogs while waiting for American Idol to begin....and it hit me...

Even though it has been snowy and freezing cold here and I'm sick of basketball practices every Monday night and my job is a little stressful....I have it good. This little guy whose blog I read...his name is Owen....he's the one with challenges. Owen was born with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome and is undergoing major heart surgery tomorrow morning. SO....I am going to quit dwelling on my trivial little worries and spend my time appreciating my life and my childrens' health....and praying for those who need lots of prayers!

I guess they missed the memo....

You know.....the one that said the Seahawks aren't in the Super Bowl this year?!

GO STEELERS!!!!

A Great Kellan Story

So, when I got to the school for my weekly volunteer time yesterday, Kellan's teacher told me that she had a great Kellan story for me. Kellan can be a little zany sometimes so I was immediately nervous, but it turned out to be one of my proudest moments as a parent....here it is:

This past Wednesday was a very cold day here in Helena...not as cold as the previous two days, but still barely above zero. One of Kellan's little buddies lost the inside fleecy part of his winter jacket sometime that morning and only had the thin little shell to wear for afternoon recess. When their teacher realized this, she told him that it was much too cold for that little jacket and he would need to find something warmer in the lost and found. This little boy was very sad and did not want to wear something from the lost and found. Well, Kellan was standing there waiting for his teacher to help him with his zipper...and he wanted to help his friend. SO....he said "How about if Ethan wears MY coat and I'll wear something from the lost and found?" Ethan felt much better about wearing his buddy's coat....and Kellan didn't mind wearing a coat three sizes too big that didn't belong to him. In fact, he said "It's just like wearing my cousin's coat!"....and he and his friend went to recess together. As he walked away, his teacher thought to herself "He just gave his friend the coat off his back....what a good friend!"

We must be doing something right with our children....at the age of six Kellan already knows how to be a good friend and help others in need. I couldn't be prouder of my son!

A Cold, Snowy Day

Today has been a cold, snowy day....besides church and grocery shopping, all we've done is watch movies and play. Even though I've officially began my 2011 diet, Kellan and I whipped up some toffee bars....just for something to do. We've never attempted that recipe before....if it's good, I'll post the recipe!

Anywho, while I'm preparing dinner (another new recipe!), Jacksen is catching up on some much-needed sleep. This is one cute sleeper:


After this long nap, I'm keeping my fingers crossed that Mr. Jacksen will be ready for bed at 8:00 when the rest of us are!

Happy 6th Birthday, Kellan!!!

Kellan's birthday festivities began on Sunday with a football party. He invited all of his favorite buddies over for a game of flag football and cupcakes. I think the dads had as much fun as the kids!




After their wild game of football, these boys were HUNGRY!



After Kellan's party, we continued our day of football with the Steelers/Jets game....needless to say, we were really happy that the Steelers won and we are so looking forward to the Super Bowl this year!

Anywho, enough about football. Yesterday Kellan was thrilled to share birthday cookies with his class.....and then we had another birthday party last night with Aunts, Uncles, cousins, and grandparents.



This last photo is my favorite. Kellan has been wanting his own Nintendo DS since Megan got one for Christmas in 2009. Well, his wish came true yesterday morning before school! He was delighted....it actually brought tears to my eyes to see him so fulfilled. Ever since the wrapping paper was torn off, he has rushed through meals, showers, and brushing his teeth so he can squeeze in minutes on his new game. I have a feeling my happiness for Kellan will be short-lived....what have we done?!

Oreo Cookies and Other Random Thoughts

Oreos are waaaaaaay too good! In fact, I just ate five of them....dipped in cold milk. I wonder how many calories that would be...

The kids and I are diggin' American Idol tonight. They liked the goofy guy with crazy red curly hair. I liked the Cuban with the nice six pack who took off his shirt for J-Lo. Great family entertainment.

Miss Megan came home with a fever after school today. Marc gave her some Ibuprofen and she seems totally normal. I'm pretty sure that fever will be back sometime around 1 am....never fails. I can only hope this little bug disappears before Kellan's birthday party on Sunday afternoon. Speaking of Kellan's football party....I don't care how much fun the boys have playing football, this little shindig has to be over by 4:30 so we can watch the Steelers play!

Well, guess I better get these kids ready for bed....I need to spend a little time on the treadmill tonight...gotta work off those Oreos....sigh....

Jacksen Turned 4!

I just realized that, with the business of the holidays, I didn't write about Mr. Jacksen's 4th birthday....which was on December 15th....exactly one month ago today!

We spent the first half of December counting down the days not only to Christmas, but also Jacksen's big day. He was very excited to turn 4 because at his daycare kids no longer have to wear a bib during meals when they are 4. It seemed like that milestone was a bigger deal to him than any of his birthday presents or his party!

Here are a couple photos of his big day:

Jacksen got a new ski helmet...and he loves it!