Nana & Papa Too!

It has been a week filled with grandparents. My parents headed back for Spokane on Friday & Nana & Papa rolled in. I had to work on Saturday so I didn't get to see them as much as I had hoped, but they did come into the GN Brewery for some samples. They also spent time with the kids, which Ravenna & Hudson loved. If you know Nana you know she always comes bearing gifts. This time they brought the kids new bedding & new down comforters. Yellow for Ravenna & blue for Hudson. The kids love their new blankets. We loved seeing you & thanks so much for all the gifts....especially the home made granola! See you soon!

New comforters from Nana & Papa!

Surprise visit from Grandma & Grandpa

We got a knock at our door of the "little condo" on Tuesday evening.....and it was my parents. The kids were a little unsure of what they were doing here in Whitefish, but quickly adjusted & began to jockey for their attention. We had a great time with them swimming, showing them around the Flathead Valley, and relaxing. Thanks so much for the great visit. We love you & will see you soon.

Valentine's Day Weekend 2009

We had a different kind of Valentine's Day this year. I spent my weekend working at the Brewery. For those of you who don't know I took a job as a bartender serving beer at The Great Northern Brewery. I am able to work part time (2-3 times a week) and it gives me a little adult interaction, some mad money, & lots of entertainment so far. I was lucky enough to get this job as we know the manager/owner & Stephan offices out of here as well.

So back to our weekend. I do know I am married to the most fabulous man, but I was reminded in the most non-valentine sort of way this weekend. Since last weekend was presidents day, it was pretty busy at the brewery. My shifts on Sat. & Sun were to open, this means CLEANING! Stephan came with me & took the bathroom duty (which includes cleaning urinals.....gross)!!! When I realized this was part of the deal & I was to clean before doing the fun part of this job which is serving beer. I'll admit I had to give my self a little self talk & get a nice big pair of rubber gloves. I also keep reminding my self that my sister in law Tiffany did a similar cleaning job to get her through college. The only difference being I'm 34 and through with college. LOL. I think I will always find cleaning bathrooms ranking very low on my list of fun things to do....especially bar bathrooms. Nevertheless its all in a days work & I do love my new job. So I must thank my husband for the best non-traditional valentines present of cleaning urinals/bathrooms for me. You're the best & I love you!

The "so fun" Great Northern Brewery in Whitefish, MT.

My valentine for the past 11 years.

Our monkeys all dressed up in their traditional outfits. Welcome 2009 Year of the Ox.

Ready to go out to a Chinese dinner.

Hudson showing off his "loot" from the red envelope.

Showing off her red envelope. A tradition for Chinese New Year.

Martin City "Cabin Fever Days" Bar stool Sled Races

Brenden, Hudson, & OB sporting their "intimidating Top Gun" look for the races.

Hudson checking out the some of the competition.

Ice Skating

We got together with "The Flathead Families with Adopted International Children Group" on Sunday for a Chinese New Year/ ice skating event. This was our first time meeting this group since we have moved to Montana. We went to an outside skating rink & the weather was beautiful & sunny.....so glad! We met some really nice families & they also jumped in to help me since Stephan couldn't skate. Hudson did really well for his first time on ice skates. Ravenna wasn't a big fan & was ready to turn them back in after about 30 minutes. The kids got tuckered out, had a new experience, and we met some nice new families.

Cathy helped with Ravenna & that is her daughter Neela.

Hudson giving it a go.

Enjoying the sunny weather.

Whitefish Winter Carnival

Today was our first Whitefish Winter Carnival experience. It was also the 50 year anniversary of the tradition. There are many events going on throughout the weekend. We picked out 2 which took up most of the day. We started off watching the "Penguin Plunge" in Whitefish Lake. People jump in a hole cut in the ice, then swim back to shore, & run out to hot tubs waiting on the beach. Brrrr! Then we decided to be in the parade rather than watch it. So we loaded up in The Great Norhtern Brewery bus with Marcus & Audrey. Marcus drove, Stephan manned the blow horn, Ravenna napped, & Hudson, Audrey & I handed out bottle caps for 5o cents off pints at "The Brewery". It was a hoot! We later saw Steven, Grace & girls, and more family afterwards at the brewery. Downtown Whitefish was packed, the sun was shining, it was a gorgeous day & much fun!

Whitefish Lake during the "Penguin Plunge".

The hole cut in the lake for the plunge.

The Brewery bus.

Getting ready for the parade.

Too much fun, needed to recharge.

Audrey & Marcus, notice all the taps on the outside of the trailer.

Hudson sitting on his perch in the bus....taking it all in.

Stephan promoting The Great Northern Brewery.

Introducing Riley May Byrd

My cousin in laws had their third child on Monday, February 2nd....Riley May Byrd. She weighed 7.8 oz & was 20" long if I remember correctly. Everything went well & they are all home from the hospital. She is such a tiny, little thing. I truly forget how small they are when they are first born, and can you believe all that black hair! Congratulations Melanie, Obrien, Zoey & Cash. So thrilled for you all & excited to watch her grow.

Sweet, little, baby girl!

Brand new Riley May!

Mommy & Riley

Super Bowl Weekend

We had a fun & busy weekend here in the Flathead Valley. On Saturday we took the kids to our first "ski joring" event in Whitefish. This is an old Scandinavian event and has now been updated a little with the use of horses rather than reindeer. Stephan's cousins Jesse, Jessie, Charise & Pete have been involved locally for a few years now. My photography skills didn't do the sport justice. Ideally a fast horse with a good rider pulls a better than average skier through a course with gate & jumps. They are timed & thus the winners are determined. We stayed for the "novice" division & Stephan was able to catch part of the "open". It was fun especially watching family members do it. The weather was beautiful but a little windy.

Whitefish Ski Joring 2009

The skier just hangs on to a regular rope.

Marcus & Audrey

Jesse & Jessie's little Banyan....catching a few zzzz's in the tent.

Jessica, Malaki, Graham, & Aunt Marie.....more Byrd/Johnston family.

Jessie the cowgirl. I wish I could have gotten a picture of her chaps...they were fun!

Saturday evening we went up to Mel & OB's for dinner. Uncle Chris & Aunt Maureen were able to join us as well. The kids successfully tore their house apart. Then we went on to Julia's 2nd birthday party. Steven & Grace just moved into their new house up in West Glacier. We had a fun day & evening with family.

Grace & Julia the birthday girl.

Some of the kids in Julia & Elyse's room.

Steven with his girls. Elyse's green dress was Graces' mom's old dress from Germany & Julia's cute polka dot dress Grace made....darling!

Somehow OB always gets stuck hanging out with the kiddos. Although I think it's by choice.

Ravenna was loving Marcus that night.

Mel & OB pre baby Riley May.

On Sunday we went on to a Superbowl party at some new friends Rich & Marcy's house. It was very nice of them to include us. They have 2 little girls Zurita & Hope. It seems the moms hung out in the kitchen while keeping track of the kids, and the dads enjoyed the game. We had a fun filled weekend with new adventures over her in MT.

The kitchen with Mel, Grace, Steven, OB & Marcy.

Princess Zurita & Zoey in the front, Elyse the Voyeur, and Hudson & Ravenna in the back.

The guys.

Kiddos enjoying popsicles.