Problem Solved. Hopefully.

I have run out of space on this blog.  When I first began blogging in 2008, I uploaded lots and lots of pictures of my cute babies without shrinking them to a web-friendly size first.  I began shrinking the pictures about a year ago.  In order to get more space without paying a yearly fee I'd have to delete the pictures to make room for more.  But if I did that then the blog would be messed up. 

I have had to go to a new email address to start all over with a whole new blog and lots of space.  THIS time I will be shrinking all my photos.  So if you'd like you can now follow me from now on over here: 

http://montanaimport.blogspot.com/

Hiatus

I'm taking a break from blogging for a while.

Blehhh

We visited Spokane – 6 hours away.  It was a beautiful city.  We found a nice hotel right on the Spokane River that accepted pets.  It even had a sliding glass door from our room directly into a fenced doggie play area. 

The highlight was the play area. 

On the way home we saw these huge rolls of hay baled up.  Lucas and Nick call them “cinnamon rolls”.

 On another day we went to a place called Goat Lick where all the mountain goats go lick minerals out of the ground. My camera doesn't zoom super close so this is the best picture you will get.  Look on the right side of the river, and look for the little white goats.

Lucas took a self photo.

The tourists are here.  And they park where ever they can fit a vehicle – it doesn’t seem to matter if they park on top of a sapling or other vegetation.  They don’t care.  It bothers me.

Speaking of tourists: I was driving today in a 55 mph zone behind a big dump truck (BIG heavy one) and we were in the left lane because the right lane was turning.  Suddenly I see a HUGE RV pull out from the right side and directly in front of this dump truck.  The RV driver saw the truck and stopped.  He just stopped right there perpendicular to the flow of traffic, completely blocking both lanes. The truck smoked up his tires as he skidded down the road and I was skidding right behind him.  Thankfully, I had left enough room between me and the truck (I was afraid of rocks hitting my windshield) and was able to stop. 

Not five minutes after this happened, another dude from Alabama swerved into the lane next to him and nearly sideswiped another tourist from Washington. 

And finally, I had to drive behind an asshole from Missouri who was driving 45 mph in a 70 mph zone – for 15 miles.  Jackass.   

Other highlights from today:

• I removed part of Lucas’s toenail which was ingrown.  It went fairly well and his toe is on the mend. 
• Lucas had an allergic reaction to a ton of mosquito bites and was covered in hives.  So I Benadryl-d the little dude, and began to see results later in the day.  Yayyyy –for not visiting the Urgent Care yet!
• We as a precaution did drive-bys on the hospital and urgent cares in the area so I know where to go when the kids get hurt.
• Haylee puked all over the floor.
•  Maya got stuck in a small crawlspace above a downstairs bathroom.  I finally got her out. 
• Nick’s foot began to swell up after he got 5 bites on his toes, sole of his foot, and ankle.  Benadryl for Nick. I don’t know where the bugs are getting into the house, but they slept with bug spray on last night. . . . I don’t know what else to do.
• Lucas taught Nick to chew with his mouth closed.  They were so adorable – I don’t even have the words.  Nick looks up to Lucas and it is so sweet.
• I broke another toe, this time on a toy.
• We collected a variety of leaves and did leaf rubs with crayons and paper for a while.  It was fun for me and the kids.  We should do this more. 
• I put Lucas on top of my shoulders and we laughed and giggled as we went around the house smashing mosquitoes on the wall.  He was the official mosquito killer and I was the spotter.  Nick was the one who was collecting the corpses and disposing of the bodies in a dead body pile.  Good times.  
• I caught the boys trying to gross each other out by sticking their butts in each others face.  They were giggling and laughing hysterically as they tried to position their butts - It was both funny as hell and gross as hell.  Where on earth did they learn this?  Is it in male DNA to do this?

I really don’t know what to do about these damn mosquitoes.  We keep the screens closed – I checked the mesh and it is quite small.  For some reason we have them.  Although after today's murderous rampage their numbers have significantly declined.  

trying

Well I've been trying to update my blog, but I'm flying solo all week so I don't have time. The sun sets around 9:40 and the kids are having trouble sleeping in the bright light. Yes - I am aware that there are blackout window covers, but we are in temporary housing and aren't able to attach things to the windows. And the kids wake up with the sun - at 5:30-ish. I can't keep Nick's nap from happening. The whole thing is nuts. I'm tired.

Last night it was so hot in the house I cracked a window (no A/C here) and an hour after we all went to bed Lucas woke me up covered in mosquito bites. I guess the screen was a big mesh . . .in any event it sucked.

I still haven't met people.

The pets have been acting out and I'm wondering why we have them at all. Olivia tried to fight with every single dog at a doggie playdate - so she and I have been enrolled in training/socialization with an experienced trainer. Before we moved she was perfectly fine and regularly played well with other dogs.

The cats hate each other and I'm about to strangle one of them. Seriously.

This sounds awful, and I'm sorry, but I am SO SICK and TIRED of being bombarded with non-stop questions. All. Day. Long. I thought it would be cool, but after a multiple days of multi-hour interrogations from a four year old, I am exhausted.

No, I don't know why that man waved at the other man. No, I don't know why some oil pipes are buried and others are on the surface. The sun makes a shadow when a cloud is in between us and the sun. The dog has hair because dogs have hair. Electricity moves better in power lines than in soil. Fish just taste good, that is why we eat them. Soap gets you clean - I don't know exactly why, it just does. I don't know why our elbows don't grow toenails. Mosquitoes make your skin itch with their saliva, I don't know exactly why. And on, and on, and
on. It is fun and exciting, but I need a break.

AJ gets back next week. I can't wait.

Asbestos

New Asbestos Danger Found in Libby | Flathead Beacon

Libby isn't too terribly far from here. In fact we drove through Libby on Friday. It is really pretty. I had NO IDEA that they were dealing with these serious issues there. Wood chips? Shipped out all over the place? Playgrounds? Backyards?

Wow. That's all I've got. Just, wow.

No Nutritional Value

Here's how last night worked out:

• Nick kept himself and Lucas awake until 9:15-ish last night. Part of the problem is that the sun doesn't set until 9:40 at night.
• I have decided that trying to get a three year old to bed is slow torture no matter what time the sun sets
• The dog wouldn't stop growling at fireworks and miscellaneous phantom threats
• The seasonal across the street (who I have bitchily nicknamed "Rainbow") has a hyena cackle/laugh that is REALLY terrible when she is drunk
• Dog also growled at the seasonal hyena's cackle
• Finally asleep around 2:30 am? Maybe?
• Woke up to Nick yelling at me to come cover him up at 6:13am.  
• Nick woke Lucas up.  Crying and screaming ensued.
• 6:45am - still screaming.  Everyone tired buy no one's asleep.
• 7:08 am I discover cat pee AND poop on a new bath mat I had purchased yesterday.  The cat had been locked in the bathroom (there is food and water there, just no litter box)
• Nick demands food.  
• I am too tired to focus - can't stop yawning
• I offer cheerios - Lucas takes cheerios without milk
• Nick gets specific and yells something about wanting soup
• I bust open a random package of Ramen and hand him the dry block of noodles in a ziplock plastic container I pull from the dish rack
• Breakfast is served

sleep!

AJ went on a sudden work trip Monday morning and, as usual, when he is gone I can't sleep for a few days until I get used to his absence.

So. Here I am 2am. Awake. Aaaaarrrrhhhh! The kitties are keeping me company and are letting me rub my bare feet through their soft kitty cat fur.

Damn. It has been 2 months since I have been a single Momma. Thankfully I'm still in the grove of doin' it all by myself, so that is nice. AJ's gone on a two week assignment, but will likely be home in 8 or 9 days, so it's not too bad.

I wish I knew people up here though. It would be nice to talk to an adult.

Taxidermy that Fuzzy Prairie Dog Ass, Please

I have a dear friend that LOVES to paper craft.  If she gets to visit a new scrap booking store filled with new stuff she goes nuts.  You probably have a similar type of store that gets you excited too.  Maybe it is a cooking, clothing, jewelry, or thrift store.  For some it is a store with spices or a farmers market that gets them super excited.  What is your ideal store to shop? 

My ideal store is an outdoor sporting goods store.  Not just any store though.  Big 5 is not for me.  No, no, no.  I need a real sporting goods store.  Yesterday we found the store of my dreams.  It is a store I’ve only been able to visit online because I’ve never lived near an actual, physical location.  I’ve always drooled over the catalogs and fantasized about what the real store would be like.  Last night we were on a road trip and we stumbled upon the store, so we decided to return later.  I was up all night imagining what it would be like to be THERE.  IN THERE with all OF THE STUFF IN THERE.  Ughhhh!!!  It got my heart racing and I couldn’t sleep because I was just so excited.   I just caught a glimpse of the sign up there on the hill overlooking the interstate.   It killed me to not slam on the brakes and stop right then and there. . . .

Please DON’T LAUGH!!  I’m serious.  I have waited for YEARS to go here:

Look at the majestic drive up to the entrance.  The lamp posts even have elk on them . . . awwww.  I love this place.  It is so over the top.  SO unnecessarily injected with testosterone. . . so ridiculous.  I LOVE THIS PLACE. 

Even the flags were at full flapping attention – eager to look magnificent, just as they do on the catalog cover.  The ginormous rock columns  look like they were raised out of a raging river bed.  The wood on the exterior appears to have been recently hauled out of the mountains by a team of mules and . . . and elephants!!!  It is monstrous.  It is extravagant.  And I really can’t explain why I want to be here at all.  But I do. I DO I DO I DO.

Inside, there is a massive mountain in the middle of the 125,000 square foot shopping extravaganza.  On that mountain is every type of dead and stuffed animal known to man.  OVER – THE – TOP.  My GOD people just went out and shot a shit load of animals just to stick them in this huge building on top of a fake mountain and then stuffed them so that they looked like they still had some measure of life in their skins.  There they stand in the same pose for eternity – trying to look life-like.  People stand outside the rugged fence surrounding the mountain and take pictures and compliment the beauty of the remarkable animals that are assembled on and around the mountain.   It is laughable.  I love it.

They have an aquarium on the other side of the shoe section.  WHY?  Because there are trout in there, that’s why.  You don’t need a real reason to keep trout.  And trout apparently require a bazillion gallon aquarium inside of an outdoor store.  The trout are, predictably, in the fishing section and serve to get people psyched up about rods, and reels, and waders and lines and bait and flies(fly's?) and floats and  . . . . dear Lord I’m out of terminology.  

Next to the fishermen are the bow hunters.  Bow hunters are real hunters, according the bow hunters.  They don’t need no fancy schmancy sights and bullets.  They just need a favorable breeze GOD DAMMIT.   They need good camo, and scent masking. . . . that’s it.  This is how the ancestors hunted.  Only the best stalkers can be bow hunters – they say.   I’m surprised I didn’t see long spears and addle addles for sale.

And they start the bow hunters young.  If anyone needs a toddler sized projectile bow kit – I can grab one for you.  No worries, they don’t discriminate based on gender.

If you prefer to keep your distance while killing (some pansies don't like the smell of blood), don’t worry they have lots of guns for you to choose from. 

Good news, you can start the youngin’s early in this sport as well. 

I actually don’t have a problem with hunting for meat.  I just think that all the hype and propaganda surrounding these sports is laughable.  The number of trophy animals in that building is ridiculous and wasteful.

 

We had a blast though.  We laughed at the fact that they put a prairie dog ass on display.  Can you see which little prairie dog I'm talking about??

The animals all had some pretty crazy expressions.  The elk seemed to be frozen in a silent scream, as did the squirrel.  It's as if they were looking at a gun . . . .

The moose was in natural habitat - in the fountain.

The Polar bear and the arctic wolf and musk ox were all hangin' out around the grizzly bear kill in their natural environment.

And last but not least the boy scouts were checking out a video game about something involving animal death over in the children's section. (You should have seen me trying to go undetected while getting this picture.  I'm totally NOT bow hunting material.  I knocked over a small hat display right after this picture was taken.)

Unfortunately I didn’t find the good deals I had anticipated and wasn’t able to fill my cart up with all the loot I had dreamt about.  I had hoped to get a good wireless fence for Olivia (so she can roam around the rental property).  And I wanted to get her a durable winter jacket because she is a greyhound mix and doesn’t have body fat sufficient for Montana winters.  We also needed to get some rain pants for us humans.  

I did however find some awesome scrap booking stuff for my friend. . . . but decided that she would probably not enjoy a big paper trout and picnic basket the way that I do.

I decided I like Cabela’s online shopping better than shopping in the actual store.

Hope you all have a good Fourth of July!!

At the Park

KristinInMontana's photostream

KristinInMontana's photostream on Flickr.

Here are some pictures that AJ took today while "working". I put quotes around the working part, because he wasn't listening to screaming and whining and fighting all day. By comparison his day was peaceful and relaxing.

Freezing

We visited another lake in the park.  We didn't expect the snow.  And the wind.  And MY GOD it was sooooo cold.

Lesson: Never go anywhere in Montana without a full set of winter gear for the whole family.  I should just carry a tub of clothing for these moments.

But it was beautiful. And we saw Mountain goats just hangin' out  . . . lookin' like goats. For some reason I expected my first sighting of mountain goats to be more exciting.  These guys were hangin' out by the road, like cows would do, and they looked like normal large goats to me.  Not the wild, super cool goats of the northern rockies that I'd read about.

OOOHHH.  BUT I did see a Pileated Woodpecker!!! 

Beautiful Weather

It has been beautiful up here!!  For the last 8 days it has been spectacular.  Yayyyy!!  NOW I see why everyone loves it up here.  It is beautiful.  The sun is out, it is warm, we can actually wear a short sleeve shirt in the afternoons . . . . our hair will dry after we shower.  The kids are able to go to the park and slide down the slides without getting soaked.  Life is good.

I do have a problem though.  Nick keeps pulling his boy parts out the top of his pants and walking around with things. . .  peeking out.  I don't always notice.  I think he likes the reaction he gets.  It is awful.  What do I DO???  Stop giving him a reaction?  It is really hard to not react to that.

We are in the process of trying to get drivers licenses and register the cars. . . and Montana likes to complicate things by making you run all over town to different offices to register the car and get a license.  If you need a VIN certification you are triple screwed.  The kids are doing their best but this is not fun for anyone.

We are debating enrolling Lucas into the smallest elementary school in the district.  It had 36 kids in K-6 last year.  Here we are allowed to enroll kids in what ever school we want in the county.  I have heard fantastic things about the teachers at that school and we already know a couple of kids that would be in Kindergarten with Lucas at that school.  It is a 4 day a week school - the days are long, but the kids get rest times in the middle of the day as needed.  From what I've been told the classrooms are mixed ages and the parents and kids love the set up.  I'm hesitant because of the longer days.  My poor little dude. . . . he's getting so big and I AM NOT READY FOR THIS.

MOMMA'S NOT READY!!!!!

He is ready for it though.  I think my heart is going to be ripped from my chest on the first day of school.  So if I right a sobbing, hysterical post on that day (including baby pictures and pregnancy pictures) - be forewarned.


So.  Here are some kid pictures from the weekend.  We went exploring again.