I Kid You Not

This was our dinner conversation tonight:

Jack: (he had lost his shirt after spilling milk on it) "What are these little things, mom?"

Me: "Your nipples. Everyone has them."

Jack: "Josh, do you have pickles?" (seriously, without missing a beat)

Josh: (searching his fingers) "I think I have one right on this finger."

(by now I am totally laughing, and encouraging this to keep going)

Me: "Ask dad if he has pickles."

Jack: "Dad, are your pickles big or little?"

Josh: "Mom, you have really big pickles!"

Jack: "Mom, show your pickles to dad."

**This is where Dan and I at the same time started to envision teenage boys in our days dragging State and yelling: "Show me your pickles!" (we literally said it at the same time!)

Your welcome.

I Forgot...

... to include a picture of this too-smart-for-his-own-good, bus-riding, chillin' like a villain - Joshy Washy!

(he hates it when we call him that!)

Just Some Thoughts

I miss Utah. I miss my family and friends - the people who really know me. For the most part, I put on a brave face and try to act positive. But it's exhausting sometimes. I think I am learning a lot about myself since I am here. Some days, I can't fake it. Now that there is a countdown until our trip to UT, I feel myself getting very impatient, and wanting to stay there for weeks. (not just 1)

But, while we are here, we are going to really see Wisconsin. You know? Right now, we are in a tiny town in just 1 corner. We will be heading to Milwaukee for Dan's b-day next week, so I will get a chance to see something new. I hope to see Madison, WI. I have a couple of EHS friends there. If my kiddos continue to be good road-trippers and fall asleep, then we should have no problem. Anywhere we go is over 25 minutes, so they are getting used to it.

Josh was able to start attending Trempealeau Elementary's 4k. (this is preschool run by the school district) He gets on a big, yellow bus Mon-Thurs and is gone ALL afternoon. He loves it all - bus, class, teacher!! But the cutest part of his being gone, is how lovey Layla has gotten with him. EVERY time he walks through the door, all suited with snow pants, coat, and hat, Layla gives him a sweet hug. Oh, it melts my heart!

We had a huge snowstorm last week. We are tired of winter. I can't wait to go to the playground in town, (yes, I just said "in town") and discover trails rumored to be all over the bluffs. We are all really, really pearly white and some sun would do us all some good!

And you know, I am so excited to see THIS missionary come home this year!! His mission has been incredible, and the stories he sends home about the people he has met are amazing and inspiring. And the letters are a weekly reminder to me that no matter what challenges I face, our Heavenly Father has our best interest in mind ALL of the time. And I know that HE wanted us in WI, for whatever time it amounts to be. The lessons just keep presenting themselves - easy and not easy.

Turning 30 - part 2

Remember when I had almost no time but I decided to set 30 goals to achieve before I turned 30? Crazy, I know.

Well, before I go through each goal, I'm gonna say that I'm not going to go through each goal! I don't have that kind of time.

A few years ago, Elder Dallin H. Oaks gave a General Conference talk entitled "Good, Better, Best." He discussed the fact that we each have this list of all the things we need to and have to do in our lives, and that sometimes it's hard to choose between all the "good." With my limited amount of time, I found that I felt okay as I started to put my time towards certain goals and maybe realizing that others will have their place in the future.

With that said, can I just say how grateful I am for The Book of Mormon. I am so happy that I set the time-consuming goal to start and complete it by my birthday. I love the conversations I have had with Josh (and Dan) about the prophets who lived amazing lives, taught us so much, and loved their people with their whole selves. I can honestly say with my whole heart that this book changes lives. It has changed mine. I know it will continue to be a source of strength to my family. It has brought a sense of peace to me as I brave this challenge I find myself facing . I know that my Savior, Jesus Christ came to this nation, among others, because he loves all of God's children and taught us to just endure with faith and hope in the face of all adversity. He wants us to return home.

That is what The Book of Mormon has done for me.

Amen.

Turning 30 - part 1

I'm going to be honest. For me, turning 30 was hard. But not for the getting-older reasons. I was just sad not to have family or friends around... and really, it would have been awesome to have had someone plan me a surprise party for the big 3-0. Selfish? Maybe.

I envisioned many scenarios with being able to fly certain people to come help me celebrate: sisters, mom, mom & sisters, a certain bestest girlfriend... None of them were budget-friendly.

But don't worry. It turned out great. I started in to my 30's with my forever best friend - hubby. He arranged for a special visitor to come stay with the kids so we could "run away" for a night!

So we drove up to the Twin Cities. And you know, the 2 1/2 hour drive seemed amazingly short when there were no kids to tend to! The drive along the half-frozen Mississippi River is just beautiful. But, it was about 10 degrees and stopping to take pictures was NOT tempting at all.

Our hotel was pretty normal-blah-looking during the day, but when we returned (late) that night, it was a lot of fun! You would have thought we'd arrived in Vegas. It was a great hotel, btw, with a huge, comfy bed! (and 15 minutes from everything)

Can I just say, "WHAT THE WHAT?" When did I become SO old that popular stores are using 1981, my birth year, as a vintage-sounding title? Has anyone else seen this?!?

(yes, we were at The Mall of America again!)

We had a fabulous dinner at The Cheesecake Factory. And you know, I would totally make that drive just to go there again!! Can you see the chocolate birthday wishes around the edge of the plate? So fun!

(ps, it was -15 when we left the restaurant and then headed to a late movie... COLD)

I have no explanation for this. But if you lived where it was below ZERO all winter long, you'd need a new hobby to... I guess.

And thank you to the man, Grampa Russ, that made our getaway possible! Everyone was happy and thriving when we returned. (and mostly I mean Russ!!) Those kids can make one nutty.

Thank you to those who made my birthday special, even from miles and miles away.

I love you all.

New Past-time

After our visit from Granny and Grampa Dan, Josh has been spending his free time with this game!

After his first day at 4K preschool, which is over 3 hrs in WI, he ran in and said, "Mom, I have to go dance." (or something like that) My new favorite phrase I hear now is "Jack, come dance with me." Jack doesn't get in to it very often, but it does motivate him at other times...

So the game above inspired THIS:

Untitled from Lindsey Montague on Vimeo.

...which then inspired THIS.

(My boys are fantastic at gettin' down!)

Untitled from Lindsey Montague on Vimeo.

Love Day

How do you get such yummy looking Valentine's Day cookies?

First, you need some cute little helpers...

...like this girlie of mine who is constantly rearranging my kitchen drawers. (specifically my cooking utensils... it makes for a scavenger hunt every time I need something)

Josh was my expert cookie-cutter-user. And thank you to Granny and Grampa Dan for the fun cutters!!

Jack also loves to help in the kitchen, but especially when the end result is COOKIES!

Loading them on the pan.

Oh, and the best part for sure - FROSTING!!

Grampa Dan can attest to the fact that when you start taking pictures of Layla, she DEMANDS for more! Every time I would stop and stand up, she would start to yell at me.

DIVA!!

Happy Love Day

What a gorgeous way to end it!