Atomic 6 Family

Our baby is 4 today!!!

2011-04-14T18:12:00.001-07:00

Cole is so excited to be 4. He told me he wanted brownies, cookies, and cupcakes for all of his meals. He did get a cupcake with his lunch, but then did not eat much for dinner because he fell up the stairs this afternoon and bit his tongue and cut up his chin. So after a fun day of junk food and games the evening was spent just vegging on the couch. Here are the photos I took of him enjoying his Oreo cupcake. {His party is on Saturday.}

Crafting Kati

2010-11-29T09:38:00.001-08:00

In Girl Scouts, the girls drew names for a Secret Sister gift giving at their next meeting. They are suppose to make a hand-made gift for their “sister.” We started with a friendship bracelet, but Kati said making it was too boring. She wanted to create something “more crafty.”

So she decided to re-create the project I made at Creative Escape with Tim Holtz. It is a collaged pendant/necklace that has its own decorative frame to hold the jewelry. {My finished one is seen in the first picture by the glue stick.}

We gathered all the needed things from my overstocked scrapbook supplies. She set to work ripping, inking, and glueing.

The project isn’t complete because we had to order the pin with bail from an online store. It will get here on Friday and I will post her completed project. Below is the picture of how much she got done. She only let me help get the long brad opened once she had it through all the layers on the heart. She was most thrilled because she found an old “Brownie recipe” for her ephemera on her collage frame.

I am betting her “secret sister” will love it.

Of course, this is Cole helping the project along. :)

Minot High Homecoming Parade

2010-09-17T21:29:00.001-07:00

Blake and Trent both marched in the Homecoming parade tonight. It was Blake’s first time in the marching band. He was pretty excited to get to participate and Dan was thrilled that they played the Air Force song.

Trent did a great job, and he just impresses me everyday how much better he is getting with his tuba, or in this case, the sousaphone. I am always shocked at how he can carry that heavy thing around!!! {I mean seriously it wraps all around him and just looks like a neck pain!}

Cole and Kati were just thrilled with all the candy that got handed out. {He only looks cute and innocent.}

Roosevelt Park Zoo

2010-06-17T19:16:00.001-07:00

The kids had such a blast at the zoo last week. Here is some pictures from the trip. We got passes to be able to go back all summer because the kids want to go back again to get to feed all the animals.

Intro to Minot

2010-06-17T19:02:00.001-07:00

Last week while visiting Minot we were welcomed into the community at every turn. Everyone was so nice. We went out to a great dinner at Space Alien Bar & Grill. The kids got some good laughs at the magician that performed while we ate. They also played tons of games and earned fun silly alien prizes. (It had the play machines like a Chuck-E-Cheese.) Another very nice lady that was dining at a table near ours gave the kids each a coupon for ten free coupons. This is a picture of Cole’s dinner. He was so thrilled his drink was in the alien bottle.

Movin on up

2010-06-08T07:50:00.001-07:00

The kids and I are over visiting Dan in Minot. We got the keys to our new house and are getting to sightsee around the area. We head beack to Great Falls in two days. The movers get us packed and moved out the week of the 23rd. Hope the weather is nice tomorrow so the kids and I can spend the day at the zoo.

Whole Wheat Oat Pumpkin (WWOP) Muffins

2010-03-07T10:58:00.001-08:00

1 egg
2/3 cup Splenda Granular or equivalent sweetener of your choice
1 can (1 3/4 cups) pumpkin, not pumpkin pie mix
1 tsp vanilla extract
2/3 cup nonfat milk
1 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 cup oat flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. pumpkin pie spice

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Spray a 12-serving muffin pan with nonstick cooking spray or line with paper baking cups and spray insides with nonstick cooking spray. Set aside. In a large bowl combine pumpkin, eggs, splenda, vanilla, milk and stir well. Sift in flours, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon and pumpkin pie spice. Fill prepared muffin cups equally, sprinkle tops with extra cinnamon. Bake 20 minutes, or until a wooden toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
Added note: if you can't find oat flour then try putting quick cook oats (not instant) in your blender and pulverizing, shaking, pulverizing, shaking the container until it all grinds down to a flour. Should work just fine! Also...be sure to spray your muffin pan or cups with nonstick spray or yes, they will stick.
Number of Servings: 12

Nutritional Info

Servings Per Recipe: 12
Amount Per Serving
Calories: 70.4

Total Fat: 0.9 g
Cholesterol: 18.0 mg
Sodium: 14.1 mg
Total Carbs: 13.6 g
Dietary Fiber: 2.6 g
Protein: 3.1 g

Also if you use 1 or 2% milk, it will add more calories.

Lastly, I like to add 1/4 cup of mini semi sweet chocolate chips to the mix, it only adds about 20 calories per muffin.

Still waiting...

2010-02-27T21:24:00.001-08:00

We are still waiting to find out where we are moving to this summer. I will post as soon as we hear anything which hopefully will be soon.

Keeping Up…

2010-02-10T21:56:00.001-08:00

I am sorry I have been so far behind already this year. With the classes I am in this term, Dan being gone, working on the house, and just daily life~I have fallen behind. I have pictures taken and next week when this term ends, before I get too bogged down with the next classes I will work to get some pictures posted.

For now, just some quick updates~

Dan is now in California, the second half of his classes he has to take. We are a third of the way done with his being gone. I was spoiled and got to see him last week in Vegas for two days and that was a ton of fun, plus a much needed break for both of us. We are counting the days because we expect to get our orders in the next month to find out where we are heading to this summer. Just hoping it is something we want…

I am getting busier and busier with school and doing photo shoots on the side.

The kids are all doing well, and growing like crazy. Trent turns 15 next week! SO hard to believe. Hope everyone is doing well, and I will post again soon….

Pictures and an update…

2009-10-02T23:07:00.001-07:00

Things in our home life are just crazy as usual. I did finally get to scrapbook last week at my mom’s house for the first time in almost a year. I am in between classes at school and had one week to take advantage of the extra “play” time. Dan is still working 12-14 hours every day at his job, but he at least got to postpone his next class so he will get to stay home through the holidays.

The kids are fully involved in so much that it fills any free time. Trent is on the Junior Varsity Soccer team at school and in the marching band at the high school. He is also suppose to start playing in the Great Falls Youth Orchestra in the next couple of weeks. Blake is in tackle football, and loving every minute of it. Kati is still seeing her dyslexia tutor regularly and it is so good to see her improvements. Cole is just as busy as ever being a typical two year old--in to EVERY thing.

I will try to do a bit better keeping everyone updated. For now, enjoy some pics of the last month or so in our house.

Entertainment with Cole

2009-08-31T21:17:00.000-07:00

So I took the kids to the mall to finish school shopping. Cole was bored and getting quite fussy. The guy at the shoe place gave him a mini basketball to play with and then put on some dance videos. Cole started to just jam out in the middle of the store. He is always good for a few laughs!

Then he proceeded to drag Kati into it, and followed that up by dancing on the benches.

Sorry the videos aren't that great, they were just taken on my phone.

First Day of School

2009-08-31T20:20:00.001-07:00

Just the pics of the kids first day of school….

Cole didn’t start school, but I didn’t want him to feel left out. :)

July Happenings

2009-08-02T20:23:00.001-07:00

We have had a fun busy month. Here are just a few photos for a recap.

Mini Vacation Trips

2009-06-29T21:36:00.001-07:00

Over the last two weeks we have taken a few mini trips around the area-Yellowstone, Bozeman, Virginia City, Nevada City, and Idaho Falls. It has been a lot of fun and we have seen a bunch of cool things. Here are some pictures of the trip to let you see what we have been seeing.

Kati is 7!

2009-06-15T07:34:00.001-07:00

I can’t believe how time flies. Kati had her seventh birthday last week. We had a slumber party for her birthday, and the girls all had a total blast.

Fire in Great Falls

2009-05-30T14:41:00.000-07:00

{This first image was posted in the Great Falls Tribune, taken by their photographer}

We have had one of the worst weekends last weekend. Dan and I were called at one am Sunday morning and told that the building that my apartment building shares a wall with was on fire. It was a historic building we bought with my parents three years ago so I would have somewhere larger to move my scrapbook store into. I ended up selling the store about a year ago, but the new owner still has the store there, and we have 16 apartments above the store, with about 20 tenants.

Our building never caught fire (except for a little on the roof), but we now have almost 20 people with no homes due to the extensive water and smoke damge. Red Cross will put them up for three days and that expires soon, then they will have nowhere to go. So far we have been so blessed by people stepping forward to help and donations. We have managed to find temporary homes for everyone, and will try to help them find permanent new residents. Most of these people are low income, elderly, and have no means to get by without ending up on the street.

It was the most heartwrenching thing to watch all Saturday night. If you could mind sending prayers up that we can get help for our tenants to get them through, help them find homes. I woult truly appreciate it. We were told it would take most likely between 6-12 months to have the building fixed.

I am including some photos.

{This was shot on Sunday while they were still putting water on the building to keep fires from restarting. Our building is the one that is three stories tall. It looks like the fourth one in the line, but the first three, even though different colors on front, were all one building.}

{This shot is from the roof of our building looking into the Public Drug building.}

{This is the inside of one of the apartments on the third floor.}

Giant Springs...

2009-04-23T06:10:00.000-07:00

Took the kids to Giant Springs to play at the park.

Happy Easter!

2009-04-12T20:55:00.000-07:00

We hope you all had a great Easter holiday!

Love being in Montana

2009-04-12T20:48:00.000-07:00

On the way home from a road trip this week, this is what was on the side of the road! I just love getting to see this beautiful country and the wonderful creatures that live on it.

Warmer Weather...

2009-03-19T21:43:00.000-07:00

of course to Blake, means more time for ball.

Trent is turning 14!!!!!

2009-02-14T16:26:00.000-08:00

Can you believe how time flies! Our Trent turns 14 tomorrow. He had a paintball party with his friends and family. The kids had a blast and got thoroughly dirty. A perfect party for boys.

Blake in all his gear, waiting to practice fire his gun.

My dad, Garry, giving me the "look". LOL

Trent and Andreas picking teammates.

S'more Time

2009-01-09T20:45:00.001-08:00

To go with my Photo of the Day I have been trying to take. I got some fun ones of the kids eating smores. It is always such a nice treat on a cold night.

Our Dear Addy

2009-01-08T16:19:00.000-08:00

This week has been a rough one for Addy and our family. Our beagle of seven years, got very sick on Sunday. Monday the vet diagnosed her with acute pancreatitus. After three days of IV fluids and meds she is now home and doing much better. This afternoon she even walked back to the vets office (less than two blocks away) and got her IV line removed.

Even MORE snow...

2009-01-02T19:35:00.000-08:00

Yep, today we got another six inches or more. It is just unbelievable outside. Dan and Kati had a blast out on the 4-wheeler today though.

Christmas Morning....

2008-12-31T07:17:00.000-08:00

We hope that everyone had a very Merry Christmas!!!! We enjoyed a great family day together. We are so thankful for a wonderful holiday season and this past great year!

Blake turned 11...

2008-12-29T16:12:00.000-08:00

Here are a couple of pics from his slumber party he had with his friends on the 19th.

We did have him use his own small cake for the face in the cake. He loved it.

We have a new family member....

2008-12-14T21:45:00.001-08:00

Welcome to Angus, our new Jack Russell terrier puppy. We picked him up on Thursday, and the kids are just loving him. Addy, our beagle, is getting use to him too, and today was caught playing chasing him around a few different times.

Cole's First Haircut

2008-12-08T20:34:00.000-08:00

Dustin was honored to get to do Cole's first haircut. He has been cutting all the boys hair in the family for years. Cole did great since he had a truck and a sucker to distract him.

Basketball season is upon us....

2008-12-06T11:10:00.000-08:00

Trent is in his second year of playing basketball and he really enjoys it.

Halloween Pics

2008-11-01T13:28:00.001-07:00

Finally home...

2008-09-12T11:45:00.000-07:00

We were gone a week and a half on our long awaited family vacation. I am posting a few pics from the trip. We made it to Idaho, Utah, Las Vegas, Hoover Dam, Grand Canyon, Sedona, and Phoenix. It was fun, but it is nice to be home too.

Idaho Falls Temple

Boys at Hoover Dam

Grand Canyon

Cole in the van

Typical Trent...

2008-07-16T14:20:00.000-07:00

Trent loves to text and it tends to drive us crazy. This is a typically what we can find Trent doing.

First Day of practice....

2008-06-16T18:42:00.000-07:00

Today was Kati's first day of soccer practice for the season. Trent, Blake, and Kati all have their first games this week too.

Walking with Cole

2008-06-15T20:19:00.000-07:00

This is just a pic of Cole and I going out for a walk downtown on Friday.

WOW-Montana Weather!!!

2008-06-11T14:20:00.000-07:00

You won't believe what we woke up to this morning, over 6 inches of snow.

Not a common sight to see bird feet prints in the snow, since usually they wait until it is "warm" to come around.

Then by this afternoon it has warmed up and almost all melted off. I was just shocked to see the difference in the neighbors trees and bushes from being weighted down by the snow. Can you believe this is the same house just a few hours later. We were without power for over 8 hours. There are trees down all over town too.

Kati's Birthday

2008-06-10T19:22:00.000-07:00

Kati had a swimming pool birthday party. The kids had a blast swimming and eating cake.

Malmstrom Air Show

2008-05-18T21:03:00.000-07:00

Today we took the kids to see the air show and open house at the base. The Canadian flying team the Snowbirds flew. It was the first time they were back to Great Falls to perform since one of their pilots died in a plane crash one year ago when they were here for an air show. The kids had a blast, even Cole loved watching them fly overhead. The 85 degree weather and snowcones made it a perfect day!

Kati's Mother's Day Program at school

2008-05-11T14:04:00.000-07:00

Here are a few from Kati's Mother's Day program at school on Friday, even one with her teacher, Mrs. Evans. Kati is front row center in the group shot. Dan had to work until last minute, he showed up in his uniform, but luckily he made it to see the program.

Cole tried to "sing" along with the kids, which was entertaining. Kati's class sang 5 different family, mother and father songs. The hat she is wearing was the gift that she made for me for Mother's Day.

Getting caught up...

2008-05-11T13:41:00.001-07:00

Since I was so busy with the store's five year anniversary on the 3rd I haven't had much time to get all the pics of the family posted. I will do better on keeping up. :)

Here are some from May 6th when we were working on the flower beds.

April 29th-Around the house

2008-05-11T13:34:00.001-07:00

The kids were doing some chores and Cole was munching on Cheetos.

April 26th

2008-05-11T13:31:00.000-07:00

It was so warm on the 26th that Kati and I took Cole for a walk.

Snow, snow, and MORE snow!

2008-04-20T16:34:00.000-07:00

We woke up this morning to over a foot of snow (after Friday being 60 degrees!) The first pic is of Trent and the neighbors guys digging the gal's car out from across the street. The next one is of Trent and Cole just watching the snow fall.

Dan & Cole wrestling~

2008-04-18T14:58:00.000-07:00

Cole

2008-04-18T14:54:00.001-07:00

Just a pic of Cole that I got today.

Cole turned ONE today!!!

2008-04-14T20:37:00.000-07:00

Cole first thing this morning. He had his cake today and ate it too. It was EVERYWHERE! The kids just laughed at him. Now they all think they should be able to have their own cakes on their birthdays, and eat them without any silverware. :)

Finally 70s

2008-04-13T21:23:00.000-07:00

It finally got above 70 here today so we took the kids out most of the afternoon. It wasn't until I looked back at the pitcures that I was just SHOCKED at how tall Trent has gotten.

Blake

2008-04-13T21:11:00.000-07:00

I took Blake out on Friday to shoot some downtown photos.

Kids Swim Lessons

2008-03-07T10:26:00.001-08:00

Trent, Blake and Kati are in swim lessons the next couple of weeks. Here are some pics from class.