Preg Checking the Cows

A few weeks back, my family all got together to help preg check all the cows. I took the kids up for about the last half hour. The weather was perfect. I can't wait until these two are big enough to help ride so that I can go too! Carter was fascinated by all the noise and commotion. Above she's catching a ride with Aunty Gwynny to go check out all the calves that had been sorted off from their mommas for weaning.

Robert and my brother Clint running the chute.

Aunty Gwynny answering all of Carter's 700 questions.

Updated pic

Things have been super busy and I'm trying really hard not to stop blogging, but I have to admit it's a bit low on the priority list right now. I'm trying to type right now with Chase on my lap so this is going to be short. Robert just came over to remind me that he did dinner and dishes tonight so I had some time right now. Ha! As if I don't have 300 other things! Sleeping comes to mind... I'm doing the books for two businesses: Roberts and my grandparents Internet business, and I'm trying to doing some projects for my other employer, MoonFire on the side...not to mention keep up with two kids. I'm feeling a tad overwhelmed by it all some days, but we're figuring out how to make it work. All my family has been so much help. I particularly love Vashti for coming over on Wednesdays after school to help Carter burn off a little energy. (Someday I will repay this favor, TiTi!) I was briefly on the phone yesterday and I could hear Carter up to something in the kitchen. As soon as I got off the phone I raced over to find her making a butter sandwich--A whole stick of butter mashed on a piece of bread, whatever honey she could dig out of the honey tub, and about a cup of oatmeal scattered on top (and all over the counter and floor...). Strangely enough, she couldn't eat more than two bites before she decided she was very very full.

Carter is always trying to hold Chase's hand, give him kisses and really wants to play with him. Her new favorite is hide and seek. I have him laying on the bed and she hides behind my pillows and peeks out at him. Carter thinks this is hilarious. Chase has started smiling and cooing (ya!! Carter never cooed AT ALL!) I'm trying to get a picture of it. With any luck, I'll even get it posted!

Halloween

We had a pretty laid back Halloween--just went to a couple family houses and called it a night. Carter had a ball--Robert dressed her up as a rodeo clown and she loved her outfit despite the fact that she could barely walk in it without tripping. Checking out the loot...

Jake hoping Carter has a little something in there for him!

Chase tried really hard to sleep through the whole thing. I was a bad mom and didn't have a costume for him. I was pretty proud I managed to find the "My First Halloween" onesie but that was the extent. I doubt he thought he missed out this year!

Halloween Treats!

Carter spotted a magazine article about making bug cupcakes and for a week it was all she could talk about. Everytime you asked her what she wanted she would run and find the magazine and point out the article--"Lets make these mom!". Sigh. So I talked my sister into coming to town with me to shop for all the needed supplies and did my best. They looked cuter in the magazine but Carter and I had fun. Chase wasn't much help yet.

The chocolate cake recipe I used sunk, but that meant we had to add more frosting...a bonus in Carter's opinion. It was fun and Carter was upset when they were all gone, even though she had ate most of them! (Well picked the candy off and licked off the frosting.)

Snowman

This heavy wet snow was just perfect snowman snow, so Robert and Carter built up a great one in our front yard. I think the eyes are sink strainers...

SNOW!!

A big snow storm moved in on Friday and really dumped some snow out on our place. Billings only 20 miles or so east didn't get nearly as much as we did...It sounds like even my parents only 7 miles east didn't get as much we did. It looks pretty nasty out. I'm using Chase as my excuse to stay home!
The two black bottle calves showed up on the porch this morning trying to eat the crab apple tree...I think the pickings were getting a bit slim!

The snow has really been piling up and there is still more to come. The storm isn't supposed to move out until Monday morning. I'm starting to feel a bit stir crazy...nothing like being cooped up with a toddler and a husband who suddenly decided that he likes to watch football!

Snuggling with baby brother

Carter loves giving baby brother kisses and trying to snuggle up with him. Hopefully she will always like him this much...Gramma Pat said that my Aunties thought my dad was a pretty fun new addition right up until he got big enough to start getting into their stuff. Then the war was on!

Avery and Chase

Avery is fascinated with Chase and really really would love to crawl in his car seat and maul him. Every time she sees him, she instantly gravitates to where ever he is and you can't hardly distract her with anything else. It's pretty cute...

The Big Sister

Much to my surprise, Carter has really liked being a big sister. I was so sure that she was going to hate having competition for her mom, but that hasn't happened at all. She loves to help out with little brother, and told Robert and I that we could NOT take him back and that we had to keep him. Well...good thing since he's here to stay!

Carter was helping me get new batteries in the swing for Chase. This was her favorite chair to watch movies in until Chase showed up. I figured the first time I put Chase in it, she'd dump him out, but she happily lets him sit in it and really wants to help swing him.

Carter's new favorite game has been Peek a Boo with brother. I lay him on the bed and she hides behind my pillows and peeks out at him. Not sure how much he is getting out of it at this point but Carter has a ball!

A few late September pictures....

A few pictures of Chase (while he is actually awake!) that I took in September. He looks a bit shiny since I had lanolin all over his face to help with the eczema. His face got pretty sore looking, but the lanolin sure helped. He's been a pretty easy baby so far...in comparison to his sister!
Chase really likes his car seat and sleeps awesome in it. Sometimes if I'm having trouble getting him to nap, I just put him in his car seat and he's out. Carter at his age (and even now sometimes) was sure that a car seat was a medieval torture device designed by the devil and would scream until she threw up every time I put her in it. Made trips to town very unappealing.