Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

Well, the Montana honeymoon is over! Last night the temperature dropped, the rain turned into snow and luckily IT STUCK! These parts have really needed the moisture so this is GREAT for all the crops and our grass. Not so great for the neighbors new calf that was born yesterday, but hey. Montana Angus are tough.

We covered all the tomatoes last evening before the temperature dropped but midnight found Granny and I out in 32*'s covering the peppers that we'd forgotten! Being a gardener in Montana is a torturous thing, as evidenced by my poor, determined mother. The poor woman just never gives up. You'd think after 40 years of trying she would!

I figured once Ella, who sleeps in the top bunk, woke up and saw the snow this morning there'd be no stopping the kids. And I was right! Our morning started bright and early at 6:30am and by 7:00am we were all out in the snow! Two hours later, we came in :) Ugandans are a tough breed and seem to love snow!

It's a darn good thing Granny found these thermals at Walmart for $2.00 each, even if they are on the small end of things...

Ha ha!! No comment ;)

The Ninja. Think his mittens are big enough?

Ready!

Frankie's first taste of snow!

Rolling snow balls

I'm just waiting for a call from Hanes asking Frankie to advertise their underwear for them ;)

Awww, the happy family!

Grandpa

Somehow this wasn't what they'd imagined it would be like ;)

With Grandpa

Tempting or what?? I'm proud to report that I resisted the urge!

Eating snow is fun!

Frankie, Granny, and a Montana snowman!

Cowgirl snowman!

This odd child built a snow tower with her Grandpa, then proceeded to take it apart and haul it away in a sled (?) Maybe that's what they do in Uganda ;)

Little did she know the danger she was in! Again, I'm SO proud of myself for resisting the urge to load those little pants up with snow :)

Giant snowball!

Granny has a way of making everything into a PARTY!! Out she came with some cups, spoons and smoothie juice to make snow cones!

Mmmmmm!

Happy Tots!

Throw in a burn barrel and you have a real party!

Coffee for the adults!

Now this is a sight you don't see often. A couple of Ugandans, in the snow, crowded around a burn barrel with smoothie mix! No, these children are not homeless... ;)

Hmmm, somehow I think it might take a while for these jeans to dry. Spring time in Montana!

Like a Montana gardener, plants that do survive in Montana are persistent and hardy!

I'm so glad for everyone that we got some snow! And so glad that we didn't come to Montana in the winter time :) 

Back in the U.S.A

Hello from the U.S.A! We have actually been here for almost a month, having rolled into Denver on April 23rd into the eager arms of my parents. We spent one day in Denver where we met my old college bud, Beth, and her little almost two year old, and went to the Denver Zoo. The next day we drove on up to Montana and well, the rest is history... ;)

Granny, Ella, Frankie, Beth and Sierra at the Denver Zoo

Frankie's first carousel ride!

Yeehaw!

Happy Tots at the zoo!

And then... we arrived!

And we were happy!

Fascinated by the dead coyote that was by the welcome to MT sign. Could barely haul Ella away ;)

The Ugandan cowpokes, "styled up" as Ella calls it, getting ready for their first ride 

The Cowgirl

The Cowboy

The Cowdog, Shorty

The Cowboy and his Grandpa

First hotdog roast, with Granny

Serious business, roasting a hotdog...

First family horse ride!

Special moment with Fixie, my 24 year old horse whom I've had since I was 8 years old.

Adventures on the Clarks Fork.  No matter where we are, in Uganda or Montana, our tastes don't change. Grab a dog and head to a large body of water and putter around!

Nothing like a jam around the fire pit with Tiffany's cello and our accordions!

Fun!

Team Roping in Billings - Frankie's first cowboy event

Loads of steers!

Cowgirls

Cowpokes watching the action and planning for their day in the ring!

The kids were able to start T-ball. They love it!

Out fielder Frankie

Lefty batter up!

Home run Ella!

And here's Frankie getting a ride in his first tractor, at my favorite farm in the whole wide world.

As you can see, we've been having a lot of fun in the last month! The kids (especially Frankie) have been experiencing a lot of firsts and I've been able to sneak down to Wyoming and go riding with my friend Tiffany. We promptly came down with some nasty colds when we got here, which, four weeks later, we're still trying to overcome. The kids are having the time of their lives and it's so fun to see them enjoying themselves. They are doing far better than I ever imagined, too! I had anticipated some issues with Frankie and last time Ella struggled with the food here, but so far both kids are doing great! It was hard to leave our new home and Pack, but it is good to be here too.