Corgi Picnic!

Last Saturday we attended Shorty's Corgi clubs annual picnic! The weather was perfect - not too hot and not too cold - and a fun time was had by all. There is just something delightful about a huge Pack of happy, hungry ( Corgi's are always hungry!) Corgi's and their people.

Ella and Shorty did a great job participating in the games and did surprisingly well considering their, well, um, you know... ;) They placed in the middle of the competitions which wasn't bad considering Ella was the youngest participant and Shorty was the fattest! Frank had a great time throwing ball after ball to packs of excited Corgi's and really enjoyed the SHORT dogs.

Shorty and Ella even got their picture in the paper!

There was even a buffalo at the Picnic. Only in Montana!

There is always plenty of K9 company when the food comes out!

Shorty and his handler, Ella, competing in the maize and obstacle competition

Good job Shorty boy!

The audience, cheering participants on

Pools are good for drinking and of course...

... swimming!

The fishing game was a hoot! You had to hook the fish, your Corgi had to bite or mouth the fish, then you had to put it in the bucket.

Some of the Corgi's didn't want to touch the fish but not Shorty! He actually started taking off with it! He became obsessed with them!

No no Shorty! You're not suppose to be taking them OUT of the bucket!

Frankie, running with the Corgi's

One tired little Corgi on the way home

Ella and the amazing raffle prize that was given to us!

Frank and I with a bag of chicken bread on our laps

Ella and a little friend who we did NOT bring home with us!

VBS!

Last week was the kid's first week of Vacation Bible School. I say first week because there is another VBS in town this week that they are going to, as well! Last week's was at the Baptist church in Bridger - there were 18 to 20 kids that participated which in my book was about perfect. Granny was recruited to be in charge of the Bible Stories (which is the most important part of a VBS!) and I was asked to be in charge of outdoor games. Yes, games and ME! Ha ha! So the entire family went every day and we all had fun.

The kids were able to make a lot of friends and I was impressed with how truly friendly Bridger locals are. We actually don't hang with many expat children in Uganda because they are so very odd and I'm a bit choosy when it comes to who I subject my children to! Ella came to the States a little afraid of groups of white kids as a result of some of the experiences we've had, so thanks to our friendly Bridger locals, she is totally over that fear now!

My two happy little participants

Crafts

Bible Stories with Granny

Games with me ;)

Snacks

An indoor game not led by me!

Ella transporting a cotton ball on a spoon

Frankie transporting a cotton ball on a spoon!

We split the kids up into two groups for Bible story and crafts, then were all together for everything else. Ella and Frankie were in different groups and did just great. I was there simply to help and not because my kids needed me there AT ALL! I was actually a little sorry for them that their mother WAS there but they didn't mind a bit. There was of course a rather comic element to the whole thing, with my game on the first day being a flop (thanks to some of the bigger "helpers") and Granny forgetting her own grandson's name and calling him "Hank". Ha ha! For some reason I really liked that :)  

I was amazed several times to see my two children, who I've worked so hard with, behaving like perfectly normal, NICE, kids. Both kids are just so balanced and NORMAL (relatively speaking that is ;). To see little Frankie happily sitting there, fully engaging with others and what was going on around him, was truly a miracle. Sometimes I forget just how far Frankie's come from the fat little disassociated lump of a baby boy that he used to be. Now he happily interacts with others, can snap out of a pout and NEVER shuts down! Only God could do that folks!

I also had a good time seeing people (and their children whom I've never met before!) that I haven't really seen in 7+ years. I'm really feeling it this trip over, how disengaged I am from this community! I think I'm the one that's changed more than anything!

Adventure to Yellowstone - without me!

We're still having some fun in Montana! I am continually amazed at how well the kids are doing. They are such good, well balanced little people!

Granny and Grandpa had been planning a trip through Yellowstone over Memorial Day with us and their German foreign exchange student, Marie, and her family. The kids were way excited but unfortunately I am not a very enthusiastic Yellowstone traveler (I'm not sure why - overkill as a youngster? Too many reports I had to write on thermal features?) and was really dreading the trip. 

Granny started reading the kids the book Cubby in Wonderland a few weeks ago, in preparation for their trip (Frankie's first!). This is a GREAT book, written in 1932, about a little bear who goes through Yellowstone, with his mother. It explains about the different thermal features, water falls, animals, etc, and is really just a great, fun book. It got the kids, especially young Frankie, all psyched up and they were raring to go! After a bit of thought, Granny and I determined that this would be a perfect opportunity for the kids to have an adventure and actually spend the night away without me! Neither child has ever spent the night away from me since I've brought them home. Over four years ago for Ella! So we figured now would be a good time and the perfect opportunity. So Monday morning I waved goodbye to my little family and off they went, leaving Shorty the Corgi and I with two days alone!

The kids had a great time and Shorty and I had a great time. Even Granny had an okay time, despite the fact that Ella was having some pretty serious "medical moment's" all of Tuesday, which required Granny to spend a lot of time in Yellowstone bathrooms, waiting for lil' "Plug". Enough said about that, but next time before a trip we're not giving Ella cheesy enchiladas!

It was a little rainy at times but they had a good time and saw a lot of different animals. Even a baby moose! They caught a glimpse of a Grizzly before even entering the Park, but were happy to see a bunch of bears and a wolf at one of the wildlife centers in the Park.

Waiting to get into the Park - the road was closed!

Granny giving a nature lesson ;) Once a homeschool mom, always a homeschool mom I guess. Makes for a pretty cool Granny though!

Looks cold!

The Pack Leader and her pups

By Yellowstone Falls

The Scout, who was very knowledgeable because he remembered the Cubby book ;)

Frankie, talking to his mother on Monday night. I'd never talked to my kids on the phone before!

The international crew - German, American and Ugandan - waiting for something

My cubs at the wildlife center, coming out of a cave

A wolf, right where it should be. In Yellowstone in a pen - NOT eating some ranchers sheep or cows!

Ella took this picture of Grandpa

The H Crew, with their knowledgeable Ugandan guides. Frankie thought he was an expert on Yellowstone, thanks to Granny reading him Cubby in Wonderland!

Touching the warm water

Granny told me that everyone was "dragging butt" in this picture. It was near the end of their day ;)

The international crew waiting for Old Faithful Geyser to go off

Ella was given the camera and proceeded to take lots of pictures of the crowds :)

Oh, and she did manage to get one of Old Faithful spouting off, too!

Shorty and I had a good time at home, watching Netflicks, folding 300 folders and listening to Rush Limbaugh. We were happy to see the travelers return though! It was a good experience for all!