The snow has finally arrived!

Winter has come to the great state of Montana and the ground is now covered with a wonderful white stuff called snow. I love these early snow storms, when the snow is wet and heavy and the roads stay clear or at worst a little slushy, pretty much like spring storms It isn't too cold out but it is cold enough to light a fire in the fireplace and have a wonderful excuse to make some hot chocholate and curl up watching a good movie and just be lazy. We have settled into the routine around the Wynia house. Josh is about midway through the semester and even has two of his midterms under his belt and he is doing amazing. We were a little worried since Josh hadn't been to school in so many years and when he did go to school.... well let's just say that going to class and doing his homework were at the bottom of his priority list. So we are pleased and relieved at the same time. Kendra and Ethan are still loving school and are making many new friends. Kendra even had a birthday party last night and now another one today. Things are so different when she is gone because Ethan just doesn't know what to do with himself. Let's just say that he is getting quite a bit of practice time on the Wii.
Preston is enjoying spending time over at papa's house even though he mostly just takes his naps there because Josh only has one class on campus, but he always has a story to tell me about papa's house. That little boy jabbers and jabbers but can hardly get an understandable word out. One of these days he is going to amaze us and start talking so that we can actually understand.
I am enjoying work a little more these days and I feel good. My ultrasound is Monday so we have been counting down for it. I can't wait to find out if this baby is a boy or girl, lets just hope that the baby cooperates.

The Wii

As I was downloading the pictures to the computer I saw some from my company picnic last month. I had been meaning to share this story but had forgotten too. When we got home from the picnic Josh even said, "man you need to blog about this!" So here goes.

I work for Stillwate Mining Company, it is great company that does a lot for it's employees and the community. They are a big part of Zoo Montana and so the Company picnic was held there. I had never been to our zoo before and Josh kept telling me how lame it was but I figured it couldn't be that bad. Well it was! It looks like the zoo has been abandoned for years. The place was covered in dead leaves. The animal habitats were a mess, some animals had watering holes in their areas and the watering holes were halfway dried up and full of mud and nastyness. It was not what I had even thought a zoo could possibly look like.

There was a lot for the kids to do, slides and bounce houses and of course food. They had a treasure hunt set up for the kids to hunt through straw for quarters and gold dollars. We had finished doing some activies and they were giving away prizes. There were all kinds of prizes from TV's to flashlights. They got through about a third of the prizes and said that they were going to do more in about an hour. I wanted to walk through the zoo since I hadn't done that yet and I was hoping that Preston would go to sleep in his stroller. It was super hot and miserable out and the zoo wasn't much to look at. Preston did fall asleep and I was more than ready to get back and it was almost time for more prizes. When we finally headed back Josh heard them calling numbers. Very distantly he heard them call HIS number. We were still far away but he kicked off his flip flops and started running down the trail and yelling that was his number. I love my husband very much, but sometimes I will say he is just a tad bit embarassing out in public. I didn't want all 600 of those people knowing that it was my crazy husband running and yelling through the zoo with no shoes on. So I took my time making it back to the crowd.

Apparently when he finally made it they had just called another number and they had gotten the phone. The guy that was drawing the tickets could tell that Josh had ran and that his face was all red. He made a deal with him, the next prize that didn't get claimed he could have. I was still wary of associating with him after his little stunt so I took Kendra to the bathroom and to get a sno-cone. On our way back they were giving away the final prize of the group, the Wii. They called out the number and all that was heard was groans. They called the number for what seemed like forever. The guy reminded everyone of the deal that he had made with Josh and gave it the final going once, twice, gone! They handed us the Wii! Josh was so excited and everyone else in the crowd was....not so excited. I could just see everyone watching us, I told Josh that it was time to get out of there. So Josh ran and put the Wii in the car and we headed over to the climbing wall for one last activity.

Kendra had been asking to do the climbing wall while we were at the fair so this was perfect, hardly any line and FREE! She was doing really well and got about halfway up when she started to hesitate. She went a little further and then she was in tears! She wouldn't let go of the wall so that we could get her down and she was just out of our reach. I had to explain what all of the ropes were for and finally convinced that she could just let go and they would slowly pull her down. So the company picnic was VERY eventful, Kendra ended it in tears of fear and Josh ended it in tears of joy, well not really but pretty close. Ethan loves the Wii and Kendra could care less. I really enjoy it and after the first weekend my arms were pretty sore. So if anyone ever wants to come on over and play, let us know, we are now the proud owners of a Wii.

I Just Can't Seem to Pull it Together

Every night as I head home from work I tell myself that I am going to blog! Then I get the kids, get home, go to soccer, get dinner, try and get caught up on laundry or dishes, bathe the kids and get them in bed. (Josh is almost always at work) By then I seem to be finding myself completely exhausted! I have even gone to bed as early as 8:30 once this week. I am feeling better and last night I even cleaned the entire kitchen, something I hadn't done in far too long. :) So I am going to recap and hopefully add pictures at some point.

Kendra and Ethan have both started school, HORRAY!!! Last week Ethan's teacher told Josh how smart Ethan is and how great he is doing. I wondered how long it would take before she said something, Ethan was overly prepared for School by his wonderful older sister. That same day Kendra's teacher pulled Josh aside and told him that she had been caught starting her math before the teacher said go. So we had to have the cheating talk with her that night. I will say that I am suprised that Ethan doesn't crash when he gets home at night since they go to school all day every day even in kindergarden, but he is like the energizer bunny, as soon as he gets home he is out the door to play with his friends.

Over labor day we went to Boise Idaho for a visit. We went to the Zoo, the Discovery Center, visited my cousin Rhonda and her family, and saw some friends of ours. Amy and her family also came up from Utah so we got to see them so that was awesome. I also did a bit of shopping. Ok a lot of shopping! We had a really good time and enjoyed the trip. Josh and I each celebrated a birthday while we were on vacation. Man we seem to be getting old, ok not really, but time really does fly by.

Josh started his first full semester back as a college student! It has been a wee bit stressful, but seems to be going good. Josh is still trying to fall into a routine. I told him that probably won't happen until he has finished the first test in each of his classes. I know that is about how long it took for me each semester and after that test you kind of know what to expect and how to best prepare. We are very excited to be starting this part of our lives, even if we are doing it completely backwards from most people.

Kendra and Ethan are both in soccer and have had their first games. Kendra scored a goal in the very beginning of the game and ended the game in tears. I warned the coach that she is a very emotional little girl and that we try to ignore it. Ethan did well and was so fun to watch, at one point he was throwing the ball in from the sidelines and his teamate caught it, TOO FUNNY!

So that is what we have been up to these days. Hope everyone is enjoying the start of their fall as much as we are. Let's just say that my life right now is like a new adventure every day! I guess I should get back to work, my lunch time is over. And maybe tonight will be the night and I can actually post some picutres.

How does this even happen?

I went to the doctor today and I got to hear the heartbeat, which was awesome! My doctor is so funny, with both Preston and this one he has said, "Well you are doing great, your body knows just what to do." Which I interpret as, man you are already huge! Anyways, when I walked in the door Josh infoms me that Preston has just had some yogurt. I turn around to see Preston and this is what I find....








Our kids love yogurt so much that we just buy the big tubs of it and put it in a bowl. Well apparently Preston decided to try out the bowl on his head. He thought it was quite comical and was playing with it and then licking his hands, GROSS! Needless to say I made Josh take him straight to the bathtub and as I was washing his hair I had to pick out pieces of strawberries. OH MAN!

The last days of freedom

We went to the fair last weekend and had a great time, ate some wonderful food, and took some silly pictures. I just had to laugh when Kendra looked at the pictures and asked, "which one is me and which one is Ethan?" Even she couldn't tell, man my kids look a lot alike.




Josh took Ethan to get his hair cut for school. Ethan does pretty well getting his hair cut as long as they don't raise the chair too high, he says he is afraid of heights. He came home, I told him how handsome he was and asked him how it went. He told me, "she was afraid of heights and afraid of water!" Apparently the gal that cut her hair was very open with him.

Lazy Days of Summer

It is amazing to me how much kids Preston's age learn each day. He is always discovering something new, saying a new word, or getting into something new. As I watch Preston's personality grow and develop I see once again how different we each are and how different my children each are. We each have something different that we bring to this world and we all have our own strengths and weaknesses. Preston is definitely testing my patience, he is into everything, always moving, and demands attention. He wants to be with his brother and sister all of the time and he loves to make messes. These are pictures that I took of him after he discovered how to open some lip gloss of mine. It was the kind that has a wand in it with a fuzzy type end. Preton thought he would use it not only as make-up but also like a q-tip! HE HAD IT EVERYWHERE!



The worst was when I actually used a q-tip to clean up his ears and the q-tip ended up bright pink!

I wonder if Preston will be as smart as his brother and sister? He definitely loves to read, even if it is one of my books. I couldn't help but to take his picture, he was using a pillow, his blanket from his crib, and has a doll on his belly that he was snuggling up with too. SO SWEET!


Well summer is quickly drawing to a close. We celebrated Ethan's birthday about a month ago but here are some pictures from the event. Ethan insisted on having a "Bowling Party" so we went to sunset bowl and had a blast. And I have to add that they are the best place to have a party. They charge per lane per hour so you can put as many people on a lane as you want and if the kids don't finish the game or start a second one it doesn't matter. So for those of you around Billings I highly recommend Sunset bowl, especially if you have a lot of people attending. Everyone got to bowl and it was fun for the kids and adults!




This is Justin, Josh's younger brother. Can ya tell they are related?

Always posing!

The birthday boy

This is Amy sporting our dad's stylin socks. She didn't think that she would bowl, but once she got there she couldn't say no. For once we were grateful that my dad wore socks with his sandels :)

Aunt Julie Helped Preston to bowl. He wouldn't stay back, he always has to be in the middle of everything.

Sweet as Pie

Preston is always into everything. Apparently he didn't like the cool whip.

This one is a classic Preston mess. Apparently he loves the oatmeal. He carries all around the kitchen and front room. Occassionaly he gets a measuring cup and bowl and "measures" himself out a bowl of oatmeal. But it eventually all ends up on the floor.

This is Preston with his little cousin Presleigh. Amy was able to come and visit for a week. We had such a good time and the kids loved their aunt and cousin. I have a few more pictures that I will try and post.