Spring = Friends

There is nothing better than shaking off the winter blahs with the first BBQ of the season and enjoying the company of your friends OUTSIDE!

Pete and I rolled the windows down of the new/old "75 Ford F-150 (puke green) and rode in style to the Kinsey's for our American Idol and lamb burger cookout.


For two blissful days, the weather was PERFECT!

Baby Sully enjoying his first BBQ and meeting some more people.

Happy, beautiful friends! Abby and Lee

Tony
Matt and Jeannette doing a typical googly eyed look at each other...

So if you care about Idol, we all think Adam Lambert is going to win - shocker!

Bellies Galore, American Idol and Friends

On Wednesday we had our weekly American Idol Party at the Kinsey's - the Blanks, Lynns, Davidsons and Howells were also in attendance. It was a good show! Better yet was the food! Peter and Libby were like two toddlers together (funny how only one as an ACTUAL toddler). We had to keep asking "where did Pete and Libby run off to?" We would ultimately find them playing in the yard or with toys downstairs. They are such good buddies. I can't wait to see Pete with our own kid.

Emily and Hermes are due TODAY and so Meggan took some great photos of the bellies. I think Emily and I are going to miss comparing our growing bumps, but are even more excited about spending a summer entertaining and playing with our new babies! I am still betting that they have a girl - Pete thinks it's a boy.

It was Tony's 35th Birthday on Idol Night, so we of course celebrated him and enjoyed judging more wanna be singers with the other 33 million american viewers.

These 33 week belly pics were taken by the FABULOUS Meggan and you can see more on their blog. Meggan will be doing some "professional" belly shots in April - I can't wait to see how big I am then!





Earlier that day I enjoyed spending time with some of my girls that I don't see nearly enough. Kyra came up with her little 2 year old Elly and Frances came over from Bozeman to show off her 4 month old Audrey. Frances and I spent the day hanging in Livingston and then we went to visit our girlfriend Deb who just had a beautiful baby boy - Devin. I got to spend time with a 1 week old, 4 month old and 2 year old all in one day - they were all so fun! I just can't decide which age is more fun!

BIG Day Out and About

We packed it in yesterday. Amy and Baby Cash are staying with us for a few days and we took full advantage of exposing Cash to the most exciting parts of Livingston --- Chadz for lunch and visiting with friends, walks downtown, trip to the ranch to see the horses, and of course AMERICAN IDOL NIGHT at the Kinsey's!

Pete and Gaucho - a self portrait from yesterday - it was just too good not to post.

Amy has been friends with Sally (who lives here in Livingston) for years. So, when she comes it is always an opportunity to catch up. We went to Chadz for lunch and to visit with Sally for a bit. Sally is prego and also due the first week of May with ANOTHER GIRL!

Uncle Pete had the magic touch for days - getting Cash to sleep with a gentle walk or word! Yay... I hope it will be the same for our little Girl.

Brother and sister taking a stroll in Livingston - the weather has been really warm - nearly 50 degrees on Tuesday!

We took a drive to the ranch to feed horses... Their is a large herd of elk grazing on one of the properties that we pass going to work each day... They are very cool.

Amy brought her two dogs - Fynn and Rope - along with our three, they are a sad site outside the window....

We introduced Amy and Cash to our weekly American Idol dinner and viewing night! First Idol of the season! Libby was THRILLED to have a baby in the house to take care of - she was very maternal. It was so great to see Meggan and Tony again and cannot wait for our weekly catch up, food and laughs.

Sweetie pie Meggan enjoying a little Cash-Time!

Pete wins "best uncle" award. Libby was constantly entertaining Cash with her favorite toys, showing him her favorite dances and how her "dress twirled" when she would spin.

Cash was not amused apparently at this moment - typical Cash look.

The kiddies were mesmerized by the ridiculous American Idol contestants!

Lee having fun with a baby again.

Finally, it was a very long day . . . Pete got Cash ready for bed and did some last minute playing. I think he's ready to be a dad!

My faith in Humanity has been restored!

Seriously, I wasn't THAT down on the human race, but it just got a HUGE boost after last night's American Idol finale. The really fun and entertaining battle of the Davids came to an end when longtime favorite and CLEARLY THE MOST TALENTED CONTESTANT of the season actually WON.

Who can't love little Archie's sappy sweetness and 13-year old heartthrob appeal, but come on! David Cook ROCKED every single song he did, was completely original, seemed like a genuine person, and reeked of talent. Plus, he truly embodied this ideal of American Dream. He didn't even go to the auditions for himself... he was there to support his brother, tried out on a whim and won the whole darn thing! His life has been turned upside down adn will forever be changed. You can't help but wonder what kind of forces are out their guiding your life when things like that happen. Amazing.

So, I have this great picture on my phone that I have NO IDEA how to get off, but it is of our Idol Dinner Group night... Lee and Matt furiously calling and voting . . . Over and over . . . and Over and over. Somewhat like little girls who just got a new cell phone. We all completely dorked out and went crazy on the voting that night. On final performance night the judges were clearly rooted for little boring Archuleta and we couldn't sit by and watch Cook not win... Couldn't do it. So, we probably won't be able ot pay bills this week b/c we spent so much on our cell phone bills voting, but it was all worth it when David Cook was announced as the winner.

After the show was over last night and we were sitting in silence thinking about the winner, all that had happened all season, and how much we'd miss watching David sing, Matt Blank actually said it felt "a bit like the end of hunting season" (which is a very sad and depressing time around here for many men and women). So sad.... Enjoy one of David's last songs... a remake of Roberta Flack's "First Time I Saw Your Face."

I am buying his album when it comes out.

Lame - O

Yep, that's me. Lame Blogger. At your service. Sorry folks for the hiatus.

This is what we have been up to since my last contact. No particular order.

Things I don't have pictures of:

1)Peter being TERRIFIED and hiding under the blankets during the following movies: I am Legend and The Invasion.

2) New Job duties - they include inventory, unpacking boxes, learning computer stuff, studying product books.

3) Planting 1/2 of my garden which included: lettuces, spinach, kale, broccoli, cauliflower, peas, sweet peas, rhubarb

4) Watching it SNOW 8 inches after a 70 degree day - worried about some of my garden

5) Amy Howell Hoffmann announcing that they are having a BOY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Things I do have pictures of:


Lots and lots of dog cuddling... An every minute occurance in this household... Seriously, can Gaucho be any cuter?

We spent a FABULOUS 2 days with Pete's parents at their house. Great dinners (of course), some yard work, errands, and enjoying the beautiful spring weather!
And Peter got his ailing feet rubbed by the massage master, John.

What you see ahead of the truck is what we call a "Montana Traffic Jam."
Yes, cars and trucks are stopped for an indeterminate amount of time for a cattle drive crossing. The Milesnick's were moving their angus cows from one pasture to another, having to cross the main road on Dry Creek. Not a bad reason to be stopped in the middle of the road.
Beats city smog anyday.

The cows and cowboys are safely to the other side of the road. Time to eat all spring and fatten those cutie pie babies up!

Peter and Chuck (Chuckles Borg) sporting the Beavers uniforms (the actual smell of these shirts was indescribable)

Nothing says "Recreation Adult Hockey League Championship Game" like a free keg, smelly hockey players, and some annoying fans.

We spent an evening in Bozeman to root our friends Matt, Mike, Scotty and others to a defending championship win. Their team the "Beavers" are really good and a lot of fun to watch. Especially when 1/2 of Livingston shows up to scream their brains out and empty the free keg of beer.

Ahh the Fans. Chuck, Pete, Brooke, Ryan and Kristen (among the dedicated)


Matt and Jeannette. Wow he was sweaty.

The Cox Family (Brad, Mike, Laurie, Caid) - supporting their dad.
Caid and Brad will soon be following in his championship footsteps.
PS - Mike didn't wash his hockey undies all season for superstition reasons (obviously, Laurie did NOT know about this pair of underwear . . . she would have never stand for dirty skivies). . .

At Idol Night tonight, I asked Libby if she'd draw a picture of Peter - since he wasn't there tonight I thought he'd like to know he was missed. We have been loving this phase of Mr Potato Head Art. This was Libby's interpretation of Peter.

Notice the "dots" that surround him - I think it's an "aura"
Notice the wrinkles on his forehead - I think it's that she senses his "soulfulness"
And my favorite is the 2 hairs on the top of his head - Yes, he might be balding
And of course, Pete's skinny skinny legs . . . Can't forget those.

Quite a nice depiction if I do say so myself.

That's a wrap.... I will try to keep a more update blog folks!

Out of the Closet

Because I have a short term memory problem it seems and keep double or triple booking us for engagements - We keep missing our Idol Night Party at the Kinseys . . . We are three full weeks behind in our gathering and watching. For excellent reasons of course (see post below), but last night was a monumental night. I have no idea how the contestants did but MATT BLANK finally owned up to his Idol addiction, came out of his Idol Closet, and WORE AN AMERICAN IDOL T-SHIRT (thanks for scoring that Lee). Jeanette and Matt are excellent additions to this Idol Groupie Loser Group. I miss Meggan and Tony, hearing little Libby's opinions of the singers, making fun of Ramiele (wait she is gone finally), and Simon. We will NOT be missing next week's party or show... Mark my words. After looking at Lee's PRIME RIB he prepared and seeing Matt humiliated in his t-shirt . . . Life just doesn't get much better!

American Idol.. We have a favorite

As many of you know, Peter and I have a longstanding "American Idol" night with our pals Meggan and Tony and Lee, Abby and Libby. Usually at this time of the competition in which there are 20 contestants, there isn't always a clear winner. I personally think there are many contestants that are simply "ok" this year, with a few that really stand out. However, there is ONE that I think is remarkable.

His name - David Archuleta, a very young contestant this year and the type of guy any mother would want as their son, any father would let their daughter date (is he old enought to date?). He is beyond ADORABLE and totally sincere. He sang my favorite song of all time on Tuesday and I think I might like his version as much or more than the original. I actually cried and I am now 100% convinced that he will be the next American Idol.

My next favorite is Brooke White (of course) who reminds us all of a really sweet and innocent Carly Simon. Check out our favorites... maybe you too can join our super fun group of American Idol junkies