Sunday, July 6, 2008

Big Sky:Big Post

This is the most insane amount of pictures on The Phillips Phamily yet. I thought about making it into 2 posts, but that seemed harder. So, break it up or grab a snack and settle in. Its gonna be a long ride. I'll just tell you about our FANTASTIC trip to Montana with a daily account:

Saturday: We left our hotel at 4:30 Saturday morning to catch our first plane. Luckily, Daddy's lap was a good place to sleep. We got to Bozeman and with the time change, we were there way before lunch. We hung out outside the restaurant and enjoyed the perfect weather. Uncle Clint and Kanyon had a great time catching up.
Clint and Sydni live in Bozeman, so we went to their house to feed Kanyon and ourselves. Sayler was so nice to give Kanyon a toy to eat...a pig none-the-less.
After Kanyon ate, we jumped in Clint's truck and headed 3 more hours to Lewistown. Finally we were there!!!

Sunday

We enjoyed church (after Kanyon puked in the parking lot) and seeing friends there.

Here is Kory giving Kanyon a nice view of Main Street

Kanyon has recently started growing an Alfalfa. I love it.
Tye has a place on the other side of town with some cows that he's recently started running. We got a phone call Sunday saying one of his bulls had gotten in with the neighbors heifers. Oops. That meant we had to go find him and get him back to his own ladies. Here are Tye and Wes..oh man, it seemed impossible.
I stopped the 4 wheeler to take a picture of the view of town from Tye's place. A little different than where the ranch is. I think its very pretty.
Here is the bull...headed into the right gate. Good job boys. I just rode along for fun..no help.

maybe a better view of town
Tye and Wes talking things over. You will see lots of pictures like this.
all 3 boys talking things over.
OK, so then it was time to shut the gate which was near impossible. It was WAY tight. Here is Kory giving it a shot....
Then Wes (the laughing didn't help much)



Then Tye..
In the mean time, Gram was keeping Kanyon away from the mosquitoes.
And Kanyon got to meet Cooper up close and personal!
A little cowboyin' makes a boy pretty dirty, so he needed a bath in Gram's sink.

Monday: The work began. It was time to cut the hay and boy did they! The boys worked so hard. Us girls? Well ,we ran them lunch, drinks, picked them up, took them to a different field, or rode with them to keep them company. The boys enjoy doing hard work together, and I like to watch them enjoy each other.
Here is Kory running the baler
Kanyon's first ride in a tractor. He was a big help to daddy!

He was instantly very interested in knowing how this thing works, so Kory gave him the basics.
Riding along with Dad..this didn't last long. The tractor doesn't have a buddy seat (more on that later) and it was quite bumpy for Kanyon.
Helping Daddy drive
He's so good, he's already a trick driver.
I think Kory has been looking forward to this picture for a long time.
Uncle Tye came in for a break and Kanyon greeted him with a nice tweak of the nose
Oh man I love this picture.
We had FANTASTIC spike days at the beginning of the week!!

Here are the horses: Ranger, Rocky, Pace, Smokey, and Cowboy Uno


Tuesday: More work for the hayers! BUT...shortly after this picture was taken, it came a DOWN POUR!! That meant the work outside had to stop so we got to enjoy playing games and hanging out together inside. I was kinda glad it rained just for a little bit. It didn't put them too far behind, so it was just fine. Clint, Sydni, and Sayler also joined us Tuesday so we were ALL together!
This is the new swather. It has a very fancy buddy seat so the driver can have a buddy to keep him company. This is me and Tye. My camera bit the dust, so Sydni SAVED me and took lots of pictures for me!!!


Disclaimer: I did not know my outfit would be captured on film. I just threw on some of Wes's boots (these are the ones I love to wear) because I didn't think I would really need shoes. The problem was we had to run across the field in the pouring rain...not to mention the whole world is seeming me look like a ragamuffin, but I liked the scenery in the background.
Sayler was such a great cousin! She loved helping Kanyon swing...
Feed him with her My Little Pony bottle....
and pose for sweet pictures even though he kept pulling her hair. Good times with Gram

Eldon and Marilyn came to visit and Kanyon enjoyed Marilyn so much. She has been such a faithful "grandmother" to him...keeping up, praying, and loving him! She even gave him a great book about Eating "All Gone!" Maybe it will sink in!
kisses from Chief


Wednesday: This was the day after the rain, so things were kind of slow outside which meant a great time for fun inside! And it was a GREAT day because the Great-grandparents came over!

How sweet is this picture?
Here is Great Grandma Fae and Great Grandpa Bob with their great grands...
Hangin' with Chief
While we played Nertz, Sayler was so sweet to read to Kanyon! I wish I had this on video, she was so precious and I really think he liked it!
Out of order, but here is a 4 generation pic: This is also Generation 3, 4, 5, and 6 on the Ranch. We really had fun visiting with them.

Kanyon got pretty cuddly with Great Grandpa's ear. I thought this was just so cute.

Thursday: The ground was still a little wet in the morning, so we left the hay alone and headed over to Tye's place to move some cattle to a different pasture. We loaded up the 4 wheelers and 2 horses and headed over to gather and move them. Susan was Super Gram and kept Kanyon and Sayler so that Sydni and I could help/have fun! Once again, Syndi was a champ and took pictures since my camera is having a major problem.
Here I am and I promise I wasn't just riding around, I'm sure there were cows somewhere near...I hope. I was riding Uno, who is a better cattleman than any of us, so he pretty much knew what to do.

Me and Kory
Me, watching the last ones go through the fence...this wasn't the end, just one of some we had to go through to get to the end.

Kory

Super Gram came to where we were so that I could feed Kanyon and keep going. Wes took over on Uno for me. Once again, these boys were talking things over, making plans.
I really love this picture...more talking things over.
Nothing says "Lewistown" like the 4 Aces restaurant. It is a favorite because you can go looking as nasty as we did and not get kicked out. Clint, Kory, and Tye were nice enough to pose for me in front of the sign.
By the time we were through with lunch, the hay was calling, so here are the boys....yep...making more plans, deciding who is going to go where and do what.
side note: we put Kanyon's tube back in but he was still doing good eating. Taking his meds by mouth was the kicker. We're not quite ready for that and figuring out while traveling is not a good idea. So tape boy is back, but each day we're closer and closer!

Friday JULY 4th: As the nation celebrated, we celebrated too...it was Kanyon's Happy Home Day! If you remember, last year we came home from the hospital on July 4th, Kanyon's 100th day. We celebrated the first annual Phillips Phamily Independance Day! I have to include a few picture of the first anual, and then you can enjoy picture of the 2nd! What a great day!


Here we are about to enter our house for the first time. He was a tiny little 6 pounder.
The most overwhelmed I've ever been. We came home to a great crownd of friends and family. I just couldn't believe it, it was SO great. I was speechless.
Here was our welcome comittee. They had been out there in RAIN for HOURS waiting on us!
Sweet baby boy. I could go on and on about what this day was and is to us now, but I don't think I could put it in words.
Out of order, but here we are driving up to the house:

OK, on to this years Happy Home Day Celebration:
Helping Daddy play cards. He also got to visit with his Great Uncle Jim, but thanks to my dumb camera, I don't have a picture to show for it!
Lewistown was kind enough to have a fire works show in celebration of Kanyon's first year at home. They also had a parade, but out of control streams of pee and a dose of major spit up caused us to miss it. Oh well. We made it to the fireworks that night. It was cool and the wind was blowing so it was COLD. We had a blast though sitting out watching the firecrackers from the top of the hill. This is the original Phillips Fam plus Kanyon

Here is Kanyon with his Home Day sparklers (too windy to light at the time)
He loved his socks the most
Phillips Boys
One year later, here we are.

Sitting out in the cold wind wasn't ideal for Kanyon, plus it was 10:00 before it even got dark (11:00 Texas time) so he was tired. Gram and Chief were so great to keep him warm in the pick up.

Despite the late hour and Kanyon state of DEEP sleep, we set off our own celebratory fireworks

We spelled Kanyon's name in sparklers


Happy Home Day Kanyon (on yeah...and Happy Independance America)
Saturday: We left Lewistown at 9:30 am and headed to Bozeman to catch our first plane...it was late, flew to Minneapolis, waited for the plane to Dallas, got to Dallas at 10, got our bags, got our car, and headed home to Longview. We pulled in about 1:30 am. Sweet Kanyon never made a peep until we were about 3 minutes from the house! He was such a trooper on his 15 hour trip!!
Needless to say, his eating has been a little off today. He took an uncharactaristicly long nap after church and is settling back in to his bouncy seat. We had the best time! If you didn't make it this far, I totally understand....if you did, I hope you enjoyed..remember this blog is my baby book/scrapbook, so its not like I actually think you really care that much about every detail of our trip.


A spencial thanks goes to Kory for being such a big help with Kanyon today so that I could blog. And Kan's 2 1/2 hour nap was nice too!
Have a great week!











23 comments:

Corbitt Family said...

Kanyon has grown so much in a year! I am glad ya'll had fun with Kory's family and now your back to play! And I do enjoy reading all of your long posts.

Keri said...

love, love, love all the pictures and daily log of your trip. What a great time.

The Timberframer's Wife said...

Wow, Montana is beautiful! Sounds like a wonderful, fun trip--so glad you got home safe and sound. Y'all take care!

Jodi said...

Of course I made it through! Loved reading about every bit of your trip... and I am so glad that Kanyon had such a great time! :) Happy Happy Home Day Kanyon... a couple days late! I will always remember celebrating that day with you! :)

annalee said...

happy one year! what a wonderful, special day, and what a wonderful trip too.

NNA said...

Hi, I found your blog post through a search for "Nertz". It is cool to see others that know about the game. I hope you don't mind but I wanted to let you know about playnertz.com, the site for the National Nertz Association. There is a bunch of interesting Nertz information there and you can also find out how to play Nertz online there. I hope you will check it out. Feel free to join and also let your friends and family know. Thanks

Melissa said...

Thanks for all of the details...we truly care more than you'll ever know! I enjoyed our visit last night!

Rachel said...

I love all the Montana pictures! I want to go with you next time! And I love the flashback - he has grown so much in the last year, and it has gone by sooo fast! We love and miss you guys.

Unknown said...

Thanks for all the pictures and comments. I've never been up there, so I really enjoyed the scenery as well as the great subjects. Of course, as magnificent as it is, it can't hold a candle to CDR. :-)

Your 1st welcome home day pictures made me cry. What great blessings we've all seen through you and Kory and Kanyon this year.
May the Lord bless you and keep and may his face continue to shine upon you!
Love and prayers,
Karol

Marianne said...

Awesome trip. Looks like everyone loved seeing the Grand Kanyon!!! Glad you are back safe and sound. I loved the pictures of all the boys and their thinking and planning. Montana scenery is beautiful!

karen said...

I like a lot of others (I'm sure) have made it to the end. Being able to look back on the blog is a really neat idea and great journal. I'm glad you share with us!

martha crockett said...

Too long??? I hated to see it come to an end! Thanks for being such a good blogger, and letting us share in Kanyon's life thru his scrapbook. It's been quite a ride this past year, full of highs and lows, but you have come out knowing that God is faithful, regardless of what comes your way.
Love you 3!

TexasNeals said...

great job documenting you guyses trip (i was going to say "ya'll's" trip, but since you just got back from way up north we'll let you get broken back in gradually).
LOVE the "good spike day" comment. it cracked me up ;)
glad you had such a nice trip, thanks for sharing the photos.

pruittsplace said...

i'm finally catching up... i hate the internet and blogs... but i guess that's what we have to deal with. maybe someday we'll see each other again, instead of reading each others blogs. we finally updated ours. later. i'm the tall guy with the good lookin' wife and adorable three kids. just look for the baby boy with the thunder thighs...

karen said...

I'm so glad you gt it - and hopefully like it :-) I've wanted to send something for a while but couldn't find anything I thought was English enough (I still can't find a Union Jack (the British Flag) hankerchief ... but I keep my eyes peeled).

I was so glad I was able to stop by and meet the man I've read so much about. He lloks like he's grown a lot since I saw him though. He must be getting that eating thing down good!

LoriLoo310 said...

I have been following your blog from the very first post, but I think this is the first time I have made a comment. You are an amazing mother. God knew you were special enough to be Kanyon's mom. I am amazed at each post I read. You really are an inspiration.

Anonymous said...

Jaymie--So good to catch up on your life through your blog. I loved reading about Kanyon's incredible journey and the flashback from his welcome home from last year. Many blessings to you and your sweet family...

jenny rich

Olson Family said...

Jaymie!!! So glad I found your blog:) I randomly found Clint's family blog and then I found yours! So good to see pictures of your sweet family.

Jerica (Eads) Olson

www.olsonteam.blogspot.com

kt said...

I'm glad you all had a wonderful trip and are now safely home. The pictures are wonderful. Karen

Melissa Taylor said...

I'm so jealous - I want to go to Montana. I cannot believe how big Kanyon is compared to last year on the 4th - he looks great.

Liis said...

I love reading your blog!

The Pursifull Family said...

It looks like y'all had a great time!!! I created a blog yesterday and added you to my friends list. Mine is: thepursifulls.blogspot.com

Chris and Becky said...

THANKS FOR SHARING! I LOVE TO SEE KANYON AND ALL HIS ADVENTURES. HE'S LIKE YOUR VERY OWN TRAVEL GNOME. THANKS FOR BEING SO POSSITIVE JAMIE. WE PRAY FOR THE PHILLIPS PHAMILY AND THE CONTINUAL PROGRESS OF THAT SWEET BOY!

Lilypie
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