Halloween came and went . . .

 Carving the Jack-O'-Lanterns!

Our 3 Musketeers

Gregg's birthday on November 25th meant

 Sticky Toffee Pudding Cake

and lots of hugs and love from these kids. :)

Dwight's 12th Birthday

Dwight turned 12 yesterday. Birthdays are bittersweet to me. I love to see my children change and grow, yet I long for the day they were born, to hold them in my arms as little babies one more time. As I watched Dwight open his birthday gifts (remembering to read the cards first), thank his family for everything and hug his siblings and cousins, it made my heart proud. This soon to be teenage boy is growing into a fine young man.

Baby Pictures

I can't believe I was ever this teeny tiny?

 But then again, there are days

I can't believe that AJ was this teeny tiny either?

Summer Time

In just 13 short days, we will be heading back into the chaos I like to call school. I am ready to get back to our school routine but summer vacation ending is always bittersweet for me. I love having my kids at home with me. I love the lazy days of summer. I love our family vacations.This year we drove to MO to see my mom and dad. Here are some pictures:

Missouri, here we come!

 Concordia University-Seward, NE This is Link Library-I worked here all 4 years of college (and in the summers.) I love this campus. I have so many good memories. It was fun to share them with my children.

Yay! 1 day later, we're in Missouri!

 Conservation Center in Cape Girardeau, MO

 Dwight is not happy as a tree.

 Every time we see my family in Missouri, Gregg heads to Charleville. This time the wives went along. :)

 

Strawberry Ale

Cousins reuniting . . .

Briley (another cousin)

Noah (another cousin)

 The Arch St. Louis, MO

 I never get tired of looking at it. It's so massive when you are right next to it.

At the top of the Arch

 When in St. Louis, we eat at Amighetti's on The Hill. Always. I mean it. Always.

 First Cardinal Game

By the end of the night, AJ had all the Cardinal cheers down.



 St. Louis Zoo-AJ and Briley (and some random girl next to them :) )

Any time we come to the St. Louis Zoo we take a picture by the elephant statue. It's tradition and we like it. OK, mostly I like it.

We heart Krispy Kreme.

 On the way back to Montana, we took a pit stop to Minneapolis, MN. (and Mall of America)

One of Gregg's childhood homes in St. Paul, MN

Our vacation was amazing. The kids were good travellers and we covered a lot of ground. Hopefully we'll do it again next year! Good bye summer. Hello school!

 

The Hein's Magical Camping Trip

 Once upon a time, Gregg had a HVAC customer he needed to visit up in the Bighorn Mountains.

 This customer was busy working on a lodge and some cabins at the Snow Shoe Resort.

 "Why don't you bring your family up to stay in a cabin for one night?" said the HVAC customer.

 Naturally Gregg said YES because if the Hein family is going to go camping

 for the first time ever

 (SIDE NOTE: Rocky Mountain Juniper plant: Do you know what is made from Juniper?

YUMMY GIN!)

* it had better look like this

 and this

 and this.*

The End.

*Just for the record, I'm not a camping snob. I just think all my camping in Missouri as a child with the Girl Scouts and my friends has made me realize how much I love my comfy bed and fluffy pillows. Or that Gregg spoils me. Or both. Take your pick.

AJ's 7th Birthday

 The day you were born was the first day of summer.

 You were too cute for words.

 Smiling is still one of your best features.

 Time goes by so quickly.

 First preschool . . .

 Then Kindergarten . . .

 Now you are a 7 year old First Grader!

We love you Anthony Jacob.