Happy St Patrick's Day!

 

We're always looking for new things to do around Billings on the weekends, and this weekend there was a St Patrick's Day parade and fair downtown. I never thought of St Patrick's Day as a big holiday, but it seemed like half of the city was there for the festivities. Unfortunately the street fair only took up 2 blocks, so it was crowded and the lines were long for everything - especially the food stands - but these girls were determined to get their faces painted, daddy was determined to get some tri-tip, and mommy needed some funnel cake.

 

 

 



The parade was a typical small-town parade with every city organization sponsoring a "float" - which was usually just a car or truck with lots of green decorations. But you can't have a St Pat's parade without the bagpipes.



Wait...is that a Scottish flag on his chest?!

 

Of course the kids didn't care how fancy the floats were, they just lined the streets with their plastic bags waiting for people to throw candy at them. We did, however, really like all the monster trucks that came through.

After the parade, Claire and I left to go to a friend's birthday party, and Josh stayed with Lydia and Scarlett at the street fair to get their faces painted. They were so dang cute, and I was so impressed that Scarlett stayed still long enough for all those flowers! I guess girls will be girls!

 

  

Claire-bear my Care Bear

Sisters make the best of friends.

Scarlett and Claire are now roommates, as Lydia is in her own big-girl room now. Claire has been such a sweet big sister to Scarlett, and I love that about her. Last night Scarlett woke up crying, and while I tried to ignore it hoping she'd settle, I eventually went downstairs to check on her. I walked in their room and as Scarlett was crying, Claire - half asleep - was patting her back and singing a made-up lullaby to her. It was so sweet.

She is also so very loving toward Lydia. She races to the bus stop every afternoon so that she can give Lydia a hug when she gets off the bus. Then she just lights up because her sister is home and will follow her around and play whatever she wants to play.

Claire has a special place in my heart and it's no wonder God gave her to us as the middle child. She holds us all together and we love that about her.

Family hike

There are a few hiking trails near our neighborhood and this weekend we decided to get the family outside and go exploring. We knew this trail would be easy-ish for a pregnant mom and 3 little girls because Josh took Lydia and Claire up this hill last weekend.

 

Scarlett was ecstatic. She really wanted to do the hike "by mah-self" as she kept repeating, but she was so easily distracted she was slowing us down. Once the trail steepened Josh put her on his back and she was even more excited. 

 

 

 

So now I was the slow one. I don't think I could do this hike again before April 6 unless I really wanted to go into labor. But these two were pros and made it to the top without complaining. Along the way they were collecting rocks to throw off the cliff, playing golf with sticks and pinecones, chasing rabbits, exploring the rock formations, and telling stories of bats and bears in the "caves" we saw.

 

 We had a great view from the top. And here's proof I was there too! Not too flattering, but this is how my girls see me most days :)