Our Blog

Ella's Birthday - 10 years old!

2010-11-05T19:43:00.000-07:00

Ella turns 10 on November 6 -- so hard to believe it has been a decade! That's my baby girl!

Volleyball!!!!

2010-09-13T20:11:00.000-07:00

Ella at Camp

2010-08-11T20:02:00.000-07:00

Ella reading the verse and then singing a song during the closing ceremonies of her week at Upper Missouri Ministries bible camp. (Soooooo shaky! Sorry!)

She's an airplane!

2010-08-08T19:58:00.000-07:00

Cameron playing with his baby sister...

Basketball star

2010-03-13T18:40:00.000-08:00

Maia is on the fifth grade basketball team, and is having a blast! Her team played Bainville this weekend, and even though they didn't win, they fought hard and played great. She has improved SO much since last year!

Wrestling

2010-03-06T18:44:00.000-08:00

Sledding

2010-01-09T17:13:00.000-08:00

Maia (pink jacket) and Ella (green jacket) trying out the sledding hill!

Cameron kicking back with Bria

2010-01-03T17:16:00.000-08:00

Cameron kicking back with his baby sister.

Maia and Bria

2010-01-01T20:28:00.000-08:00

Maia and Bria hung out in the girls' bedroom this morning while Mom got some much-needed rest. They had fun!

Happy New Year!

2009-12-31T20:30:00.000-08:00

We had a fun New Year's Eve, with Gramma, Grandpa, Mom and the Ramsey kids. We had a good time teaching Jaydis how to use the Wii, and hanging out to watch movies.

By the time midnight struck, Cam had gone home with Gramma and Grandpa, Ella was curled up on the couch with Mom, and Maia was snuggled up on the floor with Bria. It was a good night!

Scrabble

2009-12-31T20:23:00.000-08:00

Mom and Ella playing Scrabble Junior. She's good at this game!

Duet

2009-12-31T20:22:00.000-08:00

Cameron and Ella doing a duet on the guitars.

Babysitting

2009-12-30T20:11:00.000-08:00

Home for two weeks over Christmas break, Maia and Ella had lots of fun helping with the daycare. They both like to be helpers - and they adore babies!

Here Maia and Ella help take care of 11-month-old Rylan (and of course their baby sister).

Ella and Bria

2009-12-29T20:27:00.000-08:00

Ella loves to spend time with her sister Bria. She won't be so tiny and snuggly for long!

Sister love

2009-12-29T20:20:00.000-08:00

Maia always likes hanging out with Bria.

The day after ...

2009-12-26T20:17:00.000-08:00

The day after Christmas is always a good time for hanging out with the family. Cameron and Ella practiced yoga on the Wii Fit (Mom's Christmas gift), and Maia had fun snuggling with her baby sister.

Merry Christmas!

2009-12-25T20:14:00.000-08:00

We had a fun Christmas at Mom's house this year. It was a big day with lots of presents and tons of food, and our baby sister's first Christmas!

Everyone was really happy with their gifts. Cameron got the acoustic guitar he's been wanting. Maia got an MP3 player (which she later spent hours filling with songs from Dad's music collection). Ella got a Barbie and a special necklace. There were lots more presents, too, including clothes, toys, books and more. It was a fun day!

Snuggly

2009-12-24T20:15:00.000-08:00

Decorating the tree

2009-12-12T20:24:00.000-08:00

The kids had a good time today, decorating the Christmas tree. It's always fun to pull out the boxes of ornaments and talk about when they got all of them. Most have a story, it's pretty cool!

Snuggling with my sis

2009-12-11T22:11:00.001-08:00

Maia and baby Bria fell asleep on the couch at Gramma's tonight. It was so cute, we had to post a picture!

Christmas program

2009-12-11T13:58:00.000-08:00

The kids had their school Christmas program last night. There was lots of fun to be had - starting with performances by the Fifth Grade Band. Maia plays percussion for the band, and played the xylophone for "Hot Cross Buns," then the bass drum for "Jolly Old Saint Nicholas" and the snare for "Good King Wenceslas." She then helped out the Sixth Grade Band by accompanying them, as well!

Next was a performance of "Christmas in the OK Corral" by the first, second and third grade classes. Ella had a speaking part - she played Betsy Bookworm. Songs included "Christmas in the West," "Bubble Gum Goo," and "Sticky Situation." It was a very fun program!

After that was "An All American Christmas," featuring the fourth, fifth and sixth graders. Maia and Cameron sang songs such as "Roots," "Sing the Christmas Story," and "Yankee Doodle Santa." Maia also featured in the gospel choir during the song "Children Go Where I Send Thee."

If you can't pick Cameron out in the pictures above, it's because he is a shorty in the back row! He is fifth from the left in the top three photos.

Cameron's birthday

2009-12-10T23:56:00.000-08:00

Cam was in Montana for his birthday this year, so he got his gifts a little later here. He opened gifts from New Zealand, Washington, and North Dakota tonight - and was a very happy boy! Hard to believe he is TWELVE already!

Ella's 9th Birthday

2009-11-01T12:52:00.000-08:00

Miss Ella celebrating her ninth birthday (six days early, because she'll be in Circle for the big day).

Halloween 2009

2009-10-31T21:46:00.000-07:00

Maia the nail tech

2009-09-06T23:38:00.000-07:00

Doing Mom's nails. :)

Cam's trip to the ER - and first broken arm

2009-07-30T23:39:00.000-07:00

He swears up and down it doesn't hurt...and looks pretty pleased with himself after his run-in with the six foot drop at the skatepark. Eleven year old boys!!!

Making pizzas

2009-02-28T22:54:00.000-08:00

We had some fun tonight, making homemade individual pizzas.

Bro and sis in NZ

2009-02-15T11:02:00.000-08:00

We didn't get to go to New Zealand this time, but we did get photos! Here is our step-sister Aleisha and our step-brother Matthew. They sure have grown a lot since we last saw them!!!

Year-End Jaycee Convention

2009-01-22T23:13:00.000-08:00

Maia (and Grandma Sindy in the background) enjoying the banquet.

Year-End Jaycee Convention

2009-01-22T23:12:00.000-08:00

Dinner in his tux.

Year-End Jaycee Convention

2009-01-22T23:10:00.000-08:00

All three kids were very excited to be honored as Jaycee Kids by the Roughrider Corps and outging President Pat. They love to be Jaycees!

Year-End Jaycee Convention

2009-01-22T23:09:00.000-08:00

Maia looking gorgeous (of course) at the Saturday evening banquet!

Year-End Jaycee Convention

2009-01-22T23:07:00.000-08:00

Ella getting some Mommy snuggles before things get TOO busy and crazy on Saturday night!

Our Christmas Card Photo

2008-11-30T23:15:00.000-08:00

We got all dressed up in our formal clothes (Mom and Dad bought them for the Jaycee banquet, pretty sharp, eh?) and had our photo taken in front of the Christmas tree for our Christmas cards. Don't we look great?!?!

Thanksgiving / Christmas

2008-11-29T23:32:00.001-08:00

We'll be in Montana for Christmas this year, so we celebrated the holiday a bit early this year - by combining it with Thanksgiving. It was tons of fun, and we got lots of great presents we loved! Plus there was family and friends. (Did we mention the presents?)

2008-11-29T23:32:00.000-08:00

Just a couple of monkeys

2008-11-24T23:21:00.000-08:00

Maia "hanging out" with Dad on the couch.

Baking with Grandma

2008-11-23T23:19:00.000-08:00

Maia (in her Dallas Cowboys apron) making goodies with Grandma Sindy.

Chicken Pox

2008-11-09T13:02:00.000-08:00

Saturday afternoon, Cameron came up covered in little red spots. Surprise, surprise, we have our first case of chicken pox in our house!

2008-11-09T13:00:00.000-08:00

Biker babes

2008-10-26T13:07:00.000-07:00

Ella learned to ride her two wheeler! The kids celebrated by taking a ride around the yard and the block on their bikes.

2008-10-26T11:10:00.000-07:00

Red Ribbon Week

2008-10-22T21:19:00.001-07:00

It is Red Ribbon Week at school, and every day the kids get to dress up as something different and fun. Today was Pajama Day!

Missoula Children's Theater

2008-10-11T13:53:00.000-07:00

Maia and Ella performed in the Missoula Children's Theater production of "Rumpelstiltskin" today. Maia was a villager (and an adorable one), and Ella was a bumble bee. They did a great job, and were SO thoroughly adorable!

2008-10-11T11:59:00.000-07:00

Ella is third from the left.

2008-10-11T11:57:00.000-07:00

That is Maia in the middle, of course, with the huge grin for the camera!

2008-10-11T11:07:00.000-07:00

Ella and the other bees buzz, buzz around the stage.

2008-10-11T10:06:00.000-07:00

Maia and the wizards perform a magic trick.

Maia and Jamie

2008-09-15T14:12:00.000-07:00

Maia and her friend Jamie hanging out, taking photos.

2008-09-15T14:00:00.001-07:00

Maia

2008-09-15T14:00:00.000-07:00

Jamie

A day at the park

2008-09-01T17:15:00.000-07:00

We had some fun at Spring Lake Park today with Mom and Dad, Uncle Justin and Grandma and Grandpa Fladland.

2008-09-01T14:24:00.000-07:00

2008-09-01T14:23:00.000-07:00

2008-09-01T14:22:00.000-07:00

2008-09-01T14:21:00.000-07:00

2008-09-01T14:20:00.000-07:00

2008-09-01T14:19:00.000-07:00

2008-09-01T14:17:00.000-07:00

Picnic

2008-08-12T14:25:00.000-07:00

A little roadside picnic on the way to the Wisconsin Dells for a family vacation.

Roadtrip

2008-08-12T13:29:00.000-07:00

Back in the car, Ella reads to her doll.

Jamestown

2008-08-11T18:30:00.000-07:00

A stop in Jamestown, North Dakota to see the world's largest buffalo and check out the pioneer village. We were on our way east, heading to the wild roller coasters and waterslides of the Wisconsin Dells.

2008-08-11T14:50:00.000-07:00

2008-08-11T14:49:00.000-07:00

2008-08-11T14:47:00.000-07:00

2008-08-11T14:46:00.000-07:00

2008-08-11T14:36:00.000-07:00

2008-08-11T14:35:00.000-07:00

Maia at Louis L'Amour's typewriter.

2008-08-11T14:33:00.000-07:00

Pose? Me? Oh, OK...

2008-08-11T14:32:00.000-07:00

Don't worry Maia, I'll drive. I've seen it done on TV!

Hidatsa Indian Village

2008-08-11T10:53:00.000-07:00

We made a stop at an Indian Burial Village and checked out the museum and the other sights, and the kids took advantage of their favorite thing at National Parks - the Junior Ranger program.

If I were an Oscar Meyer Weiner...

2008-08-10T14:57:00.000-07:00

Ella had some fun across the street at the grocery store while the Oscar Meyer Weinermobile was in town.

Teddy Roosevelt National Park

2008-08-03T14:58:00.000-07:00

We went for a hike today in Teddy Roosevelt National Park, about an hour from our home. Don't we live in a beautiful place?!?!

Grace

2008-06-21T15:00:00.000-07:00

Pitch, Hit and Run

2008-04-28T15:01:00.000-07:00

The kids took part in the Jaycees Pitch, Hit and Run today, and had lots of fun.

New Town

2008-04-20T15:03:00.000-07:00

We took a little trek to New Town, just because. We had a picnic and played in the park.

Ella's latest painting

2008-03-06T10:59:00.000-08:00

Ella has been taking water color painting classes a few times a year for about two years now, and wanted to share her latest painting with everyone. The scan doesn't do this piece justice AT ALL, but you can sort of get the idea. She is really becoming quite good!

The classes work like this - there are two sessions, one where they start the painting, and a second session where they finish it. They usually do three sessions in a row, and today she is starting the final class for this round.

Pageant Princesses

2008-01-12T19:50:00.000-08:00

Maia and Ella took part in the Little Miss Williston pageant today - don't they look gorgeous?

Halfway down the stairs...

2008-01-12T17:56:00.000-08:00

Ella recited a selection of poems by A.A. Milne, including "Halfway down."

Talented blonde

2008-01-12T17:54:00.000-08:00

For her talent, Maia sang Avril Lavigne's "Sk8er Boi," totally dressed the part. Adorable, right?

Time out for snuggles

2007-12-26T18:29:00.001-08:00

After a long day of playing and activity, Maia and Jimmy snuggle up on the floor for a cuddle.

Merry Christmas

2007-12-25T12:36:00.000-08:00

We had a great Christmas today - Grandpa Jerry and Grandma Sindy, Uncle Jonathan and Aunt Cindy all came over. Grandpa made us a big breakfast, then we opened presents. We all got what we asked Santa for, and more!

Ella got the Care Bear she has been dreaming of, Maia got her fancy big girl hoop earrings, and Cameron got a model car. We also got lots of other things!
Our family gift was a Wii, which we have really been wanting, and then at the end of the gift giving was one last special gift...

Ella

2007-12-25T12:34:00.000-08:00

Cameron

2007-12-25T12:33:00.000-08:00

Maia

2007-12-25T12:32:00.000-08:00

Let's get this thing open!

2007-12-25T12:31:00.000-08:00

One happy girl

2007-12-25T12:28:00.000-08:00

Here Wii go....

2007-12-25T12:27:00.000-08:00

Trying everything out, we all got together in a game of Wii Golf. We love this gift!

Scavenger Hunt

2007-12-25T12:21:00.000-08:00

After all of the gifts were opened, we found out there was JUST ONE more. But we had to go on a special scavenger hunt to discover what our last gift could be. So we donned our coats, and went out to find the clues.

Quite the riddle

2007-12-25T12:14:00.000-08:00

The first clues were hidden throughout the house and the yard. We rushed out and got them, then brought them back to try to figure out the mystery. They said:

Congratulations Cameron, Maia and Ella Rose!

This Christmas, you have participated in one of the most important children's movements of your time.

The goal - to provide children around the world with new opportunities to explore, experiment and express themselves.

But how to do it?

How do you empower children around the world to take full advantage of every opportunity this world has to offer?

We puzzled over the question, then went off to find the next clue, where we learned:

One Laptop Per Child

A donation has been made in your name to a very special program which is putting laptops in the hands of children in third world countries all over the world.

To learn more about these children, visit their blogs and videos at http://laptop.org/en/children/learning/

But there's more!!!

Wow, that's pretty cool. But more could there be? Off we were again, to find the next hint.

Mystery Revealed

2007-12-25T12:10:00.000-08:00

And then came the final clue, and the mystery was revealed! It said:

Thank you!

To thank you for your generous donation, you will also be receiving a laptop of your very own. Your laptop will arrive in early January, once the child who will be the recipient of your generosity has received their very special gift.

With love,

From Mom and Dad,

Grandma Sindy and Grandpa Jerry

And Jeff

It's a Wonderful Life

2007-12-09T12:24:00.000-08:00

Cameron performed in his first play this holiday, acting as Tommy Bailey in the Entertainment, Inc! production of "It's a Wonderful Life."

He had a really wonderful time with the experience, and learned lots about the process of community theater.

Birthday party

2007-11-10T17:36:00.001-08:00

Ella and a group of her friends gathered at Million Dollar Lanes today for to celebrate her seventh birthday. She had lots of fun, and commemorated the day with a gift from the bowling alley of a special bowling pin!

Cutting her cake

2007-11-10T17:35:00.000-08:00

Ella and Abbie having cake

2007-11-10T17:34:00.000-08:00

Having some cake and goodies

2007-11-10T17:33:00.000-08:00

Little bowlers

2007-11-10T17:32:00.000-08:00

They say it's your birthday...

2007-11-06T21:27:00.000-08:00

Today's the day - Ella is seven!!!

Her party isn't until Saturday, but she got to open a few special gifts from out of town.

This one was from Gran and Granddad in New Zealand. As she was pulling open the paper she said, "I'm so excited, Gran's gifts are always good!"

A baby doll for a baby doll

2007-11-06T21:20:00.000-08:00

A baby doll and all the accessories - just what I wanted! The baby's name is Jane.

Happy Halloween

2007-10-31T17:35:00.000-07:00

Cameron, Ella and Maia show off their Halloween costumes before going out for the evening to take in the All-City Halloween Party.

Cameron is the bad guy from Scary Movie, Ella is Elizabeth from Pirates of the Caribbean, and Maia is the dead bride.

A little background on Maia's costume - apparently she became a member of the undead when she decided to try to lick the frosting off the bride and groom on the top of her wedding cake, but choked on it and passed on.