Just another day

There are days when we don't leave the house.  Sometimes we don't make it out of our pajamas.  I'm OK with that.  Today might be one of those days.  Bailey put on a fashion show this morning.  We watched Project Runway together once and she was very interested in the design aspect.  She pretends to be a fashion designer and makes me judge her creations.  She always wins of course.

Josie watched the fashion show intently.   She loves to be involved in anything that Bailey is doing.

Home Sweet Home

Housing here in Miles City proved to be a bit of a challenge.  We thought we would waltz into town and buy a house.  Not so much.  There is a housing shortage thanks to the oil business in eastern Montana and western North Dakota.  We began to wonder if we would ever find a house, and if we did could we win the bidding war that would ensue.  Well we got very LUCKY!  My sister-in-law had a coworker who was getting ready to retire and sell his home.  We were able to look at it and make an offer before he listed it with an agent.  I really think it is the only way we ended up with such a great place.  Here are some pictures:

Upstairs Living Room

Kitchen (Duh)

Bailey and Josie's Room

Upstairs (Keeli's) Bathroom

Dining Room/Kitchen

Downstairs (Miles') Bathroom

Bailey's Playroom

Downstairs Den

Downstairs Guest Room

"Bragging" up my girls

My girls are the best EVER!  To prove it here are some of the fantastic things they are doing right now (not right at this moment, but you know what I mean):

1.  Josie doesn't want me to get stuck in a scary nightmare so she makes sure to cry out, grunt and groan, scratch the side of the pack-n-play, or start talking to herself at least once every hour all night long. 
2. Bailey is helping me get exercise by constantly bringing all of her toys and craft supplies upstairs so that I can later haul them all back down to the playroom.  She also really needs to "show me something" that is upstairs when we are down and downstairs when we are up.  Sometimes I wish I was a 25 year old mom instead of somewhere in my late 30s. 
3. Josie likes to alert me when I leave the room (just in case I didn't notice) by screaming loudly until I return to her line of sight.  This is quite helpful when I forget where I am in my own house.  
4. Both girls help me to regularly check our household appliances for proper usage. Bailey goes through multiple outfit changes depending on the performance she is putting on, the game she is playing, or just her mood at the moment.  Josie like to puke, slobber, and sometimes poop on her clothing.  My washing machine is in perfect working order thanks to them.  Between the multiple snacks, bottles which are repeatedly refused, 3 meals a day, dishes used for "experiments," & other kitchen items that are used as chew toys - my dishwasher gets tested daily as well.  
5. Bailey likes to keep my mind sharp and alert so she leaves legos, sharp objects, acorns she found on a walk, beads (AKA treasures,) and other very chokeable (is that a word?) objects around the house for Josie to find. I get to search for them constantly and move them to higher ground.
6. Both girls remind me how much I am loved by being happy to see me and hugging/kissing/smiling at me every time I am almost at my wits end.  LOVE THEM!!

Driving with Dad/Old Milwaukee Bridge

 

 Ellie tends to become very high-maintenance if she doesn't get much exercise so Miles takes her "running" on a fairly regular basis.  They find a quiet road and Ellie gets to run along while Miles drives in the truck.  A couple of years ago Bailey started wanting to go along and it has become a "thing"  they do together.  After moving to Miles City they needed to find a new route, and they have found a great place on Fort Keogh.  "The Fort" is an old military outpost that is now a very large chunk of land used for range and livestock research.  Aunt Jen works there too. 

Today they headed out in the morning, and managed to leave without a coat or hat for Bailey.  This would normally be fine because they don't really get out of the truck, but today Bailey wanted to climb around at Old Milwaukee Bridge.  Miles graciously gave up his coat and hat, and took advantage of the cuteness by snapping a few pictures on his phone.   

So Many Pictures, So Little Upload Time

Because of my great excitement and pride at having started this blog, I am overwhelmed with the desire to share every picture I have taken in the last month or more.  I may not actually have time to load them all, but here is a preview of the fun.

Ellie Belly chillin on the stairs.

Bailey would hold Josie ALL of the time if I would let her.  Sisters are perfect!

"Look at me - I can sit up for almost 3 seconds."

Just rockin with Grampa Bob.

I really loved Peas until I got a taste of fruits.  Now good luck getting me to open my mouth for them.

Big Papa

Bailey has figured out how to take a self portrait.  LOTS of these on the camera.

Gramma Lynn came to visit and played lots of Monopoly.

Mom and Bailey made a snowman family.  Everyone is there including Ellie.

Two days in a row!

Well look at me, I am actually posting again.  I have to say I am quite proud of myself.  This is a big step for me.  I should probably explain the blog title - people who aren't in the know tend to pronounce our last name as Mooshka.  I can always spot a telemarketer when he asks for Mrs. Mooshka.  If you are reading this blog you are probably a member of our family or a good friend, and you know it is pronounced like paper mache. 

Speaking of our last name, the Muscha grandparents came to visit last weekend and we had a nice time.  I surprisingly managed to take a few pictures. 

I found this one too.  Bailey (with lots of help from Mom and Dad) made super-hero suckers for her valentines at school.  They said "You are a super friend" on the capes.  Kinda fun.

I'm throwing this one in because it is just so darn cute!!  Our little Josie is rolling all over the place and often ends up half way under the couch.  She is growing up WAY too fast.

I think I can, I think I can ...

I have been trying to start a blog since Bailey was a baby.  Yes she is 5 years old.  It makes me sad that I haven't done a better job of documenting her life to this point.  Now I have Josie too and I am giving it another shot.  I am going to attempt to post something every other day to get into the habit of doing it.  We often go weeks without any exciting news so please don't be disappointed if the posts are quite mundane. 

Now I will really challenge myself and try to insert pictures of the girls.  Here I go...

WOOHOO it worked!  Well my brain hurts so that is all I will do for now.  Josie is seriously needing a nap so I am off to deal with her and probably watch a "magic" show put on by Bailey.  More soon.