The end of the year is approaching fast. I can already see it coming now, with holiday events, programs, travel plans, deadlines, etc. It can seem like a freight train with no sign of stopping. With the endless list of demands, it can seem like we are in a war deciding on how to triage […]

I’ll admit, budgeting is one of my least favorite financial tasks to do. It seems so mundane compared to all the other exciting financial things we could be doing, right? However, I’ve come to learn the importance of budgeting because of the protection it provides. Let me use a little analogy to show this a […]

Between 2017 and 2021, my two brothers and I successfully summited the tallest peaks in Wyoming, Montana, and Utah. Next to Mt. Rainier, Montana and Wyoming hold the unofficial titles of the second and third-hardest state high points to bag in the lower 48.  While we could certainly look back with 20/20 vision and find […]

If you’re anything like me and my family, the end of summer marked a stark transition back to reality as my kids went back to school. While the added structure and schedule are a welcome change after the summer craziness, we were flooded with a multitude of demands coming at us: Sports schedules, after-school activities, […]

If you’ve ever been to a communication or relationship workshop, you’ve probably seen the skit It’s Not About The Nail. I can’t think of a better way to illustrate how even a basic misunderstanding of something can affect us on so many levels. We’ve all laughed painfully, knowing how ridiculous yet true the interaction portrayed […]

I just had the chance to go on an incredible 12-day trip with my family to the Canadian Rockies, the Calgary Stampede, Glacier National Park, and Silverwood Theme Park. Yes, we saved Silverwood till the end, just to give my kids a little incentive to stay with it. In 2022, we were able to spend […]

We are in the middle of baseball season, and one of my favorite summertime activities is cheering on our local Billings Mustangs at Dehler Park. Even if it’s not the “big leagues”, it’s still a joy to watch all of the young and upcoming players put their skills to the test in hopes of a […]

My kids are getting their first taste of “real” roller coasters this year. This March, we took a trip to Universal Studios to celebrate Spring Break. My son, who is 8, was brave enough to try the Velocicoaster for the first time. I remember seeing his combined reaction of joy, excitement, joy and terror as […]

As we enter the middle of May here in Montana, we are approaching the illustrious long, warm, sunny days of summer and seeing less and less of the volatile spring/late winter weather that usually lingers until Memorial Day.   Seeing the onset of warmer temperatures gets me excited for backpacking season – one of my favorite […]

Even in my late 30s, I still enjoy a good superhero movie. There’s nothing like cheering on the good guys against the latest forces of evil trying to save the planet from ultimate destruction. I will naturally gravitate towards a new Avengers or Spiderman movie if nothing else looks good. You might not have heard […]