North Dakota

It's hard to believe it almost been a month since I've updated the blog but we haven't been around much. On July 11th we took Buttons back to the vet. The vet said his eye is healing nicely and she won't have to remove the eye, we'll have to wait a few more weeks before we can tell if he has sight or not. On the 15th Vaynn and Mason went swimming at the local pool as a reward for completing the summer reading program at the library. On Saturday the 16th Valynn and Mason went swimming at Mason's baseball coache's house for an end of the season party.

On Monday the 18th the kids and I loaded up and headed off to North Dakota. We spent Monday night with our friends the Scheel's in Mankato, MN. We had a great time, the kids played outside the whole evening and then had sleep overs with their kids in their rooms. Tuesday was a long drive to North Dakota but the kids were great. I'm very blessed with how well the kids travel, that's not to say we don't have our moments but overall it's usually smooth driving. We had a good time in ND but unfortunately this wasn't a trip of fun as much as work this year. A week before leaving my parents got 1 1/2" of mud from the sewer in the basement. A lot of time was spent trying to get the basement in order before the burial. I got put to work mowing, cleaning pool, painting, cleaning, and cooking. This isn't to say we didn't have time for fun. The kids got to go swimming more then they have in the past, usually with Uncle Brady because the water was too cold for me. The kids are getting much better in the water. Mason jumped off the board without his lifejacket. Valynn can do a flip off the board. Kyra will get in the water and swim all over the shallow end with a floaty. Kyleigh also is a fish in water. They got to sleep out in the camper, basement, living room, and bedroom or wherever they chose to sleep. Kyra and Kyleigh drove the Gator and Valynn and Mason got to drive the golf cart. We also got to meet Cousin Joy.

On the 29th Mark flew into Minot. The kids were excited to see him. Friday night all the aunts, uncles, and cousins came over for supper. It was great seeing everyone. Some I haven't seen since our wedding, others I saw back in May at Tyler's wedding. On Saturday we had my Grandma's burial and lunch was served by the Auxillary and then went out to Dick and Linda's for supper. We had a great time visiting everyone at Dick and Linda's because it was 1:00 in the morning before we got back to Lignite. Valynn got to sleep over at her cousin Elizabeth's house. It sounds like the girls had fun and cousin Jerome survived a houseful of girls.

On August 1st we dropped Mark off at the airport in Bismarck and spent the night with Brady and Jodi. Tuesday night was spent the night with Grandma and Grandpa Rinkel. Wednesday we stopped to see my college roommate Christy and her two boys, we also saw Aunt Bonnie briefle. We made it home late Wednesday night. Here are some pictures and video from our travels.

Wedding bells

Here the kids and I are celebrating Cinco de Mayo. The kids thought they were cool because they got to drink out of margarita glasses. As you can see Addy has decided she likes rabbit food as well as using his litter box. Charlie is just thinking "Yes, I have her cornered!"

I worked a part day on Thursday as well. On Friday we left around 1:00 for Evansville, IN for my cousin Tyler's wedding. The kids were excited to see Grandpa Larson, Uncle Brady, and Aunt Jodi at the hotel. They missed Grandma Larson but she is with Great Grandma Hinds in Olympia, WA. We also went swimming that night. Kyleigh has no fear of the water, she will jump in even if no one is ready for her. Kyra is more reserved and is slowly getting used to putting her face in the water. Valynn is like a fish and Mason is making good progress. That night Valynn and Mason got to sleep with Grandpa and Kyra and Kyleigh stayed with us. On Saturday Valynn got a special treat, she joined Jodi and I for manicures and pedicures. It was a beautiful wedding and the bride was beautiful and Tyler was handsome. Unfortunately at the wedding Valynn started to feel sick so she spent the night in the hotel room instead of at the dance. Kyleigh danced up a storm, in fact she was usually the only one dancing. One time her diaper fell off (she has regressed some on the potty training), she just kicked her diaper off and continued to dance commando.

Valynn still had a fever on Sunday so we headed home, that night we had S'mores and hot dogs at the Ingles. I kept Valynn home from school on Monday. Monday night it was St. Timothy's Mother Daughter banquet. The girls and I had a great time, Mark and Mason stayed home to work in his boat for the Rain Gutter Regatta for Boy Scouts. Tuesday I worked and then Valynn and Mason had piano lessons. Kyra was sick yesterday so she missed her last day of preschool. She still isn't feeling well today. Hopefully she's better tomorrow because she has her field trip and Mason has his field trip and mom is going to make it to both for a few hours. This is the last weekend of volleyball. Mark goes back to school next week. He'll have class from 5:00-9:00 5 nights a week for 3 weeks. He should then be home the rest of the summer.

Hope everyone is having a good week.

The City Museum

The City Museum, heaven on earth for kids, hell for parents. I'll get back to that.

On Thursday Valynn had her Living Presidential Museum. She did a wonderful job and we're so proud of her. Valynn dressed up as Herbert Hoover and read a biography about him. She also made a poster about interesting facts on him. She was so proud of it she put it in her memory tote. I also got to listen to the history of other presidents.

On Friday we headed to St. Louis. Satursday we went to the St. Louis zoo. The kids had a great time looking at the different animals. Kyleigh liked the elephants, giraffes, and kangaroos. She has been hopping like a little Joey since then. Kyra and Valynn liked the zebras. Mason liked the big cats. 

On Sunday we went to the arch and went swimming. The kids thought the view was awesome and loved being that high. Here are pictures from inside the capsule riding to the top.

On Monday we went to the City Museum. If you're not familiar with it, here is the link to the last time we were there. Here is the link to the museum. It's one big playground for kids. There are tunnels, caves, ropes, barrels, skateboard ramps, sponges, and slides 10 stories high (trust me our thighs confirm it's a 10 story walk up). The kids go through one hole and can end up on an entirely different floor, and they aren't always easy to follow because the spaces might be too small for adults. The kids thought it was great. Kyleigh climbed up the 10 flights to the top of the slide and went down the first time anyway.

We had a great time and it was a much needed get away. This morning I worked a 1/2 day for Kindergarten. We have an extremely busy week ahead. Tomorrow night the Sunday School is serving the Lenten Soup supper at St.  Timothy, we're bringing soup. On Thursday I'm taking pumpkin bars to the Teacher Appreciation supper. On Saturday we're helping host a going away party for our friends the Endres'.

Ingalls' Homestead

The kids are home and we are getting back into a routine. They weren't ready to come home, I guess they were getting too spoiled. I was informed last night that Grandma didn't make them put their dishes in the dishwasher, just on the counter.

We took the kids to the Laura Ingalls Wilder Homestead in De Smet, SD. What an amazing experience. They had a covered wagon (actual size), sod house, shanty, hay loft, house, animal barn, garage, and school house to walk through, clomb on, or ride. The kid got to churn butter, play a pump organ, use a treadle sewing machine, weave a rug, make a button toy, pump water, wash clothes, make rope, dekernel corn, grind grain, ride horse, drive a covered wagor and attend school in period clothing.

We spent Saturday night in Albert Lea and got a suite with three beds and a jacuzzi tub. I put bubbles in the tub and the kids had a great bath. We got home last night and today are getting back into routine. Valynn has a girl scout camp this afternoon. We're working on putting things away and getting caught up in the garden today.