South Dakota continued

We had a pretty nice weekend with the kids.

We got a later start than we wanted to on Thursday. We planned on leaving at 2 and didn't get gone until 4:30 (Brad's work was the culprit). We stopped and picked up the boys at Grandpa and Grandma's where they had spent Wednesday night and Thursday day. And then we finally got on the rode. We made good time - I was driving ;) and we only stopped a few times for just few minutes. We made it to Sioux Falls around 10:15 and checked into the Ramada. We got a suite and it was nice (Big!) Around 10:30 we headed to the Eastway Bowling alley and lounge to watch Michael's band - Empty without Reason. We made it before they went on - so that was good. Heavy Metal is definitely not my kind of music - but we were very impressed with Michael's drumming. He is good!

Friday we slept late, Brad worked from the hotel and I took the boys swimming. The Ramada has an indoor waterpark that the boys really enjoy. Around 2:30 Hunter came over and we went to eat at Famous Dave's BBQ. yummy! After that we went back to the hotel and Taryn, Brady and Autumn came over. Autumn, Jason and Alec swam for a bit while the rest of them looked online for a car for Hunter. We were supposed to spend most of the day looking for a car but we only got a little shopping done. We did drive around a little bit after swimming and then we went to Taryn's for awhile. That was about it for Friday.


Saturday morning Brady came over at 8:45am. We were all still sleeping. Brad and Hunter were supposed to be up and ready to go. Brady was taking them to see a car in Hartford. They got up and were ready to go pretty quickly. At around 11, Brad called and said they were going to buy the car. It is a silver 2005 Dodge Stratus. They bought it from Bob's auto sales which wasn't really in Hartford but about 10 miles out in the country on his farm. Oh well - Hunter likes it and Brad thought it was a good deal. The rest of day was lunch at Godfather's, more swimming and a trip to the mall for Taryn and me. Around 7:00 we headed to Taryn and Brady's for dinner. They grilled burgers for us. It was nice. We all watched Ocean's Thirteen on HBO and then Michael came over. He had been at work all day. We all visited til about 11 and then called it a day.

Sunday we slept in again and then checked out of the hotel at noon. We picked up Autumn so we could take her home to Beresford and said good-bye to Taryn and Brady. Hunter met us at I-Hop and we ate 'brunch'. It took forever. By the time we got our food - we were all starving and cranky. It was probably just me that was cranky :) - but anyway. We met Hannah at Burger King to drop Autumn off and then went to visit with the Orrs. Hunter is going to live with them during his senior year so he can graduate from Beresford High School. He went to Beresford schools from Kindergarten to 8th grade and has really been missing all his friends. He came to KC for his freshman year and then to Sioux Falls for 10th and 11th. Anyway - we talked to them and got things squared away - hopefully. They are very nice people and are great to open their home to Hunter. He is a lucky kid to have so many people that care about him. His mother and family, his father and family and his 3rd family - the Orrs.

We made it home around 9:00 last night and here we are! Brad is taking the day off. The boys are still sleeping and I am just goofing on the computer.

Until next week.........

Autumn swims like a fish!


Hunter


Autumn and Alec playing DS


Hunter stayed at the hotel Saturday night so Alec's bed was 2 chairs pushed together. He called it his 'crib'.

South Dakota

Last Friday afternoon the boys and I went to see Hancock. It was okay. Not really what I expected. Will Smith's character was not a happy person! Lots of frowning. I've found myself doing a lot of that this week. Nothing related to the movie - just not smiling much. Not sure why.

We spent Sunday at my Aunt Faye's 87th birthday party.


Tomorrow, we are off to South Dakota to see the kids.

That's about it for now!

This week...uneventful

Not too much news this week. It was a nice, quiet week.

Last weekend we did a little yard work on Saturday and then spent most of Sunday cleaning out the garage. What a mess! We have too much stuff. I think it is time to simplify our lives! I had that exact conversation with my friend Kay at lunch on Tuesday. We discussed how too much stuff can really weigh you down. Her goal is to make her house feel as peaceful and uncluttered as a spa. That is a great goal! I think I will have to wait until the kids move out to be able to do anything like that. But I sure could get rid of a lot of stuff in the mean time.
It was really nice to see Kay. I hadn't talked to her for several months. She mentioned restarting our bookclub. I hope she does! I really miss my bookclub friends. Today is going to be catch-up on laundry for the most part. The boys want to go somewhere later - which is fine. We just haven't figured out where 'somewhere' is. Being that we will be gone all next weekend to SD - I would be fine with just staying home.

This summer is flying by! There is only one month left until school starts again.

More 4th of July, Friends and Neighbors, Scout Day Camp

4th of July evening was pretty nice this year. Nobody got too crazy, the kids had fun and I wasn't a nervous wreck for once. The weather was awesome too. The temp got down in the 60's and there was a nice breeze. We all grilled hotdogs and Lucia made popcorn on the outdoor grill. We had the outdoor fireplace blazing and made s'mores. We ate, drank and enjoyed the company of family and friends.


The kids sang the 'Star Spangled Banner' for us.


On Saturday, Lucia, Jennifer and I went to see the Sex and the City movie. I really enjoyed it and it was nice to leave the kids home with the guys for once.
We spent even more time with the cul-de-sac on Saturday evening. We all went to dinner at 'On the Border'. Six kids and six adults. We had a nice time with more eating, drinking and visiting.

Sunday was mostly lazy except for the hour or so I went to help setup for day camp.

Monday came the start of Cub Scout Day Camp. We had 18 boys and 9 adults on the first day. The weather had warmed up a lot from 4th of July and it was very hot and humid. I was very ready to go home by the end of the day. It didn't seem to phase Alec much - but I was sure hot, tired and sunburnt.

Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday were more day camp for Alec. Brad and I both went to work and Jason was home alone.

Wednesday night Taryn called to tell us that her mother had gotten remarried. She did it without telling any of her kids. Crazy.

Friday I went back to day camp with Alec for the last day. It was really hot again but all the boys had spray bottles and kept us cool. We left right after the family lunch. We were supposed to go swimming but plans got changed and we just stayed home in the afternoon - which was fine with me. I am more of an air-conditioning/fan kind of person. The great outdoors, in the summer, - especially the buggy woods - is not my thing.

Alec at the Bubba Gun shooting range


Friday night, our little family of 4 watched a rented DVD together - Drillbit Taylor
That's pretty much it for this week.

This week......Happy 4th of July!

Friday afternoon the boys and I went to see 'Get Smart'. We all really liked the movie. It was 'laugh out loud' funny. The boys thought I laughed a little too much - but I thought it was hilarious.

On Saturday, we went to my Uncle Mike's 60th birthday party. Thus the pic of my dad and his brothers that I posted on Monday. The black and white pictures were from 1971 and color pics from Saturday.

We didn't do too much the rest of the weekend.
The natural spring in our backyard has been nothing but a pain since we moved here. We tried to make it into a pond for a few years but it takes much more maintenance than we expected. Sunday night we tried to drain it but it is not going well. We need about 80 more bags of rock. What a mess!

Jason and Alec spent the Tuesday afternoon through Wednesday evening at Grandpa and Grandma's. Aunt Nanny came over Tuesday night too. They always enjoy going over there and playing games/goofing off with their grandparents and aunt.

Last night we went and bought the kids some fireworks. They love July 4th. Not me - it makes me a nervous wreck. But I go sit in the cul-de-sac with everyone else and try to have a good time. I can't believe this is our 8th Fourth of July in this crazy cul-de-sac. :)

More 4th of July to come next week. This picture is from last year.
The kids usually put on a little show for us.