Pics of North Dakota

Gorgeous sunsets.

There is, as I type this, a chopped up deer in our basement on the table defrosting so that Jody can cut it up and send it to a processing place. It froze in the garage.

Constant static

Butt-Cold Again

One of my first ever blog entries was on how its is "Butt-Cold" here. For those of you who have never pumped gas in weather that is say 8 degrees (as I did today), I don't know that you have ever truly experienced "butt-cold". It was so cold today, my BUTT was literally freezing. I don't know why I didn't sit in the car and wait. I just always feel like as soon as I get back in the car, the gas is done pumping.

When I did get back in the car, Hattie was saying, "Poor mommy. Poor mommy. Poor mommy out in the cold." She was chanting it over and over. Silas was getting very annoyed.

Its not supposed to get over 30 until next Wednesday. I think we'll be staying in as much as possible.

Note: PopPop Jerry Ben Jennings, this is NOT to say you shouldn't come visit us. We'll keep you inside the whole time. I'll pump ALL the gas if you will come see us for Christmas. :)

Decorating with little kids

Well, the tree is up...but not without some breaking, furniture rearrangement, yelling, hand-smacking, and one big headache.

Jody got our tree down from the space over the garage last night. It was FREEZING. Below freezing actually. It took us a LOOOOOOONG time to decide where to put it. We moved the couch twice, the tree 4 times. The final destination? The first place, of course. By this point it was past bed time, so I let the kids pick out 4 ornaments and put them on the tree.


This morning the fun began again. Silas broke a little snow globe. Hattie broke a bulb. Luke was fascinated with taking decorations off the "tee" and bringing them back to me. Silas and Hattie became proficient at hanging ornaments on the tippy tip of each branch. It was perfect for Luke to knock off as he walked by each time.

Whew. By the time the tree was finished, it looked great. (well, except for the star on the top that I could not quite reach to make it straight). And more than all that, I was thrilled that the job was done!

Date Night

Jody and I love to go on dates, but we just don't too often. It just costs us so much after dinner and babysitters. (interjection: don't feel sorry for us. We do EARLY bed times for a reason.)
But last night, we had a great date.

Our friend Ryan offered to babysit AND he gave us money that his grama sent us. We don't even know her, and she sent us on a date. It was so sweet. We went to a mexican restaurant called Los Amigos. It was good. Then we decided to go to the Bobcat's hockey game. We were waiting in this LONG COLD line to buy tickets when this guy walked up to us and said, do you have ticket? And he GAVE us 2 tickets.

We had a great time. Our section was very rowdy and drunk. The Bobcats won. The kids went to bed pretty good for Ryan.

Big thanks to Ryan.

The Mad Dash

First of all, we had a nice thanksgiving. I started out missing our families a lot. Knowing they were all getting together without us, one more year. But once our festivities started, I felt better. We had a great meal, the kids had fun and Stacy and mapped out our plan.

We got out the Black Friday ads.

I'm not a big shopper. I don't enjoy trying on clothes or browsing without a purpose. But now going after great deals, I enjoy.

Stacy picked me up at 3:45am. We joined the line at Khols. There were several hundred in line already. When the doors opened, it was like a MOVIE. Screaming, pushing, and running. We got what we were going for there and went to Walmart, followed by Target, Kmart, Scheels and Bath and Body works. We got everything we were going for. I got most of my Christmas shopping done. I had a great time. I am so proud of my deals. And I had great company. Last year I went by myself, and it was just way better this year.

By the time naptime came around, I was SO tired, I couldn't help but join the napping. Although, Silas never sleeps and I don't think Hattie ever slept today, but I'm not sure.

All in all, it was a great holiday for our family.

Mr Fix-it

My sister-in-law (the one who missed the opportunity to try and get on OPRAH's Favorite Things Show, and the only sister-in-law that I have) has eluded that my life is sometimes like a sitcom. The other day I felt like it too.

I went to go out into the garage and the door knob wouldn't turn. I was locked in. I had to go out the front door, push the garage door button on Jody's keychain and go into the garage to get something out of my car. And it was cold outside.

Jody looked at it and couldn't figure it out. We had some people over last Wednesday and these guys fiddled with it and fixed it.

Then on Sunday, I got the kids all buckled in the car and when I went to go BACK in the house, the door knob was doing that thing again. It turned, but wouldn't open the door. I was SO mad, I kicked the door. That didn't help. (I'd love to say it did, since I work out at the Y, you know). I was like, oh well, I'll go in the front door. But lo and behold, for some reason (I still do NOT know) my front door key was not on my key ring. I just went on to church without going back inside.

I had to wait for JOdy to come home (after church) to get in the front door.

Monday (yesterday) we all went out the front door and around the house into the garage.

Then, last night, Jody bought a new door knob and replaced the old one. I'm so proud of him for being able to do that. Have you ever looked at a door knob? THey don't just come off.

Now, the next project I have for Mr Fix-it is the arm rest to the driver's seat in my van. It is currently hanging limply downward. And I'm getting pretty ticked when I want to lean my elbow on it. Unfortunately it looks like a doorknob, the way it connects into the seat.

Access

Ok, this is weird.

Luke loves his belly button. He LOVES it. Its his little comfort mechanism. My nephew Elijah likes other people's hair. My friend's daughter Megan loves other people's ears. Luke likes his "be-button"

Tonight when I was going to put pajamas on him he said NO and ran away. I knew what he was saying. He doesn't like the zip up kind. He wants separates where he can raise his shirt and fiddle with his belly button. He wants access to his belly button.

Isn't that weird?

Christmas Decorating

So, my friend Karen has already put up her decorations. I know my mother-in-law would be working on it (she puts up like 13 trees) if it hadn't been for her fall from a LADDER. On Veteran's Day, apparently we missed the memo that that was the day to put lights up on your house.

What is your tradition? Do you put your Christmas stuff up around Thanksgiving? Do you put much up? I'm just dreading all the NO-NO's I'm going to be saying. But yet, I LOVE Christmas trees and music and all that.

Long time no post

I know, its not like me to not post more often. I can't really say why I haven't posted much this week. Here is a list of some of the things that went on this week:

• it SNOWED
• I turned 29
• I have been playing "scrapulous" on facebook (and I'm not very good)
  
• I got 5 pages done in Luke's baby book
• We launched our first small group for our church
• SnowCat shredded an entire paper towel tube in one night
• Hattie slept in flip-flops
• My sister-in-law opted not to try and get in to the Oprah show in Macon and MISSED the Oprah's favorite things show.
• Luke is saying UP and OPEN
• Lots of snotty noses, lots of used tissues, gross.

I'll be better this week.

The Wind

I know I've blogged about this before, but I am NO LESS amazed at the wind here in North Dakota.

Today is was so windy, the big city-issued trash cans were blowing down my street. I actually had a good laugh when a bulldozer scooped 2 of my neighbors' trashcans up and deposited them at the corner of our yard. Then it was almost as funny to see one of the neighbors looking for his trashcan and discovering it in our yard. Oh, I'm easy to entertain.

The tumbleweed still makes me laugh out loud. I had only ever seen tumble weed on movies. Let me tell you it really exists here. I was driving to Wal-mart the other day and this big old thing of tumbleweed crossed the road in front of me. They come in all sizes, meeting up and rolling along together. Silas loves to chase them. Hattie had a little of it stuck to her for part of our trick-or-treating trek. I have heard of people actually rolling christmas lights up in tumbleweed and using it as decoration.

We stayed inside today. Silas has a yucky cough, I think it may be croup. The doctor thinks Hattie had it last week. She said its really going around and its very contagious. By late this afternoon, Silas had NO voice and actually fell asleep at naptime...a very rare occurance. Anyways, with it so windy, I'm sure I would have had to carry Luke and Hattie. Hattie simply can't withstand the wind. Luke is funny because he stands there, looking around like, "who's doing that to me" and then he cries.

My dad says his buddy always said he loved the prairie because "the wind blows". Its so true. You'd have to be here to really experience it. Everyones' invited, we've got a spare room and a good view.

on the mend

Hattie is feeling better. Thanks for all the concern and prayers. She's still not back to her normal self, but the fever's gone. She's not eating much at all. Which, is very different from normal. But at this point I think SnowCat is eating more than Hattie.

Oh, I do have3 ONE cool thing. My Grama "B" is 93 years old today. She is amazing. She just moved into an assisted living apartment with her dog, YoYo. She is very healthy. She loves Jesus. She prays for us faithfully. She really is an example to me. My dad said growing up she was always "taking someone in". They had numerous friend and relatives living with them. She has taken care of SO many, outliving them all. I sure hope I can live a full life like she has. Happy Birthday Grama B. (even though she won't be reading this, she says she's too old for computers. I guess at 93 she can be too old for whatever she wants to be. And along that line, Jody says she should be able to eat however and whatever she wants.)

Home

We got home last night around 8:30pm. It was nice to be home. And we were all so tired.

Hattie has been sick. I can't remember if I wrote about her fever or not. But since she wasn't getting any better, I took her in to the After Hours Clinic. We were there about all morning. Man, I am glad I took her in. The doctor says it looks like she has the beginnings of pneumonia and a possible urinary tract infection. She's on an antibiotic now. She's been so pitiful. Hopefully we are on the mend now.

Jody is VERY excited about church tomorrow. It'll be interesting to see how it all goes.

Not too bad

Well, I made it to Sioux Fall, SD. Whew!! (I'm using a different computer and it has !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!, my exclamation key doesn't work)

We took Silas to preschool. Hattie, LUke and I went to MOPS. Then we went back and picked up Silas. We went to our house to go to the bathroom, and eat real quick and by 12:30pm, we were on the interstate.

Luke and Hattie slept a little, Silas watched DVD's and I listened to a sermon and book on tape and talked on the phone. We stopped once, outside of Fargo. I came close to running out of gas. There are some LONG stretches of no gas stations on these Dakota roads.

We arrived in Sioux Falls a little after 6 pm. We met Jody and Ryan for dinner. And since Hattie and Luke were so tired, I skipped out on the meeting and put them to bed. Silas went with Ryan and Jody and they aren't back yet. It took Luke and Hattie a while to fall asleep in a strange room, but they are out now.

What a long day!

Candy and Hockey

So 2 quick things.

Luke's new word is: CANDY. He's no dummy. He goes over to the big bowl of Halloween candy and points and says "candy". Its very funny AND annoying.

Today we went to pre-school hockey. Its a free program Bismarck Parks and Rec put on. It takes a HUGE effort getting all geared up. The skates are enough to make me want to say some things I wouldn't want my kids repeating. I was very thankful for my friend Stacy who helped me today. Jody went down to Sioux Falls, SD with Ryan. The kids had fun. We'll continue next week. (its every Mon, Tues, and Wed)

Tomorrow after we pick up Silas from pre-school, we are driving down to Sioux Falls. We'll only be gone 2 nights, but it'll be a fun little trip. There's a Chuck E Cheese down there and I have a coupon. Yay. Pray for me as I travel down alone, by car with the kids. I'm going to try and limit my liquid in-take, so I don't have to use the bathroom. We'll see how that goes.

Earlier Every Year

So, I can hear my mom saying, "they put the Christmas stuff out earlier every year". She's said that every year for as long as I can remember.

Well, I've said it now.

I went to Wal-mart on Friday. No lie, there was Christmas music playing, decorations all over and all the merchandise you could want to get ready for Christmas out for you to buy. Is it just me, or is this really early? In the newspaper today, Target had a huge toy magazine. My kids got the "gimmies" right away.

If I bought Christmas candy now, would it be stale by the time I would put it out, like after Thanksgiving?

Seriously, is this earlier than last year?

Strange things I just can't figure out

Why is it that:

• White shirts are magnets for red sauce splatters?

• Luke tries to step into the pile I am sweeping up on the floor?

• I can NEVER find a pacifier when I need it?

• No matter how much sleep he has had, Jody wakes up EVERY morning and says, "I don't know why I am so tired"?

• My sister Joy always calls when I am in the middle of something that I can't get out of?

• My house can be spotless one instant and a disaster area the next?

My list could go on and on. Got a good one for me?

Halloween 07

We had a great and very eventful Halloween. Silas had his school program. It was very cute. After naptime we went to the Heritage Museum. The kids had fun in the craft area and feeling like it was Night at the Museum, because it was dark in there. Then we had some friends come over and have hotdogs and go trick-or-treating.

Hattie, as you can see, changed her costume. At the museum she was Tinkerbell then she transformed into Cinderlla. Both costumes were accessorized by the purple cap (that I found for a DOLLAR at Wal-mart). And the earmuffs were quite the touch for Cinderella. I always say Hattie is like Holly, but in this case, Holly said that Hattie mixes and matches like me.

Anyways, we had fun and we have WAY too much candy.