Finally a relaxing week!

If there was one unifying factor to our week, it was PJ's! We spent almost every morning this week relaxing in our jammies!! Wow... after two weeks of either camping, being at camp or hosting family and visiting the horse camp, and ballet camp .... we were all ready to be home and relax for a while!!

Another fun development was the arrival of Thor and Anika's (and Kelly and Jacob's) wedding outfits (Bethany's October wedding). I think it's kosher to show Anika in her dress for the wedding... I wouldn't show Bethany's dress of course... even if I did have a picture... Anyway -- Anika had fun trying it on for size, and practicing! It will probably have to be shortened just a couple of inches, but otherwise it fits pretty well.



We're back in Mojito season at our home... Love those minty-lime cocktails!! If anyone forgot the recipe since last summer - here it is:(per drink)
1/2 lime, juiced
1 Tbs. sugar
8-10 mint leaves
2 oz. rum (optional -- just as good without it)
1/2 glass of ice
1/2 can of lemon-lime soda

Muddle the mint leaves in the sugar (squish real hard with a wooden spoon handle, or whatever), add lime juice and rum. Stir. Put ice in a serving glass, pour mixture over ice, trying not to add the crushed mint leaves. I "rinse" the sugar and flavor out of the mixing bowl/tumbler with the soda before I pour it into the serving glass... but you can just add the soda right to the serving glass too. Enjoy!!

Thor is on his last few days away from home... he will be gone a full two weeks when he gets back Thursday night. It's been a quiet home these past days without him... and I still feel like I'm missing something everytime I go out... one kids really throws a mom off!! But he's having a wonderful time with his uncles and cousins "back east" (Rosholt).

Kinship 08!

The 2nd Annual Moeller Family Kamp Kinship weekend was a GREAT success -- AGAIN! It is a wonderful way to spend the Father's Day weekend -- for our dad, Alan... and the individual dad's in the group. I think all the guys love the "action" of the weekend -- us girls love having someone to cook and clean up after us!!

Here are some of our memorable events:
4 wheeling on the trails, loops and roads around the camp
- Thanks to Ted and Jan for bringing 2 ATVs!
- Added to Dirk and Nancy's ATV, Blaster, big dirt bike and Thor's dirt bike,
- Anika INSISTS on riding on the bike with daddy!

- We had enough for a whole group to go out each time
- Tyler learning how to ride the 125 dirk bike
- Thor being able to go 7 miles an hour on the trails!!
- That is an improvement for Thor!!!
- Giving the girls rides
- Taking dad Alan up for a sunset ride Saturday night
- finding meadows of Golden Pea (yellow wild flower) on the trail

Enjoying the Campground
- laying back on the couches being lazy

- singing for hours Friday Night (Moeller Gospel Choir)
- playing games into the wee hours Saturday night
- making smores around the campfire
- playing Basket Ball with the boys
- riding bikes with the little girls
- Uncle Dirk a.k.a. the "monster" playing chase
- little girls screaming just for fun, running from Dirk
- eating to much ... and then eating dessert
- watching the deer from the front deck

Extra Adventure - Climbing Custer Peak
- caravaning in 3 mini-vans and a pick up
- the beautiful open meadows on the way there
- Dirk forgot the trail got to rough for regular cars
- loading us up in the back of the truck for a bumpy ride up
- taking a 2nd load of hikers up to the trail
- hiking up the short but steep trail
- 360 degree view from the Custer Fire tower
- AMAZING view of the hills, for miles and miles

- Perfect family picture op!
- No serious climbing injuries, Thank Goodness
- Brianna might have a bruise after a short tumble, however

The BIG News!!
- Bethany showed up with an ENGAGEMENT RING!!
- YEAH!! Welcome to the family Christopher Fletcher
- We didn't know his last name until this weekend!
- Great proposal story!
- He hid the ring in a book, how fitting for two English grads!
- I can't believe I didn't get a picture of the ring!
- or the happy couple!! What was I thinking??
- Wedding date set for October 11th
- At St. Joseph, with reception at the Community Center
- Thor and Jacob will be ring bearers
- Anika and Kelly will be flower girls
- Other plans still being worked out!!
- Bethany bought a dress Monday morning!!
- It's gorgeous, but I can't share any details, it's a surprise!!

catching up...

I had to put "up" this picture of Anika's birthday cake. We had such a ball putting the cake together as a family... but our camera was "tied up" (Grandpa took it to Rosholt to get some family pics earlier this spring)... so we didn't get the photo's uploaded until this afternoon!

As you can imagine, this is a princess castle cake. It must have tasted OK too -- I think the whole thing, 3 layers, candy, ice cream cones and all was gone in two days!

This week we have been busy at VBS -- at the church where Thor goes to school, Zion Lutheran. Anika was able to attend class also -- so I had my first taste of what it will be like next fall when the two of them go off to school each day! Liv was a little lonely the first morning, but by Friday, she wasn't quite as happy to see them come home! I think she like the one-on-one attention!!

No big plans this weekend (which is nice)... but the following two weeks will be VERY busy. I have plenty to keep up with, finishing Kids classes on Wednesday nights through the rest of June... Kid's Movie matinee at the old theater down town on Tuesday afternoons... swimming on Thursday afternoons... (that is, if it stops raining long enough to warm up for some pool time!!)...

Father's Day weekend we will be with the Moeller "clan" at Kamp Kinship... and the next weekend I'm supposed to be in Sioux Falls for a MOPS Field Leadership meeting. Dirk and I are trying to figure out how to work in an anniversary get away that weekend too?? Grandpa Justin and Grandma Annette... what do you think about having some sleep over guests the weekend of June 21 and 22nd?? (just three kids??!!)