Thor's Birthday!! 7 Years!

So when did a 7 year old get to be such a little man?? Thor had a great weekend of celebrations -- spending Saturday with his Morrison grandparents and family... and Sunday with the Moeller grandparents and family.

Justin, Annette and Carrie Morrison traveled from Astoria, SD for quite a short visit, basically just Saturday and Sunday morning. It was a wonderful time, we're so glad they were able to get over here, even if it was short. We had made plans to spend the day at Sylvan Lake in Custer Park ... Gpa and Gma wanted to take Thor shopping for his birthday, so we thought we'd start the day with a trip to Target...
Grandma had just as much fun as Thor picking out all the things on his school supply list. It's much for fun to do that kind of shopping with your grandmother... she is willing to buy you the EXTRA big package of markers... and the special "cool" package of erasers... What a blessing for us, too! Now Thor is pretty much ready for school, just one last pair of sneakers to get... and the way his feet are growing, I think I'll wait until the week before school... just to be sure they last as LONG as possible this year!

In the afternoon, we thought we'd pack up and head for the lake... but as we watched the plume of smoke growing just south of us... we wondered what was the best plan after all. We heard on the TV that the fire was near the Nemo Road area, which is actually a number of mile from here (but then again, the recent fire in Hot Springs had travelled 11 miles before it was contained!)... but it still looked ominous. The next thing we knew, a group of black clouds were moving in... and we had a WHOPPER of a summer storm. It started out with just a few sprinkles of hail, but moved quickly into a dousing RAIN! No matter what other conditions were around, we were more than happy to get the rain. Dirk and I were betting on how much came down -- I said 3/4 to 1 inch... he said 1/2 an inch... Why are boys always right about these things?? quite unfair!! (it was just a hair more than a 1/2 inch -- dad said maybe 7/8th at their house).
So instead of going to the lake, the lake came to us! Thor wanted to play in the rain to cool off -- and cool off we DID! By the end of the storm, we were mostly wrapping up in towels to stay warm! The water was running many
inches deep in our gutter... great play time for Thor, Tante Carrie and the rest of us!

The next day we packed up the Blaster and Thor's dirt bike (his birthday present from mom and dad) to head south to Ted's. After we enjoyed burgers, hot dogs and ice cream (instead of cake) -- the boys and little girls headed out for the trails. Thor had his first experience on his dirt bike in the real woods. Thor said he crashed 3 times... and only "bent up his bike a little" (the gear shifter is bent in a bit) -- but he did great. Dirk was able to stick close to him and give him all the coaching and encouragement... When the found a mud puddle that covered the whole road (and steep side on both sides) Thor got stuck going through the first time, so dad helped him buy driving it through on the way home. They were gone for about 2 hours.. and came home with 4 VERY TIRED children. I think the girls had a great time too.. Brianna said it was more fun than riding a horse ... and Anika fell asleep before we hit the 7-11 road (less than 5 minutes!).

By the way, we heard this morning that the fire by Nemo Road (called the Box elder Fire, not to be confused with the town of Box Elder near Elsworth AFB) is 35%

contained. The rain slowed it down, so the fire fighters could make better progress, but it is still burning. We pray for the safety of all the fire fighters, and protection over the homes... none lost at the time of the last report.

New "old" Blaster!

Dirk's been working hard, and the rest of us get to have all the fun!! I think that is his theme for life... but anyway, now you all know the secret of why I love this man!! Dirk is making a deal with Layne for buying the old Blaster from the farm... so we can have enough recreational vehicles for our whole family to trek around in the woods... the Blaster wasn't exactly in the best of shape when it arrived... didn't run; the seat had no upholstery left; the tires were going flat... And now look at it! Dirk pressure washed the whole deal (at work) -- it was amazing how much cleaner it looked! Then we recovered the seat with blue poly...

The funniest part was when Dirk was working on the "mechanics" -- he opened the air cleaner and the whole cavity was full of soybeans (and mice pooh!!). Hmm... don't think it will start that way!! Then after a new spark plug (the real problem according to Dirk) everything has been running great! I'm even learning how to drive an ATV that has to be shifted... I thought for sure I wanted a 4-wheeler that was automatic, but really I could get used to this one with no problem!


So if you miss us all as we ZIP past you on our way to the hills...we'll try to wave and say hello on our way!! (oh yeah, Liv hasn't had a ride yet, but I'm working on getting used to it before I put her in the tummy-pack and go for a ride!)

Friday and Saturday this week was my annual MOPS Steering Team Retreat!! Actually we missed last year due to crazy scheduling issues... but one of the things I love most in my life right now is MOPS. There were 8 of us (plus Liv -- who got to tag along because she is still nursing) and it really was a totally fun weekend. We stayed in a pretty cool Victorian B&B in Hot Springs... went out for coffee at the Flat Iron Coffee (bar? house? shop? can't remember the name right now) which was even cooler than our B&B... and basically just had a great time staying up late doing lots of girl-talk until about 1 a.m! (picture is the official MOPS graphic/theme for this year)

This year I get the added adventure of being a regional field leader for MOPS, which basically means MOPS will be sending me lots more information and resources that I need to pass along to the individual groups in our area (Western SD and ND)... and occasionally plan a "get-together" for all the MOPS leaders in our area. Let me see... I get in on all the BEST gossip FIRST... and I HAVE to call all the group leaders and chat, at least by phone, if not in person... and I HAVE to plan at least one get-together party a year for all the girls?? I don't think this will be a problem!!

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As you can see, my little Anika has been busy taking pictures again... she really does pretty good... The kids and Dirk are out for a neighborhood bike ride tonight. The weather is PERFECT this evening... high of 80 today, and no wind at all. There were scattered showers (and lightning) to the hills far west of us... but no rain here. Of course, we'd love more rain... but maybe tomorrow? Liv is just waking up from her last nap of the day, and I really need to get her up and feed her. She's going to try sweet potatoes for the first time tonight!! We'll see how that goes! She didn't care for bananas much, but loved the plain yogurt. Intersting?!?

Happy 60 Years, Mom and Dad!

Friday was Mom and Dad's 60th Anniversary! They had plans to attend the Piedmont Senior Potluck supper, so Thor, Anika, Liv and I joined them... and brought a chocolate cake to share. It was a fun night -- Liv actually stole the "show" -- but I did have one cute conversation with the gentleman who sat across the table from me. He started out by asking, "was that cake for your grandparents?" To which I replied "Yes, the cake is for my mom and dad's anniversary"
"They've been married 60 years?"
"Yes, today is their anniversary"
"He's your dad?" (emphasis on DAD)
"Yes..."
"He doesn't look OLD enough to be married 60 years..."
"He did turn 80 this winter..."
"80!... well, he's older than I thought"
(but yet, he did't seem young enough to be MY dad??)... kinda cute!

On the way home we chatted about where/what mom and dad want to do next in life... which led to some conversations about where they live; how they could have life a little easier (not having to keep up a whole house and yard, etc). We talked about a few different options, even ideas like if they would move into a bigger house with us -- if it would have the right kind of space, so both of us could have some separate spaces, and wouldn't have to encroaching on each other's space all the time. Mom is ready to move into a smaller apartment type space; but dad is still enjoying the freedom of doing his artwork/frames. If they moved into anything smaller, on thier own, dad wouldn't have the flexibility for an artroom or workshop area(garage). You can pray for both of us as we consider what God wants for us...

We did have a fun family weekend, starting out with Thor's baseball game on Saturday morning. After a quick lunch we did errands/shopping and found such a great deal on a new "lazy chair" for Dirk... we made a spur of the moment purchase... and realized we were going to have to do some rearranging!! So what started out with me cleaning a few kitchen cupboards, has now become a major over-haul in our kitchen, dining room, living room and Anika's room. It's mostly just "spring cleaning" and eliminating a lot of extra clutter we haven't really needed for a long time. Ever watch the show "clean sweep?" That is what my house looks like!! I've got boxes and boxes ready for a garage sale (or to donate to the mission).

Reconnect!

How fun to connect with friends you haven't see for quite a while! After church yesterday I was sitting in our "usual spot" with Liv, saying good morning as the "usual crowd" walked by. Gina came right over and offered to "help" hold Liv for a while (THANKS, Gina!)... and who walk up, but Werner F (can't spell or pronounce his last name) from Norway! He was here for the wedding of his friend, who had been his roommate while he attended an exchange program at the School of Mines. He graduated a year ago -- or was it two years ago?

Werner is here for a very short time, and is flying out of Minneapolis tonight, Monday. Werner is working on his Masters Degree -- a thesis in Mathematics and blood flow through the aortic arch (of the heart). Since I can't "talk math" it was a good thing Leonard H was there too! Actually, we talked more about world politics with Gabe Johnson than anything else. It's always fun to expand your world view a little! I learned that the King of Norway does have legislative power, unlike most other European crowns; but if he ever choose to exert his power, he would almost certainly loose it!

Then this morning I got a phone call from Brenda (Mayou)___ (can't remember her married name). We were great friends all through school. She has a baby girl too, very close to Liv's age -- and lives in the Cities. Now we have each other's email, so hopefully we can keep in touch!

Family Vacation... Wedding... Reunion

I'm not sure we could have packed any more into one week... but it sure was fun!

We started out a little more than a week ago planning a camping trip to Custer State Park (Custard Park as cousin Kelly said) in a camper (lent to us by our dear friends). We spent Sunday - Wednesday enjoying the sunshine, trees, lake and wildlife of the park. For me it was one of the most relaxing camping trips, due to the camper. I might be ruined now for tent camping?? All things considered, it probably was the only reasonable way to try to camp with a two month old -- and Liv did GREAT. It was very nice to have 3-4 days bonding as a family again. The kids LOVE having Dirk around more. Thor thought maybe Dad should have the whole summer off (from work) like he does from school (not a bad idea!!).


Next came a houseful of company - my family, the Moellers - as we prepared for the wedding of my brother Jonathan to fiance' Chary. As you can see, it was a pretty "full" event, even though Chary's family was not able to attend. Chary is from the Dominican Republic, and will be going through the paperwork now to get a permanent visa. This is the 2nd marriage for both Jon and Chary, so it was a simple event, but still a celebration of God's covenant of marriage. Ray Phipps from our church, Dove Christian Center performed the ceremony... later we enjoyed cake, fruit and punch in the fellowship hall. Jon and Chary opened the gifts from the family... and then went on to enjoy a short honeymoon.



The next day the whole family travelled to Kamp Kinship. When we got to our cabin I was pleasantly surprised to see that it was a lovely, modern cabin with very new bathrooms, furnished like a mountain retreat -- not a rustic Bible camp building. Tyler said "Aunt Nancy, this is NOT like Bible camp, this is like a motel!" It suited our needs perfectly! Each family could have a room to themselves, if they wanted. There was a great room in the basement with a big screen TV/DVD player, pool and ping pong.. a full kitchen set up on the main level, coffee maker and dishes and everything. We enjoyed most of all the Kamp dining hall. We had arranged for 2 meals a day -- and just had to show up. The food was very good -- and PLENTY of it too! No dishes to do... no shopping, preparing or cooking! It really WAS a vacation!

The camp had so many fun options for the kids -- it let us grown ups have a relaxing time, not having to caravan around to keep the kids busy... the kids were immediately busy on the basketball court and playground... Over the course of the weekend we did so much, I hope I can remember it all:
fishing - paddle boating - taking ATV's up into the hills (Jacob was sure it he was going to die out in the forest when his dad got them "lost"!)
basketball - football (red-heads against the tow-heads) - zip line (WICKED AWESOME according to Abigail or Brianna) This is ANIKA on the Zip Line... can you believe it!! She LOVED it! - climbing wall ( picture of Thor) - roasting marshmallows by the campfire
- singing together late into the night - board games (of course, Acquire!) - even a little bit of resting and being lazy ...

We didn't even get time to do any hiking, swimming, playing on the beach or boating/canoe trips. I guess we'll just have to plan another weekend for that! We ended our weekend together sharing God's word -- Jon shared scripture and some personal thoughts, we sang together, and I had a short kids lesson too.



Even Liv had a great time! She got some good bonding time in with her cousins... seems like Tyler is one of her favorite people!

I think this might become the new Moeller family Father's Day weekend tradition!

Did anyone hear me say that this week was going to be a quiet week at home... nothing going on at all?? so boring... we'd get a lot of quiet time togehter?? I must have been dreaming (or as Dirk says... 'smokin' dope'??... TOTALLY kidding... no illegal substnaces here).

Anyway -- when we got home from Thor's baseball game on Tuesday there was a note in our door from our good friends the Krabbenhofts, who moved to Alaska last summer. Thor and Nicholas were very good friends and missed each other lots, especially over the summer months. The K's were here for a short visit, and had a day or two this week to visit us... so we planned a play date for Wednesday morning (the sooner the better according to Thor!). Of course, during the play time, Thor and Nick plotted together to get the mom's to allow a sleepover that night... how could we refuse? Who knows when they would get a chance to play together again... Needless to say, they had a wonderful 24 hours playing... lots of Star Wars and Narnia play "fighting!"

Today was a little less adventurous, but I did get my first Mommie Field trip out of the house with NO children. Even Liv stayed home with daddy -- who by the way did a perfect job with her feeding and nap time schedule! (must be all the past experience?) Anyway, I enjoy 3 hours in town by myself, visiting the ObGyn (excitment...??) then my favorite consignment shop, my favorite kitchen store and topped the afternoon off with my favorite cold drink, a Heath Mocha Big Train! Dirk asked me if I missed the kids... ?? All of you mommies know the answer to that... OF COURSE... but getting 3 hours alone wasn't TOO much time away!

Tonight Anika experimented with the camera... and I think she did a pretty good job... take a look at her snapshot of Liv and me... then I got a couple of Dirk and Anika... Daddy was bothering us while we were trying to watch "I don't know what to wear" (Anika's version of What Not to Wear).