Our 13th Anniversary (Aug. 20th)

Serena getting a ride on Mr. Wragge's motorcycle - what fun!

Our beloved visitors the Wragge's,from Toronto - and now our "adopted" parents/grandparents.

Painted by Beau - for our anniversary - it is of our visit to the Split Rock Lighthouse at the North Shore, MN.

I think I can remember most of our anniversaries and what we did to celebrate. It means a lot to a wife, I think, to remember and recognize "what you are doing with this man anyway"! Hopefully building a marriage! (and a family - in our case). We've never gone anywhere extravagant (yet!), or spent a lot on gifts (yet! ;) but I've got memories that I will treasure. Some simple times, like a romantic, heart-shaped, home cooked dinners with wine, or going up to Winnipeg on a beautiful afternoon, and sharing a dinner there, eating outside at a fancy restaurant, and opening a white gold necklace with a small diamond from my hus... or a couple times, we were camping - crawling into a tent being careful not to wake the kids also sleeping in there - once in Medora, and another time in Colorado Springs... another anniversary we went to a lake home of some friends of ours and used their hot tub, and shared their endless water toys...

This year, we had nothing planned - (though I have dreams in my head of a future trip to a beach somewhere with just my man) - but our anniversary was pretty special anyway. We had company - friends from Toronto, who came to visit and ended up staying longer than planned because of problems with their motorhome. We've enjoyed them so much. We didn't have a promising day, weather wise, but we were determined to try and go golfing with our friends anyway. So we loaded up, and chased the blue spot in the clouds to the most promising golf course. We got one hole done and it started to rain - and when it didn't clear up, we gave up and looked for something else to do. (which you really don't have much to choose from here in the boonies.) We stopped at a cafe in a nearby town, and I "resigned" myself to eat at the not-so-fancy restaurant. We ended up having a really good time - it helped that our big city visitor genuinely loves stopping at "mom and pop" places like that! The food was actually good too, and paid for by our guests. Thanks!

And "thanks" too - to my husband for the beautiful bouquet pictured above - he had the florist rearrange a special bouquet using flowers of his choice out of different (already done) arrangements - she didn't think the colors went together - but he did - so there I have it! Something uniquely from Stu!

Another very special gift was a painting (also above) that was made especially for us by our brother-in-law , Beau. It is from a picture of us at the Split Rock Lighthouse at the North Shore in MN, last year. Talk about a cool gift!!! One we will treasure for always!

So - another anniversary to remember- we are definitely blessed ~ cheers to many more!!!

More reflections of our time in Mandan

Great sense of humor here, Kim!

Serena and Abby - our friends who were also visiting from Chicago.

The view over the hill from Steve and Kim's house in Mandan, ND.

More of the kids using the slippy slide.

Gabe on the merry go round.

Kira loving it!

If you look closely, you can see the teeth (and bright shirt) of my son in the middle. ;) We are taking the ferris wheel with Abby.

Kira with Chantelle and Ashley - our friends from Chicago.

a reflection of summer

wow - tomorrow the kids go back to school - summer goes so fast. It's amazing when you take the time to reflect on all you've done, the things that have happened, and how the kids have grown. Zeke is almost 7 months now - and this past month has been a whirlwind of firsts for him. He has learned to sit up on his own and shortly after, he learned to crawl (actually he pulls himself along - but fast!). He pulls himself up onto things, like he wants to stand - he is ahead of my other kids. (he doesn't want to be left behind on anything!) He has began eating solid foods - and now the newest thing is that he's been saying "da da - da da". Boy, is his dad proud. Next will be a tooth or two popping out - (he sure has been working on it!) He's also been moved out of Dad and Mom's room - they were SICK of being woke up in the night for no reason - so he's in a big crib in his own room, and "sleeping like a baby".

Zeke and Kira are posing with hockey gear.

This is McKenna (a friend) and Kira at the day camp in Park River. They got to play at the water slide, hang out in a cabin, buy stuff at the canteen, and of course, learn about God. (note the Bible Kira's holding.) When asked what their favorite part was, they said, "the water slide and buying candy!" Although they could have had the same answer if they'd gone to a hotel, hopefully something spiritual sunk in.

Our older kids also went to a week long Bible camp and LOVED it! Too bad I don't have pictures. They always come home bubbling over about everything. Thank you to the individual who sponsored our kids - (and more kids) - to go!! What an incredible gift!

Damien and Garret at Raging Rivers - Mandan. The kids and I spent a week at my sister-in-law, Kim's house while Stu, Uncle Steve and our nephews Ricky and Travis went to Boundary Waters - MN for a secluded (secluded? - sounds romantic - but I'm sure it wasn't that with the men folk!) camping trip. They had a great time, though were "wisker-y" and worn out when they got home. We more than survived - we were spoiled by Auntie Kim - in Mandan.

Zeke (sleeping) and I floating down the lazy river - ahhhhhhh - wonderful.

snacks

Does that strap look uncomfortable to you too?

Oohhh - owies! I was lathering lotion on Garret's sunburn.

Thanks to Kim for the photography!!!