The falls

While in Sioux Falls we decided to stop for breakfast on Sunday morning at a donut shop the Husband frequented in his youth.


I was shocked when he shared with the girls and me that he and some friends would skip out of church to run across the street to get donuts from this shop! What!? Well I never! I also didn't have a donut shop across the street from my church to tempt me. 


The plan was to pick up donuts and go to the falls...Sioux Falls...yep there are falls...and eat our breakfast.

Well guess what? The donut shop is no longer open on Sundays! The owners were probably in church! Or maybe they got a cease and desist order for providing donuts to kids who sneak out of church!

We ended up getting breakfast from Starbucks! I didn't complain.

We took our breakfast to the falls, pulled up a rock, and enjoyed the beautiful view while we ate.

The city has done a great job improving the Falls park and it gets a lot of visitors.

When I saw these guys, I had to snap this photo. I know their friend wanted to get a shot of the backs of their jackets, but I thought they looked like they were going to pee in the river. I wasn't brave enough to yell, "Hey, no peeing in the river!" They may not have thought I was funny! They looked pretty tough and the Husband was still enjoying his breakfast, even though it was from Starbucks and not his favorite Daylight Donut shop, and he might have been upset if he had to defend his wife, in the middle of eating his breakfast, when she should have kept quiet! So I decided I would just share with you!

Anyway...

The falls are beautiful!

I highly recommend visiting if you're ever in Sioux Falls!

In case you were wondering, the Husband did eventually get a donut from his favorite shop! 

I think it was definitely a cease and desist order!

Christine

Slug Bug

The Husband likes to play Slug Bug. You know, the game in which the first person to see a Volkswagen Bug yells "slug bug" while slugging the person closest to them.


I DO NOT like to play Slug Bug!!


Do Not!


I like Volkswagen Bugs! They are very cute cars! I especially liked Herbie The Love Bug! Does anyone remember Herbie? Cutest Bug ever!

I don't like to play Slug Bug partly because I do not watch other cars while we are driving somewhere and I never see the Bugs first. NEVER! EVER! The Husband ALWAYS sees the cars first! grrrr! I prefer to watch the scenery while riding in the car or think deep thoughts! Yep, that's right, I spend my time in the car thinking deep thoughts. Occasionally daydreaming...mostly thinking deep and profound thoughts, unless I'm driving, then I watch the road! You are supposed to watch the road when you drive! You are NOT supposed to be looking for a reason to slug your spouse!


I also do NOT like to play Slug Bug because my Mother taught me that it is NOT nice to slug people! The Husband's Mother taught him as well, but apparently he did NOT listen!


I have told the Husband that I do not want to play Slug Bug! In fact, I told him, "I quit! I am out of the game!" I thought that would put an end to getting slugged each time he saw a Bug. NOT! He said it's fine if I quit, however he was still going to play. Meaning: I would still get slugged.


The game Slug Bug has had me very irritated for years now.


Our trip to South Dakota changed everything!


It started with an orange Volkswagen Bug I spotted along the freeway. 


I couldn't believe it! I saw it first! The Husband was  
a little irked that I saw the Bug and he did not. I was thrilled! He got slugged!


Then came this cute little red Bug.

Guess who saw this one first. ME!!! I was overjoyed! Two in a row! HA!!


Then a blue one. Me again! Yeah baby!


And this little red convertible.

Me again! I couldn't believe it! But I was liking it! Oh yeah!


And then, when I thought I must have seen every Bug in the city...

ME again!!! Take that!


This was when I began to understand the Husband's thrill of the Slug Bug game! And this is the point that the Husband became exceedingly annoyed.


I felt bad for the Husband. After years of getting slugged, I understood his frustration. So I told him that it was fine with me if he wanted to quit playing Slug Bug. I however, would continue to play, and then I rolled on the floor laughing!


Christine


P.S. Please note, Slug Bug is a game. No spouses are injured or abused while playing! It's irksome for the loser, but it's only a game!

Road trip

Soo, I haven't posted for a few days.


Did anyone notice?


Did anyone miss me?


Anyone?


Helloooo?


Anyway...


I haven't posted because the Husband and I packed up the family and drove to Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Woohoo!


We went to visit the Husband's folks.


We hadn't seen them since December so we were really looking forward to the visit. The girls were very excited to get to see Grandma and Papa!

Our hotel room looked right out onto the river, which was lovely...

as long as you looked out and not down!

A river walk is being constructed right behind the hotel we stayed in. I'm sure it will be a wonderful attraction for the city. However, it was an annoyance for us when the workers began pounding, sawing, and driving heavy equipment at 6:00am! Apparently no one told them we were on vacation and wanted to sleep in! snort! I'm sure it will be nice to stroll along the river when we go for our next visit!


My Mother-in-law wanted to purchase new sneakers for the girls for school while we were there. YAY! Not only was it wonderful that she was willing to cover that expense, it also took less than 30 minutes to find shoes the girls liked. That never happens! NEVER!! I have never taken the girls shoe shopping and had them find shoes they liked that the store actually had in their size in less than 2 hours! NEVER!!! I'm going to have to find a way to take my Mother-in-law along next year when I take the girls shopping for shoes. She saved me a huge chunk of time! 


Thank you Mother-in-law! You're the best!


My Mother-in-law has this amazing knack for finding really great bargains! She passed that on to the Husband! It's a good talent, but sometimes it irks me because I don't have it! 

My Mother-in-law also tried to teach us to play canasta. It was a little confusing at first!

Although maybe that was because the Husband was being a distraction! We began to catch on after awhile. I liked it. I'm going to keep practicing. And yes, the numbers on her cards were REALLY big!


I'll show you more photos from our trip throughout the week.


I'm glad to be back. 


Hope you'll come back too!


Christine

30 minutes revives a dream

Yep, 30 minutes playing with and petting farm animals was all it took to breathe life back into my hobby farm dream!


I'm aware that it's a lot of work to manage a hobby farm, but I have learned that afternoon naps are allowed.

I think I would prefer to take my naps on the couch!


I find it impossible to resist falling in love with these sweet faces!

Awwww!

Ohhhhh! 


Donkey got in a bit of trouble. He started to follow, chase would be more accurate, a girl around the pen because she had been feeding him some grain and when she didn't have any grain left. He didn't believe her. The poor girl was pretty freaked out. Donkey clearly felt very bad about the whole incident!


The petting farm also had ducks and geese.

They didn't want anything to do with people. Drop some grain on the ground folks and get outta my way!


There were some gorgeous chickens too. I really want chickens!

The Husband's favorite animal was the Alpaca. He actually said he would like to get an Alpaca. Dream encouraged!

There was a Llama too.

I'm not sure what the difference is between a Llama...

and an Alpaca, or as I heard a very cute three year old say, "it's an Alptaca Mom!"

I think I would invite three year olds to visit my hobby farm all of the time. They get so excited to see the animals. My more grown up girls still love the animals, but it's just different. I became very aware of those differences yesterday.


The girls and I, with a couple of their friends in tow, met some of my friends, who have little children, at the zoo yesterday morning. The petting farm was in the evening. It was a day full of animals. It's no wonder the hobby farm dream is alive and well again!

The more grown up kids have been to the zoo so many times by there ages that they want to power through. Tiger...check! Giraffe...check! Zebra...check. It's a little like they just want confirmation that the animals are still there and then they move on. 


My friend's little ones are absolutely thrilled to see each animal and fascinated to spend time watching them for several minutes. It doesn't even matter if the animal is sleeping, they're just delighted to be near to each new and wonderful creature.


I had to stop my more grown up kids a one point and say," I need you to wait up for the others!"


They gave me quizzical looks and asked why.


I explained that they were getting to spend the day at the zoo with their friends and I had wanted to spend the day at the zoo enjoying the company of my friends too and that wasn't happening because they kept moving on so quickly.


It was pretty funny to see their faces register understanding. Their was a time when they felt the need to follow Mom's lead. Not so much anymore! They have their own ideas of how things will go now, and they want to lead the way.


It has not been easy to change my parenting from raising little children, to raising more grown up children. It would really help if children came with warning lights! Lights that, like on the oven, turn on when the heat is just right, turn on to let you know that your children have begun to make up their own minds. It would really help a parent to be more prepared. For that matter how about warning lights for when children are going to be crabby, or when they are getting sick, or when they are mature enough to start dating! Yes! Children should definitely come equipped with warning lights!


Though my more grownup kids did not want to spend much time looking at the animals and did not get that look of delight at seeing each animal, they are at an age where they have a very delightful wit and their zoo commentary is a riot. They kept me laughing most of the day!


I discovered a solution yesterday, to problem that killed my hobby farm dream in the first place.


The petting farm had a person walking around with a pooper scooper.


That's right, the moment there was a pile, it was immediately scooped away!


I just need to hire a pooper scooper for my hobby farm! Problem solved!


Yep, yesterday was a very good day!


Dreams came back to life, lots of laughter, and many cute animals kids!

Christine

Reaching new heights

I've mentioned to you before the struggle I am having with Miss Sofi Bug growing taller than I am.

It really isn't fair that ones child grows taller than one!


I'm trying to be mature about it, but frankly it's really bothering me! It doesn't help that Miss Sofi Bug gets such satisfaction out of being taller either! She loves to point out her new found height to others while wearing an irritatingly smug expression on her cute face!


I just want to stomp my feet and yell, "it's not fair!"


Like I said, I'm trying to be mature about the whole thing. 


Ahem.


Last week I found a pair of shoes in my closet that I had forgotten I owned. I haven't worn them for awhile because the bottoms are a bit slippery on carpet, and they give me a blister on my big toe. Ouch!


The shoes are about 3 inches high, plus they have an inch high platform.

That's right, guess who's taller now Baby!


Regular heels help, but that extra height from the platform makes a huge difference!


When I put the shoes on and stood next to Miss Sofi Bug, she gave me a disgusted look and said, "that's not fair."


My reply was, "life isn't always fair Baby!"


I don't care how many blisters I get, I might wear these shoes every day from now on.


Of course at the rate she's growing, I might need to invest in a pair of these in about 6 months.

Actually, I better get them now so I can spend the next 6 months figuring out how to walk in them!


Christine

Summer olympics here they come!

Oh how I love a quiet weekend.


A weekend that isn't full of things to do and places we have to go is like balm after a busy week.


The girls took advantage of the free time to practice their Style Diving. I think it is going to be the next BIG Summer Olympic's sport!


Emma practiced her Oh-dear-I'm-slipping-into-the-pool dive.

Excellent form!


Sofia practiced her I-can-jump-higher-than-you dive!

Very graceful!


The girls are also working on their doubles diving.

The beach ball is a nice touch, but they need a little work on their timing!


There was the classic cannonball.

Very good!


And then there was my new favorite dive. The Oh-no-I-tripped-over-the-edge-of-the-pool dive.

It begins with a toe catching on the pools edge.

Then comes the oh no I'm falling into the pool face.

For the big finish, the tongue must be out so that the audience feels the divers pain! I think she's got this one down!


I'm especially impressed by the way the girls have incorporated the use of the beach balls into their dives!

I think their is no doubt that, once the sport of Style Diving becomes an official part of the Summer Olympics, the girls will be ready to take the gold medal!


I'm so proud!


Christine

To make a heart light again

The last year has brought much heartache and sorrow.


There are loved ones whose marriages are broken.


There are loved ones who have passed away.

by Ann Tristani

There are loved ones who are suffering and dealing with illness.


There are loved ones who are struggling with finances.


All of this pain has weighed heavy on my heart.


I have allowed the heaviness of it all to settle deeply.


It has settled too deeply, because lately I have allowed my Bible to settle comfortably on my bedside table.

A place it should never get comfortable resting, for it should get used to resting in my hands under my searching eyes!


I need it's wise words like I need the air I breathe.


The need to be reading my Bible has nudged at me. It has been whispering to me and I have allowed the noise of life's hardships to shout over that whisper until I heard the whisper no longer.


And then, in a book I picked up at the library, for an easy summer read, called Sisterchicks in Gondolas...it's about two friends who go to Italy, how could I resist...I read this line, "a Bible that's falling apart (from use) usually belongs to a person whose life isn't." And I remembered the whisper. I remembered my need to be comforted, encouraged, and to build up my faith.


Now I'm not trying to say that reading my Bible will prevent anything from going wrong in life. It won't! 


What reading scripture will do is remind me that God is sovereign.(Psalm 47:2-8) He cares about my heartache and the heartache of those I love.(Psalm 145:8-9) He is my hope. (Romans 15:13) He is my comfort!(Psalm 23:4)


It is through scripture that I learn to have a tender, forgiving heart toward others and to seek forgiveness myself.


It is through scripture that I am taught to be generous and find joy.


I eat daily to nourish my body, yet I had forgotten to feed my soul. It was starving. 


A starving soul does not have the strength to lift the weight of a heavy heart, and a nourished soul has the weight lifted by Almighty God.


The Bible is my souls daily bread.


I am thankful, that I read in a book, that I happened to pick up at the library, what I could no longer hear in a whisper.


God is also faithful!


Christine