Dad Day.

Wouldn't it be great if you could spend someone's birthday doing something they loved or being in their favorite place with them?

We had a lovely day with my dad on his birthday. Being all together at the Shack, then just my parents, sister and I went golfing at the Crosby Country Club (beautiful day and us three played best ball against dad), then we all had a delicious meal at the fancy restaurant in Crosby with Dale and Ilene. It was a great day!

Four.

I'm happy to have gotten to enjoy his 71st birthday with him and give him a hug in person. Love you Dad! Lamborghini is on it's way!

-Heather

Where the Deer and the Antelope Roam.

We are on family vacation. We are in my dad's land, where he grew up and where I have many great memories when I was young. The Hunting Shack may not have indoor plumbing, but it's still a great place to spend time. It's so close to Canada, Verizon assumes we are roaming so that means minimal phone time. Unplugging for a time is always refreshing!

Glad for great weather this week. Bummed I had a migraine when we left Tuesday and I forgot our birth certificates so we couldn't go fishing (in Canada). FAIL. But we are making the best of it, including a short horse ride, farm time and golf. Love my family! Photos to come whenever we hit US wifi. 

-Heather

Sheets Redeemed.

For those of you that care to know, I decided we would use most of Maelee's things from her room for Annalee's room in our new house. Practically because we have it already and partly to get to watch a baby sleeping on those birdie sheets. My plan is to add a bit more yellow here and there to change it a bit. And add Annalee's name somewhere on a wall. I'll take photos someday when I get that accomplished. For now I'm so happy she's got her own room and not in a closet! And when she's old enough to not have a crib, we'll redo her room just for her. 

Our boy was always a back sleeper and this girl is a full-on belly sleeper. Recently she has gotten attached to blankies which makes something these two actually have in common! And she likes small stuffed animals (bunny from china crew in crib with her), well we think she does. I had to wake her up yesterday for an appt but I snuck these shots to share:

Sorry for the legs, baby girl. 

Yesterday she actually snuggled with me for maybe a minute. It happens so rare, you have to take it when you can! Our little mover and shaker. 

-Heather

Precious Care.

Amy wrote a sweet post on the girls' daycare provider... so I'll follow-up! Ketia has been a great caregiver for Annalee these last few months. Annalee didn't bond with her like Alexia did (who went full-time for ten months) but Annalee most definitely developed a bond with Ketia's oldest daughter Ketina.

Ketina was so bummed Friday when I picked up Annalee. It really is spectacular to see...

If Annalee grows up loving Haitian food, we'll know her months there influenced her! Grateful for Ketia's care and love for both girls. I told them they are all invited to Annalee's birthday party so we'll see them again soon. 

Eli has been enjoying care at Constance's but sadly I didn't get a photo with her since Greg ended up picking him up on his last day. With fourteen kiddos, it's always chaotic around there at 5pm. But I told her we would visit and she's our back-up care for Eli. He's sure going to miss her. 

Both kids start Sept 2 with our new daycare lady. Jody seems great and I'm excited to have both kids at the same place. Eli starts preschool that same day, too! Wowzers!

-Heather

803!

Our phone numbers now reflect we live in ND again (whole state = same area code). When I input our zip code it gave me some prefix options and I chose the one that I liked best numerically. Well it turns out that it's actually a number for Center, ND not Bismarck. But it's done and we like them and don't feel like changing. Perhaps we will go visit Center soon and call the one family we know there!

It was sad to say goodbye to 803. I had texted Greg we should change our numbers because we are changing our address on everything now anyway and I must have written it all dramatically. His response: "Did you want some sort of ceremonial moment or something when we change numbers? Maybe a gong and some rattles?"

Booooiiiiiinnnngg. 

There. A gong. 

-Heather

Oh and a little shake, shake, shake too. 

10 Month Cutie.

This happened last week. She's in the double digit months now! Annalee is really growing and changing and becoming less baby. Though Eli is quick to point out "Annawee is a baby because she wears diapers and is not a big boy."

-Heather

Unfun Train.

We are potty training now. I love him but this is hard. We are trying a three-day don't leave his side deal. Full-on undies only. Problem is Eli is holding it, wants to sit on the toilet but then nothing happens. And he had a lot to drink and ten prunes and FiberOne and Popsicles and snacks galore. 

It was a long day. 

It was made better by the surprise arrival of my friend from way back in junior high. Jillmarie came to visit from CO for a day. Always a nice surprise and someone I let do my dishes or cook without feeling guilty. Those are the friends to have, folks. 

-Tired 

40 Years!!

My parents have been married for 40 years today! I am so very grateful for their commitment through these years: through the first years learning how to be married, through the early days with two (darling) girls, through some long North Dakota winters, through card-hidden diamonds and expectations, through balancing work and family, through golf games and curling spiels, through bronchitis and migraines, through laughter and dad’s dancing, through changing jobs and retirement, through the death of their parents, through the birth of their grandkids, through grieving their granddaughter and watching their daughter grieve, through Fiats and GMCs, through extended family hurts, through moves and changes, through new knees and aging bodies, through life.

I love that through all this, they have chosen to stay committed, to be selfless at times, and to choose love. Thank you, Mom and Dad, for not giving up on each other, for loving each other through messy life.

If you truly know my parents, you know they are well matched. I love how their strengths and weaknesses mesh. The self-proclaimed bachelor found a classy woman all those years ago. And what a pair they make! Especially when they are both wearing plaid sitting on a plaid couch. Nice.

I love these two. I am beyond thankful for them in my lives. They are not perfect. Nope. But they are awesome and have loved me so well. That is not a given in parenting. They are a gift to me and so many others. I hope for many more years to enjoy them and have my kids get to know them. May the Lord give you more good years together!

Happy 40th!

-Their Youngest

Move-A-versary.

That’s right.

It’s been one year to the day when we pulled into Bismarck to begin our life here. And what a year it has been! Not sure if I would have signed up if I would have known all the crazy that ensued! But knowing the future is not how we were designed and therefore, we must trust. The doesn’t-want-to-battle part of me hopes this next year is a bit calmer but regardless, I hope the next year allows us to make Bismarck our own and call it home. Having our own place is a fantastic start, thank the Lord. 

We left these sweet folks.

We left our lives where friends were family, where we had no roots, where we were outsiders welcomed, where we tried make it our home despite our lack of southernness, where we experienced loss and life. It was our time to come back to NoDak but I’ll leave it at this, one year later: South Carolina left a sweet taste and we look back fondly.

One year ago we were welcomed by this land.  

It’ll always be easy to remember exactly when we arrived last year because the next day our sweet niece, Alexia Maelee, was born! Happy day-shy-of-One sweet girl! We love you!

-Heather