Where did October go?

Martina McBride in concert at Host Fest.

Walking tree at the Host Fest

Trolls and all things Scandinavian--every year the Host Fest comes to Minot. It is the largest Scandinavian festival in the world, Wow! Right here in Minot.

At the rodeo.

The kids loved watching the barrel races, calf roping, and bullriding...

We are really becoming North Dakotians.

After Church without shoes, of course.

Decked out with silly bands, bead neclaces, makeup, and hair clip

Flying unicorn, Stitch, Sleeping Beauty, and Black Spiderman

Running away from home with all her favorite toys wrapped up in her scratchy.

She told me she was running away so I said you might want to put on your coat and maybe your boots too. She thought that seemed like a good idea. Then I asked her if she would be back by Christmas and she said no she would be back by the holiday before Christmas, the one where you eat turkey. Okay, sounds good I said. Can I take a pictures so I will remember what you look like. Sure she said. Alright I said be careful go wherever you like but just don't leave the front yard. Okay. So she walked aimlessly around the front yard til she decided that home wasn't so bad.

Happy 35th Birthday, David!

Happy Birthday to my super handsome husband who brushes his teeth while gasing up the car.
Can anyone else say, gross!!!

Oh so brave

I took all the kids to get their shots.

It was a circus but I thought it best to get it over with all at once.

Noah went first--cried anticipating the pain that he never felt.

The girls listened from outside the door and then both ran in saying, me next, me next.

Juju jumped on the table oh so brave and then big tears fell once she felt the pinch.

A lollipop made it all better.

EJ wasn't due for any.

Then it was sweet Georgia's turn.

We all stood around her as she got 123 shots.

Her lip quivered, she cried and then Noah made her happy by sharing his pop.

She didn't make another sound.

Amazing what a lollipop can do.

First Day of School

Doesn't everyone looked excited?

So that's a little better.

The kids love their new school.

It is about 5 blocks away, a one minute drive.

They both love their teachers.

Noah's teacher is a friend of mine that I met at the Y.

It is her first year teaching and she is very enthusiastic and kind.

Ella Joy seems to love her teacher. After the second week she proudly announced, "This was the best day ever, I didn't even go to time out once." Good job, EJ.

Black Eyed Peas

Minot is small. And one wouldn't expect a world famous band like the Black Eyed Peas to stop by for a concert unless the only female in the band (Fergie) happened to be married to a certain boy (Josh Duhamel) who happened to grow up in Minot, a city that experienced a 500 year flood leaving thousands of people without homes so in attempts to help with recovery they decided to do a benefit concert right in our backyard. David burned me a CD, the kids and I learned all the top hits (radio versions, of course) and man was I ready. Honestly did not think I would have so much fun! It was a great concert and really cool to see people giving of their time/talents to help the community here.

Utah

Visited Temple Square

At the Temple doors

4 thrilled children

Visited Maria at her amazing home on the side of the mountain, so good to see her!

All the kiddies together

Visiting Grandma Jacobs!!!

Ohh the mountains

Dropped by the oh so romantic spot where David proposed at 7 am on the way to an exam

What I saw and heard for 90% of the trip

Also what I saw for 90% of the trip

I have really been wanting to visit Grandma Jacobs the last couple of years but we were always so far. Now that we are in North Dakota it seems like a hop, skip and a jump to Utah (really 1000 miles, but who is counting). After they extended summer vacation for 2 weeks because of the flood, I was ready for a "break" and decided we would hop in the van and drive to see Grandma. David took off work, I packed the van with clothes, food, and entertainment and a way we went. On the way we took 2 days, stopping half way in Bozeman, Montana to stay with friends. On the way home we were ambitious or maybe just desperate to end the misery of being in the car with #3 so we drove straight for 17 hours. I will just say that we made it and everyone is alive and that is what counts, right?

Highlights from our trip:

Visiting grandma and her cute little duck pond

Touring BYU, visiting the Bean Museum--EJ cried the whole time because she felt sad for all the dead animals, buying BYU parafernalia--EJ and JuJu found the tackiest hats in the store

Visiting friends from David's mission

Visiting the places we lived when we were first married

Park City--went down the Alpine slide and coaster, the coaster is so much fun! Imagine a one cart rollercoaster on tracks, super fun!!

Lunch with Maria at a delicious little cafe across from the temple--I am still thinking of that

salmon burger and the ginger carrot soup, so delicious.

Visiting the Cope's little farm and eating amazing Indian food!

Finally seeing the last Harry Potter movie.

It was a great trip. A lot of work, but worth it.

Children Cleaning and a New Kitchen Table

Just to let you know...(Shelly)

The quality of our pictures has been poor since April because they are all taken on my phone.

My camera was left in the realtor's car when we came up to look for homes in April.

She said she would hold onto it until we arrived.

Well, the building she worked in was evacuated and evidently the camera is in the secretary's desk which is in some storage unit. There is a huge dike around their building still so I don't expect to get it back any time soon.

Also, those big spaces between texts and photos started a few months ago. I have tried to work with the layout and format but can't seem to fix it. Sorry it is kind of obnoxious looking. I will continue to work on this problem.

Good news!

We have a Kitchen Table, which we haven't had in 2 years.

In Miami there wasn't enough room for a table, we just had barstools for the kids so David and I have been standing or sofa eating for 2 years, Imagine the Joy when this Beauty showed up. Loving the table and the stools. The living room is still empty and probably will be for awhile. Right now it makes for a great wrestling arena, tickling pad, and gymnastics mat. Ella Joy almost has her cartwheel. Por fin! I was beginning to worry since I spent most of my childhood doing carthwheels, handstands, and flips.

Summer was extended for 3 weeks due to the flood-- now school doesn't start til September 6. So the kids have been helping me around the house. They actually were fighting over who got to scrub the toilets, we had to take turns. Sure hope this enthusiasm continues. With the extra summer time we decided to take a trip to Utah to visit Grandma Jacobs. I am very excited about this trip, not so much the 1000 mile drive one way, but getting to see Grandma, BYU, family, friends, and mountains.

Hoping you are enjoying these last days of summer.

The weather here has been beautiful here.

I just hope its not cold when we get back next week.

Think the fall may only last for a couple of weeks and I don't want to miss it.