We have learned to live without you, but this time of year brings our memories to the forefront of our consciousness and you're ever present in our hearts.
Between being gone practically all summer, and worrying about the economic climate of the Bakken, and then Kev interviewing for different positions in the company, accepting one, and packing and moving, blogging kind of fell by the wayside. But...
I'm slowly catching up! I'm finally blogging in 2015...haha. If you're interested, check 'em out!
There should have been so much more of this, Richard. I'll never understand the why but I truly know you are forever out of pain. The years seem long, the memories sometimes distant, but we will never forget you. Love you and can't wait to see you again someday.
It feels like an eternity, yet also like I just blinked.
It's been another amazing year, and I've yet to regret our decision to move here.
803.7 miles later, our new home in Williston, ND. June 28, 2013
We've explored, played, worked, bled, laughed, cried, said hello to new friends, goodbye to good friends, and made so many countless, precious memories.
Spring Lake Park
Our family expanded by one over the past year. We sure love our Blue!
The lights of my life.
Williston parades can be chilly. Jaxon is the lump in the middle.
Exploring the beautiful nature all around us.
Playground equipment in the Bakken.
Easter was a bit cold this year...
Weekends are meant for road trips and family time.
The view from my neighborhood included four of these by Christmas
I have grown enormously fond of the North Dakota prairie. I never get tired of the view, whether it be flying snowflakes, frost-covered fields, waving grasses, or masses of sunflowers. And those skies and sunsets...
We have grown so much closer as a family in the last two years of living in ND than I could have ever imagined. Being far from extended family has taught us to rely on each other, and good neighbors and great friends.
I cannot wait to see where the next year takes us.
After much debate, we fiinally decided to get Tucker and Jaxon bunk beds. Jaxon had outgrown his toddler bed, and Tucker was dying to call top bunk. We searched and searched and searched and finally ordered one off Amazon.
A few tips:
1. Amazon delivers right to your doorstep, but makes no guarantees the UPS driver won't ask you for help. Of course he'll deliver when your husband ISN'T home.
2. Bunk bed packages are extremely heavy.
3. Said package also needs to be assembled. Nothing tests a relationship like putting furniture together.
4. Once said furniture is assembled, you threaten it had BETTER last because you're never doing THAT again.
Once we got it figured out, the boys were in heaven. This set has all kinds of shelves and drawers and even a desk with a built in lamp. Pretty sweet.
The top bunk promptly became the party spot and remains so to this day.
Our last day at Disneyland dawned dark and cloudy but we headed for the park anyway. It started raining while Kev and I were in line to ride California Screamin' and just got worse from there. Kev's mom had the two little boys, and they were miserable so she took them back to the hotel for a bit. California Screamin' was wet but super fun!
My 32nd birthday was the next day, and my MIL grabbed this awesome pin for me, so I wore it the whole day, and got so many birthday wishes.
After that we met up with Kev's dad and Kyan, and we somehow convinced Kyan to ride Indiana Jones with us...and Kyan was totally terrified. He wouldn't open his eyes and cried through the entire ride. Oops. Parenting fail! I had to make it up to him by taking him through the Haunted Mansion again. After a quick stop at Starbucks for a drink, the rain stopped and the sun came out. I think the rain kept a lot of people away, and the park was so not crowded. It was perfect for our last day! We were wandering around and came across a ton of characters out signing autographs and taking pics, so we jumped in line. Kev's mom was on her way back with the little boys, and we got some great pics.
We had a bunch of fast passes for Radiator Springs Racers so Kev and I took Tucker twice in a row, with a bathroom break in between, and that will forever be known as: The Day SpongeBob Got Lost at Disneyland and Was Never Seen Again. Tucker insisted on bringing him with us that morning, saying that he'd never been outside the gates of Universal Studios. Tucker and SpongeBob had a grand ol' time until Tucker set him down in the bathroom and didn't realize he was gone til we were about to ride Radiator Springs the second time. Oops.
The boys rode a whole bunch of stuff in Cars Land and had a blast.
Kev's mom said she really wanted to ride Tower of Terror but only if I'd go with her....no brainer!
We're in the second row, pink and grey jackets.
Man, that was SO FUN!! I of course screamed through a good chunk of the ride and probably bruised my MIL's thigh from grabbing it so hard but we had a ball!
Don't let this picture deceive you...Jaxon was about to have a meltdown. See photo #2...ha.
Totally loved the Enchanted Tiki Room! I thought it was so cute and funny. Of course we got a Dole Whip Float. The second I got mine, Jaxon needed the bathroom (story of my life.) When I got back, Kevin had already started eating it BEFORE I had gotten a photo, and anyone who knows me well can imagine my reaction...so I had to settle for this snap. :)
Jaxon passed out in the stroller for a bit, so the in laws sat with him while Kev and I took the big boys on Jungle Cruise and they liked that a lot too.
We rode Pirates a few more times, and Haunted Mansion. Grabbed some super delicious gumbo in New Orleans Square.
Walked to the end of the road
We rode a few more rides before we had to head for our dinner reservations. I couldn't resist grabbing one more treat...Mickey beignets! MMMMMM!
They were a hit and I only got one...
We had dinner reservations at Goofy's Kitchen, so we headed over to the Disneyland Hotel and did some shopping to kill a bit of time.
Goofy's Kitchen was the best! We had a photo op with Goofy when we first walked in, went to our table, and then hit the buffet. Sooo many options! Kids and adults alike were in heaven.
The most awesome thing was that Disney characters came out in intervals and took pics and signed autographs...the boys had a blast!
I even got a birthday surprise. I highly recommend spending a birthday at Disney; they'll do ya right!
Super yummy chocolate cupcake
This was the perfect was to wrap up our time at Disneyland.
