A Phenomenal Fourth!

We had a fabulous Fourth of July here in little ol' Williston! Kevin and I dropped some cash on a bunch of fireworks and set a few off on the third for the boys and some good neighbor friends. Everyone else called it a night after that, but Tucker and I decided to burn some midnight oil and go catch the fireworks at the fairgrounds after the car races. We parked on the frontage road just off of Highway 2 and had a perfect view. Trouble is, they didn't start quite when I expected. We waited a good 30 or 40 minutes. Tucker fell asleep before they were over, but they were pretty good fireworks, and I forgot to take photos.

Waiting for fireworks to start.

 The morning of the fourth was packed with activities! There was a breakfast at the church, and another one at the fairgrounds followed by tons of family friendly activities such as mural painting, face painting, a petting zoo, bounce houses, food vendors, and train rides. They also had a BBQ cook-off and live entertainment later in the day followed by some EXCELLENT fireworks. Super fun but super hot! It was around 96 degrees which was the hottest it had been to that point.

Ready for some Fourth fun!

Yummy Italian ices

Riding the train. Tucker said he was too hot to smile.

Tucker said, "Aww, look at this cute little dog!" Uh...it's a goat.

Painting on the giant mural

Our good friends the McBrides hosted the most fabulous Independence Day party I have ever been to. This is by no means an exaggeration. There was food galore including brats, hot dogs, gourmet toppings, multiple salads, fresh fruit, bottled soda that was a huge hit, and of course, marshmallow roasting for s'mores later in the evening. This celebration also included a zip line, a potato gun, a candy cannon,  pony rides, and a few hundred dollars worth of pyrotechnics. Seriously, does it get any better than that?!

He was hooked! He did it over and over and over.

Candy cannon. Jaxon thought he was gonna stand there and candy would magically fall in his bag.

Playing Guitar Hero

Being a zombie from the game Plants vs. Zombies!

Getting ready for fireworks

Cool paper lanterns just like in Tangled!

Totally bummed I never took a single photo of any fireworks. I was too busy trying to desperately fend off HORRIBLE mosquitoes. We literally took a bath in repellent and it didn't stop them at all. We had over 30 bites each the next day. The fireworks that the city set off were spectacular. We had the greatest view of the entire valley and so many people were setting off fireworks. I'm talking a good three or more hours of boom after boom after boom. It was so cool! We called it a night at midnight and they were still going off. It was an awesome way to spend our Fourth!

What A Difference A Year Makes

June 28, 2013

One year.

We've lived here one year today. Admittedly, Kevin has been here much longer, but we have been here together as a family for a year!

At times, time dragged. At others, it flew.

I can hardly grasp it's been a WHOLE YEAR!

I remember pulling into Williston, North Dakota and feeling thrills of excitement and also apprehension. 

Could we make it here?

Will we survive the winter?

Would we be okay without our extended family?

Would the boys make friends?

Would I make friends??

The answer:

YES!!!!!!

We made it through the winter. It was cold, cold enough at times for ice to build up inside our house. But we made it!

We've made so many great friends; ones that have rallied around us in times of struggle, times of worry, and times of need. They've become our family.

We have become active in the Church again. I'm grateful my children are going to church, learning and growing, and Kyan is eagerly awaiting his baptism when he turns 8 in October. That alone is worth the move.

People had varying reactions when we spread the word we were pulling up stakes and heading to ND.

"You will HATE it there."

"There's nothing to do up there."

"It's too cold to live up there." (These people may have had a valid argument...)

"You are better off getting a divorce and letting Kevin go up there alone."

Well, guess what?

We're together.

We've grown closer.

And I would do it all over again!!

I started this journey with a mantra:

It will be what we make of it.

I've stood by this and repeated it to many.

We won't live here forever and probably won't retire here,

but we have made it home.

June 28, 2014

Tucker's Fifth Birthday!

My middle child is five. I'm blown away. Five wonderful, amazing, precious years with the boy who hold the middle piece of my heart!

Tucker Douglas Hiatt~June 25, 2009~6 lbs 4.8 oz~19 in. He came three weeks early.

Tucker decided he wanted rainbow pancakes for his birthday breakfast. Mommy doesn't have squeeze bottles for batter (that will be quickly remedied!) so this was the best result. His five year old heart was satisfied!

We have such amazing friends here! Nikki text me to see if we'd be home. She and her kids brought a box of donuts and a 5 shaped candle for a mini-celebration for Tucker. He was thrilled!

From left: Davis, Tess, Tucker, Kyan, Collin, Kyan's friend Cash, and Nikki

We made plans to meet our friends the Merkleys to go bowling. The bowling alley here participates in the summer program Kids Bowl Free. You sign up your kids and they can bowl two free games daily during the summer! Sweet deal. I am sad to say this is the only time we went. Next summer, we will bowl more!

Books and money from Grandma Kirk

Skylanders alarm clock from his brothers

This face!

A few days later, we had a little party for my Tucker. We just had pin the tail on the donkey, a Mario Kart tournament on the Game Cube, and tons of stick-on tattoos. Of course no party is complete without cake!

Nikki giving Collin a hard-core throat tat!

Jaxon, Davis, and Edison playing Mario Kart

Tucker and his cute friend Isaac from preschool

Beyond excited that the McBrides gave him Skylanders!

The Merkleys gave him a MILLION Airheads. They are Tucker's favorite candy. He got a bunch of fun stuff.

Tucker's little party was fun, easy, and mellow. Proof kids don't really care how fancy a party is as long as they get friends and sugar! Plus you get to wear a really sweet balloon hat after everyone leaves. :)

I love this kid. He is sweet, thoughtful, funny, friendly, and so intelligent he blows me away at times. I'm so grateful I get to be his mother. Here's to many, many more happy birthdays, Doodlebug!