Summer is almost gone -- just 5 days left before school starts… I should catch you up on what we've been doing this summer. I can't believe it's nearly Labor Day -- but I'm going back to start with our Memorial Day weekend. First, I should tell you that Dirk has been working away from home again; but this time not too far away. He is still working for Butler Caterpillar, but since December 2012 he has been providing service for a customer whose shop is in Sidney, Montana. It's about 5 hours north of here, the closest bigger town is Williston, ND. The customer is involved in the oil drilling business up there -- which consumes a LOT of man and machine power these days! Good job security for Dirk's line of work of course… :) And he gets home every weekend. It's probably not what most people consider ideal -- but Dirk says it's the best working conditions he's ever had in his 20 years working for Butler. The customer is very interested in making his work environment a good place for all his employees -- and considers Dirk part of "his team." They are super flexible with Dirk so he can leave home Monday mornings and leave early on Fridays. He is always home from about 8p.m. Friday night until 5-ish AM Monday morning. It hasn't been a problem for Dirk to take a day off here and there either… so occasionally this summer he has come home on Thursday nights -- or gone back on a Tuesday morning so that we can do some family time (camping, etc).
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| Moeller family June 2, 2013 Ted & Jan's 40th Anniversary |
Our Memorial Day weekend started off with a whole week together… Dirk took the week off partially to do some camping with the kids --and partially to attend my brother Ted and wife Jan's 40th wedding anniversary in Hot Springs. The whole Moeller clan descended upon their country home along with a few campers …. and we helped them host a party for all their neighbors, church friends and other extended family who gathered for a Sunday afternoon picnic meal and music…stories… more music… more stories… and more music. We ended the evening with a photography session -- which I have included a few pictures from that day so you can see the latest "good" photo of your grandson Dirk's whole family. :)
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| Dirk at Main Street Square on our 17th Anniversary, June 22 |
June: we intended to get away for a couple more weekend camping trips -- but other stuff kept getting in the way :) Not bad stuff -- just life. I can't even remember it all now… a community VBS event for our 3 younger kids… etc. One weekend was a memorable visit from my brother Jon and his wife Chary. Chary was born and raised in the Dominican Republic, and has been in the USA legally since she married my brother (5 yrs ago). She has wanted to become a full citizen and pursued that as soon as was possible. She passed her test in April, and the Swearing In Ceremony was at Mt. Rushmore the 3rdweekend in June. All of the Black Hills Moeller family and Jon were there to watch her and the rest of the 140+ people from all over the world give their allegiance to the USA. It was totally amazing and moving experience!! I am so glad my children witnessed it also… something they have taken for granted or probably have never even thought about being born here and beingcitizens by default!!
July: We celebrated the 4th without Dirk, but attended the local parade -- got plenty of candy and general festivities in our little town of Piedmont. Our church friends hosted an evening BBQ and firework "shoot-off" which Thor enjoy immensely!! He said it was the best 4th of July of his life (so far). :) Dirk got home for the weekend and we prepared for the 4 day church campout the next weekend at Custer State Park. We camped on the shores of Stockade lake, and spent many hours with the kids playing in the water - on our canoe - swimming - playing in the sand - and on my brother Ted's pontoon.
Thor turned 13 on the 22nd - also the weekend when Carrie and Annette made it out for a quick visit. Thor chose to spend the day at the outdoor waterslide park, bringing two of his friends as well as our family. It was a perfect summer day for sliding -- we haven't had as many of them as you might think. Twice this summer our "outdoor" plans had to be completely changed because of rain, lighting and thunder. We are absolutely happy for every drop of water we have had this summer… and so we don't get too upset with some of our recent rainy days. After 2-3 years of draught it is a blessing in everyway to have had a cooler wet summer. I am not accustomed to the higher humidity anymore -- and my hair just wants to go crazy all the time -- getting more and more wavy, almost curly if it let it go natural. So those days the whole mop just gets pulled up into a pony tail and off we go!!
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| Tori's tie-dyed shirt |
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| The whole line up of tie-dye! |
August: Gretchen, Annette, Tori and Logan came out for the first week of August to spend some quality family time together. It was a super fun week -- but both dads missed out on it all!! I'm sure you heard Lance was in Minneapolis attending some Bible classes -- and Dirk was doing his usual, working in MT. But we ladies had a great week -- the kids were very happy to entertain themselves the first day… on Tuesday I had the whole clan running all over Rapid City for our usual "Tuesday Schedule" (a kids matinee movie, music lessons for Anika and Thor, picnic supper at a local park, and we ended the evening with a special Parenting Bible Study at our church.) Wednesday Gretchen took Annette and the kids on a day-trip to Mt. Rushmore; Thursday we made tie-dye t-shirts in our backyard and had a Tea Party Luncheon - complete with heart waffles and dinosaur chicken nuggets. Friday was time for Gretchen to start moving her group back towards home… and my clan prepared the camper for a weekend of 4-wheeling in the mountains about an hour north of our house. The kids enjoyed the 4-wheel trip the most of any trip we've ever taken I think -- partially due to Thor getting to drive his OWN 4 wheeler for the first time this year… and Anika got a few driving lessons on Dirk's 4-wheeler too!
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| Thor on his new/old Blaster :) |
So now we are just a few days away from school starting - each of the kids got their own "shopping date" with Mom -- kind of our annual tradition… started by Annette & Justin when they used to take Thor school supply shopping for his birthday each year. Now I make a "date" with each kid and let them choose a place to have a treat after the shopping is done… Dirk gives them each $50 to spend on their school supplies … so as long as they stick to the budget, they can make their own choices. I bet $50 sounds pretty high for just school supplies, doesn't it?? But honestly, the lists they get from school include kleenix, Lysol cleaning wipes, book covers, sticky notes for the teachers, a book of stamps PLUS all the usually pens, pencils, paper, folders, crayons, markers, protractors, compasses, etc. Anika and Liv both re-used their backpacks last year -- so it was time for new ones for both of them… thank goodness I had a number of coupons for all they wanted… and we were able to stay on budget for everyone!! :)
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| Liv & Lars rode behind me... |
Next week Lars and I will be back to being the only ones at home M-F…. Lars didn't like it very much last year, at least for the first couple of weeks. But it didn't take him long to figure out that he had mom's attention all to himself… as well as 1st choice for the TV all day when the brother and sisters are at school!! :) I'm sure it will be similar this year too!!
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| Anika looking out at Custer Peak |
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