busy season *crazy*

Lars lots another tooth (#3).  So cute to hear his little lisp when he talks.  LOL.


This past weekend was one of the most busy *crazy* holiday weekends we have had since being married... maybe alive?!?   We enjoyed a visit from James and Wendy's family, who were in the Black Hills to attend Jacob's State Oral Interp competition in Stugis.  Thursday evening everyone arrived - Friday & Saturday (day) were the Oral Competition... Saturday evening was Thor's first Bantam B tournament game... followed by Sunday morning (early) game... followed by church... followed by Lars Christmas Program at Zion.... followed by....  frosties at Wendy's (because we were all ready to CRASH!)

Results:
Jacob - team came away with a SUPERIOR!! Congrats Jake!  (Jacob is the 2nd from the right).

Thor - made the first goal of the Game, the Season... and won the game 1-0.  2nd game he got an assist and they won 4-0.  (against Aberdeen).

post game sweaty-ness :( 

Lars - well he was there.  That is about all I can say.  I was just a LITTLE concerned with the boy standing next to him tried to boss him around and stop him from clapping his hands.  Lars did not take the suggestion very well, and started to push.... all while standing on risers.  I was about 1/2 second away from pulling him down... but he called down - maybe after seeing his mom/dad & teachers eyes all saying NO!!!  as firmly as we could?!?!  Well anyway... the teacher said its always a success as long as no one has an accident, and all stay fully dressed.  :)  I guess he is on his way to NO CAREER in show business.  :)

Lars thought the music was too loud :(

christmas tree hunting

I'm just not going to talk about the other kind of hunting (deer)  - except to say that Dirk and Anika have spent quite a few hours in the Hills -- but have not been able to fill her tag this year.  They are having a good time, and have seen some deer, it just isn't working out.

However, CHRISTMAS TREE hunting was a HUGE success for this family!!  We decided to try Bethlehem Road this year, being a little closer to the house that our usual Northern Hills tree-hunting-grounds.  Dirk thought just maybe we would find something in the spruce persuasion.  We tracked our milage on the way home and found that we found our tree about 12 miles from the house.  :)  Not too bad for an afternoon adventure!

I packed a winter-picnic lunch of chips, oreos, sliced cheese and hot cocoa - thinking we might be gone for many hours.  We headed out and found gravel and bumpy road quite quickly!  The kids thought the off-road (it really was a road) was pretty fun... and a little slippery with the new snow.  We saw LOTS of ponderosa pine but not too many spruce.  At one point there was a very tall spruce (40 ft?) off to our right -- and I suggested we stop to walk around the area just in case there was a smaller tree somewhere around it - behind it - that we couldn't see from the road.  A few yards walk, and sure enough -- there was a picture perfect tree another 50 ft from the big tree.

 Dirk did his best to eye-ball the height... Thor helped him hold while he sawed... and the tree was loaded up!

It didn't take long once we were home, and the tree was ready for decorating.  Liv had the box of lights and decorations ready before Dirk had the tree fastened in the stand!  I guess she was READY!    As you can see the tree fills our living room quite well!?!?!  We did have to trim the very top about 8-10 inches... it's one of the biggest (around) trees we have ever had.  AND one of the most perfect - even compared to the purchased trees.  Best $10 we ever spent!  :)

Happy Thanksgiving Day!

For the first time in many years we hosted Thanksgiving Day Dinner at OUR house.  :)  It was fun to dig out all our fall decor (borrow some from my mom) and put together the house for 14! 

 This was waiting for our guests as they arrived at the front door... and little drink and appetizer station.

 Anika made a "pumpkin" (shaped) cheeseball  - salsa & cheddar cheese - with crackers and veggies.

 The beverage was simple apple cider and ginger ale with apple & orange slices, pomegranate seeds, cranberries and cinnamon sticks floating.

 Downstairs (usual our living room) was our extra table set for 7 adults.

 And the upstairs table set for 7 kids (well -- if you ask Thor; 6 kids and him).  wink wink

 I almost forgot I had these fall napkins stored way back in my cupboard....

And the cute pilgrims... gotta have pilgrims.

Dinner was the usual: Turkey, two kinds of mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing, sweet potatoes, home frozen sweet corn, green bean casserole, braised red cabbage with apples, onions and bacon, cranberry relish, and two kinds of bread.  I didn't make everything -- everyone brought.  Holli & girls were in charge of dessert!!  It was amazing!  Pecan pie, pumpkin pie, apple pie (warm just out of the oven); chocolate chip cookies w/oreos inside; lemon bars, cherry bars and homemade whipped cream.  Oh yeah, almost forgot the fudge.  

Thanks family for a wonderful Thanksgiving Day at home.  :) 

Lille Norge Fest ....

Usually this week we have loaded up the trust Suburban and headed north for a week-long celebration of family, hunting and relaxation!  To make a long explanation short -- we decided to stay home this year (hockey, no deer tags, etc).  The up-side to not going, was being home for the annual Sons of Norway Lille Norge Fest.  (perhaps if we went every year we wouldn't be so excited to go?) But the kids were SUPER excited!  My brother Layne planned to spend the weekend with my mom & dad (since wife Betsy had commitments in Pierre, it was a short drive further west to see all of us).  

Like good little scandinavians, the kids couldn't wait to leave for the "fest" (or "vest" as Lars called it)... so they bundled up in snow gear to "sled" in the backyard for the hour before it was time to go.  We left rosie-cheeked,  and was not disappointed by the crowded Viking Hall -- loud polka music, Scandinavian art & craft booths, woodcarvers  & knife makers, bake sale & lunch line.  It was a hoot to watch the kids with their trays walking along the 50 ft food line picking up every Norwegian treat imaginable (except the fruit soup)... pies, lefse, rice pudding, rommegrot, krumkakke, rosettes... and of course coffee.  

Lars picked a Rosette as big as his head! We finally talked him into sharing a few small corners... :)  Liv & I talked to a few ladies asking them to tell us about their dresses (bunad) and jewelry (silja).  They were all beautiful -- one lady we talked to had Hardanger embroidery around her collar, cuffs and a large panel along the bottom of her apron!  Beautiful!  We hit the bake sale last and left with some plates of flatbread & spritz cookies to take home for my mom & dad.  

That afternoon Ted & Jan, Holli, Abby, Anna & Theo joined us for pizza, pop & ice cream lunch thanks to Uncle Layne!  (super popular uncle now!!).  We had a lovely time visiting and catching up on the family news.  Final verdict is we all want to see Chris Fletchers movie.... still waiting patiently.  Theo told us Uncle Layne is basically "The main character" and "the most important guy in the movie" -- to which Layne laughed and laughed... because in reality he said Theo had WAY more scenes than anyone else.  :)  (well maybe we are all al little biased!).  For those of you who are not Moeller Family -- this is a movie project by my niece Bethany's husband (and friends) ... that was filmed this past summer in our home area (re: farm).  We can't wait to see some trailers and the final product!  

Have a BLESSED Thanksgiving Day!!  

it's almost Thanksgiving??

It's been a "normal" couple of weeks I guess... can't exactly say what our "normal" is -- except we were all doing our usual things  - school, work, hockey, drama club... and no special events or company.  Anika and I did break away at the last minute Friday night to go to Central High School's performance of The Great Gatsby...   

Lars has an interesting fascination with anything and everything mechanical, robotic ... the only "living" things he loves to contemplate are dinosaurs -- thus the "quotes" since there really aren't any "living" dinosaurs...??  This picture is from a recent building project with Thor.  I can't remember the name of the project -- but the "guy" is "Master Chief" from the video game Halo.  Lars has no idea what Halo is  -- but he LOVES his master chief.  It was a 10x-more-complicated-than-legos project... but quite fun.  I got to help a little too getting the final "MC" finished.  (can you see the detailed picture directions in the background?)

Last week I got a sweet text from friends of ours at church... I saved the screenshot so I wouldn't forget... Heather said her kids love to play "SuperKids" - which is the name of the children's ministry at our church... Aspen is in 1st grade, and AJ is 4 yrs old... I can just see it!  Pretty cute.

  

This week I'm starting to plan ahead for our Thanksgiving gathering here at the Morrison home.  Found the cute mini-cake-stand at Target - bargin price of $3.  I thought it would be just the thing for our Thanksgiving table decor.  

halloween and more

Halloween night Liv and Lars were WAY excited to get out trick-or-treating (Thanks to big bro Thor) - and began the pre-outing dressing about an hour before supper!  Liv had lots of help with her beautiful "do" from cousin Kelly and sister Anika.  She loves her Cinderella dress!!  

Lars has been "in-like" with Iron Man since right before his birthday and was also very excited to walk the neighborhood.  We had to practice how to walk up to doors, knock and say "trick or treat" -- so I think he actually did a pretty good job!  

The grownups and big kids (except Thor of course) all went to the SD All State Chorus and Orchestra concert where Jacob participated in the chorus.  Beautiful music... fun night... even if Jamie almost fell asleep.  The choir director had a GREAT quote -- telling us parents to pay attention to our children's passions -- "You are only as happy as your least happy child."

We ended the evening with a late night supper at Que Pasa.  

I get to pick Lars up from preschool sometime around lunch each day, and a little later on Mondays when I volunteer in the lunch room.  When I came in this week, he was playing with dough with his friend Bria.  I showed him how to use dough balls to make eyes, nose and mouth.  So this was his handiwork on his yellow gingerbread man. :) Working on those find-motor skills!!  

Happy Fall

 It’s been a beautiful October! I love a mild fall!  I think I’ve finally given in and accepted that summer is over. :(  (ps: Lars hasn’t.  Just yesterday he threw his backpack on the ground and said “I hate this stupid backpack.  I am NOT going to SCHOOL!).   Good thing all the kids really do enjoy school - once they get there.  

Lars lost his first tooth this week!  He said he pushed it out with his tongue.  :)  I keep telling him he has to stay little — and he is NOT in favor of that command from me.  wink wink  

Dirk and I got to go on a “date” Friday night — they aren’t as rare as they used to be… with Thor & Anika old enough to stay home with the little sister & brother, we actually get out fairly regularly now.  By regularly I mean when Dirk gets home from work early enough on a Friday to not fall asleep half-way though supper.   The brownie plate was dessert after a Mexican meal at Que Pasa.  Holli and her friend Mike joined us for dessert.  It was a fun time to get to visit with two grown ups! :) 

Brownie from Que Pasa... yum... HUGE!!

Claudio becoming a U.S. Citizen!! Congrats!

October 2014 

Liv & mom goofing around.  

These last two pics are a 'before' and 'after" of myself -- the pic on the right is October 2014  - about a year ago.   The picture with Liv was just a couple of days ago - October 2015.  I've been doing "Weigh Down" and slowly but surely shrinking and giving up my addiction to food.  It's not a fast process for me - but an area of obedience I knew I needed to tackle for some time now.  It's fun to be on this side, and have a few blessings to show for the work I've been putting in.  I've lost about 25-30 pounds - dropped 4 "sizes"  -- and I'm still going.  It's not about what weight or what size I am -- it's about being a good steward of the what God has given me.  Blessings and smiles. N

  

Bucket List Moments... revives the blogging!

Two big “news stories” from our house this week — 1st: the Third Day concert in Rapid City was super duper cool!!  and 2nd: Dirk and Thor both bagged their antelope this past weekend!!  YEAH!!

So as you can see from the first set of pictures — yep, that is me with Mr. Mac  - lead singer from Third Day.  So — I guess it comes as a surprise to everyone — mostly because I didn’t say anything to anyone — because I wasn’t sure until he last day how it was all going to pan out.  So here is the short verision… Third Day recruits local “choir” or back-up singers from every town they go to do a concert in (I didn’t realize this).  About a month prior to the concert date, a member of the road crew contacts churches in that community to see if they are willing to supply 12-16 choir members.  Our church was one of two to respond.  (how crazy is that?  if I attended a different church, I might be a little miffed at the secretary or pastor who turned down the opportunity??).  So anyway — I put my name on the list right away, but let our Worship Pastor know that I wanted those who were more regular attenders on the worship team to have first dibs to a spot on the choir — since I don’t participate musically at Dove  very often.   So — by the end of the week the Worship Pastor said we only had 10 people confirmed to go — and I could jump in if I wanted!  That was Wed and the concert was Thursday night!  So I started furiously listening to the songs to learn the parts.  I had no expectations, except that we were supposed to know the chorus and bridge of every song.  I know quite a bit of 3D music, but about half the songs we did were totally new — from their newest album.  

So the night of the concert, Holli and I drove in together — Anika got a “comp” seat as my “guest” — as well as Abby and Anna as Holli’s guests.  We met in the backstage dressing rooms with Harvest Parker, the only female member of the crew/band — and she gave us the run-down of the evening.  We would rehearse, do a sound check on stage, get placed in our spots on the “risers” (which actually turned out to be a set of stairs on each side of the drum set), finish rehearsals, eat supper with the band, meet back in the dressing rooms to pray and prep for stage, sing with the band (3 different “sets” with short breaks between) — and end with the finale of the evening “Soul on Fire.”  

What!?!  It's Mac!!

The pictures I have from the audience are from friends from church — I’m the on the right side of the stage — on the top of the stairs.  So what can I say — definitely the super-coolest thing I’ve ever gotten to be a part of in my L.I.F.E!!!  for sure.  no doubts.  The band is super gracious — and the experience of being “backstage” as a part of the group is amazing.  They are just a bunch of normal, funny people (and quite humble considering the amazing talent) — they kept asking us if we were having a good time — and what a great job we were doing?!?  LOL  

Me... backstage...

Afterward it was fun to meet up with our kids and be semi-celebreties for about 5 minutes. :)  I was able to introduce Anika to a couple of the musicians who were out front at the product tables… you can see Anika got a pic with Harvest.  She is an up-and-coming solo artist herself… loved the song she shared about half-way through the evening.  At the end of the evening, the band gave us our own autographed copies of the newest CD… pretty awesome!  

Now I’m back to just being normal, boring embarrassing mom.  Yep… it’s over that quick.  :) 

The last two pics are from Thor & Dirk’s hunting adventures south of Hot Springs.  Dirk had a buck tag - and took out his on Saturday — 470 yard shot.  Thor had an ‘antler-less’ tag, and got this little guy on Monday — just under 100 yard shot.  So Dirk has more bragging rights — but Thor said the dragging of the goat back to the truck took FOR EVER.  He was more than happy to take his out close to the truck!  :)  

So that is our adventure for the week.