FHE @ Buffalo River

Tonight, we got together a FHE with some of our Ward family out at Buffalo River State Park. The forecast looked a bit questionable and the morning was rainy but we couldn't have asked for a better August night. It felt like it was in the 80s and there was just enough of a breeze to keep the bugs away. (Att least until we were loading the cars. I think Glory got 20 in the about 5 minutes!)
The kids and I love going out with all the ladies and the kids during the Summer but there's always something special in having the Dads come out to play. The kids and the Dads had a blast playing and swimming in the lake while the Moms and the babies visited. Ellen was even in town for the week on her school break and joined us! Yeah!

After tons of swimming and visiting, Ryan made us a fire and we all roasted hot dogs and ate dinner together. And when there's a fire- you have to do Sh'mores!!! (Right, Bryn??) Yummy!

What a fantastic FHE! Thanks to the Tuckers, Bradys, Ericksons, Brothersons and Larsens for joining us. We luv you guys!

Pyrotechnic Show 2011

Every four years, the Pyrotechnics Guild International Show (http://www.pgi.org/convention/2011/) comes to Fargo. It is the BIGGEST 4 day Firework show we've ever seen! This is the 2nd time it's been here since we've in Fargo but this time we made it a priority to see every night of it. (Besides, they are so close to us and SOOO LOUD that we weren't gonna sleep through them anyhow. LOL!) In 2007, we just went and parked at the Fairgrounds and watched them with the Babcocks but this year the PGI decided to charge for any parking lot on the Fairgrounds. Guess it's all about the mula! Whatever, right? At first, we thought we might not go (ya know-- in protest of them charging-- but for $5 for the whole family vs the $65/night to sit in the Stadium-- we decided we couldn't complain too much)
DAY ONE: Since Sunday was the first night (and they are charging this year)- we decided to just watch them from our backyard. We all climbed up on our playground fort and ended up with a decent view. Nothing like being close but worth checking them out!

DAY TWO: At Piano today, we got talking about the fireworks and Phil invited us to come sit by them right outside the Stadium. We agreed. After we parked, we took our camp chairs and met the Ericksons and the Christiansens for an awesome view of the show. We could hear the announcer and the music as well. Perfect seats for the kids to play around and enjoy the show. Glory and Landon had a blast playing by the cars. Thanks guys for sharing your Sunflower seeds and your company with us!

Here's what we got to see:

DAY THREE: We were going to meet them again but due to a sick baby and a "scary side of the highway" incident, none of the Christiansen clan could join us tonight. So we just went as a family. We missed our friends but we were not disappointed! Because we had to wait until Brett and Justice got back from Church meetings, we were cutting it close to make it there and so we got directed to park somewhere else than we had before. At first, we (what I mean is... me) was irritated about it but afterwards it only took us 2 minutes to get out so it turned out to be awesome and I had to repent of my bad attitude. LOL!

Another amazing show:

DAY FOUR-- FINALE: We can't believe the week is already over. I mean, believe me... we are ready for it to be quieter around here but have totally enjoyed the Fireworks! We talked the Dishers into joining us tonight. We had Josie over for a late over anyways. We also once again met the Christiansen Plus+ Group. (They had a mini-fam reunion with Phil's family) We had a very large group. So much fun! Unfortunately, it had downpoured rain this afternoon so the show was delayed a bit. I don't think it even started until 10: 45 or so. (We got there at 8:30 so needless to say, the kids were a little bit crazy by the time it started) It was a bit wet but not horrible. It definitely made it a bit more chilly but a few blankets and long PJs made it bareable.

It was worth the wait:

What an awesome experience! We LOVED the whole thing! Can't wait until them come back! Yeah for the PGI Fireworks!

Landon's Party

Happy Birthday to our Landon friend! Glory had a blast at your Party! Thanks for inviting us!

Super Bowl XLV

Brett definitely likes football but we aren't really die-hard fans. Maybe it's because we've never really had access on our home TV or because it's on Sunday (we try to cut down on the TV watching on the Sabbath). Whatever the case- Brett likes to watch some of it if he can and makes sure he knows the score but that has been our extend of involvement in the Multi-million dollar game. ;) Well this year, our friends the Eriksons (die-hard Steeler fans!) invited us out for a little SuperBowl XLV Partay!
We had a great time! There was soooo much yummy food! We had chips & home-made salsa, chicken wings, mini pigs in a blanket, mini corn dogs, pizza bites, veggies with dip, brocolli salad, Doritos (those commercials are the best!), bread and artichoke dip, deer jerky sticks, football cookies, mini cupcakes, pretzels, tons of pop and Jen's amazing cookie pizza. [even though she didn't grace us with her presence- ;o) We missed you my dear, crazy college friend!]
Landon was so excited to have his friends out to play and my couch-potato children enjoyed a couple of movies.
Alma and Phil stayed up stairs for most of the game while they rooted for the Packers. Every time the Packers scored, they would stomp on the floor. Too funny! The rest of us enjoyed watching Jason's blood-pressure spike in this close, intense game. Such a bummer that his team lost! We almost had to take him home with us! ;) We also LOVED the commercials. LOL! Where do they come up with these things? Last but not least- there are some amazing movies coming out soon. I'm so excited!

Lots of fun! Thanks for having us out guys! You're awesome!

Celebrating the 4th in Minnesota

We headed to Minnesota to celebrate the 4th tonight. MSUM is the ONLY place in the Fargo/Moorhead area that celebrates with fireworks. Well, with anything actually! That's so crazy!!!! Especially because where I come from there were fairs, parades & a firework show at almost every park in the valley.  (I think that they do big stuff at the "Lakes" here BUT I guess they don't think us non-lake people need anything to do. What thoughtfulness! LOL!)

We hadn't even made plans to go until the Ericksons said they were going and asked if we'd like to go. Hey- why not? Afterall, it IS our Holiday! ;)

Our family (Brett, me, Liberty, Jutsice, Victoria, Glory, Matt & Haylie :) all met up with the Ericksons for some line-standing, bouncy, visiting, cookie-eating, glow-stick frisbee, firework fun!

They had free Bouncy Blowup Toys for the kids. More line standing for the Seamons family. Oh joy!!! They did get to go on about 3 or 4 a piece so they were happy! We ran into the Britts from our ward and the kids got to jump with Hannah. She's so darling! We also got to visit with the Langers. She was Justice's kindergarten teacher. Such a darling family!  The little girls did the Mickey Mouse house. Glory was in heaven. Victoria was way brave and did the Double Trouble with the older two. Justice & Liberty did the Bungee Cord one. It was so funny! Then they all jumped with Hannah on the last one. Lots of fun!!!

After a LONG wait at the PortaPotty line (Again-yeah for us!), we settled in to wait for the show. Brett had made his yummy cookies earlier today and Justice brought some to share. I also brought glow bracelets for the kids. They turned them into frisbee circles and had a blast tossing them to each other. With the rain last night, the mosquitos TOTALLY enjoyed their 4th with a massive feeding opportunity. Gotta LOVE North Dakota's wildlife! Right around 10 o'clock, people started coming by the hundreds. It was crazy! But worth it!! The show was great! Victoria took her normal place on Haylie's lap. Glory ended up being scared of the noise so she covered her eyes. That's helpful!!! LOL! Our family are OOOO and AHHHH-ers which always add to the fun of the fireworks, I think! Baby Logan loved them and Landon joined our blanket half way through to lay with us. Too cute!! Lots of fun! We just LOVE the 4th!

Just in case, you missed them or were straining to see them out your bedroom window, I documented them for you! LOL! They are so beautiful! Enjoy!!

Happy 4th of July everyone!

We partayed at the cars until almost midnight. LOL! Oh---- I mean we never got out of our parking space until almost midnight but hey- it's all perspective, right? We had a great time! Thanks to the Ironroads and the Ericksons for celebrating our freedom (and Fam Holiday) with us! Luv ya!

Dutch Oven: Take Two

We Love to Dutch Oven!!! The food is so yummy, you get to hang out & cook with friends and the MEN do most of the cooking! I LOVE it! We plan on doing several this Summer so we hosted the Dutch Oven: Take Two 2010. As always, yummy!!! This time Mother Nature saved her traditional dutch oven rain for after the partay (I mean like RIGHT after the Partay!;) but she sure turned up the heat for us. Hottest day of the year! Thanks a lot! FOUR fans outside and 7 pitchers of Lemonade coming right at ya and you still felt like you might die. Gotta love that Mother Nature is always our party crasher!

We had a really good turnout. We are always looking for new recruits to Dutch Oven with us! Anyone up for the challange is always welcome. Once you do the dutch oven cookin' with us (I mean- buy one and actually cook in it. LOL)- you're in! This time, Matt thought he'd bring a salad-- WHAT???? We, of course, had to tease him. HELLO!! That's like eating a hamburger at a Fish Fry. Was' up with that?  He ended up doing fried chicken and at least served it in his dutch oven. LOL! It was a huge hit and delicious! This time, we gave up our fall-back recipe and tried Pot Roast and veggies. The Potters did Dutch Oven Potatoes. The Zs did Chicken Enchilada Casserole and Funeral Potatoes. The Eriksons made a Peach Pineapple Cobbler. (They are first timers- AWESOME! So glad you came) We also made a Sh'more {That's better than s'mores} cake. All of it was delish!!! Thanks everybody for coming!

Luckily, we planned somewhat for the heat. There was lots of water fun for the kids. Sprinkler under the tramp, hoolahoops and water guns! Hurray!!!

Then, never forget the Zipline! Everyone LOVES the Zipline! Maybe when we grow up we'll have one for the adults as well. :) Dang! that my camera wasn't fast enough cuz I just LOVE the ones of Dawson and Sam. Too funny! The dare-devil games they come up with crack me up! Gotta LOVE boys! I also think Maggie went on it at least 100 times. Your toy is definitely a hit, Brett. Danger Ranger but a hit nonetheless.

We also brought out the Tepee AND the Indian & Cowboy box. It was used way more than I thought it would be. My favorites were Liberty is the chaps over her swimsuit especially the view from the back LOL! and squeezing (literally) Sam into the Indian costume that was like 2 sizes too small. So fun! I'm so glad it got some use since my kids grew up way too fast. It took forever to make all that stuff and it hasn't got it's fair share of use. All the kids were creative and played with it all night.

Some also took adavntage of Brett's Hamaca. (Hammock in Spanish) Brett loves it when I'm wrong about his toys. [Well, at least my "whatever" (insert eye-roll here) attitude when he buys them until everyone loves them. Well... I was wrong again, Honey! Everyone LOVES your hamaca. You're the MAN!!!

Because the 4th falls on Sunday this year, the ENTIRE weekend is turning into one continous Americana Celebration! And what's the 4th without Fireworks? We have quite a few Pyros & Pyros-in-Training on our hands. LOL! Ryan (one of the Pyros), McKenzie and Sophie joined us for fireworks after their date. [Their family is joining our Babysitting Group and so their girls joined us at the beginning and they came at the end] Most everyone loved the FIRE and noise! We did  scared of the Zs and Dawson off but everyone else seemed to enjoy them.

We also had the priviledge of a special Musical Performance slash Dance Extravaganza. It was AMAZING!!! Nothing like turning up the car speakers and jammin' in the driveway. What great memories!

Hurray for the Dutch Oven Partay and great friends! Let's do it again soon!