Halloween 2008

This year Jaci went as a Taco Del Mar waitress - apron, visor and shirt! What great advertising! Free too! :-) Zach went as a spider. We bought some extra thick pipe cleaner wires, but when it came down to it, he wanted to run from house to house and not deal with the extra arms! We had a gorgeous night. We walked the neighborhood with one of our neighbors and their little two year old Shaylee. Anywhere the kids went, she was trying to keep up. Hope you all had a fun time!

Snow Day

These are photos from Sunday morning. The wind is done, and the trees were beautiful. Just a slight snow was coming down. It looks nice, but hopefully it will all melt shortly! Who knows!

We finally had a snow day! Well actually, the kids already had the day off for conferences, and the snow came and cancelled public schools too! From what we hear it has been at least 11 years since Bismarck has cancelled schools. It was expected to hit Wednesday, and the rains did arrive. Thursday about 1pm the snow started. The blizzard conditions came with the nasty winds and not helping with the rain that had frozen underneath the snow. The temps are not that bad in the 20's and low 30's, but the wind chill is the major factor. The snow stopped in the early morning hours on Friday. Now the wind we contend with. We did open the south store later and the north one (in the gas station) I opened and had a normal day. A person never knows! Deer hunting should be a good weekend. Stay warm!

Dakota Zoo

Kaden was ready to go! He had his shades and a big smile.

Brady loved the play area and the static is his hair was hilarious when he came down the slide

Kaden had a blast outside most of the day. He did a great job!
The porcupine was just fine hiding in his tunnel.

The grizzly loves to park his rump on one rock and lay his head on the other.

The snow leopard was on the other side of tunnels for the cat exhibit.

Since the weather was so nice, we were able to take in the Zoo in Bismarck also. They just added the Large Cat exhibit. These are the three tigers they have, White Bengal, Golden Bengal and Golden Tabby. The two came right up to the window and posed together. The tabby was across the yard on top of the underground tunnels. People were actually underneath it!

Connor's hair is the same color!

Brady and Jaci on the tractor

Zach our scientist! That could be dangerous!

Papa's Pumpkin Patch 2008

Over MEA my Mom, sister Trisha and her four boys came out for a visit. The weather was fabulous and the first night we took in the Pumpkin Patch. Taylor is the same age as Jaci (9), Connor is 6, Brady is 2 and Kaden is 8 months (not pictured here). Brady wanted everyone to see him smile in the sunflower!


We walked a little back trail and found some wooden animals that they all had to sit on.

Here they are on top of one of the bale piles. Connor, Zach, Taylor, Jaci and Brady

The higher they could be they would! Here is Connor, Taylor in back, Zach, Shaylee, Jaci and Brady
When we arrived our neighbors were there also. They have a little girl that was born on the same day as Brady. She loved to see all the kids. She is Jaci's little sidekick. Here is Jaci with both Brady and Shaylee.

School Time

And so the official first day of school has come and gone for 2008-2009 school year. Jaci is now in the 3rd grade at St Joe's and Zach is in 1st. Dakota is enjoying the quiet house when we are all away for the day....

Summer Fun!

We were all able to get away a little this summer. Pat and the kids did more of the Missouri River camping, jet skiing, four wheeling & dirt biking. I was able to get away with friends to Canada once again. Thanks Girls! While I was away, the kids stayed with Aunties and Grandmas. Everyone had a blast and all were happy to get back into routine. For Labor Day weekend, Craig, Brenda and Ron came out to visit. We had a great time and wished we could visit more often! Thanks guys!

West Hawk Lake, Canada

Jaci's Birthday!

So our princess is now 9! Actually in August she had her birthday.
Jaci loves the High School Musical and we all enjoyed the Birthday cake! She received a bike from us for her birthday and has been having a great time trying to keep up with Zach on some of the ramps! I have to look the other way on some things.....

Trolley Time

There is a trolley that takes tourists south from Mandan to Fort Lincoln. It is about 25 minutes one way. It was a gorgeous HOT day, but the kids loved it!

This is the open trolley that was added to the set.










The original trolley was built in about 1898 and would shuttle people from downtown Bismarck to the Capitol for business. It was the enclosed one (the original one) that we rode in so that we didn't have kids jumping around!

Brady just kept saying "Train! Train!"






Since Zach had to remain in one area, he finally tipped over and took a nap for the last leg of the ride! The puppy was lookin' on.

Happy 4th of July!

Here are some photos from the 4th of July parade in Mandan. We had a nice size crew that joined us along with the kids. Here is Connor, Zach and Taylor walking with the crowd of about 100,000 people. We had some nice exposure that day!

With the Burrito on top, Pat was playing some music that would dance to. Even the police officers!

Here is a back shot of the 1934 vehicle that is a part of our decor at the store. It was the first time I had seen one in person!

Here is the crew that we had with us. I am on the far left with Jaci next to me. Taylor, Connor and Zach in the front. My cousins Jennifer and Jayney on the right with their Dad Jerry behind them. Pat is next to Jerry in the back. Sam and Travis work with us and they brought some friends and Sam's Dad. It was his birthday that day and had always wanted to be in the parade. He was beammin'!

Here is Pat and I with the Van.

Parade Time!

For the first time ever we will be in the Mandan 4th of July parade! Pat was able to fine some tubing to Roll a burrito. Here is the finished project! There will be about 100,000 people that day. Talk about exposure! Have a Happy Fourth of July!!

June Birthdays

We made it back for June Birthdays! My mom's birthday is in June along with Zach and Brady (my sisters 3rd). She made all of the "cakes" which were perfect! Brady enjoyed his Dump Truck with Dirt Cake (pudding, Oreos and gummy worms). He is now 2!

Zach enjoyed his baseball mitt and balls. Chocolate of course. That's my boy!



Grandma even had an awesome Rhubard cake. Here she is with all the Grandkids. Not bad!


Here is Kaden. He is now 4 month old! So happy and such a good baby. Auntie didn't even mind the diaper duty!

Birthday Boy!

Our Little guy is now 7! He is so boy and Jaci was all excited to help bring in his Spiderman Ice Cream Cake. We had Pat's brother Tom and his wife Meikel come over along with my uncle Jerry and cousins Jen and Jayney. Zach was so patient to open presents too. Just like every 7 year old boy! It was a gorgeous day and everyone had a great time.

Welcome to the Chamber

We are a little delayed, but here is our ribbon cutting at the second location for the Bismarck Mandan Chamber of Commerce.

Bunny Friend

There is a nest of bunnies in one of our shrubs. The neighbor cat found them and Pat and Dakota rescued them. This is the first one Jaci took under her wing to guide along. There were more, but this one was the first. We had it for the day and set it free in cemetary not too far away. Just enough so the neighbor cat won't catch it.