Farruzah's Concert

Farruzah was a triple threat at this years Lake Agassiz Concert. She plays the violin and flute, she also sings in the chorus. Let me tell everyone something. She says she hates the violin, I think she does a good job.
Her dad took the pictures and didn't feel the need to take one with her favorite instrument, is this telling me something? Maybe that I will only have memories of the violin. I don't know. I hope she sticks with it. I love the sound of the violin. The flute is ok also, but the violin is so beautiful.

Farruzah and Dad went to Nelson's Pumpkin Patch

This year Farruzah and her dad decided to take a trip to Nelson's pumpkin patch. I think Farruzah really likes Halloween. I don't get it, Halloween has always been my least favorite holiday. I don't know where she gets it.

Don't you love Jesse's new friend

After the pumpkin patch, the university had their trick or treating in the dorms. Here is a picture of Farruzah, Evan and cousins Eleece and Owen ready to go. Ben was sick and couldn't attend the fun.

I think Evan looks tough in this picture.

Fall sports

Farruzah going down the field, her favorite position is defense. Her team this year was the cougars.

Some action shots of Ben, he enjoys soccer. Ben was a Mackeral.

This fall Ben and Farruzah were in soccer. All three children did swimming, Farruzah is done with lessons she just swims with the Wahoo's club. For 6 weeks we were running every night from one practice to another. It was fun but exhausting.

Indiana Jones

Now maybe I am getting old, but we went to the new Indiana Jones and boy did it suck, for lack of a better word. Aliens, bad computer effects and an old Harrison Ford. That makes for a bad movie. Where is the Indie of the 80s. I liked the idea of India and mysterious lands, not aliens from space and a strange psychic lady. My son Evan and nephew Owen loved it. I guess I really am that old.

Sesame Street Live

My children think they are too old to go to Sesame Street, even though they have been going since Evan was a baby. So this year I took my niece and nephew. They seemed to enjoy it and obviously I still enjoy it so here are some pictures of the gang. Didn't get a picture of Oscar, my favorite character, had to take my niece potty (she is training) and he was leaving as we were getting back.



Eleece eating cotton candy

Title of this years show

Bert from the 70s, there was a disco song

Jesse before and after

Well Jesse took the big step and got a professional hair cut (usually he does it himeself, it is art) and shaved his beard. Actually, the beard has been gone for 1 week, the hair cut happened yesterday. I love it. There has been a lot of begging and pleading but he finally did it. I had to show the before and after.

Cottonwood Community Church hosts carnival at LaGrave

Well, as my time winds down as Learning Center Coordinator, I worked with members of the Cottonwood Communty Church to bring a carnival to the residents of LaGrave. All I really had to do was open the building and supply the space, they did everything else. There was food, game, and animals. All the residents said it was great. Two of my children went here are a couple pictures from the wonderful event.

There was a petting zoo with goats, a lama, sheep, chickens, and ducks. I didn't go in, don't really like animals but the birds were neat. The kids did go in but I missed them.

Farruzah and Evan both played twister.

This game is like a cake walk, only you are playing for prizes.

I thought Farruzah looked like she was trying to fly, using her hair as wings, the after shot is her after landing.

Started a new Job

Just wanted to let people know as of August 8th I will no longer be working for the Grand Forks Housing Authority as Learning Center Coordinator. I took a job at UND as a Financial Aid Advisor, Scholarships. It is an exciting change and my family seems to be happy about it.

Evan's Birthday

Evan and his Sponge Bob cake, check out the smile

Evan had his 7th birthday party the last week of school, even though he didn't turn 7 until June 4th. Here are a couple of pictures from the party. We went to Happy Joe's and had a fun time.

Our July 2008 Family Vacation

We left for our vacation on Thursday the 26th and just returned today the 6th. It has been a great vacation. We started out driving through the eastern part of South Dakota, staying in Sioux Falls. We continued through Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas and stayed in Oklahoma, Oklahoma City to be precise. We went on through Texas and stopped in New Mexico, Jesse's parents and 3 of his siblings live there, 1 sibling is home from school for the summer.

Jemez Springs

Family on Jemez rock

Ben inside Jemez Rock

Farruzah and Even climbing out of the rock.

We were there from Saturday to Tuesday morning. We were able to take the train to Albuquerque and had a nice time the kids caught a movie. We then went to Taos, NM and visited Bandelier. Great pictures of the homes the Pueblo people lived in. We then went to Denver with Jesse's parents and siblings and spent some time at Elitch Gardens. The kids had a great time in the water park and the main amusement park. We also went to a fun Mexican restaurant, Casa Bonita. The night before we left, the hotel had a fire alarm go off in the middle of the night. There wasn't a fire, that we know of, but we were outside waiting for the firefighters to clear the building at 3:30 in the morning.

Bandalier Pueblo homes

Ben on water ride at Elitch Gardens, Denver/ The man running the ride teased him about all his girlfriends (the girls beside him)

Friday we headed to South Dakota as a family and Jesse's parents went back to New Mexico. We had fun at Flintstone park and the Mammoth Site. Saturday we went to Sitting Bull Cave, Mt. Rushmore, Crazy Horse and Reptile Gardens. We are all wore out, but wanted to show some picture from the event.

Family at Mammoth Site in South Dakota

Betty pushing Evan.

Reptile Garden Alligator/Crocodile show

Bald Eagle at Reptile Gardens

Kids at Reptile Gardens

Jesse and Kids in Sitting Bull Cave

Family in front of Crazy Horse

Couldn't go to South Dakota and not stop at Mt. Rushmore.

As you can see we saw a lot in only 12 days, but the best part for all of us was spending time as a family and being with family.

Vacation in Minneapolis

Over Memorial Day we went to Minneapolis to see Jesse's brothers. We had a great time. We went to the zoo and just hung out with family. It was fun.

We stopped at the outlet mall on the way home and it was such a waste of time. Things are way more cheap in Grand Forks. That is the one thing I really like about this city. You can get consumer goods rather cheap. I would have paid double even triple at the outlet mall for what I can get here on clearance for virtually nothing.

More snow

Yesterday it snowed again. I was at a training in Bismarck and it snowed there too. Now it is almost the middle of May and the snow needs to stop. I do not like snow. I do not like it Sam I am. Training wore me out now I am sick. I need a vacation. Luckily the end of June we are taking our first vacation as a whole family. We are leaving for 11 days and I am excited. This is something my family of origin did and I loved to see different states and sites. Now that the children are older we can start the fun. I will update with pictures when it happens.

First Post

We got snow. Today we woke up to about 2 inches of snow. It was horrible. I am so ready for spring, not winter. It is almost gone but it won't get really warm until the end of the week. Hope everyone is having a great April.