TGIF

 It has been quite a week over here.  I knew it was not going to be great when Monday felt like Thursday to me.  But there was a lot of excitement.  It snowed lightly most of the day Wednesday.  It was pretty. Tuesday had been in the 60s however, and nothing stuck.  

 Nate stayed home from preschool one Wednesday and Thursday due to a bad cough and on and off again fever.  Now his cough is breaking up and he was much better today.  

 Just in time to carve pumpkins   

 When I'm doing things like this my mind is racing thoughts like... weird, last year Katie was carving pumpkins with Nate and I...... and the last time Dave was here to carve pumpkins was in New Mexico.  Weird that life changes so quickly for us.  

 I pressed on through the dis-comfortable reminder that things change a lot, and I hate change.... and just carved the dang pumpkin.

 Nate and his pumpkin and his tiny little puppy.

 From the left; Nate, Teresa, Dave.... who decided to carve his pumpkin as an NFL target of humiliation. So now everyone on our street will know our household cheers for the Lions....I shall wear a mask while fetching the mail. 

All I have to say is I hope a Viking fan doesn't smash our pumpkins, I cant wait for the snot to be over and TGI freaking F.  

*disclaimer* I have nothing against the Detroit Lions.  I hardly harass my husband about their winning or lack there of.  However, while we are in public people do.  I cannot recall the number of times, as it is too many to count, a person has come up to David and asked him " how are your Lions doing there?"  And its never that they are doing very well, so Dave has to respond something like.."Next Year" or "I'm sticking with them through thick and thin"  Its hard to watch a person you love put themselves out there for public mockery.... although I honestly admire his loyalty.  the end

Pics of us

Me on Waikiki beach

 Do you follow the Pioneer Woman?  How could you not?  

She writes about food and farming, and photos, and food. And takes really pretty photos of food....  Anyhow, her website makes me hungry I guess. 

Today she was talking about getting yourself into the photo instead of behind the camera!  Ever notice I dont appear very often in these McMath Moments?  I'm taking the photos!  Dave and I usually do the hold the cell phone out method of documenting my involvement in life's events, but to be honest, normally they looks silly or my funny tooth is showing, or that second chin is showing(i hate her)  But I thought I would share photo proof that I do these things. A one time blog post where I am in all of the photos.  

me on the airplane to Hawaii with husband.  No kid to watch/entertain/feed.  just minding my own business watching the movie enjoying the free upgrade to leg room

me under a cool tree with husband

Me on Waikiki with husband and diamond head behind us.

Me on a tour with husband

Me watching huge waves crashing into the rocks with husband

 

me on a boat with husband

me on a submarine with the husband.... i look happy, but I did not like this one bit

me and the husband on the deck of the Mighty Mo.

Me at the queens summer house

me at a waterfall- someone took this for us

me on a boat with diamond head behind us.

me in the crown room of the Palace.

See evidence that I went on an insane vacation.  ME I was there!
(with my crazy humidity hating hair)

Don't mention this to anyone... I dont want people seeing my funny tooth... or my messy hair.

Helpful

After two days of 50 mph winds with gusts near 80 mph we had some yard work that needed to be done today.  Mostly blowing our wood chips back.  Do you think an 11 month old pup is helpful on this front???  

If you are interested in what happens to a flat prairie town when you have winds like that take a cruise through these photos... FOLLOW THIS LINK

This Fall

Last fall was rough.  I was going through a breast cancer scare, dealing with David being deployed, counting down every day trying to get half way through the six months.  Tense, twitching, scared.  

This fall is different.  

This family is doing stuff. Normal life feels nice.  Really nice.

Scoring free hockey tickets is a treat.

Picking out pumpkins together. 

Enjoying our weekends.  Even if they are mostly spent doing house projects.(like organizing the garage)

  

Its nice to just do normal life stuff.  I'm hopefully it will be this way for awhile, but I'm enjoying it now knowing that it will change eventually.

Victory

Last winter was a bummer.  Hardly any snow.  Mild temps. No snowstorms to speak of really.  Then this spring and summer, this place was very ready to flame right up if a lightening strike or cigarette butt hit the prairie.  Not cool.  

"YESSSssssssss"

This year they are calling for a bad winter.  We are excited. Hopeful. Crossing our fingers and toes.  We have already had the heat on for a couple weeks which is promising, since it was in the 70s last Halloween. 

I am really ready now since I can park IN THE GARAGE.  Dave had Columbus Day off and we hauled stuff to the basement.(I love having a basement) We organized the rest of the garage stuff and tada the van fits!  To the right you can see Nate's loft bed still needs to be painted and moved upstairs.  Soon.  Very Soon.  

Sunni and Juki BFFs

We also brought home a new family member.  A friend for Jukibird.  Sunnibird seems to be settling in just fine.  We bought a larger cage and they can both flap around nicely in there(shooting feathers all over the floor...)  I'm glad. Considering how 'excited' Dave was when I brought Juki home I was pretty shocked when he suggested we get Juki a friend bird.

family

 Nathan loves having people visit.  Grandparents are extra special to have come out to see us.  I mean like within a couple hours of arriving he usually ropes them into playing a game, reading a book, something to show them how much fun he is.  

 We did our normal touring; Wall Drug, Badlands, Reptile Gardens, Air and Space Museum, Downtown walk of Presidents, Mt. Rushmore, and Needles Highway.  Plus we just hung around home too and watched freaky Lifetime movies.

Knowing they were leaving pretty early, I told Nathan last night when he was going to bed that Grandpa & Grandma were leaving and he should say goodbye.  He said to me, "Well I'm going to cry."  He just doesn't like good-byes.  He got a little choked up but told them, "I'm going to miss you."  I thought he handled it well, then at 7 am this morning I heard him crying.  I go in his room and find him watching out the window crying.  There were getting ready to pull out of the driveway.  But he had enough time to run down and get hugs and say goodbye one more time.   Poor kiddo.  

I just wanted to mention to anyone that takes the time and moola to come out to visit,  you all make a big impression on Nathan.  Dave and I are very grateful that he knows family, even though we always live so far away.  Visits to Michigan include SO MANY PEOPLE that Nate has a tough time understanding.  But when people come to visit he knows what to do, and he finds out that more people love him!

Fountain Fun

I dont post too many videos anymore eh?  Well I wanted to share this one.  We went to a Badlands festival down at the Main Street Square this past Sunday.  

Dave was dodging the water and Nathan followed.  Then he really started running through and jumping through.  It was wonderful to watch.  

When I see Nathan this happy, I hope he remembers these times instead of the months and months that his Daddy is away.  I hope these happy afternoons outshine those long periods of missing his dad.