Sturgis

Normally I am not a big motorcycle fan, but how does that old saying go about when in Rome?!?!
Anywho I had to go see this, more than 500 bikers left the base after touring. And these are some of the pics and a video I took, and to think this is but a small portion of the actual bikers around this area.

Updates, Updates, Updates!!

Well there may not be that much to update, but we have had a semi-eventful summer. One big thing---THE BASEMENT IS FINISHED!!!!! YIPPEE!!!! YEAH!!! It has been a very big project. Next year is going to be the yard, and yes there is still a half dug hole in my backyard. I am going to try and finagle my family to finish the hole when they get here next month for the baptism, they don't know that yet. We have been making trips around the area, we ran into a herd of buffalo, at Custer State park, and have found tons of great hikes in the area. This weekend we went to Reptile gardens. it is a very small zoo, but the boys like it, and they have several alligators, and snakes and 3 huge tortusis' I want to go to the bad lands in theh next couple of weeks. I hear that is very beautiful. And next month Zack's getting baptized, wow I can't hardly believe that. Makes me feel so old. Where did the time go. One thing for sure the summers here are very different. We haven't gotten close to the 100 degree temps. This week they have forcasted weather in the 60's!! Nothing close to what my dear friends in Texas are dealing with. Though sometimes I do miss the oppressive heat. Especially when the boys want to go swimming and it is only 70 out.
I have a new calling, in the primary again, I didn't realize how much I missed it. It is fun, behind the piano. not much of a surprise there. But I am grateful for the calling. I am still in the enrichment leader, still having a hard time with that. I would hope it would get easier, but I am so uncreative and idea lacking it isn't even funny. Maybe I will get it one day.
I am looking for ward to school starting, there aren't a lot of kids in the area, and the one that I was supposed to watch, kinda fell through, long story short she thought $2 a hour was too much to charge for me watching her kid, so she found some teenager whose mom volunteered her to watch nick for nothing. She still brings him over maybe once in a while, but the boys are really bored, because there is noone to play with. i feel bad for them, but there is not much we can do. I really thought that we would move here, and there would be a lot of kids in the neighborhood. It is just the opposite. One bad thing about living off base.
So here are some photos of some of the things we have done.

Amazing!

Two of my favorite songs, with two of my favorite instruments, it doesn't get much better than this!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0v3d6SFcDys

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This ones for you Amanda!

The Ups and Downs!

One more year. Michael didn't make tech, so here we go again, stuck at this stupid rank. I wish the military would promote on the actual job that they do and not whose butt they can kiss or how well they can test, that is what it is all about.

Winding Down

Can you tell it's the end of yet another school year? My post get further and further apart, days get more and more busy, trying to get all the me time possible before the end of peace and quiet. It is hard to believe that this year is done, wow! Anthony has had one of the best teacher's ever. She has been like a grandma to him. I love her. He actually came home very sad today, because he didn't want to say good-bye to her. He is going to a different school next year, so he is a little nervous about that change also. As for our summer, I am a bit nervous about what we are going to do to keep us busy! No pool. That pretty much sums up my feelings, about this summer. As many of you know, I have spent the last 4 years sitting by a pool for most of my summers, and with the temperatures only in the low 70's here, I don't know what we are going to do. Any suggestions?!?!
I am still digging, we have had a bit of rain, so I have taken a break, but I think that once the boys are home for the summer, I am going to give them a shovel and put them to work with me. It will get done!!!!

Playground fights

Okay I did something that I never planned on doing, I butted in on a playground squabble. Yes it involved my kids and about 5 others most of them being girls. I hate name-calling, (especially when it is directed at my kids). So I walked over there and layed into all of them. One of the girls turned and started walking away from me, and I layed into her. Then I recognized the girl from Anthony's class. Oh crap! I walked away and I know they were talking about me, so you would think I would just walk away, oh no I can't leave well enough alone, so I turn around and stand in the middle of the play-area, while they continued to play, no more name calling though. That is one thing I have noticed here, is the lack of respect the kids have for anyone, from there class-mates to adults. I don't knwo how I would do working at the schools here. One day I was walking through the halls and there was a kindergartner calling another kid an idiot! Last year when I worked at the school I never heard that kind of languege that is so prevolent here. Seriously I have considered home-schooling! Anyway I needed to get that off my chest! I am so upset at the whole situation. Wish me better luck next time.

Going and going

Well we made it back from Utah in one piece. We did however do some damage at IKEA. Holy cow, it was fun. 4 hours and we ran through the last part of the store! Michael parents watched the boys (that would have been a disaster) so we were able to go alone. So now we all the stuff for the downstairs bathroom. The problem is that it isn't the master bath! Not fair this is going to be the boys bathroom. Something went wrong with that decision.
I have also been teaching the boys piano, wow is all I'm going to say. That's not the good wow either. I had always said that I would never teach, but I am way to cheap to pay someone else for something I have been teaching for over 10 years. They are doing really well, but it has its stressful moments. I probably expect way to much from them. So we will see how grey I get in the coming months.
I have also become the crazy lady in the neighborhood. Thanks to my cousin who has a trampoline in ground. So here I am digging a 15 foot circle in my backyard. Now remember we have no fence, and we live on a main country road with a steady amount of cars (about 2 every 5 minutes so its not that bad). But they are all staring at me while I dig, and dig and dig!!! I will have to post a pic of that. But the end result is going to be worth it. Especially if a deer comes by one night and goes for a jump.!
So as usual the end of the school years things start picking up, and I do have to say that I think the summer here is going to be nice. I hope to be spending a lot of time outside.