Princess Alyssah

Miss Princess Alyssah

She love to wear dresses and she will call herself a princess all the time.

Isn't she cute? ;)

Fishing

The boys love to go fishing on Lake Sakakawea. They love to help there dad out. He isn't always too fond of the help. But it is fun anyways. On Saturday I went too. So I got some pictures.

Miss Alyssah driving the boat. She loved being there, she really thought she was in control. The motor wasn't even on. She still loved it.
Josh and Alyssah waiting for the big catch of the day. They didn't know it, but they waited a VERY LONG TIME. ;)

This isn't the same day, I thought I would include it in this post. Yes, that is the whopper Mark caught. Wow! That would feed almost one person. At least he tries! ;)

Swimming lessons

Jake LOVED swimming lessons. He would get into "trouble" because he was doing things, like swimming around while he was supposed to be hanging onto the sides. He was advanced for this class so I knew he would have no problem passing. He has asked me several times when he gets to go again.

Jake wanted to pose underwater. I think he looks funny! ;)
Most of the kids in his swimming class had to be brought down into the water to be caught by the guy. Not Jake, he had no problem jumping off!

A bad day

Today was a bad day. The boys were so awful! All they did was fight and hit and argue all day. And then they would bring in the daycare kids too. I did a lot of yelling at them today. I wished I wouldn't have, I totally would change that if I could. I really hope tomorrow is way better and that the boys aren't so crabby. They shouldn't be, they went to bed at 8:30 tonight. Hopefully they will be happier tomorrow.

Jakes T Ball Pictures

Jake loved T ball this year. He does OK, he needs to be reminded that when you hit the ball you run, and that you need to try to catch the ball when it comes by you, and that you wear the glove on your hand only, not up to your face. BUT other than that he is really good! ;) At least he likes to go!

All the cute little players! Go Troopers!

He was at a T ball game in Washburn. They didn't keep score, but all the little players had so much fun!
Hopefully the ball doesn't come to him.

Once the coach figured out that he was right handed, he did much better.

The "Newest" Croplan seller

How couldn't you buy from this little lady!

Alyssah Marie-2 years old

Wearing her daddy's Croplan logo on her shirt and hat. She was a ham this day too.

4th of July (only a month late)

We had a great 4th of July. My sister and her family came to visit us for the holiday. We had a blast watching the fireworks and having a fire of our own. Brian set off fire works before the big show came on. It was a lot of fun!

The fireworks
Alyssah was getting very tired, and went to bed almost after this picture.

Viktoria loved the smores that we made!

My handsome boys. They had soooo much fun. They are true boys too, they LOVED the fireworks and "helping" Uncle Brian get them ready to light off.

Me waiting for the fire to get going.

The fire looks so huge! But it wasn't too bad.

Dad and Jake, almost time for bed

The next day we had a few fireworks left over and decided to finish them. Sparklers just aren't the same as when I was little.

The kids thought it was cool to be in the smoke part of the smoke bomb. Josh, Victoria, Jake and Alek.

Update

I have been really busy lately. Jacob has been in t-ball and swimming lessons. Not a whole lot of time to blog. I plan on blogging a lot tomorrow. A million pictures too.

She is feeling better!!

Finally. Alyssah as of the last few days has been feeling much better. She has an appetite, and she doesn't fight taking her medicine anymore. This last cold kicked her little butt. She was pretty sick. But she is back to her really cute self. As you can see.

Prayer requests please

I don't know how many people read my blog, but I have 3 prayer requests. My sister is having gall bladder sugery soon, she is uncomfortable now, pray that she gets the surgery sooner than later. My sweet Alyssah is sick, she is miserable, and pray that the meds she is on works quick. And my mother in law, she fractured her foot, pray that she isn't in much pain. Thanks!!

Poor Alyssah

She is sick. I feel so bad for her. She has tonsilitis. She hasn't had any appetite lately and she has been running a fever (low grade) for a few days now. I have held her all day pretty much and she isn't eating again. Mark is bringing the meds home tonight, but I have a feeling she will be going to bed before she can get it. Poor thing. I feel so bad for her.

A Mothers Prayer

Help me dear Lord, as a mother, I pray
And bless these hands folded in prayer today;
May they be ever strong as they guide, as they teach,
Beings never too far for a child to reach.
May they never, with selfishness, try to dissuade,
Nor too quickly punish, nor too slowly aid.
May they point out the pleasures in laughter and song,
And may they show, wisely, the right from the wrong,
So that one day I'll know that I've helped all I can
To make her a woman, to make him a man

60 years

Today my Grandparents have been married 60 years. I can't even comprehend the length of that. It is amazing how long they have been married. My sister and I went in together and got them a huge flower arrangement. She just called me a little while ago and was thrilled that we gave it to her. I am so glad we did. It is the little things that make them happy.

Happy Anniversary Grandma and Grandpa!!

I hope to have what you have!

Pictures from our trip (very long)

We are on our way!! Alyssah had a fever earlier and the boys were so excited to go, and we are about 30 miles into our trip. Jake has asked about 10 times already when we will be there. We only have another 6 1/2 hours left. Sorry buddy!! :) I am glad we got to go, I wished we could have stayed longer though. There is so much to see, and not enough time.

Josh is all smiles ready to see some "almost" mountains. The kids all had sunglasses and hats on, it was really sunny out. Alyssah managed to lose a pair somewhere.

Jake waiting until we get there, in about 6 1/2 hours. He only asked maybe 50 times throughout the trip. He is an impatient child. Hopefully we can help change that.


Sweet Alyssah, one of the times she wasn't crabby. She looks so sweet in this picture. Don't let her fool you. She was a little beracuda this trip. She loves her schedules. But she is cute, nonetheless.

Our first glimps of the black hills. We are still about 35 miles away. They are so awesome. Being from North Dakota, were everything is flater, these are huge to us!!

This is Devils Tower. It is a huge rock that people have said came up like a volcano long ago. It is considered sacred to the natives here. They even had a story that a huge bear was clawing it and that is how it got its huge scratches in the rock. We walked around the monument, and it took us about and hour or so. It was 1.3 miles around. We saw some people going to climb it. Jake thought that was cool.

I love this picture of Alyssah and Mark. It is sweet.

The kids posing for me. They were excited to not be in the car anymore!!

The kids with Mark. Alyssah was having a moment. She wouldn't look or even think about smiling at the camera.

Me with the kids. Again Alyssah wouldn't look or smile. I love how far you can see.

The rocks up high on Devils Tower. They broke off a fell sometime ago. I thought it was cool how you could see how they broke.

The tower when we were about to leave. I could stare at it all day.

We went on a train ride from Hill City SD to Keystone SD. It was really cool. They used really old steam engines too. This was one of the steepest inclines for railroads in the US. We saw a lot of scenery that we wouldn't have seen just driving. We sat in cars that were newer, but made to look older. The boys loved it and were so excited to go on a train! Alyssah fell asleep while on the train, she wasn't feeling good again, but the nap helped her feel better. Mark didn't feel good either. Not sure what was wrong with him either.

The boys were excited to go!!

Alyssah and I she fell asleep shortly after this.

A "mountain" These are they highest mountains east of the Rocky Mountains. The highest point is 7,000 plus feet.

The train, when we stopped Mark and the boys got out to take some pictures of the train. It is a real steam engine.

Some more scenery.

You can see the bug splatter on the window. It got really hazy out, there was a small fire somewhere in the hills. We never did find out where.

We went to Bedrock City while in Custer SD. I went to this place when I was little. The kids LOVED it. Mark and I thought it was really dumb, and there were only about 20 other people there. It cost us $27 dollars for 3 of us, Alyssah and Jake where free. SO NOT WORTH IT, other than there smiles!!

The kids loved trying on hats while in the gift shop. I was laughing so hard at them, and the lady behind the counter wasn't to happy with us, but the kids loved trying them on!! This is a buffalo head, I laugh when I see this one!!

You can't even see Jakes eyes, but it was so funny anyways!!!

Alyssah even wore a hat too. She was laughing so hard!!

Jake has a hamberger on his head, and Josh has a hotdog on his head. I laughed so hard with these, they were $16 a hat, otherwise I probably would have bought these two. Hahaha!!

On the dorky train ride, we got 2 free ride while there!!!

Josh, Alyssah and Mark

Tressa and Jake.

Hugging the police officer. I tell ya, they loved it here. Wait until we go to Disney World someday.

In Fred Flintstones car. I love this pic!!

Alyssah and Pebbles

Watching the Flintstones show. 7 longest minutes of my life. The boys thought it was so cool though.

Standing by the "real" Barney and Fred. Josh said after we walked away from them that he knows they aren't real.

I got a few of these pictures of the kids in these stand up things. I had some at the same place, I had to get them too.

The kids got one free ride around in the Flintstones car. They loved it. After we were done with that, the kids played in the park and then and when to the gift shop and bought some things with the money that they earned for the trip.

We were driving to Mr Rushmore. The hills are so pretty and beautiful! I just love them.

Josh spotted the Face on the rock. Mark and I didn't see it for a while, but he kept saying that it was there. We finally saw it.

This is looking up from almost below it. There is a path you can walk below it. It is really cool. I think it is so amazing this sculpture.

My handsome Josh

Sweet Jake

My princess Alyssah

Standing in front of Mt Rushmore. It was chilly and the kids were getting tired. We stayed for the light show too. It was so cool.

I could stare at this all day too!

At night all lit up.

We drove through the state park on Sunday June 29th. We went through Needles Hyw, and the wildlife animal loop. We didn't get to see to many animals though. Lots of pretty views though.

Needles Highway

One of the many tunnels we went through.

Jake and Alyssah, wearing there new Mt Rushmore t-shirts. Enjoying the ride.

Josh and Alyssah too.

We stopped at a little bridge and cave. The boys were looking for fish, and Alyssah was looking cute!

Touching the water.

On top of a mountain. You could see everything up there!! We were up at about 6,000 feet.

Sleeping beauty. She was really crabby before this, we were very happy when she fell asleep.

We were told the buffalo were out walking somewhere, well this was the only one we saw on the wildlife loop. I was hoping to see a hurd of them.

A donkey or burro. The people were feeding it and there were signs all over asking people to not feed the animals. We saw a bunch more in a field a while later too.

An antalope we saw eating right beside the road. It didn't care that people were there watching it either.

At Deadwood. It is a really cool town with an old fashion feel. There was a play going on, and they had people pretending to shoot out in the street. Jake thought it was real. It was cute. He kept asking if the cops were going to arrest him.