Blue hair for #3

This girl likes color! We dyed the ends of her hair dark blue today. It’s so dark it looks purple (like the last time we dyed it.) but trust me, it’s blue. And so are my hands – just a bit.

Snow play

We finally received a decent amount of snow and the temps stayed mild enough for the Shecklets to go out and play in it. More may come tomorrow, so hopefully more outside time is on the agenda.

Color changing unicorn

Shecklets 3 and 4 received a package while Jake and I were in California and inside were two unicorn mugs. Their Uncle Jason and Aunt Bri thought they’d enjoy the fun surprise that takes place when you add hot liquid to the mug. It’s so much fun being a girl!

Xmas in Hastings 2017

Spent the afternoon and evening with this great bunch!

The Shecklets went on a scavenger hunt for their Christmas presents this year.  Numbers 1, 2, & 3 found kayaks and #4 found a scooter!  Summer is going to be a lot of fun this year!

Christmas Eve 2017

After mass this evening, Shecklet #3 asked if she and her siblings could have their picture taken in front of the manger scene at church. Then we had Shecklet #2 take a photo of Jake and me. Love these people so much ❤️

Gingerbread houses

On day 1 of Christmas vacation we assembled the houses.

Then on day 2, the kids decorated them. Can you locate the gingerbread under all of the frosting and sprinkles?

Orchard 2017

Grandpa Dave went with us to the orchard where Grandma Patti works in the fall. It was a beautiful day and we had lots of fun, as usual!

After the orchard, we went back to Grandma and Grandpa’s house and the kids played outside and rode on the 4-wheeler.

SD Vacation 2017 – Day 8

Part two of the drive home. We left Mitchell and went to Sioux Falls to check out the Butterfly Gardens and Aquarium. 



We grabbed a quick lunch and then drove to Marion to visit some of my extended family. It had been four years since our last trip to see them – Shecklet #4 was only a few months old and my cousin Josh was getting ready for his deployment. It was really good to spend time catching up with family. Hopefully it won’t be another four years until we can do it again. 

Gassed up in Sioux Falls and heading home!

SD Vacation 2017 – Day 7

Loaded up and ready to make the two day trip back home!

Since we weren’t rushing to get to Mitchell, we drove back through the Badlands. This time we stopped and hiked on a different trail. Shecklets 1, 2, & 3 went with me on over half of the Notch Trail. We went as far as climbing the ladder before turning around. They’re not joking when they recommend hiking boots, which is part of the reason we turned back after reaching the top of the ladder.

On to Mitchell where we had dinner at The Depot, checked in to our hotel, watched the last half of Shrek, and went to bed.

SD Vacation- Day 6

Bear County was the first stop of many today. As we drove through the park we saw elk, mountain goats, bison, bobcats, wolves, and of course, bears.


After driving through the park, we walked the 1/4 mile trail and got to see badgers, a porcupine, lynx, skunk, groundhog, beavers and bear cubs. The cubs were my favorite – so mischievous and playful. 


Lunch was at the Firehouse Brewery in downtown Rapid City. 


We picked up a few bottles of Mythical Beast wine at the Firehouse Winery nextdoor before heading to our next tourist stop…Dinosaur Park.


And then a longer stop at Storybook Island. The Shecklets enjoyed running around and checking out all of the character statues and posing for pictures with many of them. 

The rest of the day was spent at the water park connected to our hotel. Four and a half + hours of running around, climbing steps and flying down water slides makes for one tired bunch of Shecklets. (Each of then went down the red and blue toilet bowl at least one time with Jake – it was pretty amusing to watch!) Goodnight!