Eureka girls in Sioux Falls

 

We've been wanting to do this for YEARS . . . probably at least 10.  The time was never right. Weddings were happening, babies were arriving . . . .

 

Thanks to Tina for getting the ball rolling (and to Sarae for quickly getting her plane ticket),

we finally got it done--a little Eureka girls trip to Sioux Falls for a long weekend!

 

These are the girls who have known me the longest and still love me anyway--Tonya ('96), Amy ('97), Sarae ('98), Tina ('98), and Rachel ('98). 

 

Tina brought some really flattering photos and we would like to say that, if anything, we have gotten BETTER with age! :) 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Little Town on the Prairie

Sometimes you don't have to go far to find a treasure!

DeSmet is about two hours from us, and although we go there often to visit family, we had never gone to the Laura Ingalls Wilder Pageant before as a family. 

 

Landen read the series of books this past year, so I decided that this was the summer to go and take in the experience.  Nathan and Teresa didn't know about Laura Ingalls Wilder and her family until our tours, but by the end of the day, they were fans, too. 

 

Our day started with a tour of the Surveyor's House, where the Ingalls family lived when they first came to DeSmet, then the first school of DeSmet that Carrie and Laura attended, and a replica of the country school where Laura first taught.

 

A short drive across town took us to the home Charles Ingalls built in DeSmet.  After that, we drove to the cemetery where Charles, Caroline, Mary, Carrie and Grace (with her husband Nathan Dow) are buried.

 

After supper at Uncle Dann and Aunt Michele's house, we returned to the Ingalls Homestead near DeSmet for the pageant.  This year's production was Little Town on the Prairie, which is based on the family's time spent in the DeSmet area. 

 

It was very well done and we had a gorgeous night for the outdoor performance.  Thanks to Michele, the big three even got a ride on a wagon!

 

The Laura Ingalls Wilder Memorial Society has a wealth of information about the Ingalls family and their descendants as well as many, many artifacts and possessions from the family. 

 

Sadly, though, with no living great-grandchildren born into the family, the last direct descendant of the Charles and Caroline Ingalls family was their granddaughter Rose. 

 

If all you know about Laura Ingalls Wilder is from the TV show, Little House on the Prairie, you MUST read the books.  The TV show was based very loosely on the books and many of the story lines never happened.  (Mary was never married, for example.) 

 

After learning new things (and being reminded of things I had forgotten), I would like to re-read the books, too. 

 

Our family gives the day 12 thumbs up and we highly recommend this day trip.

 

More information can be found on www.liwms.com.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Happy Times

 

Today was the Summer Party for the Library Reading Program.  It was held at the Faulkton Happy Times Carousel.  Area children read 3,717 books and it was time to celebrate!

 

If you're not familiar with The Carousel City, Faulkton has a wonderful free carousel as a unique highlight of their town.  Volunteers keep it running a few afternoons/evenings a week and kids of all ages, even moms, love it. 

 

Last week, as we dropped the reading lists off at the library, the kids noticed that the carousel had just opened.  We had to take a ride!  Everyone chose their horses and we were off.  Rachel immediately loved it, saying, "Oooo!  Oooo!  Oooo!" as I held her on and we spun around the circle. 

(And you do spin rather quickly on this one--the fewer the riders the faster it goes!) 

 

Today I had just planned to drop off Teresa for the party.  (Nathan decided that he would rather work with Dad).  But, as soon as we pulled up and Rachel saw the carousel horses, she started with her, "Oooo!  Oooo!" again.  So, we stayed for the fun, too.  It all worked out and was fun for everyone since some of my good friends were there with their kids and grandkids, too. 

And there were snow cones.  How could we go wrong?

Teresa rode almost continuously, taking a break only for her snow cone.  No wonder she still felt like she was spinning after we got home!

 

It was a fun, Happy, morning for my girls and me.

 

 

 

 

 

 

My First Mile

I woke up this morning with something to prove.  To myself, that is.  I was going to prove that I could run a mile without stopping.  I walked out to the corner at 6:30am and started on my way.  Guess what?

I DID IT.

I don't know my time because that wasn't important.  All I wanted to do was accomplish this little feat that I had never done before. 
I know a mile is nothing to several of my friends who run all of the time, but the mile was always intimidating to me. 

We were required to run a mile when I played girls basketball in high school.  I walked part of it.
We were required to run a mile in Fitness for Life in college.  I walked part of that, too.

After that, I accepted that I wasn't an athlete and that it was just something I couldn't do.

I brought back the goal of running a mile after I had Rachel, but forgot about it until just recently.

The mile.  Could I?

Last spring, when I was frustrated with the weather and life in general, I decided there was one thing I did have control over.  I brought back the consistent exercise 5-6 days a week (just 30 minutes) and started to prepare fewer frozen pizzas and hot dogs on busy nights.  My goal was not so much to lose weight, but to get physically stronger than I had been before. 

Well, a few months later, I am stronger now than I have probably ever been, but I still didn't know if I could do it.  Running has always been something I avoided.  Give me just about any other form of exercise instead! 

Still, the goal of running a mile never left me, so I had to get it accomplished.

Even if I never identify myself as a runner, I can now check this one long-held goal off the list. 

Yes, that's right, Laura CAN run a mile. 

Whatcha doin'?

I should be sleeping, but I am basking in the silence. 

My kids set a new "MOM!" record today, I am sure of it. 

It wasn't all tattling, actually most was not, but it seemed like there was always someone lurking around the corner waiting to talk to me or ask me something.

Even during my 2-hour stint in the baseball concession stand tonight--there was always one of my children at one of the three openings (or wandering inside) to talk to me.  Really--they had nothing better to do than lurk behind the concession stand waiting for me to come out to the grill to flip the hot dogs???? 

(The concession stand DID have the added magnet of food, I admit, which they (incorrectly) think they can eat with abandon and for free whenever mom is working.) 

Oh, I love the little monkeys, you know I do.  But, my ears are tired.  So, so tired.

Despite the tired ears, it was a good day.  David's aunts visited this morning, followed quickly by his Grandpa and uncle.  A man came today to fix the slight scratch in our new downstairs shower.  Sheet rock *shouldn't* be too far away.  (Patience, mama, patience!) 

So, that's what I'm doing. 

So tired. 
So thankful.
All is well.

Good night.

He has made everything beautiful . . . .

As I was outside this evening picking up random water-soaked kids' clothing from the backyard (thank goodness we live in the country!), I noticed the sun was shining beautifully on my perennial garden. 

I went back in the house and grabbed the camera, only to have the lens immediately fog over in the humid air.  I tried to wipe it off and take a photo anyway (I was running out of the perfect light), and this softened look was the result.  The only editing I did to this photo was add the text. 

 

Pretty cool.

Not what I had planned, but so much better.

 

It seems like that happens a lot.  Like everyone, I want things to happen in MY

 time, but they hardly ever do. 

However, when I look back at what God has given me in my past 34 years, the people who matter most to me, the prayers answered or unanswered, I see His perfect hand in the timing. 

 

 

 

Beautiful.

 

 

Rhubarb Delight

It's time to use some more of that rhubarb in the freezer and share my very FAVORITE rhubarb recipe. 

With Landen's help stirring, we were able to make this for our dessert tonight.  As we licked our lips over our first pieces, we discovered that Rachel is also a rhubarb lover!  Now we have someone else to join us in enjoying our rhubarb treats.

 

 

Rhubarb Delight

 

Crust

1 cup flour

2 T sugar

1/2 cup butter

 

Combine and mix with fork or pastry blender until crumbly.  Press into a 9x9 pan or pie pan.  Bake 20 minutes at 350.

 

Filling

1 1/4 cup sugar

3 egg yolks--beaten

1/3 cup sour cream

2 1/2 T flour

(*Tip from my Mom*--add about 1 T more flour if using frozen to help it thicken.)

2 1/2 cups thinly sliced rhubarb (Mine are packaged in 2 cup bags, which is also enough).

 

Cook in saucepan over medium heat until thick.  Stir constantly to make sure it doesn't scorch.  Cool and pour over baked crust.

 

Meringue

3 egg whites

1/4 cup sugar

Pinch of cream of tartar

 

Beat egg whites until stiff.  Gradually add sugar.  Pile on top of dessert and brown at 375.

 

You can also double this recipe and make it in a 9x13 pan.

 

This is David's grandma's recipe, but I grew up with it, too.  It takes awhile to get the filling hot and thick, but it is worth the effort.

 

Ohh, crunchy sweet crust, sweet tart filling, and sweet fluffy meringue. . . yum, yum, yum!

 

Fishing for "reel"!

As you know, my kids have wanted to go fishing for quite some time.

 

I really like to fish, too, but we don't own any fishing gear (except for worms).  There's also that little problem about taking the fish off the hook. 

I'm not so crazy about that part.

So, they usually get to fish once a year when we visit our friends at Enemy Swim.

 

Well, all that changed a few days ago when Grandma Melius was walking by a dug out near our alfalfa field and saw "Godzilla" the fish jump out of the water.  She decided he must be caught.

 

Great Grandma and Grandpa Neises (the professional fishers of the family) were called in as reinforcements.

 

The kids and I were up for the adventure, so we loaded up the minivan and set out to catch the "big one" yesterday morning.

 

The kids had tons of fun learning how to fish for "reel."  They caught on to casting and reeling right away.  Great Grandma, Rachel and I observed for the most part.  As it turned out, the bullheads were biting, so there was quite a bit of action!

 

  Teresa got the award for the first catch (she caught 3), Nathan got the award for the most caught (10), and Landen won "The One Who Got Away--Twice" Award.  The poor thing had a big fish on his line twice, but didn't get to claim either one.

 

But, fortunately unlike so many other fishermen in the world, he has proof of one of his "almost" catches!

 

When Rachel got braver walking through the reeds and this was the view I most saw of her, we left to play at Grandma and Grandpa's house.

 

They never did catch Godzilla, but he's not going anywhere.

 

He's just getting bigger.

My Ninja Warrior

 

Have you seen American Ninja Warrior? 

We watched it last summer and were excited to see it was on again last week.  Our family likes to watch competitive shows featuring obstacle courses, like Wipe Out and American Ninja Warrior. 

ANW is especially fun to watch because the course is almost impossibly difficult.  If the competitors hit the ground at any time, they are eliminated.  No second chances. 

See ya next year.

Yesterday David rolled a baby bale into the yard for the kids to play with.  Nathan used it as a start of his own ANW course.  He would start at the bicycle trailer, climb over the deck rail, and head back. 

The good thing about having your own course is that you can start over as many times as you want.

And you always come in first place.

4th of July

Our 4th of July was a little different this year.  Since David's aunt and uncle had a family wedding, our usual crowd and local hangout for the day were not available.  David's parents and mine were out of town, too. 
We felt sad and lost. 
We felt like Meliuses without a family. 
So, we pulled ourselves together and got over it. :)
We started out with our usual routine--the Faulkton parade.  There is no documentation of Landen at the parade as he decided this morning that if he couldn't BE in the parade (as he has been in the past with his grandparents), he didn't want to SEE the parade.  So, he stayed in the van.  I guess we all make choices in life . . . . 
He perked up for the picnic in the park later on.
The best part of today is that it was a perfectly beautiful day weather-wise!  We usually don't go to the park for the community picnic since it is USUALLY so unbearbly HOT.  If there's anything I can't stand, it's standing in line to juggle plates on a hot, sticky day.  (My favorite place to be on the 4th of July is enjoying the AC wherever I happen to be.) 
Well, guess what?  Not only was the temperature perfect, but in the past three years, our big 3 have grown enough to carry their OWN plates!  It was SPECTACULAR!  We caught up with friends we hadn't seen in much too long while the kids danced and played in the park.  It was Norman Rockwell-esque.  There are some moments in life when you realize how great it is while you are living it. 
It was one of those times for me. 
Great Uncle John and Great Aunt Donna (whom Nathan has decided will now be known as "Grandpa" and "Grandma"--Why not?  You can never have too many grandparents.) surprised us with a visit after our return home. 
Our plan was to return to Faulkton for the fireworks, but we decided over supper that we were quite content to be home.  Our children are now watching fireworks on TV and from whichever window happens to be facing fireworks at the time.  Big 3 are happy, parents are happy, Rachel is sleeping. . . all is well. :)

Happy 4th of July! 

Life is good.

Arnold's Park

Yes, I am STILL talking about last Saturday!  Are you ready for a nap?  Tough.  No time for that!

 

After the birthday brunch, we headed down to Arnold's Park on Lake Okiboji.  It was Uncle Jason's company "picnic" day.  (No actual picnic--just fun!) :)  Since he works for a pretty awesome company, we were able to tag along and enjoy the day, too. 

 

I am not a huge theme park kind of girl, but I liked Arnold's Park.  They had the rides that were more my speed (on the ground, spinny kinds of things and the gondola ferris wheel), and I left the high flying rides to my big 3 kiddos.  It was the perfect size for our kids to roam and hit all of the rides they could multiple times.  Even Teresa rode the Flume Ride.  I am thankful that Grandma Melius is not afraid of heights and likes to take her grandchildren on rides.  I pleaded "chicken" on that.

 

 Rachel didn't ride rides, but she was a rock star for the afternoon.  She either pushed her stroller or hung out with her "Pa Pa Pa."  We found some slides that were fun, too.  When she got just a bit crabby, we bought her a "hot dog dog" and all was better. 

 

Jason and I were excited to hear that John Mayer was performing that night . . . but, then Angela informed us that it was actually SHAWN Mayer.  It was just as well since we had six kids with us! 

 

 

It was a great memory making kind of day!

Lily's 6th Birthday Party

After the triathlon, we headed back to the Johnsons' house for Lily's 6th Birthday Brunch! 

 

 

It was time to relax and refuel because there was more fun ahead. . . .

Our Tri-Athletes

Earlier this month, we planned one last hurrah to end our fun month of travelling.  Our nephew Carter had participated in the Sanford Tri for Health in Jackson MN last year, and David's sister Angela thought our boys might like it, too.  They agreed and we signed them up. 

 

The boys had big plans for training . . . that lasted a couple of days.  As it got closer, I was starting to have my doubts as to if one or the other would even complete the course.  The boys can swim, but they had never done it competitively.  Landen likes biking and Nathan likes running, but neither had ever done all three in quick succession.  As it turned out, I had nothing to worry about.

 

The farm had other plans for David (sometimes corn grows a little faster than we expect it will, although we aren't complaining!), so I headed down the road solo with our four little angels.  I'm always up for a road trip and that's why they make DVD players, right??

 

We arrived Friday evening ready for the big triathon Saturday morning.  Grandma and Grandpa Melius were also in town for the event.

The boys all completed the course, which was the major goal!  Nathan came in first in the biking in the 5-7 year olds and tied for 11th overall in this age group.  Carter finished 14th in the 8-10 year olds.

 

 

It started to rain on us, so we had to head for cover.  Do you think Angela and Rachel look like they could possibly be related?

 

Teresa and Lily loved being cheerleaders.

 

 

 

It was so much fun to watch the boys compete.  I know athletics aren't Landen's favorite thing, but he did it anyway.  I was especially proud of him for his endurance as I watched up drop off his bike and start running down the course. 

Despite his reasonable success, Nathan thinks he may retire from triathlons, but who knows?  Next year is a long way away.