May May May.

I can’t even begin to explain how busy the month of May has been! It has been a whirlwind of insanity.

The sale went awesome. Cora Prouty had contacted me about using their new empty building on their property and I said . .. "Um YES!" We had our largest sale total ever which was encouraging. It never fails that the week of the sale I start to have doubts and worries of: "This is dumb. What if no one shows? Why do I do this to myself? You can’t pull this off" And to be honest . . . I don’t think I could pull it off by myself. I made a few frantic phone calls to some friends who had offered to help me out should I ever need them - they arrived and after they left I could breathe again. 

Thank you Stacey and Kim!

My friend Natalie from the Cities was a vendor and she would remark on how helpful all the men were . . and they all have trucks! And why is no one bothering you about delivering their purchases?! Because dear friend. . . . you can’t live in Dakota without your very own truck. 

(Although to be fair . . . we don’t have a pick-up anymore but nearly every single person in my family has one so we still fit in . . right?)

So thank you South Dakota. I felt the love and it was nice.

Boyd has started his classes. I find it disconcerting when he is doing "homework". It looks so . . . . . lazy and I want to kick him out of the house to fix something. But I KNOW he has to do his reading and reports and blah blah blah. I have told him he will have to be patient with me. :) 

And it might help if he washed the dishes every once in awhile.

He did start working on the front porch. Yes!

It has been a rainy month. The silver lining is that our new grass is really coming along. But I’d really like some consistent sunshine soon. I’m a difficult woman to please. 

I think God has just thrown up his hands in frustration.

I turned 33 this month (uffda). I normally make a big to-do about my birthday but I was just too busy and tired to even care this year. I pretty much told my family to LEAVE ME ALONE. If you want to do something nice just drop off a cake and leave - assuming it is a chocolate cake with chocolate frosting - otherwise don’t even bother. I may have been a teensy bit hormonal on birthday week. 

Poor me. Poor Family. Poor Boyd.

One gift I got that was extra special was 2 kittens from Sister2! I named them Lucy and Betsy although I almost switched it to Stinky and Squeaky. They are wild women but I love them so. And then they peed on my curtains. *sigh*

Lucy and Betsy.

We headed to Sioux Falls for Nephew Cooper’s birthday party. The big man turned 4. He is so full of energy that I have no idea how Brother1 and Erin keep up with him. He’s into super heros right now (and so am I) and beat us all in the game of "save the presents".

Super Cooper turned 4!

We managed to get a flat tire on the way to Sioux Falls but fortunately I travel with my very own superhero: Iron Man (i.e. Boyd). Had he not been along, I would have had to use my superhero power which is: Damsel in Distress. This is not always a useful power - especially in the hardy Midwest.

We got our boat out for its maiden voyage. It has a grill which is a fun addition. We had a few glitches but all-in-all worked great. Hotdogs and smores on the water are tough to beat. 

Now to get a dock in . . . .

If only Boyd would stop messing around with homework . . . .

Owen and Boyd having smores on the boat.

Last night Boyd wanted to go kayaking.  I thought that was sweet until we put the boats in the crick and I realized that I was now being hunted by overly huge carp.  It felt like a really bad movie.  And I screamed a lot and felt like a dumb girl.

Not a fan.

This picture looks peaceful.  It is deceiving.

I’m not sure what this summer holds. I plan on doing a sale with my friend Natalie in Minnesota. I imagine we will head to the Black Hills at some point. Other than that . . . hoping to spend a lot of time outdoors enjoying the Midwest summer. This will also include pulling ticks and spraying myself in mosquito spray all summer long . . .but . . . who’s complaining?!

I hope you all have a lovely summer.

Straight Jacket.

Hello. It’s the last day of April. And there is a chance of snow this weekend. Say what?! *sigh*

To recap what I always talk about . . here are my updates:

We are still working on the house.

The End.

******

I subbed at the school for the first time ever this week. I was scared to death. But the children did not bite me and we all got along just fine. I made sure to wear sparkly pink shoes to win the 4th grade girls over and when the kids asked if they could read outside, I said (in so many words) "YES! Let’s get out of here!" From them on, we were fast friends.

Boyd has been subbing up a storm at the high school.
I ask how his day goes and its always "Great!"
It appears he is heading in the right direction for career choice so that is a relief.

****

My sale is NEARLY here. Which means I am now jittery, slightly irrational, a titch jumpy and I run around in circles with my hands in the air. It’s a fun time for all.

I have 2 weeks to get my butt in gear. 

2 weeks?!

*****

Let’s see . .. Book Club was this week and as always . . . lovely. Such a great group of women. I pretty much just eat and laugh for 2 hours - perfect therapy.

Matilda Jane party is tomorrow night. Come on out if you want to shop comfy cute clothing or just to hang out - either way is cool - - Sister1 is hosting for me and Sister2 and mom are helping! Thank God for sisters (and moms!) :) Email me for directions.

Last weekend Sister1 and the boys were around. It felt so good to be out of hibernation. Whenever I get overwhelmed by the state of my house construction, I step outside and breathe in the fresh air. 

I think I like it here.

boys and trucks

Sister1 and  O on the railroad tracks heading down to check out the creek.

Brother2, G and O.  It is impossible to keep them out of the water.

Lunch Break with Oli