Our fur ball dog needed a haircut like never before. I was going to take him in after our trip to Utah... but then we had Covid and surgery and it was crazy around here... and then it got super cold and it didn't seem right to shave him and before we knew it... he looked like this. I also started taking photos of him resting his head in funny places.
The kids got to go to the park and they were so happy! It's amazing how much fun it is to be outside when you're stuck inside for so long. Ethan and I were getting ready to go out of town and so we swung by to give hugs and say goodbye.
The reason for our trip out of town was to go to Bismarck. We hit the road right after Ethan got done with work. We had a lovely drive.
We didn't need to be in Bismarck until Saturday, but Ethan had Friday off so we decided to make a whole weekend of it. We drove out on Thursday night and had all day Friday to play.
We visited the North Dakota Heritage Center & State Museum. This place was awesome! We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. We got to take our time and read everything, with no kids rushing us through. It was so much fun... but we did get sore feet before we'd made it through every exhibit, so I guess there is something to say for kids rushing us through.
The first exhibit we went through was all about prehistoric North Dakota. They have some really neat fossils and casts. Check out this humongous turtle like creature.
And they had a real, live (not real or live) Tyrannosaurus Rex. I loved capturing this photo of Ethan.
This one is an actual fossil of a Triceratops. Pretty cool!
This mastodon was tiny in comparison to the dinosaurs, it was crazy.
The next exhibit was about Native Americans. There was a lot of really neat stuff. Ethan especially has a profound love for these people since his best friend is Navajo. I didn't get any great photos as I was reading so much, but I couldn't resist snapping some shots of these quilts.
There was an entire exhibit that was about maybe Civil War through modern North Dakota. We didn't spend as much time in there as we would have liked, but we were tired and hungry. We stopped at the museum cafe and bought some treats then made our way out to the car. We stopped to take photos of these concretions that are unique because they are from the 60 million year old Cannonball Formation. They are rare because they are so large.
Enjoying our treats. Ethan got an almond bar.
I went with a coconut macaroon. It was tasty!
We stopped to see the Sakakawea (aka Sacagawea, Sacajawea) statue as well. Fun fact, she is my 14th great-grandmother (though it is through a disputed child she had with her first husband-another Native- before she married a white man. The child was taken in by the father's family and hidden from white man and, therefore, white man's records).
Ethan had the brilliant idea that we should find some place to buy Bismarks in Bismarck. I began my search for a doughnut shop... and found this Bearscat Bakery. They didn't have bismarks, but they had their specialty Bearscat doughnuts. Pretty flipping hilarious. We went back the next day to take some back to the kids, but sadly, they were closed. At these we have the photos.
We also tried this caramel/chocolate doughnut. It was just OK. The Bearscat was amazing.
The reason for our visit was the most wonderful of reasons... the Temple!!! Our friend who recently joined the church was ready to receive his endowment and he invited us to be there with him. We had the most wonderful time being in the Temple, especially since it had been so long!
And then we were off to home with our babies. They wanted to know if we bought them souvenirs, but all we came home with was a cookbook to make goodies from.
Curly-ish hair.
Bryant had his doctor appointment for his mission papers and for some reason the bishop never got them! Thankfully, the doctor was willing to fill them out again and fax them. The Stake President was willing to interview him before getting the papers and then submit the application as soon as the fax came in. He told us that they look at applications that are submitted by the end of Monday. He got them in around 11 pm. We waited only 6 days. I got a text from Bryant that he received his mission call! We invited a couple families over to join us and invited everyone on Facebook, instagram, group chats, etc to make guesses as to where he would go. Here's the map!
The crowd.
We did live videos so I don't have anything good to show that he got his call to Colorado Denver North mission starting July 21. Checking out all the details of the mission!
We did another couch concert. I sure love my husband.
The high school finally had some performances we could attend! Jonas had a band concert and did a fantastic job.
I subscribed to this Secret Spy thing from Highlights (on Amazon) for the home school kids. It reminds me of Carmen San Diego from way back in the day. They "go" to a specific country and learn things about it while doing puzzles and doing problem solving. I love to see the kids have so much fun with it!
I've been taking the kids out to lunch one on one. I have loved it! Eliza tagged along with Ethan and me for a date night. She got to choose where we ate... she chose Olive Garden.
Pi Day! I made an oatmeal pie and a banoffee pie.We at the oatmeal pie on March 14.
It was yummy! Kind of like a pecan pie but with oats instead of nuts! It was perfect!
We ate the banoffee pie the next night and it was rich and amazing.
Murphy finally got a haircut!
Bryant had a choir concert! He has really blossomed as a singer.
March means birthdays for a couple boys! Jonas requested his usual cheesecake. He said it was the best birthday he's had in a long time.
The day after his birthday, I hopped on a plane to fly to Utah. I never order drinks, but I was so, so thirsty after my first flight. There were very few restaurants open and the airport was crazy busy.
I got to go and see this cutie. He told me about how the ladies flirt with him at the farm.
The reason for the quick trip was to help out with my mom's recovery from her back surgery.
I made a whole bunch of food for them so she could rest and my dad could have a break from cooking all the time. I thought this was a pretty picture of ingredients.
My dad came out of his room looking like a kid from my 7th grade class.
I was only there for a few days, but I stopped to see my brother's family on my way back south. I sure love them. I had the best intentions to stop and see all of my Ogden brothers but spent too much time here. Then I went to my in-law's and had great visit with my sisters-in-law. I had to get up early for my flight so I was supposed to turn in early... ha!
I made it home before the birthday boy! I can't believe he's 18! We didn't have cake until the next day because as you can see, he was working. We got him some stuff for his mission, for the Temple, and Colorado!
Also a gift card for date night.
There he goes again, being so super cute.
Chocolate cake with no frosting.
Colorado shirt.
Date night.
I bought this light in Japan at a recycle shop. I was so excited to find it. We had to rewire it...but we finally did! And then it sat on the floor and then on our window seat... but Ethan finally hung it and it is perfect! I love it!
Weather got nicer for a week or so and the kids all put up hammocks. They love these hammocks.
The kids are always asking Ethan to pop their backs. He was teaching them how to do it.
Another night, another couch concert.
March 31, 2021 this ABU uniform was retired by the USAF. For good measure, Ethan wore it one last time!
Fisher loved looking through the new chat book with his daddy. A perfect ending to the month!
