Storm Over the Prairie

Okay, I know... I've been a little obsessed with the prairie lately. :) It's just so incredible! The landscape is so entertaining and inspiring and humbling. And yes, Meredith, the prairie can be treacherous and challenging, particularly in the winter.  Thanks to modern-day comforts (like heat and 4wd!) it's not insurmountable, but once in a while the wind and snow do conspire to keep the whole family together for a day, which is okay too. :) I actually really enjoyed the beauty and life (deer!) in the winter prairie, and I'm finding that mid-summer is another spectacular time; what with all the blooming and storms and birds, etc. Anyhow, here are pictures of a storm stacking up east of us (it never actually hit us, and we really enjoyed watching it from our safe distance):

Here is a video of the red lightening that started flashing after dusk. I'm sure the next town over, Hawley, got some rain and thunder out of it, but we stayed lovely and dry all night!

Kaia Loves Books!

Kaia is SO into books! One of her favorite activities is pulling all of the books out of a little kid shelf of board books, and then sitting and flipping through many of them. When Travis and I read to her we hold up the page we need to turn and she will turn it for us. She loves being read to! Another little bookworm in the making! :)

Quickie Post!

 My pregnant friends will be excited to know that, despite a 4 year age gap, my girls are rapidly becoming great playmates and best friends! Sophia made a "picnic snack" in the reading room a couple of nights ago and it was so cute to watch the girls enjoy the picnic together.

 The moon rising over the prairie on Monday night

 The sun rise on Tuesday morning. I just love, love, love our prairie!

 Travis and Kaia on Tuesday morning... snuggle bugs!!!

 Sophia carries Kaia around EVERYWHERE now, and Kaia loves it! Sophia was spinning Kaia in circles last night and Kaia was giggling hysterically. Then crawling/falling like a drunk. Too funny!

Busy busy weekend!

 On Friday we hit the annual Fargo Street Fair. Unfortunately, we met with a severe thunderstorm about 20 minutes after we got there, so we cut it short, grabbed some Chinese food, and went home to nosh on junky Chinese (new discovery: Sesame Tofu! YUM!) and watch Monsters Vs Aliens. Again.

 Saturday was BEAUTIFUL. In the 70's, sunny, no humidity... we were outside for literally at least 10 hours. I dug up the front flower bed and Sophia helped weed (Travis helped dig and Sophia REALLY helped weed!), Kaia was playing with toys in the shade of the front porch, and Travis mowed and mowed and mowed. When Kaia went down for her nap I took Sunny for a nice long ride, and Sunny was AMAZING!!! Our "green-broke" horse is not so green! From start to finish: puts his head down into the bit and stands still for girth-tightening, didn't move a muscle for mounting, walked off nicely, did a beautiful jog I could sit to for MILES, loped smoothly, went in the woods and stepped over trees and around obstacles like a champ, and then let the girls have a 10 minute ride on him when we got home with no fuss. Also stood nicely for hosing off, which is something he's had to learn. He is such a nice horse... I would take a green horse with a good attitude over a broke horse with a nasty personality any day!!

 On Sunday we went for a 5-hour guided tour of different "scientific and natural areas" (SNAs) through Moorhead Community Education. The Bluestem Prairie that we live on is an SNA, so I was really excited for this tour! We learned a lot about 3 other locals SNAs and about the plants and flowers.

 Kaia was the youngest on the tour :) And very well-behaved!

 This is "Buffalo Rock" at the Felton SNA. The rock is rubbed smooth on places from where bison used to scratch themselves. It's hard to tell in this (poor) pic how HUGE this rock it; it sticks out!

 Wild Prairie Rose

 Sophia was a great little learner

 Ground plums

 Leadplant and Black Eyed Susans. The prairie is so beautiful!

 Red-tailed hawk

I took this pic because Travis said this was the best meal he's had "in years," including restaurant fare! I made meatless "beef tips," garlic and chive mashed potatoes with vegetarian gravy, and steamed sweet peas from our garden. The whole family helped shell the peas (except for Kaia, who just helped eat the peas! Haha), and Sophia helped me pick and weed our garden. After supper we went outside and I cleaned the barn while Travis helped Sophia take Pepper for a ride... the perfect way to end a really lovely weekend. I love my family and country living! :)

Comparing Fun

I hear a lot of people say that Kaia looks just the same as Sophia did as a baby. It's hard to compare babies (they pretty much look like babies!), but I actually see lots of big differences between the girls that will grow more pronnounced as Kaia grows. From her hairline to her head shape to her eye shape and color to her dimples Kaia has lots of characteristics that make me think she looks so different from Sophia! Of course, they do also have their little "sister similarities." It's so fun to compare!

More fairs and parties!

 On Friday July 12 we headed to the Red River Valley fair in Fargo. Travis' employer, Case New Holland, hosted their annual family picnic at the fair, so we got in for free! We expressed our gratitude by climbing around on the Case tractors. :)

 Since we got into the fair for free and got some other goodies (food, drinks, concert tix, etc.) from CNH we indulged in a ride bracelet for Sophia. It was worth it! She hit every ride she could! We also bought 5 adult ride coupons, but not a single carney asked for our coupons when we rode with Sophia. Oh well!

 There were people parachuting over the fair. Weird!

 Sophia was ALL ABOUT THE RIDES this year, and even went on some that were pretty darn fast and/or scary! She was game for everything she was allowed to go on!

 I enjoyed the beautiful view from the ferris wheel :)

 This was a really fast, spinning ride that I had no interest in going on! Sophia and Travis loved it!

 Travis hit ferris wheel ride #3 and took some night time pics

 Fair food!!! At 10 pm we scarfed some pizza and cheese curds, and then headed home.

 Saturday Travis headed to a golf tourney, and Sophia and I made "My Little Pony Cutie Mark Cupcakes" ALL day long. I have never been brave enough to try "real cupcake decorating," but it was SO fun. I'm a convert! A fondant fanatic! A new pastry bag and tip recruit! A sprinkle supporter! :)

 We modeled the cupcakes after the "Cutie Marks" on the ponies.

 Sophia's birthday party was on Sunday. She had a WONDERFUL party and had a GREAT time but... there was DRAMA! I spent hundreds of dollars and weeks and weeks planning this party, and then the person responsible for opening the pool and shelter that I had reserved never showed up. I called the mayor, two county commissioners, two city councilmembers, and finally the police. 1.5 hours later the police got a Parks and Rec person to come open everything up for us. I cried. I freaked. I got my money back!

 When we finally got into the shelter everyone pitched in and help me get it set up in less than 10 minutes :)

 I barely saw Kaia the whole time! Thank goodness for all the family who came and gave me shoulders to cry on and arms for my baby!

 Grandpa Ralph with Kaia and cousin Hudson

 Sophia was immune to my stress and totally had a blast :)

 Grabbing pinata candy!

 Aunt Lindsey and Kaia

 Aunt Laura with her youngest, Hudson (and cousin Ava looking on)

 Sophia's friend Brady was such a cute little friend and helper

 Sophia with Lily and Brady in the pool.

 On Sunday evening we got Sophia's fair entry back from the county fair, and she was so excited to have a 2nd place ribbon!

 Finding lots of butterflies on our front porch lately :)

Sunday night Sophia had fun playing with glowing bubbles that she got from her party... we had a present explosion in our reading room for about 24 hours! She loved it!