Last Days in Minot

As our time in Minot came to an end, we made sure to enjoy the sun, visit the pool, spend time with friends, and squeeze in some packing.  The days leading up to our exit were busy and pretty chaotic, but our last day was surprisingly smooth, relaxing, and a gift from God of calm peace.  We drove away with grateful hearts.

Enjoying the backyard

One last zoo trip with friends from church 

Catie and her husband, Bennett, became dear friends in a short time.  Catie leads the children's ministry at church and our kids adore her!  She also worked at Pine Cove, so she and I had a special connection immediately. =)  They babysat the kids for our last Minot date, and we will miss being a part of church with them.

Rooke and a neighbor buddy found the last of the water balloons and put them to good use!

Singing the guest book one last time at the Jordan's home.  We shared many meals and special times with Sam and Patricia.  Their friendship started the day we arrived in Minot and was clearly a gift from God.  They were both an encouragement and blessing to our family in so many ways, least of which was the delicious food they always shared with us!

A park date with our little buddy.  I would gladly add him to my family if his mom would let me =) 

Golf lessons for Rooke!

The families got to join the last lesson, which meant the girls and I got to cruise around in a golf cart while the boys hit balls! 

My sweet friend bought our double stroller.  Sniff, sniff.  We had a garage sale the weekend before the movers came and I sold our high chair, our crib, and our stroller.  It was bitter sweet.  Truly the end of an era.  

While the packers worked on the things inside the house, Bridgette mastered riding her bike!  

The girls gave the boys some special hair treatment in our hotel on base. 

Dinner in the base hotel: crackers, salami, cheese, olives, peppers, and smoothies.  This is how we roll on the go.

Sweet sisters sharing a bed. 

Sharing our last meal out to the Starving Rooster with Joanna and her family.  Joanna moved in just down the street from us the week that Ryan deployed.  Then her husband deployed only a few months later.  Her timely friendship was a source of encouragement, laughter, and joy.  

And our kids loved her son, Charlie!

Ryan's boss presented him with a commemorative North Dakota plaque at his going away lunch.  Others in the office had very nice things to say about Ryan, after they teased him appropriately!

And then we were off!  On to new places and new adventures . . .

An Incredible Man

I love Father's Day!  My dad is an incredible man and amazing father.  Still.  He has given me many reasons for many years to treasure a day to celebrate wonderful dads!  

Ryan is a wonderful dad.  He works hard.  Really hard.  He gets up early to exercise and spend time with the Lord.  He's at the office early.  Most nights we get to eat dinner as a family, and then he is often back up at the office after the kids have gone to bed working diligently.  He rarely complains.  He remembers to laugh with the kids and have fun.  He keeps special treats in the house.  He leads us in family worship most evenings.  He is strong, smart, disciplined, wise, faithful, funny, and hard-working.  The kids and I had fun planning special things to celebrate a special dad.

Father's Day breakfast and gifts!  

Make a funny face! =)

His Father's Day book for this year: What Do You Do With a Problem?   Ryan read this at Barnes & Noble one day and really liked it, so he made our book choice pretty easy this year!

Patiently encouraging Rooke during his last golf lesson.

Taking a break from the kids to make me feel special on our last Minot date night.

Surprising me with a new hat he knew I'd love because I really needed one (okay, this has nothing to do with him being a wonderful dad, but he's still a wonderful guy!).

Surprising the kids with water guns, and then spontaneously initiating a water fight to close out a beautiful summer night!

Water Fun!

The weather has warmed up enough in the past couple weeks to enjoy playing outside with water - hooray!  The kids love jumping on the trampoline with the hose.  And Kevin and Deborah brought the kids a slip-n-slide, so we've set that up and had a great time playing in the backyard!

The kids snagged some tiny water guns and had fun trying to get their daddy wet =)

The pool on base is open!

One evening, when Ryan got home from work, the kids were still outside on the slip-n-slide.  Being the awesome dad that he is, he quickly changed into his swimsuit and ran outside to join them . . . he's the best!

I eat as much watermelon as possible when the weather heats up.  I still think of my Nana and our watermelon eating in the hot Texas summer (watermelon pics and video of Rooke eating with Nana).  Bridgette is strongly committed to leaving no pink uneaten on her rind!

And just for laughs . . . who was eating across the table from you last night?! =)

Grammy and G-Daddy Visit North Dakota!

Grammy Deb and G-Daddy drove up for a visit a few weeks ago!  They'd not been to Minot since we've lived here, and were committed enough to squeeze in a trip before we move.  We enjoyed some nice weather play days and an overnight trip to Medora.  

We took Kevin and Deborah to the Scandinavian Heritage Park, but had never been in to the visitor's center.  Who knew there was a ginormous stuffed bison inside?!  Whoa!

We enjoyed a beautiful picnic lunch and walk through Oak Park one afternoon.  

I love how much Kevin and Deborah enjoy simple walks with the family.  We went for several walks through the neighborhood, to the playgrounds, in parks . . . the kids loved it!

A little geocaching in town led us to this fun spot on campus.

Deborah has taught U.S. History to high schoolers for years.  I appreciate how intentional and thoughtful she is to pass on her knowledge to the kids in fun and interesting ways, not to mention her support of our homeschooling journey.  Gretchen was the first to try out a quill pen!  

Exploring Theodore Roosevelt National Park in Medora.  First we had a picnic lunch and then did a short hike through the Painted Canyon.

We drove further into the park and did another hike in the heat of the day.  Without much shade.  Probably not the best part of the plan for the day, but everyone did well and we confirmed that Bridgette is indeed still small enough to ride on my back in the ergo!

Hello, bison!

G-Daddy is extremely patient when playing the kids.  He's great at doing things they think are fun or funny over, and over . . . and over again!

Thank you, Grammy Deb and G-Daddy, for driving up to see us!  Our week together was memorable, relaxing, fun, and you didn't know it from the way the kids begged you not to leave - you are very loved by a Bunch of Paynes.