Decorating Tradition

Today was somewhat warm & sunny so Morgan and I put garland and lights on our deck and front step. She even set us up with a timer that turns everything on at dusk at turns it off at dawn.

After we finished that project she decided that we needed to decorate inside as well. She carried everything up from the basement and proceeded to unpack almost every decoration that we owned.

I had toyed with the idea of having a fresh tree this year. Morgan didn't think that would be right. It is "tradition" that she puts our tree together. So after she got the tree assembled I did the lights and bead garland and she did the rest. After the tree was done she set up our village and nativity scene. I worked at decorating some of the rest of the house.

After we got it all cleaned up, the floor vacuumed, and the boxes hauled back downstairs I turned off the lights and took a photo for the blog. The room was dark, but the flash really lit up the photo. Maybe next time I should turn off the flash for a more festive look.

Okay....I went and took another photo without flash....much more festive!

Early Morning Surprise

This morning our doorbell rang just after 8:00.

Imagine my surprise when I found a vase

with 25 white roses on my front step!

Aren't they beautiful!?! They are

for Paul & I from his parents.

Thank You

Ruth & Norvin!

The long and short of it.....

Morgan has been growing her hair for

the past two years with the intent

to donate it to Locks of Love.

Tonight we visited Harriet at Bahama Looks....

She took care of all the necessary details.....

Who knows.....maybe Morgan will do it again in 2 years!

(Sorry Brittany!)

Fall Band Concert

On Tuesday night the girls had their first

band concert of the year. They sounded good.

Morgan plays the trumpet...

and Emily the clarinet.

Emily is also in the honors band!

Of course Morgan sat right behind the Director

so I didn't get any good "action shots"

during the concert. I did video each of

their songs so that Paul can listen to

them since he wasn't able to make it

to this concert.

Happy Birthday, Brittany!

Happy Birthday to our favorite college basketball player!

In case you didn't figure it out....she is #10!

Tourists!

Last weekend we visited a few historic sites when
we went out to the game in Rapid City, SD.

Here are a few photos:

The Terry Redlin Museum in Watertown, SD

was lit up and could be seen for miles away.

Morgan braved the cold for a photo in a gazebo by the museum. We spent the night in Wall, SD and had breakfast

at the "World Famous" Wall Drug. Here Paul & Morgan are checking out some of the

art that is displayed in Wall Drug. Morgan was thrilled to have her photo taken with this crusty old cowboy!

We wished we could have spent more time in Wall Drug.

There was TONS of stuff we didn't get to even glance at.

We drove on to Mount Rushmore and spent a couple
hours at the monument.

These wooly creatures met us at the entrance.

We marveled at the workmanship of this vast monument.

Flags from every state and the date they joined the union

were displayed.

Here is the North Dakota flag.

The scenery in the National Forest was spectacular.

Morgan and Paul went on some of the trails
that took them right under the presidents' noses.

This profile shot of Washington was taken from
another area before we left the park.

We stopped by Mitchell, SD on our way back home

to see the Corn Palace.

Every year they create a new design on the building

using parts of corn (cobs, husks, etc.) and other grains.

They hold sporting events, concerts, etc. in the palace.

There was an event going on while we were there so we went inside.

Morgan thought that the Klimies (well some of them)

would have enjoyed this event.

We had a good time seeing these sites. Next time we go we plan

to stop and see the little movie prop town that they used

for "Dances with Wolves" and a couple other places

that we didn't have time to see.