My Dad...

We gathered together this past weekend to celebrate him.  He turned 60 on Oct. 15th. 

My Dad is an amazing man. 

A Lutheran, Norwegian, cowboy, living pretty much his entire life in the same small North Dakotan town. He is a quiet and humble man. 

He has taught me a lot.

I always knew growing up that he believed in me.

 I believed in him, also.

He taught me to never give up, to show humility, to tell people you love them, to show respect, to do it right the first time, to forgive, to work hard, that tomorrow is a new day, to lend a helping hand, to be honest,

to laugh.

 

Happy Birthday, Dad.

I love you.

 

(Am I the only one singing? and not very well at all?)

Indian Summer

This past week has been the most beautiful fall week that I can remember.  It is almost impossible to have weather like this and not be outside to enjoy it.

 One of the most magical sounds a child can hear is the jingle of an ice cream truck a block away.  In that instant the house is filled with panic in an effort to find 3 dollars in coins (because we never have dollars when we need them) and then a sprint out to the boulevard to catch the illusive vehicle.  Once all that is accomplished the decision is tough but the victory is sweet.

  While Shadai was enjoying one last weekend at the lake with some of her girlfriends Matt, Shia, and I got to check out a pumkin patch near Fargo.  Coming from Bismarck our expectations for pumpkin patches were quite high.  If you've been to Papa's Pumkin Patch in Bismarck you know what I am talking about.  Though it wasn't anything close to the quality of Papa's Shia had fun and that's all that really matters.

Fortunately, for Matt and Shia, there was a roping dummy equipped with a rope so's that I could give them an in-depth demonstration on how to rope.  They were enraptured (bored to tears - literally) by my knowledge of apprehension of bovine species.

Boo!

It's beginning to look a lot like the Bate's Hotel!!

 

A Couple Pics from Summer so I can Start Posting Again