Mini Holiday Away

Last Thursday the kids and I escaped to Minot for a mini holiday. The kids were out of school for teacher's convention, so we woke up early Thursday morning and headed out.

The kids had their Christmas pictures taken at Sears, and then we headed over to the Sleep Inn to play in the water. Man the kids had fun. After an afternoon of swimming, we ate big at the Royal Fork. I thought a movie might be fun, but the kids were so tierd from swimming that we were all in bed by 8:00. I know pathetic.... Oh well, we had fun and that was all that mattered.

Friday morning we did some shopping and then headed home. The weather was so beautiful that when we got home, Kurt and I decided to take the kids to the cabin for one last over night away. We haven't ever stayed at the lake in October, so having a fire all bundled up was kind of fun. We didn't have any water, which made things a bit tricky, but the kids thought it was fun to go over to the "Porta John" and pee before bedtime. lol

Saturday we went home early, as mom and Bethany woke up feeling sick. Grant and Kurt went hunting, and us girls just stayed home in lounged.

All in all, it was a nice weekend. Wish Kurt could have escaped with us to Minot, but tax season is approaching so things are getting busy... Just glad he was able to go to the lake with us.

Hope you enjoy the pics

Anjelika

Kurt's Hunting Weekend

Kurt, Peter, Dale, Wes, Kenneth, and Bryan the Doctor

Bryan, Elvis, Kenneth, Grant & Kurt

Grant and his new toy shot gun

Guys cleaning the birds

Micaela and her bird

Each year, Kurt's brothers Dale and Kenneth, as well as their buddies, come to Crosby for a full fledge hunting weekend. Kurt will tell you he isn't the best shot, but as far as being a hunting guide, he does awsome.... Not to mention Elvis our black lab. He did awsome hunting this year as well.

Bethany's 4 year pics

My baby isn't a baby any more. SNIFF SNIFF...

While the thought of another baby has crossed our minds, we are rather enjoying just how independent the kids have become. So nice to just sit back and watch them grow and play without having to entertain them. Only time will tell I guess. :)

Grant's 7 year pics

It is really quite hard to believe that it has been just a little over 7 years since Grant was born. Man how time flys...........

Trip to Papa's Pumpkin Patch/Bismarck, ND

Papa's Pumpkin Patch in Bismarck is truely an amazing place to bring kids. I am however perplexed as to why the price of pumpkins, there at a pumpkin patch, were 3 times more than at Walmart. Leave it to the Kochers to go to a pumpkin patch, and "play," and then go to Walmart to buy pumpkins. Just couldn't justify buying a pumpkin for $10 when I could get the same pumpkin for $2.83 at Walmart. lol
Kurt was trying to keep me warm

Playing in the leaves

I love this chair. Too cool.

Bethany's new winter outfit and boots.



Grant and Micaela's new winter coats.

Autumn Greetings

While I am not exactly sure how we went from 90 degrees one day to a high of 30 the next, all I can say is, this North Dakota weather is for the birds!!!!!!! As you all know, we hardley had a warm day this summer, and then BAM we get a couple of weeks of our "September Summer." These nice days of 90 degrees really spoiled us. Leave it to good old Mother Nature to pull a quick one and send us this fridged artic air... BURRRRRRRR

While I know that my weight loss of 140lbs over the past 3.5 years may sound wonderful, I will say that my warm liner is gone as well. I went from not wearing a jacket in below temps, and even breaking a sweat, to down right freezing. Please lord, help warm me up. lol

October has been a busy month. We winterized the caben for winter, which mind you Kurt did the night before it snowed. Had our annual Kocher family rummage sale, which in my opinion was way more work than the $400 it made. Traveled to Bismarck to Papa's Pumkin Patch, where the kids had an absolute blast, and mom froze her rump off, and now Kurt will partake in a fun filled phaesant hunting weekend with his dad, and two brothers Dale and Kenneth. Dale travels from Minneapolis, and Kenneth from Indianapolis, so this is quite a fun weekend. Grant is now old enough to enjoy the thrill of hunting, so Kurt bought him a hunting vest, and took him out tonight. Never have I seen Grant "light up" as much as he did tonight. So exciting for him.

I should also mention that we will be celebrating Kurt's birthday this Friday. As always I will be making him the same old angel food cake with blue frosting. Funny how as a child his mother made that very cake for him, and he has wanted it ever since. :)

While in Bismarck at the Pumpkin Patch, we took the kids shopping for new winter coats, and boots. Had to put that hard working rummage sale money to use. Cant forget to mention that we also took the kids shopping for Halloween costumes. Of course, I wanted to go as the entire Scooby Doo clan, but Grant has his heart set on being a Star Wars Trooper, so I caved and let the kids pick this year. Micaela will be a pumpkin princess, and Bethany a fairy. Kurt has decided to go as Darth Vador, and as for me, I think I will go as "Me." With the cold weather, I will probably be bundled up. hmmm, maybe I will go as a snow princess. hahaha

School is going well aside from the fact that I have 9 boys and 3 girls in my afternoon session. Those boys are wild. If anybody has a good strategy on how to deal with such a brude, please let me know. Kurt on the other hand is approaching his busy session, so is starting to go into work around 5:00 a.m. I have so enjoyed having him home on Fridays, but I know that is soon to come to and end. sniff, sniff... I am so thankful that all of the kids are at ages that caring and being a single mother to them is much easier now. :)

Micaela is doing awsome in Kindergarten, and Grant is doing equally as well in the 1st grade. We are so proud of him. He is adding and subtracting. Such a milestone. Did I mention that he can now tie his shoes? Took forever. Thank you Ms. Foss. :) Bethany is growing and changing every day. One day my baby, and the next my big girl. Been hard letting the "baby" go, but it has to be done. She will celebrate her 4th bday on November 8th, so we are in the planning stages. You will want to stay tuned for those pictures. She has been asking about her party for 6 months.

Well, I hope you are all up to date. I am going to post some pictures this week, so check back. Been so darn busy that I do what I can, when I can.

Happy Autumn, or should I say Winter????

Love the Kochers. :)