Joleyn Larson Photography & Design

so as most of you already know, we took the kids and puppy to mc for the week. the boys are doing the hoop camp and peanut and marley just wanted to go.

well, on our way back, instead of flying through the states, we took our time…got my camera out….stopped along the way. i was in heaven!

first miscellaneous stop, right outside of the MT/ND border…just because i loved the way these haystacks rolled across the hills as we drove.

right outside of medora, at the scenic pull out. lush.

pretty amazing…view…huh?

then we drove into medora…kinda by accident, we were trying to not miss the TR national park…oops…so while we were there, we took a peek in the ND Cowboy Hall of Fame...loved this painting.

after medora we drove into to the TR national park. we stopped to look at the painted valley. it was beautiful. we walked around, and found this trail you can take towards the bottom, so of course…without kids…we walked the trail. me in flipflops of course…not the best hiking shoes, but it was still fun to get out and “play”.

should we go down there? man…getting back up is going to be tough…..ok….let’s do it!

lots of wierd little rocks and sand dunes.

here’s me propped in a little bush covered trail. can you feel the ticks? ~~

I wanted so badly to hang out there, till the sun came down, but sadly we had about 4 hours to go before we were even close to sunset …so… we decided we were far more hungry than we thought and we headed to dickinson to grab a bite to eat.

as we pulled into mandan, this was our sunset behind us. beautiful. as was the time i spent alone with my hubby. i look forward to this weeks adventures…without our kids or our puppy.

finding little motivation this morning to pull myself away from the computer. words won’t stop, so it seems like a mindless spew for you all to read.

survived the storms last night. tornado reports all around our little home. watched the swirling clouds circle like vultures. the thunder shook the house at times, and the black clouds were a little bit freaky. tried to take pictures, but the wind was so strong and after it blew our basketball hoop down, i figured i’d be better off in the house looking out behind our windows instead. it moved fast, whipped through the trees, but over all, no damage by our place. just lots and lots of rain that soaked our grass through. the boys were thankful, they new the grass would be to wet to mow in the morning. they were right, to wet today. 

tomorrow we travel to mc to drop the kids off at my sisters for a week. all three boys are attending the cowboy hoop camp, and peanut is just going along for the ride. they are so excited, and after having some time to think about how things will be around the house without 4 hoodlums running around…i am too. wow, what will i do with my time? i don’t remember the last time…if any…i had a house to myself with no kids….just my hubby? probably 13 years ago…when we shared a very short life before kids. we could just pack up and go do whatever, not worrying about forgetting anything, being selfish with each other.  i’m looking forward to it. probably could say i’m even giddy.

so enjoying my flowers this summer. nothing new planted…not much time to get into my garden this time around…so the perennials are my favorites right now. blooming through out the weeks. something new popping up with each passing day. definitely keeping me inspired.

after alex’s game, we stuck around to watch the boys’ practice. normally don’t get to see those.

the guys hanging out before they start.

so serious :: full concentration

MaKenna and Jhacie :: girl time out in right field.

alex had a game tonight… all his games are on wednesday nights. i’m so happy with the way they re-organized this pee wee league. it’s been so fun watching these younger boys get so into the game of baseball! love it. alex got to play first and third base, and he hit so well. He usually just takes the first pitch…and off he goes. rounds the bases and slides into home. 

8 :: 5 and 8 :: 2. won both games tonight! the kids are doing so well. really coming together as a team.

tr throwing strikes.

ry doing the same.

ry up to bat.

still my smiley guy. {sigh} {heart} {sigh}

tr was brought in to close out the game…strike 3…you’re outa there!

the kids decided to make dad his cards this year and i have to say…wow…they really did some nice ones. i love looking at the details. their personalities shining through. we had a wonderful day spoiling dad. started out with breakfast in bed, followed my some of his favorite gifts. they we watched movies for the afternoon, and ended the evening watching baseball. it was a wonderful day celebrating our favorite dad. love you sweetie, so much. you bless our family with so much and today i hope you felt our appreciation and love….10x’s.

TR drew us going up the beartooth mountains. i loved his details. the scenic route, the rest stop, the waterfall,  the 10,000 elevation sign…even our expedition packed up with the black carry all on top!

ry has been into portraits lately and he did this one of his dad. its when we were in san fran.

this was alex’s. god bless america! see how he wrote the entire card twice. the second completely backwards! haha, jokes on dad.

lil peanuts is last. oh how she loves her daddy. i love her “fresh” writing skills as she sounds out all the words.

we love it when family visits…and this time it was tracy’s mom….nanna maureen. we jumped right into family fun with the first night watching tr and ry play baseball. then we took her to the zoo the next day, and spent the remainder of the day shopping…at our favorite store. had a wonderful night out at famous dave’s…love, love, love their bread pudding. {ate way too much} then on saturday we had lunch down by the river and we took her sight seeing at the heritage center. jeesh, did i miss anything? the time flew way too fast…or maybe the stay wasn’t long enough? either way we loved having her!

night of baseball…spitting seeds…

… throwing strikes, and hitting line drives.

spent the morning at the zoo.

lunch down by the river…..beautiful day.

checking out the lewis and clark boat.

mom and dad celebrated their 35th anniversary this june. the 15th to be exact. what an amazing number of years. you both weathered the time through good times and bad. i couldn’t be more proud of them both. something i think each of us kids looks up to, inspires toward. congrats! we love you both.

practicing…

sneeking over to nanna and bampa’s house…to pop the question.

…the surprise…

nanna, will you marry bampa…again?

the answer…yes!

gang’s all here!

…the wedding…the renewal of vows…

the flowers.

…the vows…

…the kiss…

ry and his famously wonderful hugs. {i love these}

…the reception…

yep, there was even a cake.

yep, they even cut it…and….fed it to each other too.

don’t forget the toast….to another 35 years…filled with every kind of moment you can think of.

family pics and bbq coming next………………………………………….

cheers!!

i said they’d be next, and wow, there are a ton of pictures from the reception/bbq. we had such a beautiful day, the weather was perfect. sunny and warm with a gentle breeze that blew through the yard. it was just one of those moments where at times you just sat back and watched it all. soaked it all in. our family. our big, wonderful family. all there to celebrate our mom and dad and their marriage of 35 years. mom and dad, jo and tracy, sara and brody, julie and steve, freddie and amanda….and then there are the 10 grandkids….brooke, tracy jr, ryan, maggie, alex, jhacie, cole, jase, gracie and karlee! and i guess we have to include the puppies too…marley, syd and charlie!

special hugs to jim and carol, who never miss a family event. we love you guys, and i know it means so much to mom and dad that you were there. {HUGS}

drum roll….pleeeaaase……

relaxing and enjoying the day.

my beautiful mom soaking it all in with her youngest grand daughter…karlee.

what about a cousin pyramid…

hmmm…that didn’t work so well…

maybe a not so tall version.

taking a break, and peeking at all the pictures.

chalk fun….or bored stiff?? {almost 13…sigh}

definitely chalk fun.

sara, jase and brody

me & maggie

brody….ahhhh…so cute.

cole & alex

julie lynn and me

julie and gracie

julie, jo & brooke

freddie and cole

c’mon uncle freddie move those legs. {ry and maggie}

have to just say these make my heart jump for joy. i mean turn summer saults and cartwheels and laugh till we cry kind of joy.

me, brooke, and tracy

my girls. brooke and jhacie. {sigh}

these {hugs} feel so good.

brooke and tracy hanging out with karlee.

such a beautiful little girl. {smooch}

freddie, tr. sr. and steve.

julie and gracie

nanna and jhacie

the original six … sara, mom, julie, dad, freddie and me {jo}

the larson family…alex, tracy sr., tracy jr., jhacie, brooke, jo, and ryan

the erlenbusch family…jase, brody, sara and maggie

the krutzfeldt family…steve, julie, cole and gracie

the wambolt family…freddie, amanda and karlee

the two love birds who started it all! pretty amazing…when you think about it all. {don’t cry mom}

a wonderful weekend in celebration of 35 pretty wonderful years.

picked these from our perennial garden. the colors were so lush and vibrant. 

took the boys to our local barber today….silver clipper…first time we stepped foot into one of those in a long time. tr got a crew cut…ry got the shaggy do, and alex…high and tight all the way. pretty sharp if you ask me.  

peanut had to jump in and show off her cute little bob she got a couple of weeks ago…with shannon.

lov’n my kiddo’s.

ok, so after i ran the half last month, i was a little puffed up about it. it was just so cool and an overall amazing experience. a friend from high school…mike…sent me an autographed copy of  bart yasso’s “my life on the run”. i was so excited when i got it, i had to post…..thankyou, thank you, mike.

Bart Yasso, an icon of one of the most enduringly popular recreational sports in the United States, offers a touching and humorous memoir about the rewards and challenges of running.
Recounting his adventures in locales like Antarctica, Africa, and Chitwan National Park in Nepal (where he was chased by an angry rhino), Yasso recommends the best marathons on foreign terrain and tells runners what they need to know to navigate the logistics of running in an unfamiliar country. He also offers practical guidance for beginning, intermediate, and advanced runners, such as 5-K, half marathon, and marathon training schedules, as well as advice on how to become a runner for life, ever-ready to draw joy from the sport and embrace the adventure that each race may offer.

march to remember, some gave all. This walk (run for us) was in honor and memory of Travis VanZoest and Curtis Mehrer who died 3 years ago on June 6 while on a mission in Afghanistan.  Last year the 188^th ADA organized this memorial walk however part of the unit returned a few months ago from deployment, and some are currently preparing to leave for Kosovo, and others are currently deployed in Afghanistan……. So Joyce and Sheila (the moms) organized it this year.

i woke to clouds and rain and wind. not the most pleasant day for a 9 mile run. but i knew we’d be doing it. what was 2 hours of our day, compared to a year these guys give up to be deployed, or a life that is given for our freedom. it really was an experience i probably would not have done alone, but i’m so glad i did this, and so glad it was with laura. a moment in my life that meant something.  

we look like drowned mice….we were soaked to the bone…and i swear it took me a day and half to get warm again. still worth everything wet minute.

Monday, Jul. 06, 2009

Postcard from Bismarck By Barbara Kiviat

It’s tough to find a foreclosure sign in Bismarck, N.D. Banners announcing NOW HIRING are much more common. Over at the mall, the Scheels sporting-goods store is so busy on weekends that some shoppers have sworn to go only during the week. Want to make jokes about North Dakota? Sure, the state’s got three times as many cattle as people, and a typical day in January is a balmy 20°F. But the folks who live here, unlike those in many other parts of the country, have jobs. And not only haven’t they felt the bite of the housing-market collapse, but their houses have actually inched up in value. The recession, by and large, never made it to places like Bismarck (pop. 60,000). While the local economy is hardly bulletproof, for every bit of bad news — the Bobcat plant’s summer shutdowns, say — there’s more than one bit of good. How about a metrowide unemployment rate that’s been dropping since February and at 3.7% is now less than half the national average? (See 50 authentic American experiences.) Have lunch on the back patio of Fiesta Villa on Main Avenue and watch the railroad cars packed with coal go by — and by and by — and you’ll start to understand why. Last year was a great one for energy and agriculture: corn, crude oil, coal and wheat are major state exports. The boom helped push energy outfit MDU Resources onto the FORTUNE 500 (the first North Dakota firm to make the list) and the state budget to a $1.2 billion surplus. State workers around the country are being told to sit at home without pay to trim costs; in North Dakota they’re getting 5% raises. At Justin Theel’s car dealership, a sprawling campus on Interstate 94, the Dodges may be gone — troubles at Chrysler know no state boundaries — but sales this year are still off by only about 20 vehicles. That’s a blip that dealers elsewhere would kill for. “For the most part, we’re a boring story,” says Theel. “But sometimes that’s good.” Word has spread. The state’s employment agency now fields calls from people in hard-hit cities like Phoenix and Miami who want to know how to get a job in North Dakota. Last winter, facing bleak work prospects in upstate New York, William Phillips boarded a Greyhound bus and three days later landed in Bismarck. He was shocked, he says, when the same day he applied for a job at Fireside Office Solutions, an IT-management firm, he got called in for an interview. With the city’s dearth of tech-oriented workers, the company had been looking to fill the position for six weeks. He started at 8 o’clock the next morning. Says Phillips: “There’s definitely not a lack of work.” Or shopping. On a Monday afternoon at the home-improvement store Menards, the parking lot is packed with pickups. It’s the start of construction season, after all, and with Bismarck’s population growing — not the case for North Dakota overall — there are still houses and stores to be built and remodeled. The trucks drive away with picnic tables and water heaters in their beds. Buying, though, is different from conspicuous consumption. At the string of big-box retailers north of town, a few miles before city streets fall away and the horizon takes over, shoppers leaving Kohl’s and Best Buy and Shoe Carnival are carrying bags — but not huge ones. In plenty of other places, that might be a sign of cutting back. Here in Bismarck, though, moderation is business as usual. Yes, Bismarckers like their things; it’s rare to drive down a residential block and not see at least a few boats or RVs sitting in driveways. But splurging never really took hold here as it did in much of the rest of the country. Mortgage data show that the sorts of loans that landed so many home buyers in trouble elsewhere were written at a much slower pace here (in 2004, when 18% of borrowers in the U.S. were taking out subprime loans, only 6% of those in North Dakota were). “It’s no secret that we’re a little more conservative than the rest of the country,” says John Jessen, president of Bismarck’s BlackRidge Bank. “We just haven’t taken a large jump outside of the box.” Funny how far that can get you.

i {love} these. probably more than tulips.  the wind swirls the fragrance all around our house. the smell captivates me and keeps me close. i {love} these.

give me a farmer’s faith, which sees the harvest in the seed time.

Surround yourself with things that inspire you.

feeling inspired

with nothing to say

words toss around in my head

but nothing comes out on paper

click

click

click  … instead

much better

visually

satisfied

fed