tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43903369125344970982011-10-29T11:26:30.606-05:00-- Mandy --http://www.blogger.com/profile/08083349532672464283noreply@blogger.comBlogger371100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4390336912534497098.post-72679507789634468662011-09-22T10:28:00.001-05:002011-09-22T10:28:46.718-05:00

even without my camera, i'm taking a thousand pictures. the world, through my eyes, constantly poses, pauses for a split second and then carries on. see. capture. save. i can hardly wait to add a word... share.

-- Mandy --http://www.blogger.com/profile/08083349532672464283noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4390336912534497098.post-29680166926813941412011-09-21T10:05:00.000-05:002011-09-21T10:05:42.677-05:00

fast forwarding to 2011 - you haven't missed much - but you've quite possibly missed out on a lot.

-- Mandy --http://www.blogger.com/profile/08083349532672464283noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4390336912534497098.post-4463158529634241862009-12-15T11:03:00.003-06:002009-12-15T11:18:21.138-06:00

after reading the weather email that i received this morning...i concur with Brecken and his desire to move to Rapid City that he expressed to me over breakfast this morning. (wonder if he watched the weather this morning on TV or the love of his new snowboard and desire to explore the caves of the black hills are preoccupying his mind). brrrrrrrr! happy cold week SD. much love.It is a bitterly

-- Mandy --http://www.blogger.com/profile/08083349532672464283noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4390336912534497098.post-28685538676461871442009-11-25T14:27:00.004-06:002009-11-25T14:54:06.313-06:00

ten things i'm good at:1. procrastinating2. multi-tasking3. forgetting to hang up Ryk's star wars poster, day after day after day after day4. giving second chances, and thirds, fourths, fifths, etc.5. expressing my emotions6. remembering what people wear..even if its from 15-20+ years ago7. painting myself, the floor and anything else in the way while painting walls in my house8. eating an ENTIRE

-- Mandy --http://www.blogger.com/profile/08083349532672464283noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4390336912534497098.post-9343867542136038142009-11-08T15:26:00.005-06:002009-11-09T16:07:56.176-06:00

i stared straight down, and a little ahead..as my thoughts kinda stood still and hovered. i made my way through them at a leisurely pace, stopping only to listen when prompted. it was one of those moments when wondering with the intent to simply understand doesn't get you much more than a mind full of clutter. the sun swayed my decision as i felt it pour in, causing a whirlwind of all that i

-- Mandy --http://www.blogger.com/profile/08083349532672464283noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4390336912534497098.post-82289482737647911752009-10-30T10:14:00.002-05:002009-10-30T10:16:53.250-05:00

your bite doesn't sting, but your ignorance burns.

-- Mandy --http://www.blogger.com/profile/08083349532672464283noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4390336912534497098.post-18248260569775942082009-10-29T15:42:00.006-05:002009-10-29T17:15:06.665-05:00

This entry is actually my old blog from my former myspace account... a glimpse into a few years of my life, my mind, and my random thoughts. i tell it like it is. my mouth sometimes harsh.... the entries get older as you read thru them - ending at the beginning. but it's me. ALL ME. :)********peace and love- Current mood: mellow Category: Life I spent the weekend exactly where I love to be...

-- Mandy --http://www.blogger.com/profile/08083349532672464283noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4390336912534497098.post-53205008194084219642009-04-30T23:33:00.004-05:002009-04-30T23:40:12.992-05:00

i hit the delete button after 4 yrs of being on myspace. i did remember to copy all my blogs before i crashed and burned my spot in myspace land. and now...i feel like i have lost a good 20 pounds. nice.

-- Mandy --http://www.blogger.com/profile/08083349532672464283noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4390336912534497098.post-9344144924846021812009-03-19T02:07:00.009-05:002009-03-19T17:52:24.142-05:00

Brecken is a little like his dad when it comes to 'stuff'.... When we go to empty his backpack after school there is always an array of paper cut out crafts, boats, people, bits and pieces and scraps of paper, broken crayons, and other random pocket stuff. The other day, i found these great little cut outs and loved em... i dont know \if brecken has really even seen the star wars movies, but

-- Mandy --http://www.blogger.com/profile/08083349532672464283noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4390336912534497098.post-4853505900290834832009-02-26T22:22:00.002-06:002009-02-26T22:27:59.461-06:00

-- Mandy --http://www.blogger.com/profile/08083349532672464283noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4390336912534497098.post-90992153094443202272009-01-03T09:59:00.004-06:002009-01-03T10:09:12.444-06:00

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/French-Bread/Detail.aspxThis is such an EASY and fabulous recipie for french bread. I made the dough in my breadmaker though..even though i guess i could have just used my kitchen aide mixer and dough hook. ehh, oh well. I froze half and made two mini loaves out of the other half. bread is one of my downfalls, but i just HAD to cut into it fresh out of the oven..and

-- Mandy --http://www.blogger.com/profile/08083349532672464283noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4390336912534497098.post-4271584103881458462008-12-30T15:33:00.003-06:002008-12-30T15:57:20.974-06:00

if you know me well, you know that my days are just simply unorganized structure. I don't do well with an agenda, yet i have to have a plan...and lists--that i rarely complete or follow through with as planned. obviously making new years resolutions is just not gonna work for me. i'm much too spontaneous, full of change, and not too much of a 'follow life on the straight and narrow path' type

-- Mandy --http://www.blogger.com/profile/08083349532672464283noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4390336912534497098.post-90984805058863721592008-12-28T21:00:00.006-06:002008-12-30T00:37:16.687-06:00

I didn't do a christmas photo this year...not a letter, not a card. nothing at all...it's been awhile since I've skipped out..and i kinda liked it! I almost felt like i was being rebellious like by not turning in my College Prep. English paper for my final in high school until i was given the ultimatum of either writing it and turning it in or failing the class.. or sneaking home with a friend

-- Mandy --http://www.blogger.com/profile/08083349532672464283noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4390336912534497098.post-39252168785138478802008-12-07T23:39:00.003-06:002008-12-08T08:25:03.906-06:00

Cookie--1/3 C butter1/3 C shortening3/4 C sugar1 egg1 tsp vanilla 1 3/4 C flourFilling--6 oz. cream cheese (softened)1 1/2 C powdered sugar2 T. flour1 tsp. vanilla1 drop yellow food coloring (optional..but just do it)Topping--3/4 C. semisweet chocoate chips3 T. butter1. In a large mixing bowl, cream the butter, shortening and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in egg and vanilla. Combine the

-- Mandy --http://www.blogger.com/profile/08083349532672464283noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4390336912534497098.post-167659098371277132008-11-24T00:58:00.008-06:002008-12-30T00:37:47.911-06:00

October 2006...i was informed today, that Ryker does not want to be called 'Ry' or 'Ryk' anymore. And do not call him K-K, or K or Kalers. Ryker says, just call me 'Ryker'. ironically, a few days prior Brecken also had a similar request...'mom, don't call me Breck, just call me Brecken-i like that!'. i like it that they prefer their full first name...when i was a kid, i used to think that having

-- Mandy --http://www.blogger.com/profile/08083349532672464283noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4390336912534497098.post-56531133127723454362008-11-04T00:50:00.006-06:002008-11-04T01:09:15.587-06:00

Here they are... Spiderman and a Power Ranger.

-- Mandy --http://www.blogger.com/profile/08083349532672464283noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4390336912534497098.post-50095276227223966272008-10-24T08:00:00.008-05:002008-10-24T09:05:59.166-05:00

I was in the kitchen yesterday (imagine that) picking up toys, papers the dog had chewed up, emptying and reloading the dishwasher, going through school papers in Brecken's backpack, and yeah..you moms know how all that goes... Meanwhile, Brecken is on the couch kinda jumping around chanting something over and over that I thought I heard correctly, but wasn't quite convinced that what I was

-- Mandy --http://www.blogger.com/profile/08083349532672464283noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4390336912534497098.post-870167114440400282008-10-21T15:15:00.008-05:002008-10-21T20:33:15.975-05:00

It's fall...it's beautiful, and everything's changing. just as i told my kids...life is always changing - every new day brings another new change...This was yesterday. Today...doesn't even compare.

-- Mandy --http://www.blogger.com/profile/08083349532672464283noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4390336912534497098.post-62449034221978682302008-10-21T08:46:00.014-05:002008-10-21T15:14:59.815-05:00

A few weeks ago the boys and I (along with Hazel, of course) spent the weekend in Orange City with Grandma Barb while Grandpa Mitch and Blake enjoyed a fishing trip up in Canada.On Saturday we visited Pumpkinland...which is always a favorite of theirs while visiting Orange City during the fall. Grandma let them pick out a gourd to take home..they had the WEIRDEST looking gourds there - how they

-- Mandy --http://www.blogger.com/profile/08083349532672464283noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4390336912534497098.post-59556498344408709572008-10-10T19:49:00.006-05:002008-10-15T15:42:23.779-05:00

Brecken has really taken an interest in reading lately..as well as writing words and sentences. I love shuffling through his papers after school to see what he writes and what new words they are learning...but the most entertaining things are the random papers, notebooks, etc that he writes on at home and I don't happen to find until I pick up his room or organize or clean other rooms in the

-- Mandy --http://www.blogger.com/profile/08083349532672464283noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4390336912534497098.post-68331053652440852942008-10-09T21:48:00.015-05:002008-10-10T17:14:33.256-05:00

The boys went to their first Kid's Workshop at Home Depot last Saturday. Serena and Sawyer have gone to a few already, but I always seem to forget to write it on the calendar! I finally wrote it down for this month and I'm glad I did. They hold the free workshops for the kids on the first Saturday of the month. They get their own little Home Depot apron with their name on it, and each project

-- Mandy --http://www.blogger.com/profile/08083349532672464283noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4390336912534497098.post-50883685774684625602008-10-09T08:38:00.011-05:002008-10-09T13:42:48.084-05:00

Brecken participated in his first cross country meet this fall. The Sioux Falls Running Club sponsored the free event for Kindergarten through 5th Graders. They got to run in three different races, each held on a different Wednesday in September. His grade ran 400 meters through the park. He had never been in a race before, but was excited to see what it was all about because he loves to run and

-- Mandy --http://www.blogger.com/profile/08083349532672464283noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4390336912534497098.post-39798695696060039142008-09-24T13:09:00.006-05:002008-09-26T09:36:45.222-05:00

Brecken has been wanting a dog for the past year..but has been really mentioning it a lot over the past few months. (I think seeing his cousin's new German Shepherd, Mika, solidified that thought in his mind.) He wanted a chocolate lab..and preferably a puppy. We told the boys that whenever we get a dog, we would like to get one through a shelter, a dog that needs a new home. They agreed that was

-- Mandy --http://www.blogger.com/profile/08083349532672464283noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4390336912534497098.post-18085641067538118772008-09-17T08:24:00.004-05:002008-09-17T08:48:39.714-05:00

brand new glasses... and a cute little 4 yr old named Ryker. ...put 'em together and this is what you get. Does he look cute or what?! Yesterday morning we picked up his new glassses...he loves them! One of the first things he did was just stand in the parking lot, amazed at everything he could see! He pointed to a house off in the distance and said, 'mom!! i can see that house way over

-- Mandy --http://www.blogger.com/profile/08083349532672464283noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4390336912534497098.post-2157691798864610532008-09-15T10:34:00.004-05:002008-09-15T16:01:54.086-05:00

Union Grove is a beautiful old state park that often gets overlooked. These forgotten about spots are the ones that i love most..especially during this time of the year. Friday evening Anita and I packed up our things and headed south on 29...just us. no men, no kids, no dogs. We had been waiting excitedly for this trip--our time to just get away, relax, and enjoy the outdoors together. We got

-- Mandy --http://www.blogger.com/profile/08083349532672464283noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4390336912534497098.post-70158485199924505332008-09-10T13:33:00.005-05:002008-09-10T21:00:46.560-05:00

We are all finally getting into the groove of things with having Brecken in school all day...and its going great! Ryker just started his first day of school on Monday! He has been so excited to finally go to school! Day one was just an orientation for parents and the kids got to just check out their room, find their hooks, name tags, etc and play in the gym with their friends until we finished up

-- Mandy --http://www.blogger.com/profile/08083349532672464283noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4390336912534497098.post-32719826470563502872008-09-06T11:03:00.005-05:002008-09-08T09:46:52.463-05:00

I made Caramelized French Toast for breakfast this morning. At around 10pm last night i thought about making homemade cinnamon rolls - but then realized i'd be up far later than i'd like to be, so we watched Fool's Gold instead and i opted for something easier that can be done in the morning. These were pretty good-despite the overload of sugar they contained! I took the other reviewers advice

-- Mandy --http://www.blogger.com/profile/08083349532672464283noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4390336912534497098.post-29755833112771774102008-09-06T10:07:00.007-05:002008-09-06T11:27:34.726-05:00

'Are you pregnant?!' .....Ben's reply to my rambling on and on about my extensive cleaning/organizing/decluttering/making sense of all the unorganized organization scattered, hidden, and quite often even visibly seen throughout our house. It started with my phone call to YMCA Advancement to donate a heaping pile (mess) of clothing, toys, and miscellaneous household items that were strewn across

-- Mandy --http://www.blogger.com/profile/08083349532672464283noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4390336912534497098.post-43472480406687625712008-08-21T14:22:00.008-05:002008-08-21T15:32:27.794-05:00

Today Ryker and I decided to go check out the pumpkin/watermelon patch that we have on the west side of our house on a little hill. This is what we saw...Lots of bright yellow flowers and some are still not quite there...Around the corner my zinnias are starting to finally bloom! check out these three flowers...all so different, standing side by side.And last but not least, I just have to share

-- Mandy --http://www.blogger.com/profile/08083349532672464283noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4390336912534497098.post-59012716331309119392008-08-19T13:29:00.011-05:002008-08-19T15:24:51.468-05:00

The day after Ryker turned four, we sent Brecken off for his first day of Kindergarten! He has been so excited to get to school - big kid school, and not preschool. We started a little countdown at least a month prior and started making bedtime earlier and earlier until we got to about two weeks before the big day and an 8:00 bedtime was working out wonderfully. A few weeks before school started

-- Mandy --http://www.blogger.com/profile/08083349532672464283noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4390336912534497098.post-40089821480788989932008-08-19T02:06:00.007-05:002008-08-19T02:54:29.604-05:00

On Sunday, the little ry-guy turned four! I was woken up around 7:55 a.m. by a kid standing next to my bed saying, 'mommy, it's morning time now. i am four.' Four must be a really cool age because he all of a sudden has 'four year old muscles', he 'eats everything now', he's 'super tall' and 'will never be three. ever again'. We had some of our family over to help celebrate his big day. He really

-- Mandy --http://www.blogger.com/profile/08083349532672464283noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4390336912534497098.post-65471504050247686802008-08-08T11:35:00.023-05:002008-08-08T14:45:39.337-05:00

We have had really nice weather the past few days...right in the mid 80's - perfect for exploring around the great outdoors! The boys and I packed our picnic lunch yesterday and drove over to a park by the river.If you've seen the boys as of late, i'm sure you've noticed all their bug bites! Ryker wont wear a shirt very often, and obviously mom forgets to bring and apply bug spray quite often.

-- Mandy --http://www.blogger.com/profile/08083349532672464283noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4390336912534497098.post-67394910254236512852008-08-06T00:08:00.013-05:002008-08-08T00:17:36.041-05:00

Oh, i'm from Iowa - Iowa...that's where the tall corn grows!"You can get anymore 'Iowa' than this. An open and quite often boring view, cornfields that go for days, a farmhouse that boasts its red barn and silo, and Farmer Joe heading up the road in his pickup truck.A few miles further east lies Orange City..an interesting little dutch town. Population 6000 - give or take a wooden shoe. We spent

-- Mandy --http://www.blogger.com/profile/08083349532672464283noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4390336912534497098.post-31604270199620199602008-07-31T01:08:00.018-05:002008-12-12T17:18:28.800-06:00

..How does my garden grow?well, this year...i am trying extra hard to take better care of it than last year. i just recently have noticed random patches of dead leaves throughout my tomato plants! i just can't seem to figure out why their leaves are dying in chunks..its kinda like they are molting! I gave all my tomato plants a little primpin' on my lunch break tonight. I pulled out all the dead

-- Mandy --http://www.blogger.com/profile/08083349532672464283noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4390336912534497098.post-86312870084095833082008-07-29T03:25:00.000-05:002008-12-12T17:18:29.219-06:00

I have been wanting to read this book for awhile now..a long while. I actually can't believe that i've just now read it. After finally having the chance to borrow it, and then letting it sit way too long unread on the table, followed by misplacing it and finding it about a week later...I decided to actually read it. It's a lot of book in not so many pages. I sat and pretty much read it all the

-- Mandy --http://www.blogger.com/profile/08083349532672464283noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4390336912534497098.post-11738269822582186202008-07-25T10:27:00.000-05:002008-12-12T17:18:31.764-06:00

"...here is my tail, and here are my fins!"We spent two of the first weeks of our summer enjoying swimming lessons for the first time! Brecken had his class at 11 a.m. and Ryker's was at 5:15 p.m. Since I work nights, I had to rely on Ben's pictures to see Ryker in action..although, I did take one night off work so that I could watch him at least once. He made sure I was watching the whole time

-- Mandy --http://www.blogger.com/profile/08083349532672464283noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4390336912534497098.post-28551585416014437132008-07-24T15:27:00.000-05:002008-07-24T16:09:19.615-05:00

...there was a recipie for Rhubarb Sour Cream Pie. and it was good - very good. I still have not gotten around to planting any rhubarb here yet, but thanks to one of my friends I get random gifts of fresh rhubarb brought to my house throughout the summer. Thanks, Anita! The next time you find yourself with a pile of rhubarb needing to be used...make this pie. It's quick and easy and absolutely

-- Mandy --http://www.blogger.com/profile/08083349532672464283noreply@blogger.com1