happy birthday (and one year in sodak) to me!

My fam rocks!  Got several packages from the fam, a Kindle from my dear mom-in-law, and killer presents from the hubby...including an awesome CAMERA!

Enjoy some pics from the new camera.  

Unfortunately, Tyler was working nights for the my bday.  We played at the dog park and with the new camera.  Geez, we sound so old.  

Leyanne and I ventured out to Summer Nights, which began this Thursday and continues every Thursday night for the summer months.  We enjoyed some music, some ice cream pops, and the best caramel popcorn and movie from Elks Theatre.  Ty cooked for the me the next night and then we enjoyed some delicious BBQ at the Black Hills BBQ Festival.

Birthday ice cream pops!!!

Summer Nights after party in Art Alley.

 Black Hills BBQ Festival

  

 With two traveling BBQ companies, Tyler and I couldn't decide which one to choose.  So, what did we decide?  Best of the BBQ Competition!  Howling Coyote vs Poky Chicks.  One was from the north.  One was from the south.  Who was better???

There ribs may have been more tender than a mother's love, but they didn't outdo the sauce and taste of Porky's!

Arkansas based BBQ.  They definitely know ribs as southern razorbacks!  

Tyler is snacking on the Arkansas ribs.  I got stuck with the other kind.

And the winner is...PORKY CHICKS!!!  

And the winner of smartest dog goes to...

This dog stayed underneath his master's wheel chair the whole time she rolled on by.  Hilarious!!!

Kayaking was another item on the birthday calendar.  Next time any one of our friends/family are in town we will be taking them kayaking.  The water was freezing, but the day was beautiful. Tyler and I worked on our tans and our skills at kayaking.  I didn't bring the brand new camera out on the kayak; however, did get a few shots with the trusty iPhone!  

I am always amazed at how South Dakota is so remarkable and beautiful.  Never would I have traveled to SoDak.  Never would I have lived in SoDak.  Thanks to the military, Tyler and I are experiencing a state no one thinks to "experience."  Let's hope I feel the same way when Tyler deploys and leaves me to my lonesome in this lonesome state.

volksmarch hike

Out of breath and out of shape...but I didn't give up.

Well, that was exhausting and breathtaking.  I'm definitely out of shape and had to take several breaks while Tyler and two friends trekked ahead of me.  The Crazy Horse Volksmarch is held once a year at the very beginning of June and I was finally here to partake in it.  If I'm not mistaken, I've heard they may open up another Volksmarch in September during the Buffalo roundup.  
 

Here we are at the beginning of our hike through the hills to get to Mr. Crazy Horse.

The Volksmarch is a 10k (6.2 miles) up hill to the top of the Crazy Horse monument.  My legs were screaming after the first uphill walk, but seeing moms pushing strollers, dads carrying kids, and 80 year old hikers marching ahead of me motivated me to keep going.  The view on the top of the monument was incredible and well worth the march.  

For all of you who are interested in the doing the march, which I highly recommend, know that there are 4 check points throughout with drinks and snacks for purchase and ever so clean port-o-potties.  There are also many, many great picnic spots to stop and rest.  I saw several groups and families stop along the way, enjoy their own packed snacks, and the beautiful weather. 

Bring water and snacks if you don't want to purchase any on the way up.  Also, wear layers.  It was perfect weather for a good hike.  The temperature dropped as we hiked higher and the South Dakota wind was strong on top of the monument, but I only wore my sweatshirt on top of the monument.  Just remember you don't want to over pack...you will be carrying whatever you bring for a good 6 miles uphill.  

Getting closer!!!

And closer...

 Warning: you will see many, many, many people picking Crazy Horse's nose or trying to "squeeze" his head.  We were no different.  

For those of you who missed the march this year, enjoy some of our pics from the top!  Check out http://crazyhorsememorial.org/?s=volksmarch for more info on the monument and the Volksmarch.

 

our escape artist strikes again

Nola, our little Houdini, ran away from Tyler at 3am the other night.  She had definitely planned her escape with great detail.  Nola had somehow broken her collar the day before and had no form of identification on when she escaped.  Poor Tyler.  I was unknowingly asleep as he searched for several hours for Nola.  When he finally woke me up to tell me, I told him to stop looking for her.  She'd eventually turn up and I was tired of having this little problem of searching for Nola.  

She's run away before, but only for 10 minutes at the longest.  Apparently, beagles have great noses and her's is no different.  If she catches on to a scent, Nola takes off.  Being that she was gone for hours this time with no collar, I did begin to worry.  Tyler helped me make some Missing Dog signs that seemed to work (even though we were yelled at for posting them in our neighborhood.)  

After being gone for over 12 hours, we received a call from a couple in our neighborhood.  Nola had apparently snuck into their gate to play with their dog.  She ended up spending the day in leisure with a new puppy friend and a little boy.  Luckily, the family that found her saw one of our adorable and somewhat funny signs and called us.  Nola was incredibly happy to see us and we were just as excited.  She did have a large cut on her stomach that had to be stapled and cleaned.  However, Nola was still running around, jumping on top of Billie, and trying to eat everything in sight.  

She's HOME!

 So glad Tyler can handle cleaning wounds.  I would have no idea what to do. 

sweet Louisiana

Traveling to LA for Mary Kathryn's beautiful wedding left me missing home even more.  I was only able to spend time in Monroe...northern LA for all you out there that don't know LA or don't watch Duck Dynasty.  Luckily I was able to visit Louisiana and spend time in Rayne and Baton Rouge.  

The family celebrated my return with a crawfish boil.  I may or may not have threatened them to include crawfish on the agenda.  I also got to meet some of my friend's new additions and spend more time with Gammie and Brooks!!!

Guess who's face welcomed me into the Houston airport...

 Crawfish Time!

Elizabeth and I finally get to hang out after way too long!

For all my SoDak friends, this is live crawfish.  Yummy!

 

Gammie peeling some beautiful and mighty tasty boiled crawfish.

Such a little firecracker.  Peed in the yard and fought off some crawfish.

Enjoying great company, great food, and great drinks.  

 I missed home and missed BR even more.  I really missed the drive between Rayne and Baton Rouge.  Yes, it's possible.  The Atchafalaya Basin Bridge is just so beautiful.  I love it...however, didn't love being stuck on the 130-something mile bridge on the way back to Rayne. 

Calling (and driving to) Baton Rouge!

Wayne Toups on the RADIO.  We don't get this treatment in SoDak.

Makes me feel at home when I see the capital.  Such a bittersweet site. 

After a year of not seeing some of my close friends, I finally got to spend a little time with them. Tiffany's and Tera's new additions, both boys, are utter perfection.  I cannot wait to see how the grow up...but hopefully not too soon.  

Baby Bacon!

Dempsey's catfish!

Baby Teekel!

How handsome and hilarious!

Watch out!  I may be stealing the Teekel's precious bundle.

If only he could fit into my suitcase...

The beautiful Teekels!  

 The weekend was all too short.  I need to get a 2nd or 3rd job so I can pay for longer vacations back home.  It was the perfect weekend especially because I was able to spend Mother's Day with my mom and grandmother.  Miss them more and more every day. 

Crawfish omelet made by our fantastic Doucet chef, my Poppa!

Just a little boy tea party.  No big deal.

Two of my favorite people, Brooks and Gammie!

 

Future athlete.

Just missing Marci and Tyty.

Happy Mother's Day!

Finished off the weekend with a SNOW CONE!!!

Traveling back to South Dakota always makes me a little more homesick for my family.  However, getting picked up from the airport by my delightful and so handsome husband makes me remember why I love coming back home...to South Dakota.