Hunter's Fun Week

While we were in South Dakota Hunter was having a little vacation himself. He was spoiled by Aunt MeMe and Nana and Papa. Auntie MeMe was nice enough to send us some pictures of his week. Hope you enjoy them!

There was Corn Planting, Syttende Mai, Flying Kites, Brewer Game, Painting, and making homemade pizza...

South Makoda

Last year my brother took his family to South Dakota for a family vacation. My then 4 year old nephew told everyone that they were going to South Makoda. I have been working with a utility in Rapids City South Dakota since January and I needed to be on site this week for meetings. so Josh and Jacy went with me.

Unfortunately work claimed most of my time but Josh and Jacy were able to go out and explore a lot during the week. They went to multiple museums and Custer State Park. Jacy was a very good girl and her daddy did a good job entertaining and taking care of her. I think it was a good bonding week for both of them.

Where was Hunter you ask? He spent the week with his aunt MeMe. So he kind of got a vacation too. On the day we left I was able to do a little site seeing with them. As you can see we went to Mount Rushmore. Which was WAY cool (I now need to watch National Treasure II again). We also go to see Bear Country which was also very cool.

Jacy was a trooper through the whole thing. She was great in the car and a hit whereever we went. Along with my first trip to South Dakota it was also our first time to stay at a Bed and Breakfast. We were a little hesitant but the person I am working with said it was a must that he knew the owners and we would love the place.

Considering we weren't paying for it I agreed figuring it was a good opportunity to try it. You can just imagine Josh's surprise when we got in our room and there was no T.V. He was a trooper, and didn't even mention it.

We stayed at Perigrine Point. It was beautiful. It was in the Black Hills. The people could not have been nicer and the food was great (I only got to have one breakfast because of work but Jacy and Josh ate every morning with them).

It was actually really nice to have someone so familiar with the area to tell you what kind of things to see. I was nervous about having Jacy there but she did great. Everyone loved her and it was actually kind of nice because when she was napping or would go to bed we could go into the library and watch TV or read and not bother her.

It did have a whirlpool tub in the room so I decided I had to try it. I went in it last night. I had an open mind, and yes it was relaxing but I am just not a tub person. And I think I am even less of a whilpool tub person. To me it was just a waste of water. I prefer a nice long hot hower with a good shower head.

Anyway, a great time was had! I would recommend the B&B. This one in particular if you are in SD. I think we may try one again some time.

50 Things...

As a little tribute to Mother's day I thought I would play the "50 things you don't know" game with a mother's day twist, 50 Things you don't know about my mom...

1. My grandparents intended to call her Jean Marie not Jean or Jeanne.


2. She bit her nails until into the 1990's.


3. Now she gets manicures every other week and polishes on the other weeks.


4. She got her first pedicure at 58.


5. Her and my dad lived with one car from the time they got married in 68 until into the 80's.


6. She wasn't suppose to get pregnant after my brother Derek but she really wanted a girl.


7. When she got pregnant with me she knew it was a girl.


8. She used to walk by the swamp while dad was building the house and she was pregnant with me talking to me, knowing it was her last baby. (I did the same thing with Jacy).


9. We used to fight every time she brushed my hair so from the time I was 5 I did my own hair.


10. One time when I was in grade school I was suppose to serve for the "all school" mass and she was curling my hair with a curling brush and got it stuck...she had to cut it out.


11. Once when my mom and dad went with the Jaecks' to Florida she got a really bad sunburn (~3rd degree).


12. Her two bouts of sun cancer may have been because of some of these bad burns.


13. She named our red hatchback Crissy, our green boat Nelly, our blue Plymouth Grand Furry (God I loved that car) Lucy and our red Chevy Nova Ricky (Derek named the maroon Oldsmobile Sh##head).


14. She is the secret top marketing person for McDonald's Dt. Coke. Her gimmick: stop at as many McDonald's throughout the state of WI and just order a Dt. Coke (and has since gotten her daughter-in-laws and daughter hooked).


15. She locked her sister into the chicken coop when they were little (Judie is still afraid of birds).


16. She used to run around my great grandparents house hiding when my grandma and grandpa (her parents) would come to pick her up because she didn't want to go home. ~ They lived 3 blocks away.


17. My great uncles used to take turns walking her at night when she was first born. Because she had to stay at my great grandparents while my grandma was in the hospital after she was born.


18. The same great grandparents (her grandparents) were her God parents.


19. They also bought her graduation dress.


20. She used to go to my grandpa's friends house in the country to play with relatives and friends, which my brother's inlaws now live in.


21. She ran the library at our grade school...for free.


22. She started at the Manitowoc Public Library the day after I had ankle surgery.


23. She was afraid that I would get the hiccups from giggling before I went into ankle surgery.


24. She and my dad drove to Florida in my dad's mustang for their honeymoon and sang to the radio the whole way down...Tammy Wynette's D-I-V-O-R-C-E was popular at that time.


25. D-I-V-O-R-C-E is her favorite Karaoke song.


26. Her and my dad sing The Rose while karaokeing...each having their own part and part together.


27. My dad has gotten her water before she goes to bed every night ever since she first had to go on the birth control pill...so she wouldn't forget to take it.


28. She was annoyed with my dad when he wore his Letterman jacket to pick out their engagement ring.


29. She had more fun at her 25th wedding anniversary then her wedding.


30. She was the same age when she had me (the youngest) as I was when I had Hunter.


31. She (and possibly my dad) tried to scrub my birthmark off of my knee because she thought it was stain from the house.


32. She claims that she had lots of boyfriends...she started dating my dad at 16...how many could there be???


33. She started dating my dad on my grandpa's birthday.They had to double date because my dad didn't have his license (he was 15).


34. My dad still gets my mom flowers on March 6th.


35. She and my aunt had the same name for the first 15 or so years after my mom and dad got married.


36. She really enjoys her flowers outside the house in the summer..."Have you seen this flower?"


37. Other famous quotes: "Watch out for the light!"


38. "Watch out for the flowers!"


39. "You'd complain if you were hung with a new rope!"


40. "KEAAANNN....Fritty needs to go outside"...ok maybe that is my take on that one.


41. She is very proud of her three kids and claims us to be her best achievement.


42. She is more and more in love with my dad every day...at least that is what I think.


43. She is so strong for us when we need her to be, even when she has the right to break down.


44. She misses her grandparents and parents dearly but keeps their memories alive through great stories.


45. She adores her family...the whole Braun clan...and treasures everytime we can all get together.


46. She is a great mother-in-law.


47. She is a great Nana.


48. She is a wonderful sister friend.


49. She adores Fritz (and did with Poky and I assume Dusty).


50. She is the best role model I could have as a mom and the most loving and caring mom a daughter could ask for!

Thanks Mom!

Happy Mother's Day! And Happy Mother's Day to all of the rest of you. Whether you are a mother of your own children, new or old, grandmother, godmother, an expecting mother or someone that has a little one that looks up to them. Enjoy your special day!