Summertime....

Today we went out to McDowell Dam with Wes, Jen and their three boys. It was so nice outside and the kids were able to run and play and just have fun. We grilled hotdogs and had a few "adult" beverages! :-) The kids were getting bored so Randy and Wes made them race. They absolutely loved it! Even little Jordan (the baby who turned 1 in Jan.) he was loving it and even in one picture was winning cause he takes such long turns when he tries to turn around. Jaxon was getting so mad cause he could never win. There is one picture where he was pouting. His older brother Kadon won every race. Karenza was close and I think she got him on one race, girl can actually run. The other two kids running with Kadon (the oldest who is 6) is Deondre who is 4, and then Jaxon, Karenza and Camille are all 3 and then of course Jordan. After the mosquito's started to come out and our bug spray wasn't working so well we decided to head to Kurt's (he is the head of the Bismarck Midget Football League, the league Randy coaches FB for and his son plays on Randy's basketball team). Anyway their family sells fireworks and he was lighting some off as a display so we went to his house. Didn't get home til late so tomorrow is going to come awful early, but I still wanted to get this post off because it is month end and it is going to be a busy one since its 1/2 year reporting too. I dread this month end always for some reason. Pedal to the medal tomorrow. I am sure I'll post again by the Fourth. If not have a safe and happy Fourth of July!

McQuades

Hey All! Just a short note. So I guess we are going to McQuades tonight. There is a home run derby tonight that we typically have gone to the last few years. So Karenza will be staying over night with my Mom and Dad (or according to her "best friends" house). So she's thrilled. A guy on Randy's softball team is going to be in the home run derby so we'll go check it out to see how he does. We were going to take the motorcycle because parking is going to be ridiculous, but it is really windy. More than 5,000 people come to this "World's Largest Softball Tournament". Below is a link on the history of the tournament for those of you who read my blog from out of state. This year I read in the newspaper there are 432 teams! Anyway, a lot of people in town!! Have a great weekend.

http://www.mcquades.com/html/softball.html

Painting Toe Nails and Finger Nails...

Well, it seems I may have my own personal manicurist/pedicurist! Yesterday after we had gotten home from dinner I thought Karenza was in her room picking up her toys as she was getting ready for bed (that is a rule at our house, all toys picked up before we go to bed). Anyway, here she came with her hands behind her back and she had a look on her face that she had done something. I thought maybe she broke a toy or something, and then I smelt it! Fingernail polish!! I said, "Let me see!" she shook her head no. In a more stern voice I said "Let me see!" She pulled her hand around front and she had not only painted her fingernails, but also her fingers! I said where is the polish? She shrugged her shoulders. I went into her room, and there was nothing. I went into her bathroom (the main bathroom) and still I couldn't see anything. I said "take me to where you did this!" She led me to my room on my side of the bed. There on the floor was a little tote that had been sitting underneath my end table since we've moved in here that I forgot was there let alone remember there was fingernail polish in there. Pink fingernail polish is all over my cream carpet. I left that, and took her into my bathroom and started to take the fingernail polish off her fingers with fingernail polish remover. I didn't have much left, and it didn't seem to be working as fast as I wanted it too! So I took a washcloth and scrubbed her hands under warm water and that seemed to be working better. Needless to say she was sent to bed right away. Well, this morning she woke up and the first thing she said to me was "I am so sorry that I painted my fingers Mommy!" I said you promise to never do that again? I said if you want then painted you have to ask Mommy okay?" She agreed. Then she said look Mom, and lifted her legs up onto the center island as she was eating her cereal this morning. I was so upset last night that I didn't even think too look at her toes! There were all painted too! Of course, why wouldn't you paint those too? All my fingernail polish I keep on the highest shelf in both bathrooms. I usually use quick drying fingernail polish on Karenza too. Anyway, I took pictures of her toes cause she actually did a nice job on them. Not that she will be doing them again anytime soon by her self!

Also, Randy had a gift certificate that he received from work to the Bistro. I had never eaten there before partly because it's so expensive. Below is also a picture of Karenza and her "fancy" mac and cheese as she called it. We had crab cakes for an appetizer and they were delicious. I had ordered the grilled salmon, and Randy had the pecan-crusted walleye. It was good, but we seem to know how to cook fish a little better. Boy, do I miss Seattle for the fresh seafood (and cheaper). But, it was still good. For the three of us to eat it was $94.00! I only had one drink (Strawberry Margaretta on the rocks) and Randy had two glasses of wine. This weekend is McQuade's Softball tournament and Randy (thank goodness) isn't playing in it this year. Hopefully we don't have to go to much. Last year I remember I got fried for sitting in the sun all year. We'll see what our plans are this year. Have a good rest of the week.

Weekend Wrap Up....

Holly's baby shower sure went nice. She got lots of things and cute little clothes that I can't believe Karenza ever fit into! I took her a bunch of Karenza's clothes that still had the tags on them that I had never used. There were ten or twelve outfits. ( I didn't take it as her gift, just for her to have!) Crazy Karenza ever could have fit in them at some point. My Dad was suppose to get off work at noon and come and take her so they could go do something fun. Dad ended up having to work til 7pm or later so Karenza was at the party. She did okay. Sometimes I never know how she is going to be. I actually got Holly this Diaper Caddy that she had been wanting that you put everything you will need to change a baby's diaper or need at your finger tips. It is really cute. I got that for her and filled it up with lots of goodies! It was the number one thing she wanted off her register she told me at one point. Her party was from 2-4pm and I stayed til about 6 to help her clean up and get her house back in order. On our way home Karenza and I stopped for some groceries and we called it a night. This morning Karenza slept til 10:30am! I couldn't believe it lazy bones. Her allergies have been acting up and she didn't get a nap in yesterday so I am sure she needed all the sleep. So my Dad calls her at 11:15 or so and they start making plans to spend the day together. I finally get the phone back from Karenza and my Mom was on the phone. She said my Dad was already in the shower getting ready to come get her. A half hour later her Mom and Dad showed up and took Karenza. I asked how long and Dad said "Forever!" so I knew it was probably going to be an all day thing. I said that Randy and I will probably go to a movie. We took the motorcycle out and went to the 1:00 show to see the Incredible Hulk. It was actually pretty decent. Better then the one they made back in 2003 or whenever it was. Then we stopped at Applebee's and had a drink and we didn't really know what we wanted to do so we just went riding some more. We drove down by the river and it was packed! Today was absolutely gorgeous out. 85 degrees, Nice!! Then Randy asked if we wanted to go back to Applebee's and I said no, so we went to The Ground Round instead (which is right next door to Applebee's) and had another drink and a 1/2 price appetizer since it was happy hour. Then we drove around some more and we decided to come home and maybe call Karenza to see if she wanted to come home yet. But, we both knew the answer to that! So we stopped at the Sports Page and Wes was working black jack so we just sat and talked to him for a bit. I was just reaching for my cell phone to call Mom and Dad and it started to ring. Weird! It was 7:00pm and they were on there way bringing her home. Her she came with a new pair of sun glasses, a coloring book, a treat for both Randy and me, juice and suckers for her self. Mom and Dad brought radishes from their garden and cut up watermelon, strawberries, and grapes. They had stopped by the produce place again. She had a wonderful day and has been talking about all she did today with Papa and Grandma. Why wouldn't you love to go with them when you get whatever you ask for? They had lunch at McDonald's too! It was nice to spend the day with my husband as well to just do nothing. We all had a great day and back to work tomorrow! Oh, I also forgot to take my camera to Holly's baby shower so I have to wait to get pictures back from her to post on here. Have a great week.

Randy's Father's Day Card

Okay, so now I am able to post pictures again. Above is the card that Karenza gave Randy for Father's Day. As she was "writing" in her card to her Daddy she was telling me what she was saying to him and so I wrote underneath what she really said. Isn't that so cute? And she always has to add a smiley face when ever she does anything. She did the same thing in Auntie Holly's card for her baby shower! Too cute. Not sure what Karenza and I have planned today. Her allergies have been acting up so she has a stuffy nose. Maybe we'll go for a walk or something if she's up for it. Randy has softball tonight. We are suppose to get thuderstorms again tonight, but we'll see. Probably be like Wednesday night where we had tornado warnings, golf ball size hail reported and the clouds and sky were so ugly looking and we barely got any rain. Also, below is a draft picture of what Holly and I had Dakota Screen Arts create for us to put on a shirt for my dad for Father's Day. He absolutely loved it! Savannah Jo and Kenadie (who was just born on my Dad's birthday May 27th) are my cousin Wade's girls. I have mentioned in my post before (back in February) about the whole story behind that. Anyway, isn't it cute? The shirt we put it on is the brown/tan polo shirt (the color of the background). It turned out so cute.

Vacation Days...

I took today and tomorrow off from work. I have so much vacation that I have to start taking some so I don't have so much at the end of the year. We aren't allowed to carry any days over so I have to start taking it. I only can be gone during the middle of a month due to working in the accounting field. This weekend I am throwing Holly her baby shower so I have things to wrap up and get ready for that. I am also helping my Mom get her kitchen back in order since they had it remodeled. She wants it painted and everything put back before the 4th of July so I had promised her that I would take a couple days off to help her. Other than that I don't have much planned for my two days off. It's just nice to be able to come and go and get things done and not have to worry about work for a couple days. It's finally getting nice out so hopefully we'll be able to do something outside. Randy is picking up his motorcycle today as he had some work done on it so maybe we'll go riding for a little bit. Haven't been on it yet this summer! Anyway, I will try and take pictures of the baby shower and post them. Have a great weekend!

Happy Father's Day

I am having trouble uploading Randy's Father's Day card he got from Karenza. It is so cute. I'll hold off on telling about it until I can post it. That was the whole purpose of this post I guess.

Anyway, yesterday was a long day. Randy had a one day softball tournament here in Bismarck and his first game was at 8:00am! He was to be there ay 7:00am! Karenza was up at 6:20am and I don't remember the last time she has had to get up that early. The day was long. We stayed there the whole time as there wasn't much time in between games. He wasn't done until 4:45pm! Karenza had no nap. I got sunburned/wind burned. Karenza and I had on sweatshirts all day and the wind was gusting up to 30mph so I am sure it is mostly wind burn. Today it hurts really bad and I have been putting on aloe vera, hopefully there will be relief for my face soon as it is hot and sun burnt! They didn't do well in the tournament they lost all 4 games! I should have taken some pictures. I have to remember to keep my camera in my purse during the summer. So much happening, not much pictures.

The last of our family headed back today that were here for my Grandpa's funeral. Last week was just a blur and really hard. We've just been all together and recalling our wonderful memories with him. We (all of my Grandpa's Grandkids) all got to keep a plant that people had sent to the funeral home/church. I am not sure what plant I got, but it sure is pretty. I hope I don't kill it. I have been trying to find out what kind of plant it is, but I haven't had much luck. I will post a picture of it to see if any of you can help me.

I also wanted to point out what has been happening at work the last couple weeks. Jon, a person in my department, said he received a call from a lady (who he couldn't understand what her name was) from Morgan & Associates. He said she was heavy Asian accented, and she repeatedly told him it was an emergency and that she needed to speak with me right away. The number Jon provided was 310.499.9983 there was no account number to refer to or what her name was. I tried several times to get through to this number and nothing. Today Jon called me again saying he yet again received this call. He said they left the 310.499.9983 number, but he said over caller ID came: 856.831.0640. Baffeled of not recalling having anything to do with a Morgan and Associates I googled the number and came up with the below messages I found on these sites:

This is a very active group of overseas scammers who attempt to extort money from Americans with a myriad of false and illegal threats. They alternately pose as debt collectors, federal and state law enforcement officers, lawyers and bankers. They use any number of phony names such as US National Bank, US Legal Investigation Bureau, Hopkins Law Office, Morgan Associates, White Collar Crime Unit and many more. These crooks often use caller-id spoofing software and/or VoIP to disguise their real location and to make it appear that they are calling from American area codes.

Below is a writing from someone who said they were receiving the same calls:

They have been calling me over the last two days, same M.O. ..claim they are calling from Morgan Associates Law Firm representing US National Bank. I asked them to fax me some details about this supposely debt, they state that they can't it's is attorney client privilegde. I spoke to them on 2 occasions and received different information about the debt mont when the loan was taken out. I originally thought it was a case of identity theft and someone opened up an account in my name, because I knwo i didn't owe nobody. Thank you for this website, this posting.The number they gave me was 310-499-9983 but caler ID said another number.Caller ID: 8568310640 Caller: Morgan Associates, Icn.

links: http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-310-499-9983
http://www.callercomplaints.com/SearchResult.aspx?Phone=856-831-0640

That is just crazy, isn't it? I tried calling the 310 number again today as I was angry and I got through they said they were going to take Jon's number and my name off the list so we will see if they call again. That is just down right scary! Plus, for them to be calling me at my job?! Are you kidding me? Jon said that if they call back he will leave them with a threatening message as well. He said that wouldn't it be nice if we had a secret code we could enter when they called and we could dismantle all their database systems. From the looks of all the complaints on these sites it looks like that would please many people. So watch out if you get these calls!

Have a great week! I just burnt dinner to busy on this computer! So now I have to try and find something else for dinner so much for tuna casserole!

Back of Grandpa's Program

Grandpa's Song to Us

Below is the song my Grandpa had dedicated to his Daughter's, Grand-Children, and his Great-Grand Children "The Little People" as he so often referred to them as at his funeral yesterday.

The Last Few Days

These last few days have just seemed to blur all together. There has been so many friends and family in town. Below is my Grandpa's Obituary:

Douglas D. Moffit, 73, Bismarck, formerly of Moffit, died June 6, 2008, at a Mandan care center. Services will be held at 1 p.m. Tuesday, June 10, at McCabe United Methodist Church, Bismarck, with the Rev. Art Scanson officiating. Burial will be in Moffit Cemetery.Visitation will be held from 5 to 9 p.m. today at Parkway Funeral Service, 2330 Tyler Parkway, Bismarck, where a prayer service will be held at 7 p.m. Visitation will also be held on Monday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. at Parkway Funeral Service and on Tuesday one hour prior to the service at the church.Douglas was born July 30, 1934, in rural Emmons County, the son of George and Margaret (Glum) Moffit. He attended Burr Oak School. He married Donna Hayes on June 19, 1954.Douglas worked for Don Dralle for numerous years. In the spring of 1966, after a major blizzard, he went to work at the Long Lake Refuge. In the spring of 1968, Douglas and Donna purchased the Moffit Quality Store, which they had until 1976. In 1972, he was hired as a blademan for the Burleigh County Highway Department, retiring in 1997, but returning as a part-time employee in the summers through May 2006.He served on the Hazelton-Moffit School Board and was chairman of the Long Lake Township for 23 years. Douglas served many years on the church board of the Moffit Methodist Church of which he was a member. He was also a charter member of the Sterling Rural Fire Department and an active volunteer fireman and a charter member of the Moffit Lion's Club. Douglas was a civil defense weather spotter for many years and was president and caretaker of the Moffit Cemetery. He was the first bypass patient in western North Dakota at Medcenter One in September 1979. In 2000, Douglas was awarded the prestigious "Ben Kalberer Award," an honor that he was very proud to accept, as he was nominated for this award from the people of the Hazelton, Moffit and Braddock communities. In 2005, he was honored to be selected the "Grand Marshall" at the Moffit Centennial.Grateful to have shared his life are his loving wife of 53 years, Donna, Bismarck; his daughters and sons-in-law, Carmen and Al Kary, Steele, and Sheila and Carl Robinson, Bismarck; four grandchildren, Jesse (Becky) Mittleider, Gackle, Cody (Elaine) Mittleider, Streeter, Miranda (Randy) Grayson, Bismarck, and Holly (Jeremy) Will, Lincoln; two step-grandchildren, Joshua (Cindy) Kary, Inver Grove Heights, Minn., and Heather Kary, Watertown, Minn.; nine precious great-grandchildren, who he cherished; three brothers, Ronnie, Lincoln, Raymond, Bismarck, and Lee, Moffit; 10 sisters, Nancy Moffit and Rose Ohlhauser, both of Bismarck, Irene Reather, Great Falls, Mont., Shirley Lave, Billings, Mont., Jean Austad, Fairfield, Mont., Betty Grage, Alcester, S.D., Gladys Engebretson, Genoa, Neb., and Donna Houle, Susan Manson and Marcella Moffit, all of Rolla; one aunt, Wanda "Dolly" Anderson, Great Falls; and numerous in-laws, nieces and nephews.He was preceded in death by his parents; and one sister, Juana Dewald, Fallon, Nev.Go to www.parkwayfuneral.com to share memories of Douglas and to sign the online guest book.

At the prayer service on Sunday night they handed a microphone around and people could talk and recall things about my Grandpa or say whatever they wanted. Carmen started out saying the story about how she wanted to make sure that my Grandpa's grave was going to be staked out where he really wanted it to be. My Grandpa took care of the cemetery for years and years while he lived in Moffit. He taught Carmen how to stake out a grave. Well, she wanted to make sure that they were going to put my Grandpa where he really wanted to be so her and Al went down to Moffit to help the new person stake out my Grandpa's grave. On the way down there Carmen told Al that this wasn't going to be as hard as he thinks. She said there will be a sign. When they got there to the cemetery it started to rain, and it rained the whole time they were there. Carmen new the vicinity where my Grandpa had always talked about and when she walked over to the area there buried in the grass where beer cans filled with cement that my Grandpa had marked. On Monday my Dad picked up Cassidy and she told my Dad "Papa, I have a story about Papa Bug". She could never say Doug when she was little and all she could say was Bug, and it stuck with him as the rest of the 8 that came along still call him that. Anyway, she said "You know that story Carmen said about Papa Bug and those cans filled with cement, I was with Papa Bug when he did that." She said, "I asked Papa Bug, 'What are you doing Papa?', and e said 'You'll understand someday', now I know what he was talking about." Just gives me chills. Karenza took the microphone after Carmen. She is not afraid of it at all! She stood on her chair as she was sitting in the second row with Randy and me. She looked back at everyone and said "I wish for God to take care of my Papa Bug, he is at the die (that is what she calls it) and I love my Papa Bug!" Someone clapped, and she continued "Thank you, Thank you very much ladies and gentleman!" And she took a bow! Everyone laughed, as she didn't have a clue what she was doing. But she was just being her self! She lightened the room. Then I read my two pages I had wrote that I posted on Sunday below. It was hard to get through, but I did it.

Yesterday it was gloomy all day and it didn't start to rain until we went to the cemetery. Yesterday was such a hard day. I am not sure if I mentioned that Randy was a Casket Bearer along with Jeremy, Cody, Jesse, Josh, and Wes (my Grandpa's nephew who his parents were killed in a car accident when he was 17 or 15 or something. My Grandma and Grandpa were kind of his replacement parents. He lives in Yakima, WA and I would visit when I lived in Seattle he is 50 now). Anyway, the church was packed. It was the same church Randy and I got married. It was such a big funeral and all the things people had to say about my Grandpa were so wonderful and we will forever cherish. I want to scan in the back of my Grandpa's program and post the music that was played at his funeral. As it was a song played for his Daughters, Grand Children and Great-Grandchildren on behalf of my Grandpa. Which If I get an extra minute I will.

Douglas D. Moffit - July 30, 1934-June 6, 2008

Below is what I am reading at my Grandpa's prayer service tonight. I hope I can get through it.

Over the last couple of years I have been admiring my Grandpa’s hands. When there wasn’t much else to hold, it was his hands I grasped to reassuring him of my love. There is something that I would like to read that caught my attention a few years back. My Grandpa, some seventy plus years, sat feebly on the patio bench. He didn't move, just sat with his head down staring at his hands. When I sat down beside him he didn't acknowledge my presence and the longer I sat I wondered if he was OK.Finally, not really wanting to disturb him but wanting to check on him at the same time, I asked him if he was OK. He raised his head and looked at me and smiled. "Yes, I'm fine, child thank you for asking," he said in a clear strong voice. "I didn't mean to disturb you, Grandpa, but you were just sitting here staring at your hands and I wanted to make sure you were OK," I explained to him. "Have you ever looked at your hands," he asked. "I mean really looked at your hands? I slowly opened my hands and stared down at them. I turned them over, palms up and then palms down. No, I guess I had never really looked at my hands as I tried to figure out the point he was making. Grandpa smiled and related this story: "Stop and think for a moment about the hands you have how they have served you well throughout your years. These hands, though wrinkled, shriveled and weak have been the tools I have used all my life to reach out and grab and embrace life. They braced and caught my fall when as a toddler I crashed upon the floor. They put food in my mouth and clothes on my back. As a child my Mother taught me to fold them in prayer. They tied my shoes and pulled on my boots. They have been dirty, scraped and raw, swollen and bent. They were uneasy and clumsy when I tried to hold my newborn daughter. Decorated with my wedding band they showed the world that I was married and loved your Grandma. They wrote letters and trembled and shook when I buried my Parents and walked my Daughter’s down the aisle. Yet, they were strong and reliable as I needed them for work. They have held my precious grand-children, and great-grandchildren, consoled neighbors, and shook in fists of anger when I didn't understand. They have driven my family on vacation, they have fixed a broken bicycle, and they have made rocking chairs and toy boxes for my grandchildren. They have been the hands that my children, grandchildren, and great-grand children clasp onto. They have covered my face, combed my hair, and washed and cleansed the rest of my body. They have been sticky and wet, bent and broken, dried and raw. And to this day when not much of anything else of me works real well these hands try to feed me and try to continue to fold in prayer. These hands are the mark of where I've been and the ruggedness of my life. But more importantly it will be these hands that God will reach out and take when he leads me home. And with my hands, child, He will lift me to His side and there I will use these hands to touch the face of Christ." As I continued to sit beside him our hands intertwined I savored that moment. I will never look at my hands the same again. God has reached out and took my Grandpa's hands and led him home. When my hands are hurt or sore or when I stroke the face of my daughter and my husband, I will be thinking of my loving Grandpa. I love you Grandpa and now you are no longer suffering. I have another Angel in heaven watching over me and my family.