Tired Mama

Sunday, September 01, 2013

South Dakota (More Wall)

I loaded Brynlee's pictures onto the computer and I just had to put a few more pictures here of Wall.

This is another favorite place for people to pose behind Wall Drug.

...and a better picture of this.

We saw a lot of both above

and things like below as we perused the shops in Wall.

I had to post a few more pictures on the collection of animals.

Brynlee was quite interested in this collection and took some good pictures.

All of these animals (and many more) were hunted by one man.

There are some rather fascinating animals in the collection.

Working on a post of our cabin.

Saturday, August 31, 2013

South Dakota (Corn Palace & Wall)

At the end of August, we took a rare, and much enjoyed trip to South Dakota. It's a long drive, but it was oh so relaxing. The kids were great travelers and were so excited for weeks for our trip.

A couple people asked us if we are stopping in Mitchell, SD to see the Corn Palace. We decided we had to go see what it was all about. This is the third actual building, built in 1921, the first one being established in 1892. Each year the exterior decorations are completely stripped off the building and new murals are created. The outside is all created of corn kernels and corn husks.

Below, is one of my favorite murals.

Below, the kids were watching a stage show practice inside the Corn Palace.

Our next stop on the way was Wall. I don't think you can go to this area of South Dakota and not stop in Wall, and of course Wall Drug.

Many people would recognize this handsome dude, who is always willing to pose for pictures.

Inside Wall Drug.

I thought this was quite cute.

Some of the favorites behind Wall Drug.

We of course walked up and down the shopping street in Wall and stopped in many a store.

My sweet boy.

Every store we went in sold rocks, and every store we went in the kids begged for rocks.

Willem with one of his greatest loves, a John Deere.

One store we went into had quite an extensive animal collection museum originally owned by a man who hunted all the animals that were in it from all over the world. Willem was quite intrigued by this one.

The kids thought this one was so funny.

I thought it was quite funny too.

Next post I'll show you our cabin.

In another post after that I'll show you our trip to Mt. Rushmore, Jewel Cave, and the Badlands.

Tuesday, June 11, 2013

Sister Forever!

I am a sister forever to, two amazing siblings. We're all from across the world and have amazing parents that tried to take care of us. But as for me, Meikiina, I am a Sister Forever. Yes, me and my siblings fight often, but it's normal for siblings to fight and at the end we're friends again. Sometimes I think that if I was never adopted, I'd never be living in the U.S., never have the bestest parents a child could ask for, never have the cutiest doggy Jia, never have awesome friends, never probably be going to a good school. I'm so thrilled and happy to be a big sister. My siblings will look up to be and I hope they see a good role model because every day I try my 100% best at being a good role model. We've had our tough moments with teasing each other but we've also have had amazing funny, happy, moments. For example, my little 4 year old brother, Willem, well sometimes we fight and stuff but most of the time we're happy and stuff. Now my 9 year old sister, Brynlee....she's another story. I love her to the moon and back but sometimes she can be a pain! So can Willem! But, that's how siblings can be! Brynlee can be obnoxious occasionally but other times she can be great! Anyways yeahhhh...I'll foreverly be a Big Sister! <3 b="" nbsp="">

Sincerly,
Meikiina <3 b="">

(Sorry if there was any misspelled or sentences that didn't make sense)

Friday, May 03, 2013

May?!?

May 1st!?

And worse ~ May 3rd...

Monday, April 22, 2013

April 19th ..

... no need to say more than that! Well, except maybe to say that today is April 22nd and we got another blanket today on top of this.

Saturday, April 13, 2013

Kidisms

At the evening meal ~
Willem: Pooooor Mama (Mom laughs),
Willem: Pooooor Brynlee (Brynlee laughs),
Willem: Pooooor Meikiina
Mei: Pooooor Willem
Willem (with finger pointing): Don't tick-a me off!!
(3/16/13)

Willem points to picture of himself still at his orphanage in which he's dressed in yellow and says, "Qiang?" I answer him, "Yes, that's Huai Qiang." He says, "Not White Qiang...yellow Qiang!" (March 2013)

I was looking at patterns for crocheted cardigans with Brynlee and she was telling me which ones she liked. I clicked on one that happened to be a swimsuit cover. In the same pattern was a bikini clad model. Willem points to that model and says, "Wow! I like-a dat one!" (March 2013)

A Willemism or a Boyism? One morning there was water leaking out from under the freezer. After investigating it was found that the freezer (who's knob is right at 4 year old boy eye level) had been turned ALL the way off! Hmmm... I wonder who did that! (4/6/13)

Then not a week later, Willem just happens to see a bright red crank knob right at a 4 year old boy eye level in our utility room. Well, that knob can't just be there for nothing. Oh, no. Knobs are meant for turning, aren't they? Yes, he turned the gas off to the furnace. Luckily we happened to see him do that. (4/12/13)

~~~~~~
And here's a random Brynleeism - I call Brynlee every morning before she goes to school, and one morning she very excitedly told me that she knows what she wants to be when she grows up.
Me: What do you want to be when you grow up?
She: Guess!
Me: Hmmm...(several guesses)
She: No, no ... It starts with an 'S'.
Me: Several more guesses.
She: Several more no's
Me: Well, I just don't know.
She: A SPY!
Me: A spy. Well, that would be interesting. It could be a little dangerous tho.
She: Yes, it could be. Like, when I'd be spying on someone in a hotel that has really many floors. I'd have to be walking on those ledges way up there and spying in their windows.
Me: Yes, that would be dangerous!
(April 2013)