It has been a while!

Sorry it has been so long. We have been very busy!

This summer flew by!! We really didn't get to do much, since we didn't have any vacation days. I umpired the youth fast pitch softball here in Sturgis. I even played a few games on Kristy's slow pitch team! Tammy did a lot of work around the yard. We did get a chance to do a little touring in the hills when Tammy's niece and nephew were here. We didn't do the booth this year for the rally. We did make it out to the campground and visited with our friends, Mark and Cayla, from Oklahoma! Their booth was pretty busy so we stepped in and helped. Quite a few customers were glad to see us, but pretty disapointed that we weren't serving Idian Taco's and funnel cakes.

Of course I officiated high school volley ball again this fall. It was a pretty good season....lots of great matches. I really enjoy watching the girls improve from year to year....and even from the beginning of the season to the end.

Tammy traded off her Pontiac Aztec for a 2009 Chevy HHR. We love it!! And the payments are less!

Our jobs are going pretty good. We both are enjoying them - other that the hours and the drive- they are going great. I am still at Michaels and Tammy is at Scheels All Sport. This is our first experience with the Christmas season and Black Friday. It was amazing. We have never even went shopping for Black Friday and this year we both worked it. Michaels was even open on Thanksgiving night (5-9). I couldn't believe it when we opened the door at 5! Over 100 people filed in.

My hobby lately is making frames and clocks. I think I'm getting better with everyone I do. I bought myself a new mitre saw with some of the money I made officiating volleyball. Here are a few pics....

The frames I had didn't all match and I couldn't find any frames I liked at any store, so I made my own. They are oak.

This is one I made for Tammy. It is hanging in our kitchen.

It is solid oak.

This one is one I made for a gift. It is also made of solid Oak. The picture on the bottom is one Sara took of a tree in my Grandparents yard.

I wanted to try making one with a pendlum. Here is the first one.

I can't believe that Kristy is almost half done with her senior year!! When Sara was home this summer she took Kristy's senior pictures. She also did some for Kristy's friends. Sara did up this collage for Kristy.

(Kristy, Kelsie, Katie, Callie & Emily)

We want to wish everyone a great Holiday Season and a very Happy New Year!!!

A Lot of Changes

A LOT of changes have been going on around our home! Both Tammy and I were "let go" from our jobs at Dakota Arms in November. Needless to say the holiday season was a little stressful. But then they were also really nice. We've always heard that "things happen for a reason", and "better things will come along". I have to agree with both statements. I have changed jobs and went a totally different "career" path. I am now working in retail. This is something I would have never have thought about doing. But, when you are on unemployment and you have to look for a job you seem to apply for just about anything.

The craft store, Michaels, was opening up a brand new store in Rapid City so both Tammy and I went to the job fair they were holding. I went in just applying for "a" job. My interview went really well and I ended up getting a second interview. The second one went even better and I found out that they were looking at me for one of the management positions! After my second interview I had a phone interview with the district manager and the week before Christmas I found out that I had gotten the job!!!! I am the Department Manager of Operations..........I work directly under the Store Manager and have a lot of the same resposibilities. It is an awesome opportunity for me to get a lot of good experience! The people at the store and all the people I have met with, and worked with (so far) from corporate and the district are great!

Our brand new store....The day we opened.

Tammy also got hired on at Michaels. She was hired into the replenishment team, but has since been moved into the position of Support Specialist. Her main responsibilities involve the cash office and balancing the registers. She also has a lot to do with other office duties. This is a huge change for her, but she is learning a lot and gaining a lot of great experience. The only downfall to this position is that it is only a part time position. So she is still looking for work.

Kristy has finished her first semester as a junior! She only has three semesters left of high school. Of course she passed all her classes with "A's"! She also got her first car!!!! She is now the proud owner of a 2003 Hyundai Elantra. She is such a great kid! She is keeping very busy with school and planning the Prom. She is also doing a lot of activities with her church group.

Kristy and her new car!

Kyle was just promoted to the rank of Sergent in the South Dakota National Guard. I am very proud of him. He is also back in school at Black Hills State University in Spearfish.

Sara, Brad and Emmalyn are all doing well. Sara was able to attend a two week Forensic Photography Course at the FBI Academy in Virginia. She had a great time. Emmalyn is growing like a weed and is getting so big and grown up. I only wish we could see them more often.

One more bit of news----I traded in my 97 Olds for a 2007 Chevy Cobalt!!! I decided I needed a car that got a little better gas milage, since I have to drive to Rapid City for work. I got a great deal and I love my new car!!!

Here are a couple pictures....

Its A Blizzard!!

(The front of the house)

It started with a little rain mixed with snow on Wed 11/5, by Thursday we were completely snowed in. Kristy got stuck at a friends house and we had to trudge through waist high drifts around the house so we could get the main door dug out. We also had to rescue Sadie from the shed she sleeps in. Needless to say we didn't make it to work on Thursday. All day Thursday it continued and we kept opening the door to try and keep the snow away from it. Friday when we got up the door was blocked again! Another trip around the house! Sadie got to stay in so we didn't have to rescue her again. We missed another day of work. Thank goodness we have a neighbor with a BobCat. He cleaned up our road or we would still be stuck at the house. Friday we made our way to the grocery store.......one lane "paths" all the way. Saturday we were able to finally pick Kristy up from her friends house. The streets are still not plowed.......most have enough cleaned up for one car. The main 4 lane roads have room for 2 cars, but it gets pretty

narrow in spots.

(After Tammy made a path)

(The road into our neighborhood)

(One of the main intersections)

Where did the summer go??????

OK, I'll try this again.........

I can't believe I haven't been on here since our trip over Memorial Day. The summer just seemed to fly by!!!

I guess I'll start with Softball..........Instead of Kristy playing in the youth league we decided to put together a team and play in the womens league. My boss (at the time) was excited to sponsor our team (out of his own pocket) and buy the girls new uniforms. Our team was called: Dakota Arms CrossFire. We had a great group of girls that just wanted to play softball and have some fun for the summer. We even had a couple girls from Belle Fourche come over and play with us. We held our own during the season and then went to Pierre for the womens state tourney. We had a great time and played some awesome softball.
(Kristy just hit a great one down the right field line!)

I also got the opportunity to start umpiring fast pitch. Sturgis youth has never played fast pitch until this year. They had a couple 10 & under and a couple 12 & under teams. I got to umpire most of the 12 & under games that were in Sturgis. It was so great to see the progress from the begining of the season to the end.

Kristy was chosen (only one from Sturgis HS) to go to a leadership conference in Mitchell this summer. Tammy and I drove Kristy and the girl (KP) from Belle Fource to Mitchell and dropped them off for 4 days. Instead of driving back, Tammy and I drove on to Sioux Falls and spent the 4 days there. We had a great and relaxing time. We went to several museums, Falls Park and the Butterfly House. We also managed to go to a few Fast Pitch softball games as there was a tourney while we were there. (KP & Kristy)

Tammy w/ Butterfly At Falls Park Butterfly @ Butterfly House

Sara and Emmalyn were able to fly in for a visit the end of July. She wanted to get out here before she started her new job in Salt Lake City. They stayed for about 10 days and we got to take Sara out for her birthday. It was so great to have a little one in the house for a while.........until she got sick..........I don't miss the all night rocking. During their stay we were also working and trying to get the booth ready for the rally. A lot of work!!!

Tammy's sister Debbie

and her Mom with Emma




Sara & Kristy at Dinner
Waiting for a table
Me and Emmalyn
Meagan and Emmalyn Emmalyns Backpack


The rally was REALLY slow. We were getting pretty worried about the middle of the week. Things finally worked out. Kristy didn't get to work with us at the booth since she has a job at the Community Center. We still had Katie work though!! We also served Breakfast Burritos for the first time, so we put Mom and Dad to work!!


Of course as soon as the rally is over, school is ready to start. Kristy did not play volleyball this year, last year was very stressfull. She played Fast Pitch Softball instead. Softball is not HS sanctioned, but it is a "club" sport. Sturgis only has a JV team since we wouldn't be able to compete on the varsity level. Our girls don't play fast pitch all summer like they do in Rapid City. Sturgis has had a team for about 3 years and had never won a game until this year---we won 3. Kristy had a lot of fun. She is a Junior this year and is on Student Council again. She is very busy with all the activities in school. Of course we are trying to make it to all the football games. We are 3-1 so far this year!!!!!!!!!! If you don't know the "history" of Sturgis Football ask me and you'll understand why this is so exciting.

We also had a lot of company in Sept. Barb & Chris (our rally friends from Wyoming) stopped by for a couple days. At the same time LeEllen was here. We celebrated Mom's birthday with dinner in Deadwood. We all had a great time.

Sara's best friend, Steph, and her husband, Larry came out for a few days also. We had a great time being "tourist". We went to Keystone, Mt. Rushmore, Hill City and Deadwood. They also did a great job helping Kristy with her homework. Larry does a great job coloring....he even stays in the lines!!

Steph & Larry @ Mt. Rushmore

I am once again officiating HS Volleyball, so I have been very busy with that. Tammy is really busy at work since her supervisor up and quit. That leaves only Tammy and one other lady (who hasn't been there very long) in the polishing dept.

Take care - hopefully it won't take me so long to update next time!!!

Utah trip May 2008

We just got back from our trip to see Emmalyn!! We spent one day at the Hogle Zoo and the rest of the time playing with Emmalyn. I bought Emmalyn a new swing for her swing set.......she loves it.

More of the "Blizzard"

Here are some more pictures of the "blizzard". This is after it quit snowing and Tammy was out shoveling.

Spring has Sprung?

May 2, Spring has arrived!

This is what was waiting for us when we got up to this morning. Needless to say we have a day off from work and school.

I had to go out the back door and trudge through the drifts in order to shovel out our main door. Sadie was grateful when I finally made it to the shed door and let her out.

Tammy took over the shovel duty once I made a path to the door.

By the time she got the deck partially cleared she was completely covered.

The snow is still coming down and drifting. In less than 2 hours the deck is covered again. It is up to the bottom of the door already.