We've Survived a Week!

It started out beautiful and warm for our first couple days here. Then it turned cold. Very cold. A high of 43 one day and it has been raining as well. But we have survived! We have 2 little space heaters that have been an appreciated source of heat for us. On the rainy days, the kids and I have been inside doing school/inside play cuddled up next to the heater. Even as I write this, I have the heater pointed at me and it feels wonderful.

We had a beautiful thunder and lightening storm one night that Rob and I loved. The kids didn't like it so much. But we made it as fun as we could for them. Jovie started to appreciate it, but it may take Brody a couple more storms...

We went into Rapid City one day last week and as we were getting ready to leave there were deer on our front lawn!

I finally got our apartment settled and organized. Here are some pictures.

Out our front door.

This is the living room from the front door.

Our "kitchen" we don't use the microwave, only the fridge.

Living room from my bedroom door.

Our bedroom, desk/sink area and bathroom door.

Closet, door to living room.

Bed.

Kids room

Kids desk/sink area.

Kids closets. Doorway to hall.

Bathroom goes through to our room.

We are comfy, can't complain. We eat in the cafeteria and it has been very good. It's nice to eat in a place that is vegan. Brody can point at anything he wants and can have it! I don't have to worry about cooking or cleaning up afterwards, which would be hard, you saw the sink I would have to wash dishes in in my bedroom... We do have our blender to make smoothies and we will stock up on fruit.

It snowed yesterday. Very tiny snowflakes that didn't make it to the ground, but there were flurries. That was kind of neat, except that it is May... And I didn't bring many warm clothes for us. Mom, you would have shuddered at what I wore to church yesterday. :) It was so cold, another day with a high in the mid forties and windy. So, with that said, I wore a dress, but with two pairs of pants underneath, socks and tennis shoes, a long sleeve shirt underneath the dress and a jacket. :) I just wanted to be warm. And the kids and I came home after Sabbath School to take a nap. So not many people saw me. Rob saw me and just laughed. :) I should have taken a picture!

Rob did get my camera working again! We took it on our trip yesterday into Custer State Park. We went on the bus with the Wellness guests and had narration and facts throughout. We saw lots of buffalo. Supposedly we were to see lots of donkeys and get to feed them, but we only saw one with a baby and she didn't want to be around people. Of course, Brody and Jovie absolutely loved seeing the animals, riding in the bus with no car seats, and being around people who think everything they say is the best thing in the world!

 Brody and Rob enjoying the bus ride.

 Brody and the Buffalo

 Jovie with the Buffalo and sad Turkey

 Jovie admiring the size of the Elk

 Mr. Buffalo scratching himself on the rock.

 Oooh! That feels so good!

 Losing his winter coat.

 Snack time!

 Can you imagine the whole field covered with them? I thought this was a lot...

 Pronghorn male

 Having fun?

 Mama Donkey with her baby.

The babys legs were just about as long as the moms!

So we have had a good time. Rob is working long hours on the farm and learning lots. Today he is out with a man from South Africa working on the grapevines. The grapevines need some TLC and Rob is learning how to care for them. Maybe one day we will have grapes! He has seeded lots of starts and the "boss" Larry is pretty happy with where they are, just about caught up. It has been cold so the season is getting a late start. The kids and I are welcome out there to "help" where we can. I am thinking we will wait until it warms up a bit. We went out on Friday and it was COLD! The sun felt great but the wind was chilly!

So, I had better go do something to entertain my kids. They are running around crazy like. We have someone living underneath us, so we are trying to teach them to be respectful. But it very hard for them to remember that. I am thinking it is naptime. Then lunch, then we may go on another trip with the wellness guests to Mt. Rushmore. We can always keep busy here!

I hope you have a wonderful day and remember to spend some time with God. Notice Him in the things outside!