pumpkin patch

On the 20th of October we went to Berry Acres Pumpkin Patch to get our pumpkins!  It is a small, family run pumpkin patch here in Minot.  There was a small selection of pumpkins and squash but the atmosphere and weather were perfect for fall.  I LOVE fall and taking advantage of the beautiful weather and colors...even though it is very short here.  Matt and I picked out our pumpkins to carve and some small ones and squash for the house!

Overall it was a great afternoon!  Look for the next blogs on carving the pumpkins, the halloween party, and a few other recent happenings.
.katherine.

norsk hostfest

It has been a busy several weeks here in North Dakota.  We will try to catch you up in the next week but first lets go back before the previous post to 2nd of October when we went to the Norsk Hostfest. 

The Norsk Hostfest is North America's largest Scandavian festival and happens every year in Minot!  It is a festival to celebrate and partake in the culture and enterainment of the Scandavian people.  Check out the website to learn more (click here)!

We went to the festival again this year.  While many vendors and sites were the same it is always fun to go.  They have a military appreciation day and we were able to attend with good friends, Matt and Mandy. 

The artwork is always sunning to me.  While it is not the style I would decorate with, it is still beautiful and takes a lot of work!  The picture below is the typical Norsk style of painting that can be seen all over the festival. 

 Of course we also had to see our old favorites: the tatting, the wood turning, and the troll chair. 

 Overall it was a great day and fun to experience the Hostfest again this year.   

 .katherine.

kerr family's visit

My entire family came to visit us in Minot!!!  It was such a whirlwind of coming and goings but a ton of fun!  It was great to finally have everyone in the same place, even if it was only for a few days. 

Sean got in on Thursday night after a fun road trip to Anderson, Athens, and finally up to us.  (Check out his blog for the adventures!)  That evening Matt, Sean, and I ordered pizza, hung out, and the boys played a lot of Call of Duty. 

Matt had alert on Friday so Sean and I hung out all day.  We slept in, watched "Vantage Point", finished laying tiles in the basement, made spaghetti, and played with the dogs.  It was a good, relaxing day for both of us! That night, Ryan got in!  He flew from Pittsburgh to Minot.  We all had Starbucks and sat around talking for a while. 

Saturday the boys and I went bowling!  It was so much fun just to hang out with them.  Ryan and I made fun of Sean's bowling, Sean slowly improved, the boys joked that I only got the flipper, and when Matt showed up to play the last game with us the boys made fun of him for being out of uniform.  That evening the four of us made ham and sweet potato corn chowder...it is one of Matt's and my favorites but the boys also enjoyed it!  About nine that night, Mom and Dad got in!  They had flown into Minneapolis then drove to Minot.  

Sunday we took the family to our favorite breakfast place...the Rollin Pin!  Then we took everyone over to the Scandavian Park.  It was a beautiful day to walk around and catch up on our Norsk history!

That afternoon the boys had all planned to go trap shooting.  However, the range was closed for the season.  Before we knew it Dad, Ryan, and Matt were heading out the door to Menards to get supplies to fix the fence.  Mom, Sean, and I went to Scheels to get Sean some warm weather gear then to the grocery store!  When we got back one side of the fence was down and new support beams were going in. 

While the guys were working on the fence, Mom and I were starting to prepare food for the next day and Abbey came by to say hi.  If you don't know my parents, they love babies...Henrik was held by one of the two of them until Abbey had to take him home. 

When Mom and I headed inside to start dinner we found water clogged in the sink and all over the floor!  Earlier that day the sink had been clogged but we put drain-o down it and things seemed to have improved.  So after spending several hours in the yard, Dad and Matt worked on the pipes.  They ran the auger about 12' down the pipes and found nothing...we had to leave it for a plumber to fix!

On Monday we went out to the missile site!  I think all of us were very excited for that trip...but I think Dad was the most excited.  The morning started with us going to Pre-D (the pre-departure meeting).  We got to see the normal status that the crews are shown.  While the crews were heading out to site, Matt gave us a tour of the wing building.  After the tour, Matt got his tuck from the vehicle barn, we made a coffee stop at the shoppette, and headed out to Bravo!  The Facility Manager gave us a great tour of the top-side of Bravo then the chef cooked us lunch.  We then proceeded to go downstairs of Bravo...where Matt works when he pulls alert.  It was very informative and interesting.  Matt was such a good tour guide that Dad didn't have any questions! 

On our way back to Minot, Matt took us by a missile site and showed everyone what was there. 

 

That afternoon, Ryan had to go back to Pittsburgh.  We got him to the airport then got home just as the plumber arrived.  Mom and I worked to prepare food for a cookout that night with no water or way to clean dirty dishes!  It made things interesting but we managed.  The plumber ended up removing a six foot section of pipe in the basement and found the problem...a massive buildup that was clogging the drain. 

As the plumber pulled out of the driveway, our friends pulled in.  We had several people over for dinner that night and to meet the family.  It was great to be able to introduce everyone and finally let them put names to the faces.  It was a great night of hanging out, playing ladder ball, eating, and laughing!  

On Tuesday, Sean left for Denver.  Before he hit the road we all went to Perkins for breakfast.  It was a good meal.  After Sean left, Mom, Dad, Matt, and I went downtown.  We walked around and went into all the little shops.  Mom and I had a blast...the boys got tired so they went to the gun store.  After getting home that afternoon we all took naps!  That evening Dad, Matt, and I replaced the wax ring on our toilet...that was leaking too! 

That night we hung out.  We had left overs for dinner and played a great game of hand and foot! 

On Wednesday morning Mom and Dad drove back to Minneapolis for Dad's flight and Mom's conference.  Our house was so quiet and the dogs kept running around looking for everyone! 

It was wonderful to have everyone out here...what a wonderful week!
.katherine.

good report

I had an appointment with my doctor on Tuesday and everything looks good!!!  There will be no surgery or any more procedures or tests right now.  Everything looks good and we will just continue monitoring the fibroid so it doesn't become a problem! 
Thankyou so much for all the support and prayers during the last several months!
.katherine.

more from the doctor

It has been a while since we update about the doctor's appointments.  Last blog about it (click here to read) was after the surgery!  Since then I have had several doctor's appointments and two procedures.  In addition to the fibroid I also have a cyst on my ovary and a septated endometrium.  The last test was to check the endometrium.  Overall the results look good. 
The fibroid is not in the cavity which means they won't have to remove it right now!  Removing it can cause some risk of damaging the uterus.   The risk of that damage isn't worth going in before we have kids.  If it is a problem after kids then we can look into removing it. 
The septated endometrium (basically a divot in the uterus wall) is a small concern right now.  If it is bad enough the doctor will go in to smooth it out.  If not, we leave it. 
We are positive about all the progress that has been made and how quickly everything is happening.  I have another appointment on tuesday and we are hoping for more good news. 
.katherine.
 

edisto beach

Before all doctor's appointments and the surgery .... I went to my favorite place .... EDISTO!!!

It was absolutely wonderful!  I spent time with my family, ate tons of amazing food, played in the waves, napped on the beach, watch dolphins, and relaxed!  It was exactly what I needed!

I left Minot on the 13th of August and flew into Charleston.  Ryan, Cassie (Ryan's Girlfriend), and Josh were there to meet me at the airport.  After watching my bag go around the baggage claim about seven times we finally decided to pick it up and head to the beach.  (Or....I forgot what mine looked like....)  The smell of the Ocean, the thick air, and the instantly frizzy hair were all very exciting reminders that I was finally back in the south and at Edisto...it had been two years since I had been!  Mom, Dad, Morgan, Aunt Arline, Mrs. Darla, Mr. Jon, Aunt Fawn, Uncle Dave, and Kyle were all at the house already when we got there.  It only took about 30 seconds (if that long) before we were all joking and laughing as if no time had past since we were all together.
That night it was salmon for dinner...and it was amazing! I don't know how they do it, but the Pernelli's always manage to make the best salmon! Cassie and I stayed up for several hours that night...you wouldn't have know by listening to the conversation but this was the first time we spent any time together!!!

Saturday and Sunday we all hung out on the beach.  There was a lot of kayaking, reading on the beach, and botchy ball...you know, the normal beach activities! 

Early afternoon on Sunday a HUGE storm rolled in...and it came in fast.  Poor Aunt Arline was down at the gazebo watching everyone and got stuck in the rain!  It was a neat storm and some of us even went out in the water during it...however quickly came in because it was raining so hard!

Late on Sunday afternoon both Morgan and Kyle had to go back home.  They were both able to wait out the storms and get safely on the road.  Grandpa Tom got in a little later.  We also got to talk to Sean!!!  Sean and I both managed to get on facebook chat at the same time which was wonderful.  We passed around the computer so everyone could talk to him...even Aunt Arline and Grandpa Tom.  That evening JR and Christi came in.  We had a wonderful dinner of Beauford Boil followed with a night of playing beer pong. 

Monday we spent more time on the beach and hanging out.  That evening everyone brought out the instruments and we all hung out in the living room. 

On Tuesday, the adults took a walk to the point...of course they invited everyone but most people were tired and I wasn't feeling well.  The point is the end of Edisto...about a mile and a half from the last spot you can park.  It is a great walk to find sharks teeth and funky beach things.

 That afternoon I joined Aunt Fawn and Uncle Dave on a quick trip into Charleston and Nana and Papa came to Edisto for the evening!  When we got back from Charleston a few of us went down to the condo to watch the sunset...although we didn't see one. 

We also managed to get a picture of the group while Aunt Fawn, Uncle Dave, and Grandpa were still at the beach.  Then settled down to a dinner of lasagna.  

Aunt Fawn, Uncle Dave, and Grandpa all headed out on Wednesday morning.  We spent the rest of the day hanging out and even got in some volleyball in the afternoon.  

On Thursday, our last day at Edisto, some of us went on a point walk in the morning. 

On the way back we saw these two adorable German Shepard puppies!

In the afternoon we played more volleyball and botchy ball, hung out, feed the seagulls, and took tons of last day pictures. 

On Friday we left Edisto and I went back to Virginia with Mom and Dad.  I spent the next few days in the area.  I spent time with the McPhersons, got to see Grammy, went to lunch with Mrs. Graham, and saw the Hannah's.  I also went to dinner with the girls one night. 

Mostly, I hung out with Mom, Dad, and Cassie.  It was great to see everyone and get away for a few weeks!
.katherine.