Super Rachel Zana's Spot

Because of a babysitting emergency on my first day in Valley City, I was woken up abruptly and recruited to travel to Fargo with Auntie Dot to take care of Baby Nathaniel while she work that morning.  All of the other kids and cousins spent a morning with Grandma Kathy.…

Oh, how I love this girl and her spirit!  And also her hair.  There is a twinkle about her shining eyes and she stealthily goes about her business.   She is sweet and lovely, affectionate and smart.  However, don’t cross her the wrong way, because she will noisily let you…

The Banana was up early every morning in Valley City to assist Papa Richard with horse feeding chores, and several times a day she was back by the fence, checking on those beautiful beasts, and enjoying them.  She knows their names and after a bit she was even brave enough…

She truly is one of my favorite people, and that’s all I have to say about that.

The kidlets were very excited that Grandma Robbie was able to take the day off to spend with them.  Grandma Robbie helped them construct bows and arrows out of lilac branches and string.  This was something they did a few years ago and were really hoping to do again.  They…

It is probably no surprise that while we were in North Dakota my favorite time that I got to spend with my nephew Alex involved reading a huge stack of picture books together.  We were blessed to be able to spend a lot of time at Grandma Kathy’s with my…

I grew up visiting The Buffalo in Jamestown, ND.  I went with my parents.  I went with my Grandma Edna.  I went with my Grandma Jan and Great Aunt Carol (which was one of my favorite days) and one time I went there on a school field trip.  However, none…

One evening we drove to Bismarck to visit my brother, his amazing and wonderful wife, and my terrific nephews.  My Cousin Lisa came over as well.  It was an evening filled with thunderstorms, so we ordered pizza and had a great time while the wind blew and the rain splattered.…

Papa Richard brought Max in next to the barn so that Auntie Dot could lead the kids around the yard one night.  This was one of the highlights of our time in Valley City.  There were always two cousins together on Max’s back at a time, and Dot got and…

After a week of freedom to ride his bike whenever he wanted on long, spacious driveways at both Grandma Robbie’s farm and at Grandma Kathy’s house, Mr. TOF  mastered riding his pedal bike with zero assistance  from anyone.  He rode almost all day, nearly every day that the weather was…