I seen ya gobble-in, a weeble wobble-in.

Tricia and Laura came out to the rez for Thanksgiving! I really enjoyed having them here. The day they arrived we sat around for awhile then we took a scenic drive down to Spring Creek, which is the community I lived in as a child. Tricia had some very strong memories and was excited to return. She reacted as I had when I returned as a 20 year old with the thought, "it's so small--I remember it being so much bigger!!!" It was fun to show them around my old stomping grounds. We returned to my house, and proceeded to devour some pasta and wine. On Thanksgiving morning, I awoke and started to prepare the feast. When my guests got out of bed they instantly got to work, perfecting their "boards" on Pinterest (everyone should look into joining pinterest.com). After hours in and out of the kitchen, and many "pins" later, my friend Brooke arrived and the calorie consumption began! Four young women ravaged through the spread consisting of: turkey, green bean casserole, asparagus, brown sugar carrots, cheesy potatoes, buns, pumpkin cake with an apple cider glaze and homemade apple pie! The meal turned out fine, the conversations were enjoyable and the food coma(s) obvious. After lunch had settled, we drove to some scenic spots along BIA 5. The winding Little White River and its surrounding foliage provided some great photo opportunities (even if we did trespass a little).

Thursday evening we went to bed early, in preparation for our big Friday plans---no, no, no, no... not Black Friday shopping, but a tour of western South Dakota! We left my house in Rosebud at 4:48am CST and headed west towards Badlands National Park. After one poor decision on my part as captain that guided us onto a dirt and hawk (mind you, not deer) filled road, we arrived to Interior, SD around 6:00am (MST). We headed into Badlands National Park. I had forgotten how eerie it feels to drive through the Badlands when it is pitch black out, with shadows and stars acting as the tour guides. We found my favorite outlook and watched the sunrise from there. It wasn't the most beautiful sunrise I have seen at BNP, but was a great experience to have with Laura and Tricia.

From BNP we went to Wall Drug for some sight-seeing, shopping, and of course HOMEMADE WALL DRUG DONUTS! I ran into some of my old co-workers, people who were nice to catch up with. Tricia was able to take a picture with Annie Oakley, her childhood hero.

 From there we headed to Keystone, SD to the taffy factory, Mt. Rushmore, Crazy Horse and ended up eating in downtown Rapid City at the Firehouse Brewery. We ended the day at Target, because I was out of toilet paper--but I was able to purchase Megan's christmas present(s), which I had previously scoped out on Target.com!

I had such a great time with my cousins, and feel more than blessed to have family so great and willing to chart the miles for me. The past three days have certainly been filled with superb memories and hysterical occurrences that will stay with us forever. However, in conclusion, with their departure-- I'm going back to bed! I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving filled with family, friends and warm fuzzies :)

This weekend.

MY PARENTS ARE COMING! MY PARENTS ARE COMING! MY PARENTS ARE COMING!
I'm so excited, that I refuse to let tomorrow's estimated high of 24 with 80% chance of snow get me down!

Mom, Dad and Rijah will be leaving after work today and heading west to visit me for the weekend. I'm so pumped to have my daddy cook for me and to just "hang" with them. I have been home to Verm twice since I moved at the beginning of August and had the drive to-and-from Stew/Roch to hang out but this is entirely different. After the week that I have had, I will be so incredibly happy to have them here.
Last night I traveled south of St. Francis to visit Katey and Solee. I took over Katey's classroom as she moved to the position of literacy coach for the district, and I student taught under her husband, Dave, last spring. Their daughter, Solee, was born October 2. Last night was the first chance I've really had to go spend time with Ms. Solee. What a doll! I don't really like babies that aren't related to me--but I feel as though Solee and I are Rez Fam, which makes it okay for me to love her :)
Da Whoop has not attempted any more escapes since Sunday. He did however get a bath last night, in anticipation of Rijah coming(!!!) and was a great sport, but hated every single second of it.

Click on the underlined words ----> It's Friday, Friday, gotta get down on Friday!!! <------ to have start a great day! I promise it won't let you down :)

Alas, I must end this brief post to head to school.

the past few weeks

The past few weeks have been very trying.
When I returned home from Tricia's wedding I had no voice. Laryngitis had struck. There was no way I could take Halloween off, and absolutely no way I was going to leave my aide alone with my kids the day after Halloween (I am confident that each and every elementary school across the globe should not be open the day after Halloween).
And so it went, Halloween +19 1st graders + teacher who with no voice= mayhem
I had invited the families of my students into our room for a "Halloween Parade" during which my students walked around our classroom, strutting their stuff in their costumes. After about three laps around the class I ended the eerie Hallow-tunes and we partied with popcorn balls (thank you, Miss. Merissa), candy and juice. A good time was had by all, voice or no voice.
I struggled a lot during the week of Halloween with one student in particular. When he arrived on Monday (Halloween morning) he gave me my daily hug and bent over to show me the 5 staples that were in his head. Over the weekend, his 12 year old cousin smashed a bottle over his head which landed him in the hospital. He could see the anger and disgust in my eyes and said, "Don't worry Miss. Smidt, it didn't hurt that bad and I followed your rule and didn't even cry!" Right about then I had to excuse myself to the restroom to take some deep breaths rather than break my own rule of no crying in my classroom.
One of my professors from USD came to visit me on Wednesday. She interviewed me about my first year teaching experience on the Rez. She is going to use my interview to help upcoming student teachers (hopefully) make the choice to come out here! She is working on getting a grant for my friend Tim and I to travel to USD to speak on a panel. I am very excited to be a part of something that may bring more highly qualified teachers out here! I am having such a priceless experience that I can only wish for more people to have. Hopefully it all works out.
Parent teacher conferences followed Halloweek at RES. I had 13 of 19 show up! I was really impressed and happy with the turn out. I had no bad experiences, and felt that they went quite smoothly. On Thursday we had a Veteran's Day honoring complete with patriotic songs, veteran introductions and the Lakota Flag song being sung by a local junior in high school. It was a great ceremony, and the kids did really well singing!
In honor of Veteran's day, we did not have school on Friday. A good friend of mine from college came through and stayed for the weekend. She has spent the past 2 years teaching English in Prague and is spending some time helping her cousin in Colorado with her son. She was on her way through from Colorado to Scotland, SD to see her family. It was such a delightful time filled with Czech beer, good food and hilarious reminiscing of our Stroller days. Though we found out that we can no longer party the way we used to, we still managed to enjoy every last minute of our time together.
Whoop is doing great. Although he did escape the house this morning while I was helping my friend load the car. He ran loose for about 20 minutes. I drove around town, worried sick and had given up. As I approached my house, there he was --sitting on my front step grinning from ear to ear. What a little snot. I suppose I should be thankful he came back... but man oh man was I upset!
Speaking of being thankful: I am no patriot, but I definitely need to give a post-Veteran's day shout-out to my big Brother Matt for his years in the Army National Guard and his services to the people of Iraq. Also, Grandpa Jack, Amy, Johnny, Rob, Glenn, Jerry and an endless list of friends from childhood and college.  I will never understand how people are able to make those choices, but respect them for it.
I am really looking forward to this coming weekend, my parents and Rijah are coming to visit! I can't wait to have them here, all to myself! Aside from missing my parents, I haven't had a single drop of homesickness since I left in August. I miss a handful of people, the occasional Sunday morning at the Pub and of course Mexico Viejo but all-in-all I just miss my parents. So, my level of excitement is out of this world! I just hope that the weather cooperates and they are actually able to come!

t&t 10.29.11

   October 29, 2011 my dear cousin, Tricia, was married to Tony. It was a sweet ceremony with beautiful music, a great message and a lot of love and support from all who attended. I was Tricia's maid of honor. This was quite the honor. I have been in a few weddings, but never the maid of honor. I took this role quite seriously, planning (with my awesome aunts) a bridal shower and bachelorette party. I had a pair of silver TOMS sent to Tricia as her wedding gift, unfortunately they weren't worn-in enough to be comfy for the actual wedding night. :( Also, I attempted to write a speech that would both entertain and educate the guests at Tricia's wedding reception. For those of you who weren't in attendance, here it is:

    Hello everyone, I would like to thank you all for being here today to celebrate this beautiful couple: Tony and Tricia Knutson!

         I am Jacque Smidt, Tricia’s first cousin, friend and today I am proud to be her maid of honor. For those of you who don’t know, Tricia and I were born one day apart—I like to think that she really struggled in her first day and a half of life, because I wasn’t in it yet… So, Tricia and I met in our first days of life, as a matter of fact she was waiting in the hospital room right after my birth delivery. Since our days at Olmsted Community Hospital, we have had a special connection and relationship. A friendship unlike any other I have ever had or will ever have. Pish and I have been through so many things together—the worst would probably have to be the well known days of the bowl cuts, thanks a lot Mom and Becky.

         Since the bowl cut days, Tricia and I have had our fair share of experiences that kept us close and at times separated us more than we would have liked. A few months prior to the death of our Grandma Jeannette, Tricia and I somehow got back to the closeness that we had as children. We would talk quite regularly through text messages, various social networks, e-mail and the occasional late night phone call. After Grandma passed, we really depended on each other to get through that time.

         The following summer, Grandpa Arnie agreed to let me be his roommate for the season. The day I arrived Tricia was waiting on 2^nd street to tell me all about this nurse from Pine Island. He was unlike any man she had ever met. He was kind and sweet. He loved the outdoors. He loved children. He was smart, had a good job and most importantly he had great taste in beer. She wanted me to meet him as soon as possible so that I could give him my seal of approval. Of course I agreed to do so.

         And so I met the infamous “Murse”. He was, eh, okay. It wasn’t until a couple of weeks later, on the day of Willie’s 21^st birthday that I was one hundred percent sure of this man. Not only did he seem to fit the entire list of great personality characteristics previously listed, but man oh man did he have patience! The remaining months of the summer slipped by us, filled with great times working here at Willow Creek, movie nights and wonderful summer evenings on Grandpa’s front porch. Not only did I get to know Tony, but I got to know what would become Tony and Tricia.

         At Tricia’s bridal shower, back in early August, we were asked to introduce ourselves and offer a piece of relationship advice. As we listened to our mothers, aunts, cousins and dear friends share their experiences and wisdom on the topic of marriage I started to get nervous as my turn approached. As a single woman, I could not think of anything to say—which is not a normal fear for me. As I stood and listened to all of these wonderful women, it hit me—you must remember the relationships that we have grown up seeing. We have learned to love from some of the experts in the field. From Arnie and Jeannette, Barb and Clarence, Becky and Buck, my parents and all of our other aunts and uncles and 2^nd street family we have learned all there is to know.

         So please, Tony and Tricia, accept each other as you are and for who you are. Keep God in mind at all times. Do not keep secrets from each other—but if you do, and when they are found out, forgive each other. Start a family and fill it with all of the love you have to give, and not one ounce less. When you are disappointed or discouraged, take Amy’s recycled advise from Jill, and remember what it was that made you fall in love with each other in the first place. When the going gets really tough, remember the words of the late, great Kurt Vonnegut: Laughter and tears are both responses to frustration and exhaustion. I myself prefer to laugh, there is less cleaning up to do afterward.

         I would like to thank Becky and Buck, Alan and Cher for this wonderful weekend. I would like to thank Patricia Lynn Fredricksen Knutson for including me in such a big way on such a big day.

         Tony, it takes a special man to be able to put up with Tricia, but more importantly our family. We are loud. We are nosey. Each and every single one of us is right—no matter what we’re talking about. But most importantly, we have a love for each other like no other family in the world. I am excited to officially welcome you to it.

         Patricia, although you are now a 25 year old married homeowner and proud mother… to a cat… I will always remember us as those two girls with bowl cuts, walking to the Stewartville Public Pool with popsicle-stained-mouths, talking about boys. To you both, I wish you the best life. Take your time and enjoy the small things.

         I raise my glass, and ask everyone to join me in wishing you happiness, love, and longevity in this most exciting journey. Cheers!

    Tricia worked hard to incorporate all of our cousins, which was a thoughtful gesture that worked out beautifully. Something I really liked about this wedding was the bulletin. Next to each member of the wedding party was a description of the relationship between that person and Tony/Tricia. I thought this was a very personal touch that didn't leave the guests wondering much. There was a bit of drama the night before the wedding. 

    Going through David's Bridal ended up being a bit hellacious. There were many problems for Tricia and I when dealing with them. The dress I ordered in July came in in August but I wasn't able to try it on until I arrived the day before the wedding--it didn't fit. Not at all. It was the size I had tried on and that the attendant had assured me would be fine in the model we were ordering. Not so. Luckily Liv, one of Tricia's bridesmaids, was able to get ahold of DB and found a dress in my size and the color we needed. Though my dress ended up being a different material, the shade was just right and luckily I was the MOH which made it "okay" to be different :) Thanks to Dad and Matt for keeping me calm and as far from a breakdown as possible! 

    We had great-aunts and great-uncles from afar who came to celebrate with us. Also, our Uncle Johnny his wife and daughter were able to come from Oregon. I am fully aware of how blessed I am in all aspects of life, but days like this really put it into perspective. Words can't express how much it meant to me to see all of these people and to be such a big part of such a special day. 

 Cousins: Laura & Kaylee after getting their hair done

 Cousins: Hannah & Michelle applying make up

 Uncle Buck seeing his baby girl for the first time on her wedding day

 T&T's wedding party!

 KayleeBug & I before the ceremony

 Matt was an usher, D&D were host/hostess, I was MOH

 My daddy and his five silly siblings

 Happily Married & making out!!!

 Cousins!

Memory table at the reception--beautiful memorial to great influences in our lives.

blog vacation

Sorry to disappoint. I've taken a vacation from the blogging world. With Tricia's wedding, halloween and parent-teacher conferences I have been a tad busy. I will be filling you all in on the awesomeness that is my life very soon.
I hope all is well with everyone.
Here is a photo of me and a student ("military ninja") on halloween to keep you entertained: