First day of school pictures were a full-on rat race this year! With every kid starting on a different day, at a different time, and with a different schedule, getting everyone dressed, where they needed to be, and in front of the camera felt like an accomplishment all on its own—but we did it!
Leo was the last to start, heading off for his first day of second grade at RES. Bodhi kicked off 7th grade at Holgate, Noah started 9th grade, and somehow we now have a junior in the house with Willow!
And one of my favorite parts? Having Willow, Sawyer, Sam and Noah all at the same school again.
It’s going to be a great year, even if our fall schedule is already looking positively CRAZY with competitive dance, soccer x2, and cross country.
Another trip back to one of our favorite places: Custer!
This time, we got to bring the extended family along again, making it even more fun. We stayed at Buffalo Ridge Camp Resort and spent our days exploring the grounds on nightly walks, swimming in the pool, hiking the Sunday Gulch Trail, enjoying time at Stockade and Sylvan Lake, and, of course, eating lots of amazing food.
The Eissingers definitely know how to cook… and eat!
Another Custer trip in the books, and another one full of memories we’ll be talking about for a long time.
After committing himself to working hard late last fall, Noah set a goal for himself: make the high school soccer team. He trained all winter and all summer, and after two weeks of preseason camp and a week of tryouts, I’m so happy to announce that he did it!
His first challenge was a weekend of games in Sturgis and Spearfish, South Dakota. Our team finished the weekend with a win and a tie, and I couldn’t be prouder of Noah. He started for JV and played his heart out all weekend!
Blake, Rachael, Holly, Bodhi and I traveled west to cheer him on. Bodhi even got to cheer for some of his SDU teammates who were playing for the Spearfish team, so it was a pretty fun weekend for everyone.
And then, just to make the weekend even better, we played in Huron on Tuesday—and Noah scored his first high school goal!
I’m officially starting to love this sport almost as much as the boys do. Watching the amount of work they’re putting in and seeing it start to pay off is pretty incredible. I’m so proud of both of them.
We had a great last “side quest” day trip with the kids on Saturday. Willow had to work a double, so Blake and I loaded up the boys and headed into Minnesota for a day at A’MAZ’n Farm.
There was SO much to do — huge tube slides, a giant petting zoo, black light mini golf, a koi pond and bird house where the birds would land on your head and eat right out of your hand. Bodhi loved that part. There was also a giant wooden maze with towers to climb, a ropes course, shooting gallery and places to practice kicking and hitting all kinds of sports balls.
Leo conquered his fear and climbed the tower to take on the four-story slide, and he spent plenty of time petting the tortoises. We saw turkeys, kangaroos and peacocks, bounced around in the indoor bounce houses and just had a really fun day together.
On the drive home, I told Blake that if we had stayed home, we probably wouldn’t have had nearly as many of the important conversations with the boys that we did that day. And honestly, that might have been my favorite part.
Sometimes the best side quests aren’t really about where you go, but the conversations and memories you make along the way. It was a day well worth the drive — and a pretty perfect way to spend one of our last summer Saturdays before the August chaos begins.
With the extreme heat in the forecast, Blake, Willow, and I made the trip while the boys stayed home with Grandma and Grandpa. As much as they would’ve loved to come, they definitely would have been miserable in those temperatures.
Friday morning kicked off with individual competition. This was Willow and Shawn’s fifth year competing together, and they chose a fun Despicable Me theme. Their ski teammates Destiny, Aurora, Kenley, and boat driver Jesse embraced it with Minion hats, making it even more memorable.
Unfortunately, after a successful first pass, a bobble on the first dog bone ended their run much earlier than expected. Going first is never easy, and I think the nerves got the best of them. Watching Willow come back to the boat in tears was absolutely heartbreaking. She and Shawn had spent the entire summer refining new tricks and more difficult passes, so having their competition end so quickly was a tough pill to swallow.
After a little time to regroup—with a shower, some favorite snacks, and a nap—we headed back to cheer on the rest of our team. There was plenty to celebrate as Destiny claimed first in her event, Aurora earned third, Ashlee had an outstanding finish, and Seth took first in jump during his very first year competing. It was an exciting day for the Aqua Addicts.
Saturday brought team competition. Despite the sweltering heat and being the last team to perform, the Aqua Addicts delivered a fun, energetic show with our Winter Olympics theme. We had a few falls along the way (none by Willow this time!), but the crowd loved the performance, and the team gave it everything they had.
We headed home early Sunday morning to relieve Grandma and Grandpa after watching the boys and the dog, but we listened live as the regional awards were announced. Hearing the Aberdeen Aqua Addicts earn 3rd Place Overall made the drive home even sweeter.
I’m so proud of Willow for getting back out there after Friday’s disappointment and proud of our entire team for the hard work and heart they showed all season.
We spent the day in Sioux Falls at the Air National Guard Base for the Sioux Falls Air Show, and it was an unforgettable experience.
The boys loved exploring the aircraft on display and spending time in the activity area, but the highlight of the day was watching the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds. Thanks to Marge’s cousin, Kathy, we were able to enjoy the show from the VIP tent, where we had a great view and a welcome break from the sun. Watching the Thunderbirds perform up close was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
After the show, Leo and Bodhi were thrilled to meet some of the pilots and collect their autographs. That excitement has continued at home—Leo hasn’t stopped flying his toy airplanes, and Bodhi has been filling pages with airplane drawings.
Our second summer side quest took us on another adventure to places none of us had explored before. This time, Bodhi, Leo, and I loaded up the car and headed toward Sica Hollow State Park, Nicollet Tower, and, of course, a very important final destination—the Purple Cow in Webster for ice cream.
Neither of the boys had ever been to Sica Hollow, so we were excited to explore somewhere new. We decided to hike the Trail of Spirits, and it did not disappoint. The trail felt like something out of a storybook as we wandered along the side of a hill completely covered by a canopy of trees. Of course, every good adventure needs a little excitement, and this one came in the form of a storm rolling in.
As the clouds started building, we decided we needed to move quickly to our next stop: Nicollet Tower. The goal was to beat the weather and make it to the top for the incredible view. The climb was definitely a challenge for us that are afraid of heights, but Bodhi and I made it all the way to the top! From there, we could see three states—South Dakota, North Dakota, and Minnesota—all from one spot.
Leo made it about halfway up the tower this time, which was still a pretty impressive effort. With the storm getting closer, we decided it was time to head back down quickly and avoid getting caught in the weather.
After all that hiking and exploring, we had definitely earned our final side quest stop: The Purple Cow in Webster. No trip through Webster is complete without stopping for their hard-scooped ice cream and grabbing a classic photo opportunity.
One of my favorite things about this summer has been how full our yard has become.
At almost any given time, there are a few extra boys hanging around our house. The soccer net is almost never empty, and if they’re not kicking a ball around, they’re making up some new neighborhood game that somehow involves every kid within shouting distance.
Our kitchen has turned into a revolving door. It feels like we’re constantly making sandwiches, flipping pancakes, grabbing popsicles, or finding one more bag of chips to feed whoever happens to be here that day. The grocery bill has definitely noticed.
But honestly? I wouldn’t trade it.
I’m thankful our home has become a place where these boys feel comfortable. A place where they know they’re welcome.
If there was ever a weekend that perfectly captured summer at the lake, this was it.
The fun began on the 3rd of July, when we spent the day at the lake with the Cramonds and Will. It was one of those perfect summer days filled with sunshine, boat rides, swimming, and plenty of time simply enjoying each other’s company. Even though our jet ski had a little bit of a snafu, we still managed to have a great time!
Then came the Fourth of July, and the lake got even busier! We invited the entire Markovetz family to celebrate with us, and it was so special to have everyone together—including 101-year-old Grandma Ket!
There was something for everyone. Some gathered around card tables for friendly competition while others relaxed in lawn chairs, catching up between boat rides. The kids hardly stopped moving all day, hopping from one adventure to the next.
But without a doubt, the highlight of the weekend was the giant homemade slip-and-slide.
We stretched it down the hill, hooked up the sprinkler, and let the fun begin. The older cousins became the official “launch crew,” giving the younger kids an extra push down the hill with squeals of laughter echoing across the yard. Before long, even a few adults decided they couldn’t resist joining in.
Of course, the holiday wouldn’t have been complete without fireworks lighting up the lake both nights. We also took a break from the festivities to head over to the water ski show, adding one more favorite summer tradition to an already full weekend.
This summer, Bodhi, Leo, and I decided to do something a little different.
Instead of filling every day with plans, we created our own “Side Quest” series. The idea is simple: pick a place we’ve never been before that’s close enough for a day trip, hop in the car, and see where the adventure takes us. Our first side quest led us to Fort Sisseton State Park, and somehow we timed it perfectly.
When we arrived, the annual Fort Sisseton Rendezvous was in full swing. Visitors from all over the country had gathered to recreate life on the frontier in the early 1800s. Their camps filled the grounds, complete with canvas tents, cooking over open fires, period clothing, and demonstrations that made history feel surprisingly real.
One of the coolest parts was that the reenactors stayed completely in character. In fact, visitors weren’t even allowed into the roped-off camp area unless they were dressed in period clothing.
The boys had a clear favorite part of the park: the old jail!
Bodhi and Leo took turns locking each other inside the tiny jail cell, laughing the entire time.
Our first side quest turned out to be much more than just a drive. It was a chance to slow down, learn something new, and spend time together making memories.
Heinz Family Part 2! 