Our Tour of the Rapid City Regional Airport

It was a beautiful, sunny South Dakota day! We had quite a turnout at the Rapid City Regional Airport! It was hard to count how many Moms, Dads, Grandmas and Kids we had, but at one time I counted around 60!

I attempted to get good pictures, and I sure missed Laurel!

Here we are listening to Mason talk about what we will be doing and where we will be going:



We got to visit the ticket area and the baggage area. Next, we got to ride the escalator up to the concourse. We were not allowed to go through security, since it would have taken all day (all of those SHOES!).

We got to ride a bus to tour the other areas of the airport, including the private and corporate airplanes, hangers, mail delivery airplanes, repair shops, fuel stations and the Airport Fire Station, which is a division of the Rapid City Fire Department. (We have a tour scheduled for there as well...watch your email inboxes!)

I tried to get everyone in the picture, but my camera isn't able to zoom back that far!



While at the Fire Station, we got to watch the Fire Engine spray water through the Snozzle. This Engine can carry 3,000 gallons of water, and is capable of spraying it all in 2 minutes!



This sprayer can go inside of the plane and acts like a big sprinkler:



We got to drive past the Life Flight Airplane and Helicopter:





We also got to see the South Dakota National Guard Huey Helicopter:



Next, we got to board a North West Airlines airplane:



Even though you don't see heads in all of those seats, we FILLED IT UP:



As we left the plane we got our wings and got to view the cockpit (the plane was so full, the flight attendant had to sit up front with the pilot):



As we stepped out of the jetway (the hallway between the airplane and the concourse) we had several strange looks when kid, after kid, after kid, kept coming out.

Try to imagine THAT flight!!!

We ended our tour back down near the baggage area. It was a great tour and all of the kids (and the grown-ups too!) seemed to have fun!

Thank You to Jeannie for setting this up for MOPS! Thank You to Mason Short for being our tour guide and showing us around! Thank You to Bus Driver Mike for driving the Bus!

Thank You to the Rapid City Regional Airport for having us!

Poll Results!

The question asked was:

What activity do you do most with your child/ren during the summer?

Camp
Swim
Go to the Park
Go to a Friend's House and Play
Other

A couple Moms said Camping, and one said Swimming, but the majority of our Moms said Go to the Park (66%).

Rapid City has many parks, and I thought I would pass along the link to the Rapid City Parks Website. Many of the parks on the list do not contain playground equipment, however, if you keep a kickball or Frisbee in the vehicle, you could always have something to do if you are going to a new park. The city also has 5 parks or areas that you are allowed to have your dog with you, off leash.

This amenities page (you will need Adobe Reader to view it) will show you which parks have what.

I have also taken my boys to the school playgrounds. During the summer they are not used. One of our favorites is up on the north side of town. (If my memory is right...) It is at Knollwood Elementary (off of Herman Street, off of Anamosa). There are several neat things there, mostly for 3-5 year olds, but there are some things for the younger kids to do. My favorite is the slide. It has no sides, and your legs go on the outside. I will post a picture of it soon.

Spearfish also has a great park. If you are ever in the area, I highly suggest the Spearfish Park, near the Fish Hatchery.

For those Moms who said they liked camping and swimming, if you so choose, please comment on your favorite camping and swimming spots. It is nice to hear other Mom's opinion on what they like and why! And for you park goers...please comment on your favorite park as well!

Apple Cake

I got this recipe from my Mother-in-Love, who got the recipe from her Father-in-Love. She makes this cake every time we go and visit, and any time they come to visit us. I am not a baker, but I haven't messed this up yet. I am a dump and pour kinda gal, and this is a great starting point. It takes a bit more effort, and a bundt pan, but this thick, yummy cake is well worth it! I did bring it one time to one of our meetings. I had pictures of the process at one point, but I lost them somewhere on this silly computer! Sorry!

GRANDPA'S APPLE CAKE

3 Eggs
2 Cups Sugar
1 Cup Oil

2 Cups of Flour-slightly heaping
1 tsp. Salt
1 tsp. Baking Soda

1 tsp. Vanilla Extract
1 tsp. Cinnamon
2 Green Apples
1 Cup Chopped Nuts
1 Cup Plumped Raisins*

*Before you do anything, grab a small pan or teapot and heat up 2 cups of water. Put the raisins into a bowl. Once it the water is hot, remove it from the heat and pour it over the raisins and let them sit and soak. It takes between 15 and 20 minutes to plump them-the longer the better! If they are not plump, the cake just won't be the same.

Move your oven rack to the center and pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees. Oil or grease the bundt pan.

Combine the first 3 ingredients in a large mixing bowl and stir until combined. I use Extra Virgin Olive Oil.

Next, dump the flour on top of the wet mixture, and make a little volcano-like hole in it. Put the Salt and Baking Soda into the hole, and mix the dry ingredients together briefly with a fork before folding them into the wet mixture.

You can use a mixer to combine those ingredients, and either way, it will be a thicker batter.

Add the Vanilla and Cinnamon. I use about two teaspoons of cinnamon, since I like more cinnamon flavor.

Take your Green Apples, wash them and peel them, if you wish. I don't peel mine, but I'm weird (aka lazy). Core them and slice them. I don't cut mine up ahead of time since I have to wait for the raisins. I also don't like to look at brown apples! I generally have about 8 apple slices per apple. Next, cut the slices the other way and make small pieces, and throw them into the bowl.

Add the chopped nuts (walnuts work well) or you can use 1/4 cup of ground flax seed (in place of, or as a substitute for half of the nuts.)

Drain the raisins and add them and use a spoon to stir and fold all of the ingredients together. If the mixture seems too thick, you can add a half cup of applesauce (or one of the individual size servings) if you have it on hand. You can also use a bit more oil. I will take my spoon and take a scoop and hold it upside down over the bowl. It shouldn't cling forever, but it shouldn't run right off either.

Spoon the mixture into the bundt pan and wipe off any excess from above the batter line. Put it into the oven. Close the door and set the timer for 1 hour. Do not open the door to check on it or the cake will fall into itself.

When the timer goes off, DO NOT OPEN THE DOOR! Turn off the oven, and set the timer for 15 minutes. Once the timer goes off the second time, it is time to pull it out of the oven. Allow it to cool on a rack in the bundt pan for a few minutes, then you can take it out. I just lay a plate over the top and then flip it over and shake a bit.

It is FANTASTIC warm from the oven, but my husband and I argue whether or not it is even better the next day!

Verse of the Week

NIV: Philippians 4:13 I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

KJV: Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

Philippians is such a great book. A book of joy. I love turning to this book when I am having a bad day, since it builds me up in Christ. This upcoming year of MOPS, we will be discussing "ADVENTURES IN MOTHERING". During these meetings, we will be having loads of fun and gain lots of knowledge. However, in our homes and lives, not all adventures will be planned, fun, or exciting. Many will be demanding, complicated, and frustrating.

I remember the first time I went through the haunted train ride at the County Fair. I was very young (before I trusted Christ's finished work on the cross as payment for my sins) It was so exhilarating knowing that I was in for something new and exciting. Almost the whole time I was spooked and frightened. The only thing I focused on was the fact that I was going to make it through, since I had watched the kids go in and out many, many times.

Being a mom has that same feeling at times.

"What ever made me think I was capable of doing this?"
"How will I deal with these children when they get older?"
"What am I doing?"

God has given believers the necessary skills to cope with all sorts of adventures that will come our way. The Scriptures are our instruction manual on how to cope with these scary rides. Scripture even states that the trials that we go through help us grow (Rom 5:3-4). Then, when we see someone going through the same, we are able to serve and help them.

I am going to write out this verse and put it on my mirror. Think on it. Pray about it. I hope you will as well!