May 2024

Emmy had an amazing Choir awards night. She was recognized for her numerous achievements in Choir this year. She won so many awards that she could hardly hold them for the picture. We are VERY proud of the year she has had. She has maximized her gifts and talents and there is no end in sight for what she might accomplish with her passion for singing.

Emmy also was one of few freshmen that lettered in a varsity sport. She achieved her letter in hockey and we all attended the Saints sports banquet. What an amazing accomplishment for our Emmy!

Bobby went to his first middle school dance. He had a girl he liked there to dance with (twice). He told us that the other kids circle around him and Chloe when they dance together and watch them. He didn't seem to mind the spotlight and instead was just happy to have his first dance and a girl there that he thinks is cute. He had a really fun time with his many good friends.

End of Season baseball tournament in Beulah. We lost the first game on a Friday night (against Mason's team Shiloh) but came back the next day to score a BIG win (10 runned the other team) against a team that had beat Shiloh in a game that took place after Shiloh beat us. 

We had to wait quite a while in between our games so some of us took in the great town of Beulah. We had pizza and drinks at the Night Owl, then visited the one boutique in town. My parents were there all day watching Shiloh and the Saints so they came along. We ended up having to play the other Saints team for 3/4th. The other Saints team beat up on us pretty bad that final game but the boys had so much fun and Bobby did well this tournament.

We had the entire team and parents over on the day after the tournament for pool, pizza, and fun. It was a great afternoon and the we enjoyed meeting a new group of parents and kids. Bobby has become good friends with all the 8th grade boys and it is fun to see him have another group of great kids to hang out with. One of the 8th graders happens to be the Principal's son. I read a text from Bobby to Mr. Bichler where Bobby told him he admires and looks up to his son as a role model and enjoys spending time with him. This sounds like a nice message but it had a clear ulterior motive. Thomas Bichler (8th grader) wanted his dad (principal) to let him have Bobby and a few friends over to hang out. Bobby's message was to encourage his principal to allow the play date. Mr. Bichler responded to the text "You don't need to butter me up Bobby, I'm not a piece of bread." It was a funny conversation to read for sure!

A double rainbow at our house....God is everywhere!

Biscuit is such a funny puppy. She does not like walks....mostly because she never wants to leave home or any one of our family members. She protests pretty hardcore for the first few blocks. Then relents when she recognizes that we are quite a ways from home. When we reach a point (and it doesn't matter which walking route we take) that we have a mile to get back home, she runs the entire distance back to our front step. It is crazy that she has all walking routes memorized but she always follows this same pattern when we go for walks.

Biscuit mourns the exit of every family member that leaves the house. This includes sitting by door, whining, say puppy face and at times barking at door. She needs to know where we all are in the house and hates for anyone to have to leave her.

Robb got a nap in with his buddy!
 

Grandma Launa bought Emmy some sparkle hair threads.

Team Eckert got a PLUS ONE - welcome Biscuit

Biscuit popped on BisMan Online on a Tuesday evening. Robb and I had been casually looking at puppies and dogs to adopt online but not ever nearing a commitment to actually acting on it. Robb sent me a picture of this sweet cockapoo puppy who needed a new home. I fell in love with this cute puppy and we started texting questions with the owner. The puppy was 3 months old and in a family with a mom who had to bake and run her business from home, a 2 yr old, and a 5 and 8 year old. The mom thought the kids would take care of the puppy but that was just not happening. It seemed like this puppy was supposed to be ours. So, on a Wednesday Robb drove to Minot and brought home this puppy. Bobby named her Biscuit after the children's books we used to love to read.  Emmy cried tears of joy when she came home from track that night. So far, Biscuit has done a fairly good job of getting on a routine. She does like a 6 am wake up and Robb has been a trooper with getting up with her.

Emmy's favorite thing to do is nap with her.

We take her for walks but she either sits or runs.....fast!

One night the kids were "watching" her and fell asleep on the couch.

Biscuit needs to know at all times where each of us are. She often runs over to say hello and then runs away again once she does. She leaves a little pee behind when she gets excited to see us. We are working on it!

 

STAR solo at STATE for Emmy!!

Emmy had good representation at Grandparents Day!

 Emmy went to Valley City for State Vocal Competitions since she qualified at WDA with her star rated solo. Grandpa and Grandma Moldenhauer traveled up to see her. She was amazingly poised, confident, and sang perfectly....earning her another STAR rating! Her feedback and judge comments were very positive and she made her grandparents very proud with how she held herself during the competition and afterwards. I can't wait to see what this lady does with her amazing talent.

Saints Ball 2024

 We had another great Saints Ball with friends. This year was even better because Emmy sang a solo in her choir at the Saints Ball. She is so amazing and makes us very proud. We did win some musical and golf tickets to Medora which was a fun surprise.

Cousins face off - baseball

Mason plays for Shiloh's team and Bobby plays for the Saints team and they've had two match ups so far this season. Shiloh's JV has beaten our 7/8th grade team both match ups but we sure have fun watching Mason and Bobby interact. There is some teasing all in good fun. It's great to have the whole family in the stands cheering on our boys.

 Graduation 2024 came and went in a blur. It was busy but successful!