Attempt at a catch up...

I know my blogging has been a little slack lately, but I've been doing the full time 9-5 Monday through Friday thing for the past two weeks. 
Add that to the fact that Fall is the busiest time of the month for our family and well, it just doesn't leave a lot of spare time.

Moving on, I will attempt a brief catch up at the going-on's of my little family!

First off,  I started a new job in the middle of the month.  A great opportunity presented itself and although it's a little outside my comfort zone, it felt like a really good fit.  I snatched it up and now can say I have a job I'm happily settling into!!!  I am working as a phone triage nurse in an OB clinic and no longer am committed to holidays or weekends!!!  I work with some pretty great people, am Slowly getting the hang of the phone/computer systems, and have awesome hours.... feeling pretty great in this regard!   I will continue to work Per Diem at the hospital as a labor nurse, so I can still get my mama/baby fix as needed, and will also take over teaching their Birth classes in 2013!  

So that's me wrapped in a nutshell!  (thank you to everyone who has been inquiring and I'm so sorry I'm a putz at responding... I'm adjusting to my new time-managment schedule.  Thank you for being patient!)

Ryan has been busy at work and he's gearing up for some hunting weekends! Pheasant opener brought a nice suprise with decent weather and a bird down on the first day!  The girls thought it was pretty neat to see the "pretty bird" then get to eat it for dinner later! Ha!

Lila continues to enjoy preschool and is also very proud of the fact that now that she's 4, she no longer has to take naps!  I'm not sure how I feel about it.  I really loved nap time.  Sniff sniff...

Elaina is naughty as usual, but quite the comedian! The fact that she's really funny and loves to snuggle usually makes up for the fact that she's a whirling dervish!  Usually.

As you can tell from my lack of photos, I haven't had my camera out much lately. When I have, it's been pointed at people besides my family. 

Yesterday, we made a quick day trip up to my Dad's and I did manage to snap a few.  I loved watching the girls run around a play outside, collecting acorns and sticks, and playing tag!  My sister and Tony came up as well, we went out to eat at a burger joint, and carved a few pumpkins! It was a nice day!

I have a photo shoot today I'm really looking forward to, and then it's back to work Monday.  This week however, it's only 3 days, so I get to spend some time on Tuesday and Wednesday with my babes!  So excited for Halloween with my little spooks!!  

And because I like these two photos, I'm going to throw em' in willy nilly!

Happy Sunday!

I love the slobbery running of a happy dog!

The girls LOVE riding the 4-wheeler with Daddy!

It's Monday

It's been a wild few weeks.

Busy, hectic, chaotic, you know the drill...

Last Monday, I started my new job. (more on that later!)

I worked all week, and then worked at my other job all day Saturday.

Yesterday was my day off.  It started out great!

Sleeping in, CHECK!

Apple cider pancakes, CHECK!

Snuggling in bed with the people I love more than anything, Double CHECK!

Laundry got done, house got vacuumed, garden got pulled up, etc, etc.....

and by the end of the day, I was cranky.

I didn't take the time to just enjoy the great warm weather.

I shouted at my girls for making a mess and fighting with each other, rather than

actively spending time with them, as I should have.

Today is Monday again, and I work every day this week.

My promise is, next Sunday I will pay less attention to the "To Do's"

and make time for what really matters.

Sweet Jemma

I was given the great opportunity to not only meet a terrific family, 

but to make a contribution to a great cause!

My cousin, has been fundraising for Habitat for Humanity and will be traveling to Haiti soon to lend some hands-on help!
If you would like to help her out in her efforts for Haiti, click on the link.
She held a silent auction, and I made a small donation of

my time with a camera.  Her friend purchased my donation after just delivering her second

baby, and the rest was history!

I felt truly blessed to have encountered such a wonderful couple and their precious

children!  

Bethany and Nishan, your family is so beautiful!

Be proud!

And Thank you!

Miss Maeve

I met with this lovely family for the first time last Sunday afternoon!

Their little darling is 6 months and just a little bundle of sweetness!

Here's a glimpse of our time together!

You guys were wonderful to work with!

Party Time

Since Lila was sick on her actual birthday, we postponed the festivities until yesterday.

Honestly, I think she likes spreading it out a little!

It was small.  Informal.  Just a few family members.  

Nice.

My biggest faux pas was that I failed to have her cake finished by the time people showed up.

No one really cared.

And it turned out decent, so I guess it's ok.

Plus, Lila thought it was so cool and it even earned me a spontaneous "Mom, I love you" complete with a big hug... so it's more than Ok!!

Thank you so much to those who could make it, and to those who weren't there... 

we missed you.

Lila, we love you!

Happy 4th Year to you baby girl!

My favorite 4 year old

Today, this little beauty turned 4.

It's hard to believe that it's been that long.

4 whole years.

She spent her birthday with just our little family,

and a cold.

:(

(Birthday festivities have been postponed a week due to large amounts of mucus and coughing.  Ick)

We went to the zoo, we baked cupcakes and frosted and sprinkled them,

 we had meatballs (her choice) for dinner,

we sang, and blew out a candle, and ate those heavily sprinkled cupcakes!

Then I tucked her in bed.

We read her new book, and we said prayers.  Then I sang her the songs I've been singing for years.

4 years.

I listened to her snore softly, and cuddled her just a little longer than usual.

My baby.

My big girl.

I love you Lila!

Birthday and Anniversary Weekend

Last weekend Ryan and I celebrated a combination of our birthdays and our anniversary by spending the whole weekend together!  

Ryan's birthday was last week and mine was Friday!

Friday I spent the day with the girls.  While Lila was at preschool, E and I hung out and to kill some time, stopped into this pet store in Shakopee.  

This is what I decided I wanted for my Birthday present.

No.  I didn't take her home.  I figured 3 dogs might be a little much.  But isn't she just the prettiest little thing?!

 When Daddy got home from work, the girls gave me their present!

Isn't that sweet?!

I also got my anniversary gift from Ry

Gorgeous huh? And to add some extra love, he had it engraved on the inside with our names and wedding date!  What a guy!

And because I think it's awesome, this is what I got Ry for his Birthday!

Citizen Eco-Drive. Pretty nifty!

We all then piled in the car, and met up with Ryan's parents for a fancy-pants dinner.

At Chili's no less ;)

I was hoping for a nice family photo, but after sitting relatively still in a 

restaraunt and then having a brownie with ice cream in front of you, well... it's hard to concentrate! Ha!  Whatever.  I'll take it!

Lila and Ellie barely cast a glance our way as they loaded up in Grandma and Grandpa's car and took off.  

Ryan and I caught a movie (The Bourne Legacy), and a couple drinks on our way home. 

A full nights sleep and waking up on our own time... wow! So nice!!

Saturday we had made plans to go on the Minneapolis Riverwalk Tour!

We were graced with gorgeous weather and the whole trip was really fun.  We learned some history of the city and stopped at a few places to sample their food. 

 If you have any inclination to spend some time in Minneapolis, I highly recommend this!

I took about a million photos from the walk, but here's a few.  (or a lot.)

Click on the panoramic pics and you can see them full size.  They're really neat!

I thought the ghost images on the sides of the Guthrie were really cool!

The elevator at the Guthrie is the longest I've ever been on.  This was taken about half way up!

and this was taken on the way back down!

After the walk and some time spent just wandering on our own, we decided to go check into the hotel.  Quick showers, then out again we went.

We stopped and had dinner here.

Had a few drinks and lots of laughs here.

Then back here to crash for the night!

Sunday was our anniversary and it was spent relaxing in the morning, then stopping to pick up our girlies! We did our usual Sunday stuff around the house and had a calm night at home!

All in all, a WONDERFUL weekend!