Grandview Weekend

Last weekend Ryan and I spent a very much needed weekend away!

My parent took the girls and Friday afternoon, Ry and I packed up and headed

north to Nisswa to stay at Grandview Lodge!  We were there last spring for our

friends wedding and liked the place, so decided on a return trip.

I have to say, it was probably the most relaxed I've been in a very Very long time.

There was no plan.  No agenda.  Nothing but time together, good food, talking,

sleeping, watching a movie, and having fun!

I was sad the weekend went by so quick, but I went home happy and rested!

Ry, I love you so much!  Thank you for the most wonderful weekend!!!

~We stopped for lunch on our way out of town and started the weekend right with one of these!!  It was as delicious as it looks!!! ~

~Welcome to Grandview!!~

~We had a great dinner the first night, and since the weather was relatively warm, we took a nice stroll after.  There are lights up all over the place and it was wonderful and romantic! ~

~The next morning we enjoyed the AMAZING buffet (I'm a breakfast food fanatic if you didn't know) and took a stroll down to the lake afterwards.  There was an ice fishing tournament on the lake that day and there were literally thousands of people heading out onto the ice... made for a nice quiet day at the resort!!~

~We took a horse drawn wagon ride, and I'll admit to the horse-geek in me... it was one of my favorite parts of the weekend!  I love horses and had a great time listening to the clip clop and the jingle of the bells on their harness!  Made me a very happy girl!~

I know I look like a giant nerd, but I was so happy!

Don't you just want to touch it?  Their noses are so soft and velvety!

~The rest of the weekend was low-key as well.  We went for a slog (slow-jog), spent time in the hot tub, watched a movie, ate, drank, slept.... it was perfect!  I can't wait for the next time we get away!~

Hows that burger Ry?

Resolution

I'm not one for resolutions... 

but a few years ago, Ryan and I made a resolution to change our lifestyle

and get healthier.  That was a pretty big success and has stuck around, so

I'm gonna give this another try.

My resolution is simple.

Enjoy life.

Don't get caught up in all the chaos, and mess, and other stuff.

I have let my focus slowly slip and everything has been pretty blurry,

but I intend to find it again!

More photos of the day to day life I'm graced with.

More time to pay attention to the beautiful little girls in my life.

Focus on the positives and when something doesn't turn out quite right, 

try it again.

So, in an effort to start... Our January has been full of all kinds of stuff.

Some I want to remember, some not so much, but since it's part of our life,

all important.

The girls are a little pent up, as are most kids this time of year.

The weeks where the weather was brutal was tough on everyone, but we managed.

Here's a few things we did!!!

~Lila lost 2 more teeth... looking a little gapp-y, but beautiful as always!

~She also was a lucky girl and got to have a special day with Grandma Brenda.
 Just her and Grandma, all day!  They went shopping, got pedicures,
did some baking, and watched old home

videos from when I was young (ack).  She loved it!!~

~Since Elle was home with Ry and I, we decided to take her out for a treat too!  It was FRIGID that

day, but she wanted ice cream, so off to ColdStone we went!! ~

~My car got hit by a semi truck while I was parked at the Elle's school.  Super sucky... not awesome~

~Lila has become a big helper around the house (when she feels like it) and braved the freezing cold one day to shovel our front step!  What a big girl!! ~

~And among other things, we just hung around the house.  Ellie plays with her babies every waking second of the day,
Lila is making some art creation, the dogs are driving us crazy, and life carries on.~ 

Goofy kid

This is what happens when they are quiet for too long!

I hit a Personal Record the other day and was pretty proud of myself!! 

Hi Rio 

Just Loomin' 

Elle is our sassafras... I think we may have trouble later :/

We attended this concert last Friday.  Weird night, but the music and venue (Varsity theatre) were amazing!
I recommend his music to anyone who likes a lovely sound and meaningful lyrics!

Bring on 2015!

I'm ready!

The Christmas Post - a few weeks late

Better late than never?

I'm not even gonna bother with excuses... 

doesn't matter.

Weird year, weird Christmas

Come and gone and I've never been so happy to see January

(bitter cold and all!)

My girls loved Christmas (as all children should)

Were entirely too spoiled and loved by friends and family

and thoroughly enjoyed their 2 weeks off of school.

(gave true meaning to the lyric of that song....

"and mom and dad can hardly wait for school to start again!...")

We celebrated 6 times and honestly,  I was pretty "over it" by the end.

My babies had fun though, and created some fun memories, 

and that's really what its all about!

Here is a smattering of the holiday craze!

~To kick off the start of things, Elaina decided to get herself an influenza virus...

maybe not her best move...

She was truly miserable and the darn thing hung on a long time.... 2 weeks before that cough finally went away for good. :( 

~ We spent Christmas Eve day with my Mom, Alan, sister and Tony... relaxed and calm, it was nice, although quick as we had to split off and head to church.

~Christmas Eve was spent at church, then home to open a few gifts, set out cookies and milk and sprinkle the reindeer food in the yard, then time for Sugarplums to dance in our heads and await Santa.~

~Christmas morning was quiet and relaxing!  Lila spent most of the night sending texts to our family members from her new iPod... thank you Dad and Alex for being patient with the 2am photos of our tree! haha!  (Little stinker was up taking photos of the tree and sending them to family in the wee early hours)

 The day was so quiet and calm, and we had a few visitors later that evening!

~I worked Friday night, then we head out first thing Saturday morning to take the girls tubing at Trollhaugen.  It was something we had promised we would do with them, and it was probably the highlight of break for them!~

Hi baby!

  

Buddies

Our friends joined us for tubing fun!

 ~Then we crashed at our friends cabin and they showered our little rugrats with gifts (totally unnecessary)!!!~

~The following day we made the short trip over to see my dad and that side of the family... good food, good company, so nice to see everyone!~

I did a horrible job by this point of picking up my camera... hopefully my dad was able to capture a few shots!

~I worked New Years Eve, so I rang in the new year with some new little people and my co-workers. Not a horrible way to start the world... and we like to have fun, so you can't complain!

New Years Day I spent at home, snuggled with my loves, and was treated to a lovely dinner with my folks that evening.  

our belated New Years kiss

The next few days were also spent with family again... we saw Ryan's family and his extended family, and once again, I barely picked up my camera.  I do, however, know that we had a 

few cameras shooting that day, so I just need to get copies whenever they have them ready!

The girls and Great-Grandma Ginny

All the cousins checking out their new stuff!

Now... I'm going to resolve to be a little better at documenting again.  

We've had an interesting start to our new year, so i'll catch up here at some point.

I promise.

maybe.

i hope....