Pontoon

Our theme song for the weekend!!!!

We had the opportunity to spend an adults-only weekend with some dear friends at the lake.

How could we possibly say no to that?

So we said Yes! (Actually, it may have been more like HELL YES!!)

We couldn't have asked for better weather and spent the majority of our time on the water with a beverage in hand!  There were brief times that we left the lake and cruised around in the woods on the Rangers, or grabbed a bite to eat, or danced like fools on the shore by the Tiki Bar! 

Seriously... SO. MUCH. FUN!

Bjorn, KJ...Thank you so, SO much!   And thank you to Ryan's parents for taking care of our kiddos, so we could run away and act like children ourselves!!

Mmmm.... Motorboatin'!

Here's just a few of the hundreds of photos I took this weekend.

The view to start our weekend!

Diamonds on the water

What time is it? "Just two minutes past I don't give a damn!"

I love you!

Drink in hand + camera around neck = my look for the weekend!

fun huh???!

This is just a bit of randomness from the weekend!

As we were driving around on the Rangers, one of us thought it would be a 

good idea to take a picture on a hay bale.

Because, why wouldn't three professional adult married women with children

climb on a hay bale for a photo opp?!

I will not confirm or deny that we a beverage or two prior to this event
(and Ryan clearly was not a big supporter of this nonsense! Haha!)

Here is our final product of all that Hay bale Madness!

Can you say "Postcard"?

Tiki Bar

What a fabulous weekend!!!

Because I love it... I've included this!
 

Babies

These little ones have become a fixture in our daily lives.

I would like to introduce you...

Meet Lucy.

Lucy came to us last Christmas and is well loved by her mommy.

Not so much by our dogs.

She has a missing hand and foot.  Her "owies" are okay now because I have the healing power of Coban!

Meet Big Baby.

Big Baby also has a missing hand.

(our dogs do NOT, I repeat... DO NOT like babies)

Meet Little Baby.

Little baby was given to Elaina by her cousin Calli for her birthday.

Little baby has managed to remain unscathed by our fierce hounds.

This is probably because she is usually in Elaina's hands.

We also have Tiny Baby, a small molded plastic Fisher Price baby that occasionally is important.

It depends on Elle's mood, but we have spent many a night searching the house for this tiny 2inch piece of plastic so that our youngest daughter can go to bed surrounded by her babies.

She loves them.

She feeds them, and dresses (or undresses) them.

They travel with us.

You can usually find one (or all of them) clutched in her arms when she sleeps.

As irritating as it is to have to wrap and rewrap, hunt high and low, and remember to

NEVER LEAVE THEM BEHIND...

They are almost as special to me as they are to her.

Because they make her happy.

Simple.

:)

Fun with Friends

Yesterday we spent our day with some dear friends of ours down in Mankato!

We chatted, ate, played in the pool, the girls painted outside in their undies, and Heather and I even made a spur-of-the-moment decision to go take in a matinee show.

A little movie called "Magic Mike".  Any of you heard of it?!

Plot left something to be desired, but the dancing MORE than made up for it! Ha!

It's been months since we've seen each other and the time flew by.

The end of the day came too soon and we look forward to hanging out again!

4 of the 5 girlies, playing in the pool

Sweet little Reese!

Relaxing

Ryan and Reese, checking each other out!

All the ladies in the pool!

I officially return to the working world tomorrow, and while I have thoroughly enjoyed my time off, I am very ready to be back!  I'm excited and nervous, but confident and ready!  A new place, a new shift (can a get a Woot Woot for day shift?!), and new people, but if I've learned anything in the last few months... it's that Change is indeed a good thing!

Have a great week everyone!

A Hot and Happy Independance Day!

Well, it was a hot one!

But we had a great day regardless!

We spent the day at my mom's, just playing, visiting, and relaxing.

They had a small lake floaty filled with water the girls used as a pool. I forgot their swimsuits however, so I haven't posted any "pool" photos of them, as they were running around in just their undies!

Good drinks and food, a few sparklers, and a handful of neighborhood fireworks when we got home... nothing to complain about! 

The girls loved their patriotic tattoos!

We all got to enjoy the hammock!

I made this pretty little concoction!

Sadly, it was NOT as tasty as it looks.  Pintrest FAIL :(

Ryan may or may not have taken 3 random naps throughout the day...  and may or may not have spilled a little of his beer ;)

The girls also took naps.  I found this particularly darling, as this iron bed is the one I used when I was a little girl :)

While the girls were napping, my sister and I made good use of the "pool"!  We're classy, I know.

We let the girls do a few sparklers!

It was a good day!

June catch-up

I have no excuses.  It's just that it's summertime, and summertime always goes too quickly.

All those meaningful posts, each one it's own individual piece, lovely photos to accompany insightful words....  Um, not happening.

As I sit here, I have a list (a literal list, people) of things I want to blog about.

It's July and I'm just now going through some of last months photos.  So, I'm once again going to lump them together and throw em' at ya.

You can check out what's been up with us or just pass on by.

June in a nutshell- in no particular order

Lila went to her first dentist appointment.

It was pretty awesome that Auntie got to clean her teeth!  She did great and we had a fun day together!

For the first time ever, I painted my toes Blue.

After some major headache and major wallet-ache, I now am a proud owner of an iPhone!

And lets just be honest... they're Rad.

Seriously.

And I heart Instagram.  And it's oh, so much better with an iPhone!

I have cool dogs

...but Boone likes to beg for food.

We had some MAJOR technical difficulties last week.

Let's just say, we've since taken some time to back up the important stuff on the computer.

Eesh.  

Elaina decided to try to knock the chair out with her face.

My kids sleep weird.

The girls got their hair trimmed.  It was a first for Ellie, she was much happier about it than Lila.

Lila wants her hair to be long.  Long like Rapunzel.  Who doesn't?

We like to cuddle with Daddy.

We spent some time on the boat.

I love my husband.

 

 And for as much as I complain about the burdens and trials of raising my girls, 

I do realize how wonderful they are, and how complete my life is BECAUSE of them!

And with that, we bid June farewell!

Have a great Tuesday, I'm off to get my groove on at the gym, then meeting a special friend for lunch! (after a shower, of course... I don't think Gina would appreciate me in all my sweaty glory!)

A most heartfelt welcome

I don't know if I can properly express my joy and happiness,

so I'll just say this,

Congratulations Julie and Brad!

Miss Catherine Ann(e) arrived yesterday morning and made beautiful music as she cried hello to the world!

I can't wait to hug her parents and share in their joy, and of course, give snuggles to the precious bundle herself!  

I love you all and wish you nothing but the pleasure of parenting!