June 9, 2009 "The 5th Birthday"

We started the day off shopping at Kmart. Karlie had some gift cards from her birthday and said she wanted a new outfit. She ended up with 2 swimsuits, a summer tan outfit (if it ever gets warm enough), and some hot pink tights with stars on them. She dresses herself all up in the tights, a ruffled jean skirt, pink shirt, and new jewelry. Headed out again at 1PM to get her ears pierced. Auntie Susie, Mitch, Ashley, Nick, & Steph got her a gift cert. to get it done. It's been something she's been asking for for at least 2 years. I told her she couldn't until she was 5. She didn't cry or anything. She held my hand and said ouch mom, ouch, ouch, ouch. The lady could only do one ear at a time, too. After the first ear, Karlie peaked in th mirror to see how it would look, then again after her second. She did so good. Headed out again with dad and Tanner to pick up a little surprise. Kittens! One for each of them and then they can keep each other company. They are so cute. Black and white patches. Karlie named hers Casey, and Tanner named his Panda. He really wanted Alligator, but mom talked him out of it :) We finished off the night with Karlie's T-ball game. So cute to watch. They are all visiting, drawing in the sand, waiting until someone tells them to run. Happy birthday little girl! Love you!

Karlie's 5th Birthday

Karlie turns 5 on Tues. June 9. She had her first little birthday party with other little girls invited. The girls had so much fun. The giggled and squeeled in Karlie's room dressing up. Sloppy joes and ice cream cake, then outside to play. Just before the girls were about to leave my dad says I think I hear a goat. I was like yeah right dad. All of a sudden I look at the road and there's a goat running down the road with a leash on! So I call to it and it comes up the driveway so we tied it to a tree until the neighbors could come get it. Her name was Dandy. Free entertainment and the girls loved it. It was so much fun to see her play with all the other little girls and have such a wonderful time at her birthday. I can't believe my little girl is already 5! Where has the time gone?

Las Vegas

We were so excited to take off for Vegas, wow, a vacation with just the two of us to enjoy some fun. Adam worked nights Thurs. night so I met him at the airport Fri. morning at 5:45AM. That morning about 5:20 just about ready go and notice a puddle on the floor in front of my fridge...oh my gosh, it quit working; threw everything into bags and threw it in downstairs freezer, and ran out the door to get to the airport calling dad on the way to contact a repairman for me. Not the best start to the morning, but the rest of the day went great.

Davina & JP picked us up at the airport and we had lunch at the Spago, yum! Checked into the hotel-Bally's, upgraded to a jacuzzi suite (I would be very glad for this later on with all the walking in those cute heels all over Vegas; used it at least twice a day to stick my feet on the jets to numb them before heading back out). Great hotel because it was so centrally located everything was so close. We met up with cousin Jep and he took us backstage to the Terry Fator Show to meet the band, and his great team. We got to visit and it was so nice since we hadn't seen him for awhile. Headed out to watch the show, fantastic is all I can say, the lights, the talent, the show. Afterwards, we went backstage again and Michael Love of the Beach Boys (who sat just behind us during the show) was backstage, too. Soooo cool! After the show we headed out for awhile to see some more things.

Sat. we shopped, ate at BLT burger (really good burger & shake) :)walked around some more just checking stuff out. Headed out again to meet up with Jep. He took us out to the Cirque show LOVE. Phenominal! It was a show with all of the Beatles songs. I mean who doesn't know all of the Beatles songs plus dancing, acrobatics, and theater. It was wonderful! Headed back to the Mirage and out to dinner with Terry and his wife to Ruth's Chris steakhouse. OK they cook the steak in butter, I mean what could be better then that. Soooo good! Petite filet (which was not even close to being petite) with oscar style, and a wonderful red Quintessa wine. It was so fun to visit with them.

Sun. relaxed again and got ready for our vow renewal. Davina and JP met us at the hotel and the limo picked us up to bring us to the chapel. They brought us a really nice bottle of champagne to celebrate and I think we got the only limo without a liquor license. I mean people wonder around with drinks on the streets of Vegas for crying out loud we just wanted to toast ourselves! We renewed our vows at the Graceland Wedding Chapel Elvis style. The people that walked out before us had fake sideburns on, hilarious! Jep met us there. We headed in and immediately I got the giggles. Elvis was girating his hips, and I couldn't quit. Elvis sang and had his own little twist to the wording for renewals. He handed Adam the mike to sing so Adam did a bit and then Elvis was like "OK, that's enough" so fresh new set of giggles from me. Then Adam was moving his hips with Elvis. Definately won't forget this memorable moment. I even had Elvis laughing. It was so much fun! Out to the parking lot we headed, Davina disappeared and out she came with cone solo water cups so we could toast with our champagne. More laughs! Then to the Bellagio to eat some appetizers at FIX and visit some more. We headed to the Cirque show O there and that show was wonderful, too. Then over to the Wynn for dinner at Daniel Boulud's. JP knew the manager so we received lots of complementary food. Tiny beautiful goat cheese tarts, foi gras flan with escargot, and the desserts were to die for raspberry souffle, raspberry pistachio tart, lemon tart with candied blueberry's, chocolate lava cake with fresh mint ice cream. I had the halibut and it was beautiful so light and fresh tasting. Hats off to the chef & pastry chef. When you can take pictures of your food you know it's good. We then got into Club XS where people were dancing around a pool where there were cabana pool beds and lounge chairs in the water. I know I've seen this used on a scene from CSI.

Monday out we flew back home. Boy I missed the kids, but boy did we have a good time together visiting with friends and family. It can't get much better then this. Sorry to all of you for describing all the food we ate, but if anyone knows me, you know what a passion it is for me to cook so I love to taste and try to recreate delicious food at home. I love the culinary field, who knows maybe in my future. Vegas is just a whole different lifestyle. No one eats lunch before 2pm and dinner until 10 after all the shows. I can't pick a favorite show because they were all so good, and there were special things about each show that were my favorites. It was so good to visit and see everyone while we were there. Thanks you guys for showing us a good time and making our anniversary get away so very special!

Crafts for Kids

I have little ones that need to keep busy...I'm sure this is all kids. So I was looking for something fun, especially since this winter seems to be dragging and dragging and dragging on. I found www.enchantedlearning.com it has so many cute easy projects to pick for all age groups with things you mostly have at home minus some googly eyes and pipe cleaners. We are making tulip flowers out of eggs shells and rabbit masks for Easter. Have fun you other mommies looking for something fun. Just thought I'd mention this since my kids are so sick of winter and I'm sure others are as well!

Naples, Florida 2009

So good to go to Florida again for 10 days. Soooo lucky to have family in that WARM part of the world. Glad to miss the 20 inches of snow we received while we were gone. We had many days of relaxation. Pool side the first day, the next day the guys went deep sea fishing with Playin' Hooky, caught 56 BIG fish (snapper, tuna, mackeral, grouper, yellow tail, mango, amber jack) so we now have a freeze full of yummy fish! The guys had an awesome time fishing. That day us girls and the kids stayed inside (a wee bit burned) chilled on the couch and vegitated, put all the kids down (Charlie & Jessica's dog Sophie as well) :) Mom, Jessica, and I watched chick flicks ate popcorn and stayed in PJ's until 3pm(Momma Mia and 27 Dresses, loved them!)!!! Thought we'd better dress before the guys got home. :) We also went to the carnival in town. It was so much fun to watch the kids ride the rides together and giggle. This made me smile and know that this was what growing up with family is all about.

We mostly laid out at the pool, the kids were fish for the week. They loved playing in the pool with cousin Nathan. I was so amazed he's a natural in the water, a natural little fish. We went to the beach, too. The kids loved playing in the sand and splashing in the water.

So much fun to see them even though I wasn't feeling well. I think I got sick from some yahoo on the plane. Fever & chills for 3 days. Once I got the cold medicine in the body in the morning I was able to make it down to the pool to curl up in the sun. Then Adam only a little, Karlie, then Tanner with 103 temps sleeping in between us with his feet in Adam's ribs and his head on me because I get scared when he gets these temps so high. Waking up in the night, crying out, so not a lot of sleep for a few of those nights, but a pool and heat make it all better the next day.

We also took in a Twins game; they lost 9 to 5 due to some stupid plays, but still nothing about a hot dog and a ball game with the kids screaming yeah for the ball players. It was also bobble head day and so the kids each won one (one of Justin Morneau & one of Gary Gaetty). Pretty cool.

The plane ride home was a little long. Tanner was so over tired and Karlie just liked getting digs in so he kept covering his ears and yelling stop it sissy. Plus his ears really bothered him, but finally on the flight from MSP to the Falls, Tanner started crying a bit, and we had one of those flight attendants that talks to baby's like they are dumb...you know that loud slow talk thing that makes you want to laugh. Tanner looked at her like she was nuts but did quit crying long enough to really bounce & rock him and out to sleep he went for the whole flight. They were so good for the most part, but I did get a little panicky when the DVD's died only half way back from Florida. Oh, well, what a wonderful trip to be able to visit with Charlie & Jessica, Holly, Marc, & Nathan. Thanks you guys. We love you!

It's been a pretty quiet winter, basically too cold to go outside with the kids. I don't like to freeze! Just a couple cute pics of the kids. Tanner couldn't wait for me to cut his belgian waffle one morning...too hungery. :) Tanner's also heading out for a ride on his Harley, just kidding. He belongs to the Diaper Gang. He He The one of the kids hugging is actual proof that it does happen. After earlier today as they were wrestling on the floor for a toy I had to be sure.

We took the kids ice skating a couple weeks ago during Icebox Days. Adam has skates but has never skated a day in his life so he refused to put his skates on when there were so many people around. So I helped Karlie, she did really good for her second time out and had way more fun then last year. She used the glider thing to start and then pushed it aside and skated herself. That's my girl, just like mommy!!! Then I skated around with Tanner to give him a feel of being out on the ice. I still get that great feeling when I'm on the ice even though I don't skate much any more. That feeling of coldness in the face that's completely exillerating, freedom, & speed! Boy do I miss it. Hopefully, now that Karlie's starting to take to it, I'll get to do it more. I miss it!

Karlie has now moved to a full sized bed. Her very own big girl bedroom. She is very excited. We got a bedroom set from the farm that had a big vanity. I thought it would be so special for her to have. I was right! She has been sitting at that vanity brushing her hair and playing dressup for the last 3 days (that's all it's been in her room). It has a drawer for all her dressup clothes. She loves it and it's so funny to watch her. Today she needed to get dressed up otherwise she would not be able to save her kingdom! Tell me what an imagination this girl has. So cute & funny. Stay warm everyone!

Christmas 2008

This is just one of my favorite moments of December. It was the last time I was out at grandma's farm. Blizzard weather, but the kids sat in the little sled as I ran around pulling them and giggled uncontrollably. What a wonderful time!

The pictures shown in the slideshow are the business we've been up to since the beginning of Dec. We hiked out for a tree at Saunder's and found a small tree (the kid's) and a large tree (about 9 feet high and 7 1/2 feet wide, a rather chunky little thing). We forgot a sled to pull the kids around in, Karlie walked for a bit, but then she was soooo tired so Adam carried her and I set Tanner down in the snow & he just looked at me like yeah right ma like I'm really going to walk through this. So by the time we were done we were really tired. The kids picked their little one out and helped Daddy cut it down. We decorated the trees (the bottom branched were a little heavy with bulbs...woder why?). Frosted cookies at Grandma Cheryl's. Most of which were eaten and half had so many sprinkles on them it was like a second cookie. :) I have found that one of Tanner's favorite things to play with is half a pop box; loves wearing it as a hat, and even shared the other half with sister. Adam thinks we should send it in to Coke. Karlie had a Christmas program at church where she was the angel (mommy played the angel when she was younger). She said the costume was missing something like it needed a wand. When Papa asked her later how she like being an angel, she said she didn't because the glitter on it made her itchy,scratchy. She also had a program at school where they sang A Wide Christmas (Adam tried to tell her it was a White Christmas, but she wouldn't go for it). Some of the kids favorite presents were a train set and fire hat for Tanner and roller skates and a pink guitar for Karlie. Karlie pulled up a seat Christmas Eve and sang jingle bells, took a bow and asked us to dim the lights while she performed. When she bowed she told us she would be here all night and she didn't mind flash photography. :)

She had just heard this phrase at the Terry Fator show we went to in Hinckely on the 20th. Such a special time. There were 30+ family members that met up for the show. It was so fun to see everyone. Terry invited us for lunch. The show was fantastic. Entertaining & funny. The day before the show we stayed at grandpa Terry & grandma Sue's and celebrated Christmas with them and went to the Maplewood Mall for a bit. We rode the beautiful carousel they have there. Adam got us extra tickets and we had already rode once and only wanted to ride one more time. I saw a little girl & her mommy at the ticket counter and the mommy didn't have enough cash to get tickets she would have had to write a check (and she looked mighty frazzled)so I politely told the ticket lady to give her our tickets. She thanked me over & over again and tried to give me what she had in her purse, but I just told her Merry Christmas. It made me feel very good just to see that little girl smile as she climbed on a horse.

So many blessings this year and so much to be thankful for. Wonderful family & friends, beautiful, funny kids. I hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas and have a very Happy New Year!!!

Christmas 2008