Texas

2009-Cook, Shawna, Mary and Myself all decided to go visit Grandma down in Texas this year. We flew out on February 27th and returned to Minnesota on March 3rd. Grandma knew Cook and Shawna were coming but my mom and I had to fly on a different flight so we decided to surprise her. Gary and Carol were nice enough to pick us up at the airport and take us to a restaurant called "Logans" so we could meet grandma, cook and shawna there. After the surprise took place we decided that we might not do that to her anymore as she was so shocked she could barely stand up and it took her about an hour to say more than one word at a time (love you grandma)!! We had a good time practicing "retirement" in her park. It was a pretty relaxed and low key trip with lots and lots of laughs. Memories I will cherish.

Disney Live

This past weekend, I took Rylie (4 1/2) Mason (6 1/2) and Morgan (4 1/2) all to "Disney Live". Originally it was scheduled for December but ended up being cancelled due to a blizzard. This was part of my Christmas gift to Nephew Mason and Niece Morgan. We had a good time. The kids picked Dairy Queen as there food of choice for supper in Sioux Falls. I made sure they all understood that they had to eat more than just ice cream for supper and of course they all understood completly :)

Mason and Morgan both agreed that Handy Manny was there favorite character of the night and Rylie reports her favorite as Minnie Mouse.

It was a really fun night for me and I always enjoy spoiling the kids! Love you guys!

Eight Things Tag

Eight Things Tag.

8 Favorite T.V. Shows:
1) Greys Anatomy
2)Private Practice
3)The Bachelor
4)Oprah
5)House Hunters
6)American Idol
7)Desperate Housewives
8)Property Virgins

8 Favorite Dishes:
1) Homemade Pizza
2)Grilled Cheese
3)Wade's Oyster Stew
4)Club sandwiches
5)Salad
6)Crab Legs
7)Prime Rib
8)Moms Chili

8 Things that happened Yesterday:
1) Got out of bed
2)Had a fight with my garage door
3)Worked all day
4)Went to the bank
5)Paid bills
6)Checked for airline tickets
7)Did laundry
8)Went to bed

(pretty exciting stuff......A day in the life.........)

8 things I look forward to:
1) Watching my kids grow.
2)Going to Texas to visit my grandma
3)Loosing 10 lbs.
4)Camping this summer
5)Giving Rylie and Addisyn another sibling someday
6)Training for a 1/2 marathon some day.
7) Warm Summer Days
8)Spending time with family

8 things I love about Winter:
1)Watching movies
2)Christmas
3) Being Snowed in
4)Watch kids play in the snow
5)Going on vacation to escape the cold
6)Watching the snow melt :-)
7)Baking Chocolate Chip Cookies
8)The end of Winter - Spring Begins!

8 things on my Wish List:
1)Have one more child
2)Have happy and healthy children
3)Run a 1/2 marathon and finish
4)Buy a new camper
5)Having happy and healthy extended family and friends
6)Teach my children to be caring, honost and compassionate people.
7)Learn something new
8)Live in the moment

Hawaii Time

Aloha Everyone~ Just returned from our vacation in Hawaii. We flew out on January 8 and returned on January 16. We had 14 of us flying to Hawaii and we stayed in Oahu for 7 nights. The travelers were Bob, Mary, Becky, Wade, Tammy, Joe, Brian, Bobbie, Randy, Val, Jim, Voni, Sue, Roger. Six of us ("kids") returned to Minnesota after one week and the rest of the clan went on to Maui and will return home on Wednesday, January 21.

The sunsets in Hawaii were one of my favorite things......absolutly beautiful. I probably took 25 sunset pictures and still feel like I don't have enough. Pictures don't do it justice.

We went on a dinner cruise and enjoyed Lobster as a group which was fun. Wade and I also went on a dinner cruise just the two of us. Wade NEVER wins anything and actually ended up winning a door prize the first day we were there. It was a $75.00 dinner cruise so I bought a ticket and joined him. Lots of laughs.

This is the patio at our hotel. We would meet late afternoon before supper and have a few cocktails before going out to eat. They also had grills you could use at the hotel which some used a few of the evenings. Above must have been the adult table and us "kids" are below. I laughed cause us siblings and our spouses were referred to as the kids the entire trip......

The trip ended entirely way to soon....but it truely was a great trip. We enjoyed the beach, snorkeling, climbing diamond head, visiting pearl harbor and attending a luau. I am pretty sure you would not have to ask me twice to go back! Aloha.......

Last.....but not least

Last, but not least we celebrated christmas at Andrea's house. As you can see Dylan and Parker got new underware and capes. I thought I was going to pee my pants I was laughing so hard at them. It was a sight to see! (I couldn't figure out how to turn this photo - still learning :-)

Wade was not able to make it as he was home sick with the flu so just the girls and I attended. It was great, Dan made his traditional chinese dish and everyone left the table completely "stuffed"

We always attempt to get a photo of all the kids together but it never fails someone in the group is either crying or turning their head so I guess we will just keep working on it. Either way we were all together and fun was had by all.

Our Christmas

We celebrated christmas at our house as a family. Rylie asked Santa for a Princess Bike, with ALL the princesses on it. She was very excited to get her bike but informed me that Santa forgot to put Aerial (little mermaid) on her bike. I told her Santa does his best but can't always fill every order. :-)

Addisyn wanted a princess bike too since that is what Rylie wanted. Santa ended up bringing her a bed for her "babies". She is constantly putting her babies in her bed and covering them up so Santa must have figured the babies needed another place to sleep. Merry Christmas girls!

presents, presents and more presents.......

Christmas Eve was spent with Grandma Mary and Grandpa Bob. Grandma Mary made her traditional Prime Rib supper and as always.....it was spectacular!! After supper we moved onto gifts. We tried our hardest to make the kids open one at a time so we could see what they were getting........and they did pretty good If I do say so myself. Christmas Day was spent at Grandpa Jerry's house. The kids love Grandpa Jerry's house cause he always has candy hidden somewhere and he never says "no" when asked for some. All the kids had a great time playing with one another and I'm so happy that all the cousins can get together and play on a frequent basis. The kids must have been really, really good this year as I don't think any of them went home empty handed.