happy december

i don't know why it takes me a month between posts....wait, i do know why. our desktop computer can't upload my pics and i have to wait until evan brings his laptop, who we call lappy home. and i never remember to post pics, or by the time i do, i'd rather get some sleep!

hope you are all enjoying december!

we are enjoying a white december thus far! it snowed about six inches this week and if it weren't in the negatives we'd be out enjoying it. instead we look out our windows in the car or from our house and admire the glorious white stuff.

we have a pot of goodness simmering on the stove. it's a winter must at our house. it simmers all day long and adds the most amazing smell to our house. try it:

4 cups water
2 t cinnamon
1 t ginger
1 t nutmeg
1 t whole cloves
1 t allspice
orange peel

you can add what spices you like...i like to get it bubbling then turn it to low for the rest of the day. add water as needed.

hope you enjoy it!

10 years

10 years ago this month that we started dating.
So happy my life is with him.
Love waking up to his face each morning.
Love our life together.
Love his desire for adventure.
Love his happy optimistic attitude.
Love him.

Brynn

My most favorite picture as of late of this little lady. She has a mouthful of teeth now, stands and even walks a little. She is a people person, lights up when her Dad is in the room, hates to have things taken away from her-and lets her sister know this, says 'ma ma ma' and 'da da da' with gusto, and LOVES LOVES LOVES animals of ANY kind. I want to remember this stage forever. Love it.

halloweenie

I had every intention of putting away the halloween decorations this week, but just couldn't. We found this little halloween decoration AFTER halloween and so we have had to light it every night at dinner and eat in the dark, per Maya's request. So the decorations are sitll up, and we have been eating all things fall. We have made 'mother lode pretzels' at least 5 times in the last month. So delicious. Dip pretzels in caramel, then rollin chocolate chips and nuts. Absolute heaven. But don't make it early in the day, you'll eat most of the tray before your husband comes home. And I can't blame it on Maya, she only wanted half of one. Boo.
This year Maya was Thomas the train. I had the bright idea to be vikings. You know, we are now considered 'minnesotans' and I think that we have tried to acquire the accent whole-heartedly so I thought it would be nice to represent our heritage here, however I just didn't have the time to try and glue fur everywhere and get Evan a long blonde wig. We dress up every year, but this year we just didn't make it, so next year expect big things from us.

The best gift=people come to visit!

Carly, Parker and Maya on a walk

Chad the 'cool uncle' who plays trains with Maya

Chad and Val

Parker and Carly

My brother Chad and his wife Val and my little sister Carly and her boyfriend Parker came to visit us! THIS IS THE ONE AND ONLY THING I LIKE ABOUT LIVING FAR AWAY FROM FAMILY...they come to visit you. We had an extended weekend and it was not near enough time, but we had a fabulous one. We took them to Punch Pizza, the best pizza in Minne, and then had hot chocolate after to celebrate Chad's birthday. We made lots of pumpkin cookies, and went trick or treating, went on a glorious fall run, watched movies, and just enjoyed it. Thanks so much for coming out here you guys, it was the best. Funny thing-I hardly took any pictures, so looking back I have just a few pics of the peeps visiting....oh well, there's always next time right?

A fine fall day

Today was a miracle, really. The sun was out and the temperature was 65! That NEVER happens in November in Minnesota. We had millions of leaves to rake in our back yard, but instead we put on our chaco's and headed out the door for a fine fall hiking adventure. We ended up in one of our favorite little towns Stillwater. We stopped and hiked by the river where Maya found ladybugs and spiderwebs and 'fished' with her stick in the river. Brynn had a few helpings of sand. We ate at our favorite little cafe called Shane on Main, had our turkey, cheddar and apple panini's and then climbed up the 157 steps to get a gorgeous view of Stillwater and the St. Croix river which borders Minnesota and Wisconsin, and visited our favorite stores there; Pulp Fashion-a paper goods store full of all sorts of funky things that make me wish I had loads of sweet cash to spend in there, and of course 45 degrees, one of the best outdoor stores in Minnesota. What a great day.

The man I call 'Sexy Marty'

If any of you would like to hear some good music, check out THIS man.

In October of 1997 I was a high school junior looking through our local paper. I found an ad for some live music at the Lyric Theater in Logan. The theater was featuring Martin Sexton. I called up a good friend of mine and we went and saw him.

One of the best live performances I've seen, EVER!

I bought his cd that night, and loved it. And I shared it with people, and through my friend Annie, he is now known as 'Sexy Marty.'

His music is timeless. He's part funk, party soul, part folk, and you won't be disappointed. Today I was listening to him and it always makes me think of that fall day when I saw him live. What a good day.

thanks amy!

my cute sister amy sent this to me the end of september. i love love love the idea for a halloween advent calendar, and she saw the look-a-like on pottery barn, and came up with this. she is amazing, and it took her only an afternoon to do this. thanks so much amy for our calendar, we love it!

these boots are made for walkin'

the lady loves her boots. the top pic is her favorite outfit as of late-tank top with not much else. she insists on wearing a tank top in the morning....did i mention it snowed this week? but the tank top is accompanied by boots. so sassy. the second pic is of maya in 2007.

for grandpa and grandma

found these cute pics from yellowstone this summer. it was after the drowning accident of camera 3, so we just found these pics. love these of my parents and brynnie.