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.