random

You're all very aware how bad I've been at blogging, my apologies. I don't like it either. Just today I was thinking about how I've been horrible at documenting obviously the little things, but even the big things. My blog is my journal, but life has just been crazy lately.

A few random notes....

-just got back from a work trip to Pennsylvania and Maryland. Absolutely beautiful countryside there. Just gorgeous. Rolling hills, beautiful greenery, I could live there (and I don't think I've ever said that about anywhere else).
-busy with Christy Bode Photography, which of course, I love.
-celebrated a fantastic Father's Day today (probably should have started this list with that, but this list will not be in order, sorry). Church and brunch with Nate, Chery, Aaron and our family, home for some naps and out to the lake with my parents and brother's family. Beautiful day! (I do have some pictures for this one, at least from the morning activities, so a more enjoyable post (ie with pictures) coming at some point)
-Grayson was 15 months on Friday. Still not walking, but I'm certain it won't be TOO much longer, but probably another month or so. He also still drinks from a bottle once a day or so...oops. Otherwise still our happy, chill little guy. I do hope to get a few pics this week of him for a picture filled post.
-Connor started t-ball last week and altho I missed it, sounds like he enjoyed himself. Active and as energetic as ever, which we love. Spends 90% of his awake time outside (which is 100% great except for the fact that I swear he burns through shoes at a rate of one pair per month. Is this normal?)
-counting down the days (minutes maybe?) until our annual 4th of July vacation up north. Then we're home for three days before heading on a 4 day vacation to Wisconsin Dells and then the following week I have a work retreat. The summer is going to fly right by.

I'm sure there is more, but it's 12:10am and I should get to bed :)

Have a great week everyone!

Oh wait, I found a few pictures (that the rest also are deserving of a blog post) to make this post a little less boring. I took the kids out to the lake a few weeks ago... So depressing how far behind I am!

don't be fooled, he wasn't actually tubing, just hanging out by the dock 

air spectacular

This past weekend, Mankato hosted the Air Spectacular air show. Just imagine lots of planes doing lots of cool things in the sky :) It was pretty neat! Our neighbor gave us some amazing VIP tickets which we were so grateful for. The Otto family was able to come with us which was great! Definitely a good show, hot and windy, but great entertainment.

The main event, the Blue Angels. It was cool to show Connor jets that are similar to those his Uncle Jeff works on. 

Getting a little anxious for the Blue Angels to start. 

the awesomeness of HFM.

Hand, foot and mouth disease, that is.

Essentially, just read this post by Angie, as it about sums up our lives as well, altho thankfully we've been spared the vomiting. Miles is about 12 hours ahead of Grayson in this entire ordeal, so we also are hoping we can get back to daycare on Wednesday (unless miraculously all his fluid filled sores are scabbed over).

Overall, this crap SOUNDS so much worse than it actually is, it just looks absolutely awful and the groin area is the worst. Poor kiddo!

not much has changed

water fun

We have been loving the warm weather lately and are outside every chance we get. I'm not sure Connor is inside for more than 15 minutes each night, only coming in to eat and for bed. We of course have no issues with this. Grayson, wants to be wherever the big kids are (Connor and our neighbor kids) and absolutely LOVES the sprinkler. I think I finally have my 'fish'! (Connor, not a fish. Hates getting his face wet, etc.) Grayson sat by the sprinkler (quick $6 find at HyVee, ha) for hours, trying to drink from it, spraying himself, spraying Connor (which he found hilarious, Connor not so much, funny how things can turn...), etc. So...warning. Picture OVERLOAD on this post! I just couldn't decide, I loved all the facial expressions :)

Connor was certain Grayson would need his face wiped after getting it wet. Ha.

Happy Friday!

Knock on wood, both boys have been sleeping amazing. Grayson down between 730-8pm, and then I go get him about 7am. Sometimes he's just hanging out in his crib, other mornings he's still sleeping. Connor is a BEAR to wake up. Needs a good 30 minutes (my mom would venture to say he gets this from me...), so therefore I bring Grayson into his bed at 7 with his bottle (yes, thinking about taking this away soon, maybe when he starts acting his age and walking, ha) and that helps perk Connor up a bit. It's working well, but I should probably back this all up 10-15 minutes so we get out the door on time :) Doesn't help that it's 7:27 right now, I'm blogging, and have yet to do my hair or get ready. Oops!

This morning I thought Grayson had fallen back asleep after his bottle...

but popped right up at the sound of the shutter :)

Happy Friday everyone and have a great holiday weekend!

Chankaska Creek

Bryan and I have visited the new local winery, Chankaska Creek Ranch & Winery, twice now, once with my mom and then with a group of amazing friends this past weekend. It just opened and is so beautiful. As much as I NEVER wanted an outdoor wedding (I hate being hot, and my luck it'd be hot, or snowing) this place makes me want to get married again (to the same guy of course, ha) and have beautiful pictures taken. I think the fact that I'm getting into photography makes me love the place even more! Guess I should add that to my bucket list...shoot a wedding at Chankaska :) (any takers?!?! ha) Oh, and the wine? Considering I'm actually not that much of a wine-o....Bryan and I managed to find our favorite, Kasota Rose, and finish off a few bottles (with help, promise)...so pretty sure that's amazing too!

Our favorite wine! Also the bottom right picture, we're standing near one of the areas you could hold an event, beautiful view!

adorable baby grapes + my parents :)

 The first time we were out there, we got a tour of the barrel room (well, technically we did the second time, too) from the winemaker, Drew. As you've already learned above, I am not a wino (wine-o?), so I learned a lot in this room. Did you know barrels get reused 4+ times? Each barrel also identifies what forest the wood came from, how 'toasted' the inside of the barrel and the head of the barrel were during the barrel making process and how long the wood sat before becoming a barrel. Drew referred to the barrels as the 'spice cabinet' of wine making, which is just interesting to me. For all of you that knew this already, cut me some slack, I rarely venture outside of my 'Blue Moon + orange slice' bubble.

Last weekend, we got together with some amazing friends and did it all over again. Thank you to all of you for spending the weekend/evening with us! We had such a great time! Even if Sunday morning was a little rough for some :)

the boys

The boys both got new shoes and hair cuts the other day so I asked Connor if he would be a good listener and let me take his photo. He of course said yes, but when it came time to actually do it, you can imagine how ANYTHING else sounded better. However...I got him to do it and it didn't take very long for him to turn into Mr. Poser, asking me to take a picture of this, a picture of that, etc. No argument here!

I will say I am in love with their shoes. I'm a little embarrassed about how much they cost...but I am certain Connor's will last longer than his Cars or Spiderman light up shoes...right?

my fave of mr. G.

Tugging on his grass-stained jeans to make sure the shoes were in the picture.

See what I mean? He was being such a goof, but I loved it :)

My fave.

Love these boys SO much!!

happy mother's day

Happy Mother's Day to my beautiful mother, mother-in-law, sister-in-law, my girlfriends and every other mother out there! I cannot imagine life without my two boys, I am so blessed to be their mom :)

We started our day out at church, followed by a brunch with Bryan's side of the family and my mom, and then Bryan took Connor golfing. What did Grayson and I do? Took a four.hour.nap. I kid you not. I couldn't believe it. Woke up, saw the clock read 4:15 and yes, a tiny amount of guilt shot through me, but I quickly got over it. I deserved that, right? (the nap, not the guilt) :)

The boys came home from golfing, we played outside, had supper, played some more, got caught up on laundry and dishes and now I'll work on some editing. It was a BEAUTIFUL day and an end to a beautiful weekend.

Love you so much, mom!!

(photo from our evening at Chankaska Creek Ranch & Winery, more details to come!)

13.1 II

I wish I would have written this post sooner after completing my second half marathon, but...clearly this blog has taken the back seat to other things. Better late than never, right?

I completed my second half marathon on April 21st, 2012. I ran St. Cloud State's Earth Day Half with about 1600 other runners. This was part of my '30 before 30' list of goals (which, not doing so hot on...).

How did it go? Well, I didn't reach any of my goals, which I had three of. My first half I ran it in 2:29. The goal there was to not walk and finish under 2:30. Had to walk some (I swear there were 6 miles where it was all uphill on the trails) but did finish under my goal time. This time I wanted a goal of 2:25, 2:20 or 2:15. Ha.

Final time was 2:25:26. So at least I beat my first time, right? :)

And I had to walk. During mile 12. Looking back now I just want to tell myself to SUCK IT UP.

I will give myself some credit. I did it, it's a lot of training time and it was cold, windy and raining for the last hour and a half of my run. (had I ran along with the winner, I'd have been done before the rain in 1:05 :))

HUGE thank you to Bryan and the boys and my amazing friend Anne and her family for standing out there in the rainy cold to cheer me on! It is one of the best feelings in the world to round the corner or look up and see people you love cheering you on. Thank you, guys! It really meant to much to me.

Right before the run I was set on doing Mankato's half marathon this fall, at about mile 8 or 9 where it started going down hill, I started to retract all of those thoughts...however I think I'll still do it. The last 3-4 weeks of training before the race I barely did any of my workouts during the week and really only did my long run on the weekend. I will blame my poor performance on that :)

A few pics Bryan snapped the day of!

love this!

and this :)

Grayson spent most of the race in the car with Anne's sister-in-law, Bobbi. Lucky. Ha.

Mile 11, see if you can spot Anne :)