A Picture Update

We made it to Friday y’all. Longest. Week. Ever.

If you missed my POLAR VORTEX 2019 post, 

click here!

The girls were off yesterday and Auntie Cat graciously offered to take them off my hands so I could go into work a bit and work peacefully at a coffee shop. They had fun doing Legos and playing Uno with Cat’s roommate Bethany.

Then (after an outing to get haircuts) all bets were off when Chris got home and chaos ensued.

This morning it got ALMOST above 0 degrees!

The girls were off school today AGAIN, which had always been a planned day off for students. They went to hang out with G-ma and went to the Y and lunch and to see Mary Poppins Returns again. Such lucky girls!

Tonight we enjoyed the (very slightly warmer) weather and also the beautiful sunset.

And Maya helped me make chicken sandwiches and potato salad.

I’ll leave you with my favorite picture from this week... when I got the girls to stand still and smile.

Have a great weekend!

POLAR VORTEX 2019

There’s a meme going around that says something like “Guys, it feels like it is January 147th” and I feel that so hard. 

It is SO COLD. Our state made the main story on CNN. It’s bonkers.

I have been home from work Monday-Wednesday (but still needed to DO work).

The girls have been off/will be off Tuesday-Friday.

I can technically still stay home tomorrow BUT I’M GOING TO LOSE MY MIND so I’m choosing to go into a building where I know the heat will be lowered ON PURPOSE). What has become of me? I’m perfectly fine with wearing layers and drinking lots of hot coffee if it means getting out of my gosh dang house (and thanks to Auntie Cat who has also been off and wants to hang out with my two squirrelly children so I have the option to be freezing at work, but productive).

I’m not meant for working from home, and I just really learned this fact. I barely shower by 3pm. I wear pajamas all the time. It’s not great.

Anyway. Here is how we stayed busy so far during this RIDICULOUS POLAR VORTEX.

Our lovely neighbor Dale came to snowblow our driveway on Monday when he saw me start to shovel and felt bad for me.

On Tuesday morning I believe I uttered the sentence “It’s not even 9am and I’m tired of your attitude.”  But we survived on coffee, pastries, Legos, and iPads.

Today was a lot of “SLOW YOUR ROLL” whilst they were causing chaos in the living room. Until I took them to the library.

And then sent them away to G-ma’s, where they spent a busy 30 seconds outside and then warmed up in the sun.

When I got the news late afternoon that tomorrow was going to be a continuation of the ridiculousness of this whole entire week, I gave up and we had a movie night and I ran out of the wine in my wine box.

So there you have it. Polar Vortex 2019. I’m grateful we have had a warm house and cars that have started and extra time together...as much as it has driven me a bit nuts.

Stay warm out there!

Timehop Tuesday

Well guys, this week is bonkers, as predicted. I had an online day (work from home) yesterday while the girls had school, and now all three of us are home today and tomorrow. I still have to get work done, so it will be interesting. 

My only Timehop today is on the three of us: 5 years ago sweetly reading a book, and today getting coffee and snacks to survive two days of being cooped up and crazy!

Weekend Wrap-Up

How is it Sunday already?!?! 

We had a fun weekend. I took Luna out for a very quick and crazy run in the snow yesterday morning and she had fun eating the snow and running in the field.

Then Lucy came over for a sleepover! She came to lunch and dance class with us and was a RIOT. See video evidence later.

After a nap, there was some iPad time and art time.

Then we needed to get out of the house so we went to a Southdale to run around and have dinner.

When we got home it was time for jammies and a little cartoons before bed to make all the little children sit still.

This morning was breakfast and a bath. 

Here are some silly videos from our 24 hours with Lucy. Click here!

It is FREEZING today, and looks like it is going to be a ridiculous week weather wise. But Luna found some warmth in the house.

This afternoon the girls had the neighbor boys, Caleb and Isaac, over for a play date. They live just down the block and Caleb is in Callie’s class and Isaac is in Maya’s class, so it was fun to finally have them over to play. 

There was lots of energy and giggling, and eventually, puppet shows. Click here!

Last but not least, Jenna and Sylvia stopped over for dinner (and bouncing) while Andy and Chris went to the Wolves game.

Have a great week! Stay warm!

A Picture Update

Happy Friday!

First, a set of Maya pictures. This girl is serious about cutting, loves a cheesy smile, invents silly games like “Throw the Princess” and loves school!

Last night we went to Lund’s for dinner and ran into Pa!

And Callie won an award today at school! She had a whole cheering section to support her (plus G-ma who had to leave early). This girl was so terrified of the Washburn Bear in Kindergarten...she has come so far!

The girls hung out at Auntie Cat’s after school and were so artsy...making “pouches” and using a LOT of Auntie Cat’s staples. 

I’ll leave you with some videos from the week! Click here!

Timehop Tuesday (on Wednesday)

Whoops! Totally missed that yesterday was Tuesday, guys. The long weekend threw me off!

But I’ve got some good ones today...ones that make me weepy about how big the girls are getting. Like these:

Five-year-olds at dance class:

And three busy cousins!

Weekend Wrap-Up: The Missouri Edition!

Happy Monday everybody!  Jenna and I spent from 8am to about 5pm today in the car driving back from St. Louis.  My current step total on my Fitbit is not even 2,500 (which I normally get before I get to school in the mornings on a work day).  It was a long trip home, but it was worth it!  We had such a fun time in Missouri!

We headed out Friday morning and were excited about having no schedule except hoping to get down to Columbia by about 6pm.  We stopped a few different times, one of them being in Ottumwa, IA.  We visited the cemetery where Grampy and Grammy are buried, and got malts at Southside Drug.  It was nice to be back to see Grammy's grave, since it wasn't there when we were there in June.




We got to Columbia right at about 6pm on the nose and went to Mari's apartment!

That night we went out to dinner and then just hung out at her place.  We woke up leisurely the next morning and headed out around 9:30 to wander around Columbia.  Josh goes to Mizzou, so it was fun to see the campus.  It's beautiful!

After doing some shopping and lunch at a brewery, we headed for a wine tour and tasting at Les Bourgeous Winery.



It was a SUPER fun way to spend the afternoon on a chilly winter day!



After dinner we checked into a motel and went swimming/hottubbing.  Part of the pool was outside, so we got to swim in 15 degree weather under the full moon.  It was pretty cool!



Jenna and I left Mari on Sunday morning and headed to see Jenna's brother-in-law Ben and sister-in-law Mandi who live in St. Louis.  They took us around to some of the sights, and again there was more wine.



We ate at an awesome Mexican restaurant last night for our last meal in Missouri.



While I was away, the girls were well taken care of by their daddy and other family members.  I FaceTimed them last night and they were goofy, as usual.



Today they went to Boom's house and got to hang out with Boom, Lucy and Iris all day!



Jenna and I were tired this morning but grateful to have a fun weekend away!




Have an awesome week!

A Non-Picture Update

Happy Friday y’all!

I’m currently on a ROAD TRIP with Jenna on the way to visit Mari in Missouri! Woohoo!

And my phone is making it difficult to upload pictures on the blog right now.

So come back on Monday for a Weekend Wrap-Up that will include the rest of the week too!

Timehop Tuesday

Happy Tuesday!

First we have silly girls:

And then me and Chris...so many years in between!

I always love Baby Callie pics, and including Kona and Luna in the pictures is sweet too.

Weekend Wrap-Up

My head is full of crap and I am so tired from not sleeping, so this is not going to be very exciting... sorry folks.

Saturday: 

Dance class and lunch

G-ma’s birthday bowling and party

A very tired girl put herself to bed before actual bedtime, and my nighttime cold necessities that weren’t very helpful

Today:

Fun at Boom’s house

And some videos from the week...

click here.

We ended the weekend like this. Three of us blowing snot into so many kleenexes. Fun times.