Meet Our New Girl

Maya, five months old, part Lab and part Catahoula Leopard Hound. She's very sweet and playful. We've already worn her out! Let the fun begin!

Bryant's Big Honor

I'm trying to catch up on summer posts! We started off summer celebrating Bryant's achievement of being named one of 15 out of 4,000 dealers to be eligible for dealer of the year. We were whisked away to Indianapolis for the weekend to enjoy great food, drinks, a fun parade, and of course the Indy 500 race. It was an amazing event! We had such a wonderful time and it was a fun way to celebrate Bryant's hard work, our 12th wedding anniversary, and my new job with Royalton schools!

Goodbye to our other furry kid...

We said goodbye to our boy, Brody, today. It seemed like we had just done this with Shelby, and it was almost more difficult knowing what was going to happen. This picture was taken about five months ago. Since that time Brody's great big heart become too much for him. He hadn't eaten for a few days, he struggled to breath, and meds didn't help. Brody truly lived for his family. He was by your side and looking up at you with a true smile on his face all the time. We have been so lucky to have had such great dog companions, truly our furry kids, and always in our hearts.

Happy Mother's Day!

I'm a very lucky mama!!

Hockey....

and so it begins...

This is what the end looks like...

What we've been up to!

Cam is starting hockey! After a year and a half of asking we've decided we need to give it a try...we might have the next Gretzky living with us and we don't want him to miss out!

We celebrated Thomas's first birthday with sea turtle cupcakes and his own cake! Poor little guy went into a bit if a sugar coma when it was all over! :)

My brother and I ran a 5K. My first and I was proud to run the whole thing! I'm actually looking forward to another one!

I got together with my BHS buddies for some girl time-food, drinks, shopping, and chat time. We're planning a NYC trip for 2013 to celebrate our 40th birthdays!

We are also remodeling our house. We are turning our tuck under garage into a family room and our current family room into a master bedroom. Before and after pics to come!

A Sign of Spring

Hawaii 2012

Beaches...my vacation "must see!"  Bryant's was Pearl Harbor and we were able to get plenty of time at all locations!

Mauna Kea, HI

Pearl Harbor Visitor Center

Ford Island-USS Missouri

The ship was amazing!  "Big Mo" was the last battleship built by the United States, and was the site of the surrender of the Empire of Japan which ended World War II.

Checking things out

The guns on the ship were HUGE!

Pacific Aviation Museum

Arizona Memorial

It was so eerie to boat out to this monument knowing that we would be standing on the graves of so many brave military men.  It was such an honor to visit this historical site.  We didn't know until entering the memorial that those that USS Arizona sailors that survived the Pearl Harbor attack have been interred with their shipmates after they died many years later.

USS Bowfin submarine

I can't imagine being underwater in one of these.  Claustrophobia began to take over at the thought...

Submarine missle

Heading out to the Arizona Memorial

Brainerd High School's choir had been there earlier and left these flowers at the memorial wall...it was good to see Minnesotan's honoring those lost in the war.

The memorial was beautiful, however looking down into the water and seeing the ship was very sad.

Waipio Valley

Valley of the Kings

At the lookout before our hike down to the beach...it was crazy!

They say if this "road" was classified as a road it would be the steepest in America!

I might not have run a 5K yet, but I feel pretty accomplished having climbed back up this "road!"

The waterfalls and beaches made our trek worthwhile!

Pololu Valley...we enjoyed the sites from the top lookout ONLY-this time around!

The sunsets were beautiful!

Sea Turtles

My honey! :) 

 It was so nice for the two of us to spend some real quality time together.  We do have a good time, even without the kiddos! :)

Waikola Beach Marriott, Hawaii

We were so lucky to have sunshine and wonderful weather.  We had a car, so we were able to take many adventures around the island.  If we ever go again we'll be sure to get 4-wheel drive, so we can check out some more out of the way beaches.  We truly couldn't have asked for a better time, and we feel very fortunate that we were able to get a way together. 

We send a HUGE thank you to our wonderful friends who watched, entertained, and kept our boys safe while we were a way!  They had a blast!

Thank you, Kelly, Jerry, Larkin, Bennett, Alex, and Mason for taking the "first watch!"

Thanks you, Missy, Steve, Austin, Blake, and Brooke for taking the "second watch!"