Happy Valentine's Day

Yep. Still Dog Sledding.

 B Dawg, being a sled dog, pulling a sled dog, and pushing a sled dog with her nose.

Yep. Still Dog Sledding.

Dog Sledding Finale

 Ali was just out enjoying the snow.

 Nana, Papa and B Dawg

 Ali photo bombed my picture while checking on Addi, who was just coming back from a ride.

 Looks like Addi had fun.

 That morning, we took five female dogs out.

Roxy, Dora, Pepsi, Dart and.....???

(Anyone that was there remember the name I am forgetting??)

 I think she looks like she's smiling.

 Taking a little snow-eating break.

 Love this picture!  Makes me laugh.

 Ali doing her 'old lady peering over her glasses' look.

 He offered any of us watching a ride.... 

So. I jumped on.

It was so much fun!

I did feel bad for the dogs since they had been pulling little girls around... and then had to pull me.  I'm sure I wore them out. Ha!

It was really bumpy, and my bottom was freezing cold by the end... but totally worth it.

We did have to stop out on the trail because Dora had to go #2.

Totally was downwind of that and just... ewwwww.

I loved listening to him say the commands  -- took mental notes so I know what to say the next time we are dog sledding through the grocery store. Ha!

One more HUGE thank you to my in-loves for arranging this for us!

Daddy Daughter Dance

 It doesn't seem to matter how organized I try and be... if it involves our family going somewhere, on time, wearing nice clothes.. it's always going to turn into some chaotic event involving me running up and down the stairs eleventy million times.

It will also include me sporting a sweat 'stache.

Thankfully, I wasn't going with, so it didn't matter how I looked, or how much sweat was pooling on my upper lip.

 The plan was, RB was going to take the girls out for dinner, then to the dance.

I take all the credit on teaching him how to 'do a date' properly...seeing as though we've been together since junior high.  But I would like to state this for the record:  He always took me to Bonanza.  Last night, he took the girls to Red Robin.  I'm sure it was the allure of the never ending fry basket that helped make his decision, but whatever the reason, I am quite certain the girls' dinner was better than any dinner I ever ate at Bonanza.

I was going to tag long for dinner, because ... well...  the 3:1 ration can be a bit daunting. Turns out, they met up with our cousins Joey, Maggie and Estelle and I was able to stay home and clean the bathroom and kitchen.  I know, I really know how to go all out on a Friday night.

The bathroom AND the kitchen.

And for fun, I tormented Agnes with the vacuum.

 According to RB, dinner went pretty smoothly.

I find that a little hard to believe since there were 5 children, ages 3 to 7, with only two male 'supervisors'... at a restaurant for about an hour.... but as long as they had fun, ate, and left without any huge catastrophes... I would call that a successful dinner.

They were able to make it to church a little early, and got their pictures taken right away before the line became huge.  I can't wait to see the picture.   Between Ali's aversion to camera flashes, and Ainsley's smile... it's going to be awesome.

 Then it was time to hit the dance floor.

Ali was pumped because they did a 'chain dance' -- they made a train of people and danced through the dance floor.

RB said that Ainsley danced... and danced... and danced... and he only lost her once on the way back from the dessert table.

He said it in a way that losing her 'only once' was a good thing. Ha!

But, I guess, if we were going to lose her in a sea of people... losing her at church was probably the best scenario.  She was just fine when he found her, she was dancing with a new friend she made.

 I actually had other plans last night.  Once I was done cleaning, I showered and headed to the mall to find some Valentine's Day presents since I was, for once, kidless.

And that is when I saw approximately 83 Justin Biebers.

I spent approximately 45 minutes at the mall.

I will never spend another minute there on a Friday night.

I then went to my Bestie's birthday party, which didn't even start until 8 pm.

Who starts a party at 8 AT NIGHT?

I was exhausted and wanting my flannel pj's.

I managed to stay out until the wee hour of 9 pm, and then headed home. 

 Another successful Daddy Daughter Dance in the books.

I have big plans for myself next year.... that includes...doing nothing.

 My four most favorite people in the world.

Daddy Daughter Dance

2012

FFF - Outtakes

Longest. Week. Ever.

So happy it's Friday! 

Tonight is the Daddy/Daughter Dance at our church.

Ainsley is old enough to attend now... so RB is taking all three girls.

Out to dinner.

Then to the dance.

By himself.

Pray for him.

Ha!

The girls were out of school early on Wednesday, so I thought it would be fun to put their Valentine's Day shirts on and take some pictures.

I'm quite certain their teachers gave them Pixie Stix as they are leaving the school building....

because they came home w.i.r.e.d.

 Me:  Ainsley...look right here (holding finger up above the camera lens) and SMILE WITH YOUR TEETH.

And... I guess you can say...she listened.

 Red juice anyone?!

 I don't even know what to say.

Except.. she looks and ACTS just like a Brunner.

If I could stop laughing long enough to scold Addi... I would.

But I can't.

Happy Friday!

Bestie. You knew I had to do something.

Today is my Bestie's 30th Birthday.

Next year... and for the next several years after that... we will both be the 'same' age...

Thirty-Awesome.

But this year -- she's still just 30.

Have I ever told you the story about how we met?  Nothing crazy... we were both working at the same insurance company and when I was 34 months pregnant with Addison, I accepted a position on a new team.  When I came back from maternity leave, I started my new position and shared a cube wall with Allison.

I was a wreck.

Called the daycare every 2-3 hours to see if Addi decided to eat her bottle.

She never did.

Extremely hormonal.

Extremely exhausted.

New mom fears.

Learning a new job.

But yet, for some reason, Allison and I just 'clicked' -- even though we were at completely different parts of our life.  And now -- I am so thankful that we met, became friends, became Besties -- and now she's more like 'part of the family' and Fun Aunt Allison to our girls.

Now....for the fun part...

 Allison just got back from a trip to Mexico.

I think she had a good time. 
Hmmmm...is that a bit of a sweat 'stache going on there??!!

Was even a cute dresser when she was a kid!

She is going to have to forgive me for posting these pictures.

Because Ainsley and I are taking her out for lunch today.

And because I got her a sweet birthday present.

He. He. He.

 

Happy 30th Birthday Bestie! 

Exciting News!

 RB received some exciting news yesterday afternoon.  The Athletic Director from UNI called and told him that he is going to be inducted into the UNI Athletic Hall of Fame.

It's not until next fall, September 29th for those who are interested in attending the football game/ ceremony.  (UNI vs NDSU)

 The pictures above are actually a picture I took of a poster we were given when the UNI baseball program was discontinued, (which is still a very sore subject in our house).  The poster was in the baseball offices and they asked if we wanted it.  Since then, it's been sitting in our basement.  Someday, we'll build some sort of baseball shrine with the hundreds of plaques, and awards that RB received throughout his baseball career.  Ha!

(Side Note to my In-Loves:  this shrine will not be big enough for you to bring down the millions of baseball cards that RB collected throughout the year. Ha!)

 Just to give you an idea how big the poster is... 

My model was not thrilled to be pulled away from her indoor dog sledding.