3rd Anniversary

Tom and I celebrated our 3rd anniversary a little early this year, mainly b/c Bayfield, WI gets super busy the last weekend in September due to their huge apple festival and we couldn't find a decent place to stay. We ended up in a cozy little b&b outside of town and it came at the perfect time since Tom has been putting in a lot of long, busy hours at work. I think we both needed the weekend away with nothing on the agenda other than rest and relaxation. Well, I guess I shouldn't say there wasn't anything on the agenda...b/c that would just be unlike me.
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First stop: A&W. All I had to do was see the sign and I said, "I need me a root beer float!" Ahhhh, they take me back to my mom/daughter dates when I was little...

The fried food we both had for dinner, on the other hand, not so fabulous. Next time I want to eat at A&W, someone please remind me that there is nothing on the menu that is nutritious in any way. Other than the root beer floats, of course (dairy).

Tom cozied up to the fireplace before heading down to breakfast.

Then it was off to visit some apple orchards in the area! It was here that I had my second breakfast - an apple cider donut. Tom isn't big on sweets (what?!) so I had it all to myself. I love that man!

Apple orchard #2. We were told the top of the old Sears barn had the best view of the valley and lake in town. It was good, but not that good.

They did have some yummy wines though. We bought one to drink on anniversary #4 *smile.

Imagine that...

Pretty Bayfield.

After our orchard visits, we loaded the ferry with our bikes and headed for Madeline Island.

It was about 7 miles each way to the park we wanted to hike at, so off we went. There's not much traffic on the island so for the most part, it was a nice, flat ride.

There are, however, deer so we had to watch out for those. This one didn't seem too bothered by me.

Beautiful Lake Superior.

We ended up having dinner at a pasta/pizza place and I thoroughly enjoyed my Maine Lobster Ravioli. Tom was jealous.

We honeymooned in Maine (take me baaack....), which was about as beautiful in the fall as you can get. It was no Portland or Bar Harbor, but Bayfield still had some fabulous reds and oranges that we just don't see here in the cities. We got a lot of sleep, enjoyed our relaxing whirlpool tub, watched four episodes of Parenthood on my laptop, and soaked up the sunshine and fresh air. Tom even made away with a massage before we left town. He deserved it (and I got one for my birthday, so don't feel too sorry for me.) We both decided we no longer like road trips longer than three hours - I think we're getting old. But all in all, it was a great weekend and I'm glad we got away! And in all seriousness and without trying to be cheesy, one of my two love languages is "quality time" (the other: "acts of service") so I can be just about anywhere with him and would love it *smile.

Vegetable Soup

What could be better than nutritious vegetable soup on a chilly fall evening?! That's what I thought as well. We went through our typical "what should we have for dinner" that so many couples try to avoid. Soup has been my go to the last couple weeks, so I whisk out my Vitamix cookbook and look for a soup that I have all the ingredients for. Decide on the vegetable soup and get to loading the blender. Below is the recipe.

I layered: frozen peas, frozen spinach, tomato, carrots, celery, red pepper, garbanzo beans, chicken broth and some onion powder. Yum, right? (Probably depends on who you are...*smile)

Mmmmm......paired with a mug of hot apple cider - doesn't that look fabulous? HA.

It wasn't bad at first, but by the fifth bite I was pretty miserable. That's an exageration and I did manage to eat the entire bowl of "baby food" but it was tough. Tom, on the other hand, didn't make it past that fifth bite. Bless his heart, he felt so bad for not liking it. We have loved some of the soups we've made from our Vitamix cookbook, while others have been dump-down-the-drainers.

This.......was a dump-down-the-drainer.

But I'm glad we gave it a shot. And the apple cider was delish.

Multitude Monday

Counting my way to 1,000 blessings...

#411...Starting another great book.
#412...Picking out flavors of salt water taffy like a little kid.
#413...The rolling hills and vibrant fall colors of Northern Wisconsin.
#414...Apple cider donuts all to myself.
#415...The way Tom puts his harm around my shoulders when we're walking.
#416...Never running out of things to talk about.
#417...Leaves slowly falling to the ground.
#418...My new Camelbak water bottle - yay! No more BPA!
#419...Watching episodes of Season 1 of Parenthood on the laptop on our mini-vacation up north. (And now wishing my three siblings all lived in the same town...)
#420...Enjoying every new day.

I meditate on all your works and consider what your hands have done, O Lord. Psalm 143:5

My Fabulous 28th Birthday

Like last year, I was home in Charles City on my birthday. Unfortunately, it was under sad circumstances this year with the death of one of my best friend's dads. You may have read about the Sawyer family on my photo blog, but if not, Tara's dad was diagnosed with ALS on June 7th and passed away very quickly on September 14th. I will remember Scott for his positive attitude, constant sense of humor, and courageous fight with a very powerful disease. My prayers and thoughts will be with Tara and her family in the days, weeks and months ahead. I have learned the grief doesn't disappear just because the funeral is over with. Perhaps the hardest time will come 3, 6, 9 months down the road....
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Despite the circumstances surrounding my last minute trip home, I am thankful for the time I got to spend with some of my high school girlfriends, my parents and my sis and nephew, Weston.  This is about the only time I got to actually "hold" him because he's very busy and active, but hey, I'll take what I can get.
He was much calmer last year as a 2 month old *smile.

Ohhhh, man. This photo shoot just cracks me up. I took a TON of pictures and only got two or three good ones. Such is life with a baby, huh?

This year, Weston just looooved Mober. She wasn't his biggest fan, but did pretty well for the most part. Except for when we had to separate them by a glass door.

We made our way out to my aunt's house for a pizza party and wagon ride.

Oh, AND to see Hannah, my cousin Kathy's miniature donkey. But the pizza was good too.

She was so adorable...my face hurt from gritting my teeth together. Just the sweetest, calmest thing. Kathy's nephews love riding her as she's the perfect size for kids with the sweetest disposition. I think I may have Tom considering getting one. Just google "miniature donkey images" and you'll be adding one to your Christmas list as well, guarantee it. No, seriously...try it.

Hannah hangs out with the big guys in the pasture. She has no fear and they're all best friends. It's hilarious. This is just one of many of their Belgians.

I loved the size difference.

Weston thought they were cute too.

Chatting with Hannah and some others.

Hanging with his cousin, Cole. I missed the hug that happened right before this picture was snapped.

After leaving bright and early from CC, I met up with Erin and Trisha for a fabulous massage in St. Paul and then we headed to the Albertville Outlet Mall for some shopping! We had such a fun day and then to top it all off, they made Tom and I a wonderful steak dinner. YUM. Erin is a fabulous cook and I may or may not have eaten all of mine and half of Trisha's. NBD.

Excuse the haze in the picture - the oven had a slight malfunction.

28 is my favorite number so of course, I've looked forward to my 28th birthday for YEARS (literally.)

Loved the 2-8 on my birthday apple crisp made especially for me from Trisha!

Opening gifts is always fun. Cards with words of praise and love are even better!

Trisha and Natalie only bought me "a few" things *smile.

What a wonderful day! Between seeing friends, hanging with my sister, a relaxing massage, texts, cards and packages in the mail, facebook messages, shopping, delicious dinner and plenty of presents, I'd say I'm pretty blessed.

Multitude Monday

Counting my way to 1,000 blessings...

#401...Applecrisp baking in the oven.
#402...Seeing great friends despite sad circumstances.
#403...Snuggling with my never-stops-moving nephew while he drinks his bottle before bed.
#404...Coming home to another great birthday surprise from my selfless and adoring husband. He spent hours on this for me! Love him.
#405...Time at the spa, shopping till we drop and a fabulous steak dinner with Erin and Trisha.
#406...Chatting with my sister before falling asleep, just like old times.
#407...An inbox filled with birthday wishes, text messages and a stack of cards in the mail. I am blessed.
#408...Sweaters, scarves and vests - my favorites.
#409...Proverbs 2 hitting home like crazy.
#410...Eskimo kisses from Jacob.

For the Lord gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. He holds victory in store for the upright, he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless, for he guards the course of the just and protects the way of his faithful ones. Proverbs 2:6-8

Wisdom, knowledge, understanding, victory, being shielded, guarded and protected - all sound pretty good to me...

Blessings to you this day,

Love My Husband!

Want to know why I love my husband?
Let me tell you.

This is me sans make-up (sorry - it was before bed and who wears make-up to bed) after allowing my hair to air dry...

And then 25 minutes later...(which is 35 minutes faster than it normally takes)

How did I go from crazy to straight you ask?

I get home from my girls weekend up north to find  these gifts sitting on my dresser. Mind you my birthday, at that point, wasn't for another month. So I'm a tad confused. But excited because I love surprises and gifts and he was all eager for me to open them and what could they be and isn't his wrapping with a paper bag just adorable and he had even cleaned the house and made the bed and when did he go shopping and

what is in THAT BOX?!

I was tempted to wait until my birthday, but who was I kidding - that gift was being opened before I even unpacked. At first I see only a fantastic green box (my first thought was "that is a FUN color! What cool packaging") and then I see ghd and I realize he got me the salon-quality straightener I had ever so gently hinted about!! AWESOME!! He's the BEST!

And then.....I see this.......................................

It. Is. Green.

I was speechless and just stared at the box.

I think it's safe to say I am easily pleased. (Most of the time. I'm still a redhead.)

Did you know my favorite color is green? I should do a separate post with pictures of all of my green things. In fact, I will do that soon.

Oh my dear Lord, it even has a green case.

You have got to be kidding me.

It is the cutest thing aside from miniature horses and small babies that I have ever seen.

He had some help from my fabulous sister-in-law, but that is beside the point. That, my friends, is one of the many reasons why I love my husband. He knows me well and apparently doesn't want me to walk around looking like this:

Which is understandable *smile. It works awesome and is so fast - I love it!

And I adore him.