Eagle River July 2013

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Deck Project 2013

With all of the talk in the last post about the Big Green Egg (BGE) I failed to mention our family project that took place over the past summer in order to accommodate the BGE! We (yes I did help-there is proof below) took on a summer project building a deck.  The holes were dug early May and the project was under way!  We had a great group of neighbors (no pictures--sorry!) here working with the post hole auger to dig the holes. (Thanks to Jon, Scott, Mike, and Jeff!)

 After some cement pouring by Shea and our neighbor Jeff our holes were inspected and ready to hold some lumber.  A couple weeks later my uncle Rick came up to help Shea begin to frame in the deck.  They worked for most of the morning and were stopped abruptly by the rain storm that occurred.  This was a common occurrence for us this summer as the weather tended to prolong our work for WEEKS.  After the framing of the deck, thanks to Pat for helping with that process, (about the second week of June) we "shipped" the girls off to Janny's for a few days while Shea and I worked together to put on the deck boards.  It was a successful couple days as we worked through dinner most nights and didn't come in the house until after 9. You can see our progress in the second set of pictures below. Over the course of another week or two we began putting up the posts for the railing. It was a team effort, as Larkyn pitched in putting the spindles on with Shea.  She loved watching the progress of the deck each day and being part of it.

 

(The first collage was created before I found the pictures below so the succession of the project is a little out of order, but I trust you will figure it out!)

Larkyn enjoyed getting the measurements just like Daddy!Next came the stairs.  I believe this is when Courtney was a huge help with the girls as Shea and I worked to get them done.  Shea was cutting the deck boards as I laid them and screwed them in.  After laying a few of them I realized I didn't like the spacing and started all over.  Nothing too hard...just a little problem solving needed! From there I took on the project of building a gate.  I didn't like the look of the metal gate we had purchased and with a few measurements and a look at the neighbors gate Shea and I worked to create one ourselves.  Shea also wired the lights and had them working by evening. (See dark picture below.)

The Final Project including new deck furniture and of course the BGE!  Shea was so ambitious he even built the table the Egg is sitting on and I stained it.  Go Team:)

We celebrated the completion of our deck with our neighbors by throwing a 

"Thank you for helping on the deck" Party!

A special THANK YOU to all of our friends and family that helped us throughout the process. Thank you to Breally and Cayden for moving bricks from the backyard landscaping and watching our girls through some of the building process. Thank you to Janny and Charlie for watching the girls while we were decking. Thank you to Debbie and Megan who also watched the girls during the building process. Thank you to Courtney and Kayce who took the girls to get dinner one night while Shea and I worked on the deck. Thank you to Courtney for watching the girls and taking part in staining the deck...you were a trooper through it all!  All other thank yous to family and friends that I did not mention that gave us words of affirmation along the way and supported us in ways not listed!

Halloween 2013

Our Halloween tradition includes eating chili before heading out in the cold to Trick-or-Treat.  This year Shea made the chili on the Big Green Egg.  For those of you that don't know about the Egg please take a few moments (or a few hours) to discuss this "ultimate cooking experience" with the master chef...Shea:). He has been raving about it for a couple years now and finally got one this summer after completing our deck.  We have made many standard grilled items on the Egg (chicken, brats, burgers, etc.) however we have also made some delicious meals or food items that you may never have thought could be made on a grill. Our question now when thinking about our meals for the week is How can we cook it on the Egg? We have made banana bread, chocolate chip cookies, cornbread, meatloaf, chili, pancakes, and more on the Egg. Okay, okay...enough about the Big Green Egg...on to the important stuff...our two girls and their Halloween 2013.

Camdyn gobbled up her chili in no time, but was not very interested in getting on her costume. Larkyn was so excited to put on her costume she had trouble staying interested in her meal!

All ready to meet the neighbors and go trick-or-treating.

The difference from 2009 to 2013...can you believe the amount of growth!?

 

 Belle 1 and Belle 2

The Royal Family

(Yes, of course Shea and I borrowed and threw together outfits to coordinate with our girls!)

It was all worth it too because my favorite part of the evening was when a little girl, about 4 years old (also dressed up as a princess), saw me from a house away. She starred at me in amazement shouting "Snow White! Snow White!  Look Snow White is here!" 

She was so genuine and truly excited to see "Snow White". 

I am pretty sure this was their favorite part of the night...waiting for kids to come to the door.  The loved GIVING candy to the kids, and really did a nice job taking turns.  They even donated some of their own candy to the bowl to have the opportunity to keep the light on a little longer!

Annual jello shots for the adults in the neighborhood.

Larry and Curly all lit up for Halloween.

Daniel Tiger and Moe...

Des Moines Half Marathon

On October 20th, I joined my two sisters (Megan and Courtney), my aunt (Michelle), and my sister's boyfriend (Travis) in running the Des Moines Half Marathon.  Though it was a chilly start to the morning, it ended up being a great day to run!  It was the first race my sisters and I had signed up to run together.  We began the day meeting Courtney's friends at a nearby hotel to stretch and warm up before the race. Once the race began, we all started running together, but throughout the race everyone found their pace that worked for them.  

I found a pace right around 9 minute miles that worked for me and continued "chugging along". It is amazing how much my body (and mind) goes through on a run.  It is a good thing for spectators...especially the ones who hold signs saying:  "Smile if you peed!" or "Smile if you are not wearing underwear." or one of my favorites "Run now, poop later...never trust a fart!"  They really help keep a smile on my face!

I felt great until around mile 10 when I was pretty sure my legs were going to snap in two!  At that moment I thought "if only I was running the Twin Cities 10 mile I would be done by now!" (By far my favorite race ever!)  However, instead of giving up at mile 10 I continued to persevere up small inclines and over bridges, pushing through any pain or now numbness in my body. At one point I looked at my watch and noticed the distance (12.something miles) and the time (some where around 1hr. 50 min.) and thought "yes...so close to finishing...and under 2 hours!"  That's when I turned the corner expecting to see the finish line just up ahead, only to find that the finish line was no where in sight!  WHAT!? I should have looked at the map a little closer prior to the race!!  I failed to notice there was one more straight stretch before the final turn toward the finish.  Needless to say I finished the race, still under 2 hours, without being carted or carried across the finish line!

The race itself was great, but the free food after might have been the best part!  We got subs, pizza, BBQ sandwiches, deli sandwiches, fruit, cookies, chocolate milk, chips, nachos, and much more.  Michelle and I grabbed all we could hold and had a picnic with our families.

So happy to have Shea and the girls cheering me on!

Larkyn wanted to take a picture so here is one she took of Shea, my mom and me.

The running crew:

Courtney, Travis, Michelle, Kim, Megan and of course our #1 fan Larkyn!

We did it!  Love my sistas!

Me and My Girls

We followed the race up with lunch at Perkins.  

It was a long day. The girls were exhausted!

My aunt and uncle (Randy and Cindy and kids) graciously housed all of us for the night prior to the race.  The girls had fun playing with Holly and Nicole in the basement with all of their toys, while the adults (mostly Randy) went through the Halloween costumes.  I put together a collage of our stay!

The bottom right corner picture is Randy helping my mom get a Mrs. Claus costume off (awkward)!

***In case you were wondering what happened to Rudolph...I mean Camdyn's nose, she had an encounter with the driveway and the driveway won!  While running down it just a couple days prior she fell and skinned up only her nose...no damage to hands, knees, etc.

Fall Fun 2013

 We had a great fall filled with fun, family and friends.  We went to Pahl's Market in search of pumpkins and ended up walking through a straw maze and playing in a corn pit. The girls helped each other pick out pumpkins, though Larkyn had a really time deciding on the "perfect pumpkin".  She finally found it and they got carted off to the check out!

We enjoyed The Haunted Woods Trail with our neighbors.  All of the kids were troopers as we waited in line to get on the trail.  Little ladybug and Rapunzel had the best time in the wagon.  Though neither said too much they seemed to enjoy the night.
That weekend we also went to HallZOOween to celebrate Halloween with the animals!

Carving pumpkins was quite interesting.  I cut open the pumpkin and showed them how to reach in and pull out the guts. Neither of them were interested.  So I handed them a spoon. Still acted as if this was the most disgusting thing on Earth!  (Hence the pictures) They are their Daddy's daughters...don't like to get their hands dirty.  Camdyn got a little more adventurous with the spoon, but didn't over do it.  Larkyn found it much more fun to draw faces on the pumpkins rather than scoop out guts and carve them.  Turns out I did most of the work:).

Curly, Larry and Moe...and Daniel Tiger!

Larkyn finished her fall gymnastics session mid-October.  She has worked so hard on keeping her balance, forward rolls, cartwheels, and other gym kid activities.  We are hoping she will be able to continue this in the future to build strength and coordination.  We have seen such amazing growth in her abilities since she began gymnastics a year ago.

Pumpkin Parade!

Larkyn's preschool class put on a 3 minute parade on Halloween day showing off their costumes they made at school.  The kids were given different shape choices and designed their Jack-o-lantern faces themselves.  Larkyn was very proud to show us her costume and all of her preschool friends. Prior to the parade the class had a Fall Party. Larkyn's favorite part was the frosted cookies!

 Brady, Luke, Larkyn and Camdyn

Our little pumpkin!

Buddies!

A Visit from Wisconsin

Charlie, Janny, Kiki and Sis came to visit one Packer Sunday in October.  Kiki was in town from California and everyone wanted to see the girls, the deck, and of course the Big Green Egg.  Larkyn and Kiki had a GREAT time playing outside on the playset, around the garden, touring her bedroom,  playing "party" and "house" downstairs, putting on a puppet show, and reading books. Larkyn couldn't get enough of Kiki!  Camdyn couldn't get enough of Charlie!  She was saying his name, bringing him toys and asking him to read stories with her.  Camdyn also enjoyed "the slide" of Janny's legs.  She kept returning saying "wheee!"  Larkyn and Camdyn both loved riding in Sis' walker while Janny drove them around.  Kiki was setting up road blocks and detours and it became quite the adventure!  A short time together, but oh so fun!  Thank you for making the day trip!

 

Trip to Iowa

At the end of September we took a trip to Iowa to spend a girls weekend with my mom and sisters.  Larkyn and Camdyn worked with Grandma Debbie in the kitchen making apple pie.  

Camdyn really got into mixing!

McKenna and Larkyn got to try some pie after playing with Little People.

There was a UNI football game on Saturday, so we joined my Dad and Vickie for a tailgate their church was putting on.  Courtney came with and spent some "goofy" time with the girls.

"No Camdyn, it is not what you think it is!"

More silliness!

Camdyn and Vickie

Grandpa Jim and Camdyn

(I think she was upset because she was taken away from her Cheetos)

Saturday night we had dinner with Grandpa Ralph and Grandma Barb.  The girls had a blast with the kitchen in the basement.  I have to admit it brought me back to when I was a kid and I'm pretty sure I had as much fun, if not more:).  

 

Grandpa Ralph loved showing off his tractors to Larkyn. She also loved seeing his farm setup.

"Two of these things are not like the others..."