A year of posts

So, we haven't been very good at posting this year and it has been a pretty eventful one. We are approaching our 18 month mark of being official Minnesotans. The time has flown by! Starting at the beginning - the trip out here allowed us to hit a few hot spots along the way.

Bruce wasn't allowed into the park but he was a good boy waiting in the car. Bruce was fantastic on the ride out here.


Our trip out here allowed Justin to make his journey to Sturgis.


We have enjoyed some fun activities while we've been here. This one was for my birthday last year - we had phenomenal seats thanks to Justin.


Our county is the 'self proclaimed' Halloween capital of the world and we jumped on the bandwagon pretty quickly.

As did Bruce. Justin wonders why I didn't get the cowboy costume but you have to admit this one is way better.


Justin thinks he looks cooler this way.


Last year, I had the opportunity to go to Missouri to see a few old college friends. It was a wonderful trip and I was glad I was so close to be able to go.


This summer we had lots of visitors as well. First, my big sis and her boys came to visit. We showed them 'Tinysota' as they liked to call it. Of course we had to go do all the fun stuff.


Mall of America - including the American Girl Store and the amusement park.

Church too!
Como Zoo in St. Paul

This year I also hit a pretty big birthday and we had some wonderful friends who made a mess in our yard :) It was fantastic. Thanks ladies.


I had the opportunity to attend girls camp too.


Then we had more wonderful visits from more family. Justin's sister came to visit and we took her to the sculpture garden near Stillwater.


And Taylors Falls. By the way, there are no falls at Taylors Falls - it's very misleading.


This turtle almost became our new pet. Justin rescued it off the side of the road, brought it home, stuck it in the bath tub and let me find it on my own. If I had let him keep the video he took when I found 'James' I'm sure it would already have been posted!


Justin has continued a few of his favorite hobbies here too. I think he should try out for Top Shot on History Channel.



And another ongoing project below. Still a work in progress but with a lot of potential.


Last month we had a wonderful visit from Justin's parents and visited Gooseberry Falls up north.


Like father like son.


And I just can't resist posting these. Our 'adopted' dog I suppose.


It's been quite a year!

happy birthday

Dear iAn,

 

Happy birthday. I hope that it is filled with much joy and not so much sorrow and that all your dreams may come true except the wholly inappropriate ones that involve gerbils, glue, and a crowbar.  But it is your birthday so if you really want those dreams to come true, I guess that would be okay.  But only today.  After today those dreams coming true will just lead to the painful feeling arising from the consciousness of having done something dishonorable, improper, ridiculous, etcetera otherwise known as 'shame' which is pretty significantly different than a person who acts as intermediary between the natural and supernatural worlds, using magic to cure illness, foretell the future, control spiritual forces, etcetera otherwise known as 'shaman' even though they are pretty close to each other spelling-wise.

 

Speaking of spelling, my auto-correct auto-corrects 'i snot' to 'is not'. Given the number of times I type 'I snot', it's kind of frustrating.  I'm sure you understand.

 

Love-even-though-you-peed-on-my-head-while-I-was-sleeping-on-your-bedroom-floor,

 

Justin