1 hour!!

The boys will be home within the hour, and I cannot wait! Before they left last Sunday I told them I would bake something for everyday they were gone. I wasn't even done saying the words when I thought "What have I done to myself?" I didn't want to disappoint them, so today I spent the day baking! It was so much fun, I really enjoyed it. Thank goodness it wasn't a hot day because that oven sure kept the kitchen pretty toasty! So when the boys come home they will be able to enjoy their choice of rhubarb cobbler, apple bread, raspberry squares, chocolate-chocolate chip cookies, and/or puppy chow! Puppy chow doesn't require actual baking, but I think they will be thrilled to have it!

This week has been a very productive week with the boys being gone. I got so much accomplished for the upcoming wedding. I have a caterer lined up; we are tweaking the menu right now. I have chosen a photographer, narrowed down all the florists to just one, purchased invitations, registered at Macy's and Target...I am loving this process! The wedding is 3 short months away, but everything is falling perfectly into place! Including the "small" detail that our wedding is on a Sunday and the Vikings don't play until Monday night! Whew! I am marrying into a big Viking fan family, so this is a big deal!
As for the proposal, this is a story that could have been written in a movie. He did such a fantastic job at surprising me! Brian asked me to go for a walk around Quarry Hill. We were walking in an area up on the hill that neither of us have been around on before when we came to a bench that overlooked downtown Rochester and the savannah.

I sat on the bench to take in the view, and Brian stood behind to read the info plaque. It was all about the savannah grasses, and buckthorn, oak trees, wildlife etc. After the actual info was over, Brian continued to read (or so I thought) and said "This bench overlooks beautiful downtown Rochester, and is the perfect place to propose to your girlfriend"...I was surprised to hear this so I said "It really says that?!?!" As I was turning around to look at the plaque, he got on one knee and said some more amazing words with my ring in his hand. I of course was in tears and couldn't speak. But did manage to accept his wonderful question! I will always remember that moment, the look in his eyes and the touching things he said before he asked me to be his wife. I do I do!!
It was an absolute perfect proposal!

Brian and I are getting married!!!

I DO I DO!!!!
The date is Oct 5th at the Plummer House in Rochester! It hasn't completely hit me yet....I feel like a giddy school girl! I'll post details of the proposal soon!

Goodbye boys...

The boys leave tonight to go camping up north. They will be gone for an entire week!! I have never been apart from them for this long, I have a feeling it is going to be difficult! They've gone to camps before, but never for more than 4 nights...now its twice as long! I am working a little at ReFashion this week to keep myself busy, and have made plans with some friends, but it will be the evenings when its just Brian and me that will be strange. With no boys to tuck in, no kisses and hugs, no "I love you moms", no stories, no laughing.... no arguing about teeth brushing, no laundry, no door slamming, no fighting between the 2 of them...well, maybe it won't be sooo bad!
Benjamin had football camp last week. Coach T's football camp to be exact. He was a fun coach, he seemed almost like a motivational speaker/football coach! Benjamin learned some great tools for this years football season. It was beautiful weather all week, sunny and warm everyday...of course that made it harder on the days that Benjamin had baseball too. He just fell into bed at the end of the day, Coach T definitely worked those kids!
While Benjamin was away Christian and I spent time swimming, he had a friend over, we worked in the garden..it was nice to have some one on one with him. He can make great conversation and he is always good for a laugh!
It is going to be a strange and quiet week in this house...I am already looking forward to them coming home and they haven't even left!

My birthday weekend...

This has been a fantastic weekend! On Friday we had the Robelias over to grill out. The rain had us a little worried, but it turned out to be a beautiful night. We were able to eat our first meal of summer vacation out on the patio with super company!
The next morning was my 30th birthday. One tradition in our family is that whoever has their birthday gets breakfast of their choice in bed. So I woke to the 3 of them singing as they walked in with my breakfast. What a great sound to wake up to! After giving me their cards we all hung out and watched the storm that came through. It was certainly short lived because not long after we were at Christian's final soccer game. He scored 3 more goals! He had a fantastic season, so much fun to watch!


My Bday dinner was at 300First for just the 4 of us! It was super delicious from beginning to end. The boys barely tasted the Chocolate Bread Pudding and Mocha French Silk Pie we ordered for dessert because they ate them both SO fast!

After dinner Brian and I went to Whistle Binkies on the Lake while the boys stayed home with their first babysitter! Brian surprised me by inviting some of our friends to meet us for drinks...He was so clever! It was good to have a mix of friends there who have never met each other. My sisters were able to come too, it was a fantastic surprise! I even took a spinning dance/lesson with a long lost friend on the dance floor, right after he bought me a shot! I have not done a shot in years so it didn't go down quite like a shot, more like a drink.

Even after all of this excitement my birthday wasn't over. We woke up the next morning and packed our bags to go to Kalahari in Wisconsin Dells. Before we left I tried to feed our frog and saw that the cover was off her bowl. Our sweet Lilly is gone, we don't know where. Maybe Paddington or Mojo had a midnight snack? Maybe I will find her under the stove? Right now it is not so fondly known as the Frogging Mystery of 811. (our house number) Stay tuned...maybe we will have an update on our sweet froggy.

Kalahari was a fantastic choice for all of us! I was a little hesitant to spend my birthday weekend in a swimming suit, but it turned out to be so much fun! There were so many cool slides and a lazy river, obstacle courses, and huge jungle gyms to play on. My favorite part of the park was the body surfing. I tried to get tricky by turning around, or getting on my knees, but I need more practice! Christian mastered it, he went no handed several times. Brian and Benjamin didn't have as much fun on the boards because their swim shorts were a little loose and they were afraid they would lose them in the wave! So they spent time in the hottubs and playing water basketball while Christian and I stood in line for body surfing.
The 4 of us were able to do some shopping, great dining, super playing, and much needed bonding!

To finish off our weekend we joined the Robelias and Naptons at Cold Stone for Allison's bday. Another superb weekend with my amazing family has come to a close! I am blessed beyond words. Thank you Brian for being so sweet, so creative and so sneaky! I am a lucky lady!

Summer is here

Today was the last day of school!! It was an exciting and busy day for the boys including a trip to Slatterly Park. The school was buzzing with excitement, with kids and parents and teachers everywhere. We had to say goodbye to Mrs. Beeman this year. Benjamin had her for 2 years then Christian had her for 2 years, so after 4 straight years, we no longer get to have her as a teacher. Of course I will still see her in the school but she has been a fantastic influence for both boys and it will be sad to not work in her classroom anymore.
It was strange to leave the school today and know that I will not see these parents, students, and teachers for several months. I will probably miss some of the people I have come to know just as much as the boys will miss some of their friends. Of course the boys will still have playdates, and hopefully so will the moms!
Allison and I closed the school year with end of the year pedicures and a birthday lunch at our Faithful Panera. My tootsies definitely needed the TLC. It has been ages since I treated myself to a pedi, and even longer since I did it with a friend.
To close the day we had Christian's last soccer practice, but instead of practice we grilled out. Of course we got rained on a little and I was beginning to wonder what we thought when we followed through with the grilling idea, but it cleared up and turned into a lovely evening. The boys had a pick up game against the dads...I never found out who won but it was super fun to watch. Even Brian (who isn't much of a soccer player) impressed me with his fancy footwork! Christian has come such a long way this season, he really is improving and staying focused during the games and I will miss the soccer season. His last game is Saturday, another event coming to a close. After Saturday our activity schedule is down to just baseball...that sounds so good to say!