Las Vegas trip

Found the 'leaning' power lines interesting!

Family picture at Hoover Dam :)

Pretty amazing bridge!

CHEESE! Fun in the sun!

Hoover Dam from below

Double G! Gabbie and GretchenBrad looks so manly pushing a stroller!

Brad and Angela's dog, ShatsiVegas

Brice and Gabbie in one of the casinos

I wish we could take the plug out for just 1 pic!Where Brice went hunting in the desert

The sunset...we have been missing those!

M & M store

We have been back from our first family vacation for about a week now, so I thought it was time to post some pictures and a THANK YOU to our hosts! We traveled to Las Vegas to visit Brice's uncle Brad, aunt Angela, and meet up with his sister Gretchen from California. It was nice to spend time with each other and family for a few days and go to a place where we could see grass and take off our snow boots! The temps were in the 50s and 60s.

It was a blast to spend so much one on one time with Gabbie; although it was quite tiring! I feel like I do not get to spend much time with her when there is no distractions (cleaning, making supper, laundry, etc.) so it was great to 'catch up' with my own kid! Brice and I both agreed that we are missing out of course with our work schedules, but did not come up with any solutions to that problem besides using the time we do have to absorb the amazing person that our child is. The blessing for both of us is that she is thriving at daycare and loves it, and as long as she is happy we can not be too upset that we are missing out!

Anyway, back to the trip. The first day we were there we went to Hoover Dam-how awesome! The things humans can do when they put their minds to it. I was so in awe of the bridge being built for traffic to bypass the dam. Its like gravity doesn't exist; though I'm sure those building the bridge disagree! Day 2 we went downtown and walked through the casinos, saw "Bodies...the Exhibit" and the M & M store. Downtown Vegas is not a place for a child...you can not get within a foot of a slot machine and someone is after you like you've commited a crime (which I guess technically it is...). Day 3 Brice went hunting with his aunt's brother and though they did not have much luch it sounds like they had a great time! Gabbie and I went with Gretchen, Brad, and Angela to the Ethel M chocolate factory and out for sushi while Brice was hunting for our supper :) Overall a great family vacation! Brice and I have already agreed that next time we will probably leave the kiddo at home...airports are too annoying with a child (taking shoes off, having milk tested, and searching strollers) and it is hard to get much rest and relaxation when you are chasing a 1 year old who has way too much energy! We are thinking a local amusement park or water park will suit us for our next family vacation!

Otherwise not a lot is new in our neck of the woods. Brice is busy moving snow, pigs, etc. Gabbie is busy climbing, swimming, talking a little (trying to repeat some words...time to watch our language!), and carrying things all over the house. I am a new addict to books on tape/CD and am really regretting having disposed of my portable tape and CD players 2 years ago when I bought an I-pod for my music. I am currently reading Marley and Me and it definetly makes the time spent doing laundry, ironing, and dishes more enjoyable while Gabbie is napping. TV is so annoying anymore.

Hope you enjoy the pictures! I am off now to get some firewood from a friend to keep our woodstove going. Winter has been longer than predicted and we are all out of our own dry firewood! We are longing for summer like everyone else...the dripping on my head this morning in the bathroom and the discovery of yet another leak thanks to the large amount of ice and snow on the roof has my neutral attitude toward winter becoming bitter. To curb the bummer feeling I think Valentine's Day will be spent planting garden seeds in the basement and getting those tomatoes a good start while I dream of that first bite of a juicy tomato this summer :)

Its all worth it...

Just have to brag...and kick myself in the behind for the whining I do. Today I worked an 11 hour day, thanks to my in-laws being able to help with Gabbie and to potentially bad weather this week nessecitating (sp?) my getting as much done as I could. Came home to what amounted to over 30 minutes of dishes, did laundry, made supper, and sorted mail to pay bills. Brice was in early, thinking he had a board meeting tonight which turned out to be cancelled. I was feeding Gabbie in between dishes, returning phone calls, etc. I'm not used to him being in the house during the 'evening rush' which is even more rushed after a long day. As I'm walking by the table for the millionth time he stops me and says "you know, you really are a pretty awesome wife".
Ahh..that felt pretty good. Especially because he really is an awesome husband, and usually by the time he gets in the house we are already working on bedtime.
Now time to get back to balancing checkbooks. Good thing we both think each other is awesome, because our account balances really aren't...

A WHOLE new level of energy!

Here's what Gabbie got done during my 5 minute shower this evening: splashing in the toilet, pulled half the toilet paper off the roll, standing on her potty chair to rearrange the items around our bathroom sink, and found the garage door opener and managed to open and close the door before I got out to grap the device from her hand before she caused the door some problems!
So...I thought we'd go wear off some energy at the pool. The other Mom there (whose daughter was older than Gabbie but about half her size) thought Gabbie was so much fun and 'fearless'! Her daughter was so nervous in the water and did not like she she went under. Gabbie thought it was great to dunk her head under-and to climb the bars to the deeper part, and jump in off the edge (not totally on her own, I was standing in the pool, but she didn't hesitate!) If only this Mom knew how absolutely nervous it makes me to have a child that has no fear of the water...
So...then I think we can wear off some energy playing basketball. She stood in awe watching a girl who was about 9 or 10 years old shooting baskets. Too bad Gabbie couldn't even lift a ball above her head. Then she saw a group of boys playing ball and decided she needed to join. I don't think they were looking for an extra player!
Time to leave the rec. Not content to be carried she had to walk/jog on the way to the car. And she's still going strong now at 10 p.m, and I was ready for bed an hour ago! I need to tape nights like tonight when people ask me "when is number two on the way?" Probably when I start drinking Red Bull or some energy drink to get through!

Winter Scenery

Thank goodness for a nice South wind to bring some warmer temperatures! It was not at all pleasant this morning, but by later afternoon we were able to head outside-comfortable with snow pants, good coats, hats, mittens, and boots (with 2 layers underneath) for a good hour or more. I don't think we'd spent any time outside just for fun in the past 2 1/2 weeks! The fresh air felt awesome. Took some pictures of the pretty scenery. I know people may think I have a mental disorder, but I do enjoy winter :-) Its pretty, cozy, and allows for more indoor time. I will remind myself to re-read this in March!

Snow Days!

This week has been interesting to say the least! Lack of daycare and poor weather allowed me some extra time at home, which was great for catching up. Our basement is clean again, laundry is done for the first time in a year (really that's true), actual meals were made, dishes stayed mostly caught up, cookies baked, house cleaned, some bookwork done...if only I'd had one more day to just play! I really only had one full day off, but it seemed longer than that and it felt good to feel like a perfect housekeeper/wife/mom even if just for a little bit! If I could just catch up on our photo albums, scrapbooks, and get the church report done I'd be doing super duper!

Gabbie and Tyler-playing so much the toy box was empty, so they had to play from inside! Too bad Gabbie isn't as tall as Tyler...she couldn't get back out!

I know a lot of people aren't thrilled with the snow. I can't find much of a reason to complain yet...last winter was fairly easy. Plus, the temperatures look good next week...so lots of snow + decent temperatures means ice skating and sledding!! I'm so excited to take Gabbie on the frozen pond for the first time. Last year I never felt confident that it was frozen well. I can say this year I am VERY confident that the pond is quite frozen :-)

Ahh....relief!

After 10 days of Gabbie being "not herself" we are relieved to say she is BACK! Its another day of getting nothing done, picking up after Gabbie, watching her get into everything she shouldn't, and fighting to get her to take a nap. She's back, and we are so happy for that :-) People are right, having sick kids is miserable and I'd much rather be sick myself!

New Years Resolutions

1. Empty the sink before I start washing dishes. I will not cut a finger on a knife out of pure stupidity this year...at least not more than once.
2. Keep reading! So far I love it, but lately working on end of the year books has caused me to fall prey to the computer once again. I thank my mother in law to introducing me to the parenting books "Love and Logic". In any spare moment improving my parenting style has taken priority to social networking. I'm even reading little bits as I make supper and pondering the points as I work.
3. Run a half marathon. Only 1 year have I not achieved this one, so hopefully its safe.
4. Improve my ability to just be happy. I feel that I am a happy person, but I sure use my spouse, job, the weather, etc. as silly reasons to be angry at times. Really, my happiness is totally my responsibility. My wedding vows didn't tell Brice that it was his responsibility, its not in my contract with my employer. I really think I can do this one this year...I really need to do this one this year. It will definetly make me a better wife, mother, daughter, co-worker. People are flexible and can change. Not too many years ago I would have thought a blog or writing a journal to my kids was stupid and a waste of time. Now after being married, losing a parent, giving birth to a child, I find that sharing my thoughts and reading others thoughts has not only become therapeutic-it has become necessary for me. People that always seem happy are nothing to be jealous of-they are working hard for that happiness!
5. Take our first family vacation! It may be to Des Moines, but it will count. And I will use some of my 120 hours worth of PTO at work to do it...time to relax a little. Time off is a benefit, not something that needs saved "just in case". God will help me if the "just in case" happens, and my co workers could probably use the vacation from me too!

6. Quit letting my daughter sit around the house like she is in this picture!! (The W-sit bothers me more than no clothes!)

Happy New Years Everyone!