Ringing in the New Year...

How is it the first week of 2018 is winding down. I hope this doesn't represent how fast this year will go because we have a lot of memories to be made... There were even a few made this past weekend.

Oliver got to go with Grandpa Keller deer hunting and Tim took off early to go. I just prayed I could get off early... which didn't really happen. I was able to catch the last hour and saw nothing BUT in a distance I hear a shot and 30 seconds later another. That could only mean two things, one of the two men shot twice or they both got a deer... well, they both got a deer. Oliver was one really excited little guy to msee Grandpa get a deer only to have his dad pull up to help retrieve the deer and have one of his own on the back of his truck.  We spent the remainder of the evening watching Tim and his dad clean the deer. 

Saturday I got up to help alone where I saw 4 bucks and a doe. The doe never came close enough so at 9:30 I called it and went in to warm up. I also got ready and headed to Tim's parents for their Christmas. About 3p I headed back to the stand in hopes to get a doe... considering everyone at my camp was going on their second deer. I saw nothing so headed in for the night where I met my boys at Tim's parents only to turn around to head home and to bed. 

Sunday, New Year's Eve, I was up early and out the door headed to my SIL's house for a surprise 30th Birthday Brunch. We left her house at 9:30 and went to Gamlin Whiskey House in St. Louis. I would love to go back for supper because I got shrimp and grits with an egg over-easy on it and it was amazing... and don't get me started on their bloody mary's, YUM!  Once we left there we headed to The Fountain. They specialize in ice cream... and ice cream alcoholic beverages. I got a chocolate ice cream martini and it was delicious. When we left there we headed back to my SIL's house where she had to turn around, change clothes and leave for more reservations with my brother. I got home about 5p where I spent the remainder of the night snuggled in with Tim, Oliver and Evan on the couch watching what ever movie they wanted to watch. I believe we were all asleep by 10:30. 

Monday we spent just laying around trying to stay warm and watching movies until my brother text asking us to come over for games and appetizers. While there we played QuikWitz and Deer in the Headlights. We had so much fun that we decided this was going to actually be out New Years Eve group... until our kids are old enough to not want to hang with us anymore. We got home about 11p and headed straight to bed.                 

2017 - A Year In Review

Well, this year flew by and I blogged very briefly throughout however, memories were made and although they aren't journaled, they are forever in our memory bank. 

January Tim turned a whopping 33. We celebrated it two nights. The first night was the gifts, since Carter would be at his dads for Tims actual birthday and then the night of with cake, ice cream and his dinner of choice. It was also the same weekend I took a trip to the Lake of the Ozarks to meet up with the Vasquez women to celebrate my Aunt Judy's 50th birthday. 

February Carter got signed up for another year of baseball, I think this made year 5. We also had our 10th Annual Family Valentine's Dinner. Something I started when it was just Carter and I has exploded and is looked forward to every February. I worked on updating the house... but didn't get far.

March Baseball practice began and Oliver got signed up for t-ball. Aside from the running there wasn't much else going on this month. My niece Harlow was born this month... this made my 6th niece. I went on Freeda's Road Rally with my brother-in-law, Lacey and a few friends.

April Tim's dad retired so we had a surprise party for him. We celebrated with Easter with the Seboldt's and my mom. My dad and step mom broke it to us that they were moving out of the house, the built 9 years prior, to buy a run down country home and fix it up. I attempted to visit my brother Bryan in Minnesota only to have my flight completely cancelled, was put on standby twice and then at 10pm, after being in the airport for about 8 hours was told I couldnt' get a flight out until Sunday morning, which was when I was to return.... this meant my trip was cancelled. I attended an adult easter egg hunt with some girlfriends and had an awesome time. Carter performed in a chorus concert, one of the last ones he would ever perform in. 

May Oliver's prek class put on a Mother's Day skit where they sang songs to their Moms. Baseball started for Carter so did the traveling to different towns. We had the opening of the Vasquez Clubhouse the weekend of Cinco de Mayo... I didn't fair well with the tequila. Oliver's last day of prek (year 1) was on May 11th. On Mother's Day I was asked to be Harlow's Godmother. Which I was super excited and accepted, of course.T-ball started later in the month for Oliver... this was something to watch. Carter's last day of 5th grade was May 17th and on May 18th I was finally enroute to visit my brother Bryan. The trip started off with flight delays but in the end we made it. By we, I mean I brought my mom with me to surprise Bryan. We also camped Memorial Weekend, which my brother Bryan surprised us and came home for. 

June I started the month off with a bang... meaning I backed into Tim's uncle's truck. It wasn't pretty. We swam at my Grandma Ruth's a few times, in our own pool most the time and just enjoyed the outdoors. My Grandma Ruth was put in the hospital for a few reasons. Carter sang with the chorus at the St. Louis Cardinals Stadium. It was during the 7th inning stretch they sang Take Me Out to the Ball Game. Oliver and Carter attended VBS. Carter went for the first time to Florida with his dad. Carter got to enter his stuff in the 4H Show-a-Rama but since he was in Florida didn't qualify for State. Oliver turned 4 and we celebrated the day with cake and his meal of choice and that evening we swam. That following weekend we threw a birthday party for him and it was in the theme of "Fireman". We also camped that weekend to make it easier on us, since we were having it at the clubhouse. Later that month I attended #imomsohard with a large group of girlfriends. We met at a restaurant for dinner and then headed to St. Louis for the show. Once the end of June approached baseball and tball were over. 

July Evan got his first haircut, which he was NOT happy about. We camped for the 4th of July weekend and again the following weekend for the Vasquez- Treveer Float Trip.Evan got moved to a big boy bed, mainly because I was tired of dealing with the baby bed and Evan didn't seem to sleep well in it anyway. We swam a few times at my moms and more at our house. Oliver, Evan and I went to see Cars 3 at the theaters and they did so well. Carter turned 11 and we had  grandmas and grandpas over for pizza and cookie cake. I played Bingo for the first time in years with my future SIL, that is right... Matt and Lacey got engaged in July and we are so excited for them. We also celebrated Everly's 1st birthday... and we came home with 3 extra kids... for a cousins slumber party. We ended the month with the Monroe County Fair. We had gone several nights.  Oliver enjoyed leading sheep for some friends, the figure 8 races and the demo derby. He  and Evan enjoyed the ride night, I didn't so much because it rained... a lot. 

August We started the month off in Colorado. On a family trip with the Keller family. We visited The Rocky Mountains, Fort Vasquez, Mount Evan, a few brewery's and towns. We saw a fox, mule deer and moose. There was a lot of fun had but when it was time to come home we were all ready... and drove 16 hours straight with only a few stops. Carter started Jr. High that following week and he was nervous but after the first day he said that he loved it. I decided to chop my  hair off... but nothing to drastic. We enjoyed a few more hot nights in the pool before it was time to close up. Tim and I celebrated out 5th Wedding Anniversary, the year of wood. The following night we celebrated Matt and Lacey's engagement (they are getting married 7 full days after our 6 year anniversary).

September We visited my Aunt JoAnn at Lake Shelbyville on Labor Day weekend where we boated and visited with them and their kids. Oliver started this last year of preschool on the 6th. Evan got to ride in a combine for the first time while Oliver and I went to a Fire Muster and he got to watch the firemen play with water. I worked on Evan's 2nd birthday party decor. Later this month Tim's grandpa passed away. I celebrated my friend Tiffany's 40th Birthday.

October We started the month off pumpkin picking where we got over 40 pumpkins, mainly to use for Evan's party decor. We made Halloween crafts for Oliver's teachers and our babysitter. Oliver and Carter attended the 4H meeting at the Maeystown Firehouse. Oliver came home excited to start 4H in a year. We threw Evan's party, in the theme of Charlie Brown and the Great Pumpkin, the weekend of my 38th birthday. My phone shot craps and had to get a new one... this is frustrating because my phone was only a year old. The same weekend my goddaughter got baptized. On Evans birthday we celebrated with his favorite foods and an ice cream cake. I started on Halloween costumes.... fireman style. We carved pumpkins, decorated for Halloween and enjoyed all things fall. The weekend before Halloween we trunk or treated, and visited all the family we could. On Halloween we took the boys to a small rural town where we walked around going door to door, which is something we don't normally get to do. I also attended Oliver's Halloween party at school. 

November Carter had an Application Awards Banquet for 4H where he won three awards. We camped for the last time also closing up the clubhouse for the winter. This was the same weekend we also took the 10 mile bike ride that I decided would be easy to pull a bike trailer with two toddlers in.... never again. Hunting season began. I saw a huge 8pt buck on opening day but he was moving to fast to shoot. I saw nothing the rest of the weekend. We celebrated Thanksgiving with the Vasquez's and the next day met them at the Belleville Santa Clause Parade. We also decorated for Christmas the weekend after Thanksgiving. The following weekend we were off hunting again. Tim got a 10 pt buck the first day... I saw many deer that weekend and got nothing. Everyone else saw one and shot it.  

December This month was full of Christmas preparation and a little hunting. The first weekend was also the last of November so there was still hunting going on. The last day of the weekend Oliver and I went out... and saw nothing. The following weekend was Oliver's Christmas Program, which is always cute watching littles sing their little hearts out. I joined a friend at a sip and paint event at a local distillery. We had Tim's Christmas party for his work and the following weekend my work Christmas party. We followed that up with starting Christmas weekend at my mom's, a break on Saturday, Sunday we were with my dad all day and Monday with the Seboldt's. 

It was a busy year. We always had something to do or were headed somewhere. I can't wait to see what 2018 brings.

Another Christmas Gone...

It is hard to believe that 2017 is almost over. It literally seems like just yesterday we were coming home from Colorado and I was fighting the thought that summer was almost over. Now Christmas is over and there is 5 days left in 2017.

Our Christmas started on Friday the 22nd and went until Christmas Day. Granted there was one down day in between our first Christmas gathering and Christmas Eve it didn't seem that way... the 22nd Christmas was celebrated at my mom's with my siblings, their wives and my nieces. This is one of our favorite gatherings because it is the first time we get to hang with our brother Bryan, who always come home from Minnesota. 

We get him all or ourselves before having to share him with like 30 other people. The kids look forward to it because they find out who their Secret Santa is... the cousins exchange names and it is a lot of fun, even for the little ones. This year we got to celebrate in pj's, which I have decided is the only way to celebrate Christmas... no fancy clothes or worrying about eating to much. 

This year's godfather gifts from their godsons

We spent the evening playing games and laughing, a lot. Tim and I planned on spending the night of all our boys crashed but Evan (and his twin cousin, Stella) were still going strong. We know we weren't going to get him to sleep so we loaded up about midnight and headed home. 

Saturday was a rest day but everyone, and I mean EVERYONE, was in an extremely foul mood so we talked to no one and hid from everyone... then went to bed at 8p.

The twin cousins. Where one is the other is close

behind... and they could pass off as twins.

We had an early start on Sunday and wouldn't you believe it, that was the day our boys decided to sleep in. Even Oliver was still sleeping at 7a when we had to wake him. We were off to my Dad and Stepmoms house where my boys LOVE hanging out because there are actually boys to play with, my stepbrother has 2 boys. 

My Niece Baleyn and I.

We hung out there watching Christmas movies, playing gift exchange games and laughing it up. Before we knew it we were headed to see my Grandpa Zip for a few minutes before heading to my Grandma Ruth's house for Christmas with the Vasquez Family.

Grandma Ruth opening her gift.

 Here we visited with many relatives, did our sock gift exchange and the kids ran like crazy. 

These are going to be my lucky BINGO socks.

I started not feeling to good so we left there about 10p, the boys passed out about a mile down the road and Tim and I enjoyed the quiet 50 minute ride home. 

Monday Oliver woke us at 6:30. We asked him if Santa came, unsure and scared he ran into Carter's room to wake him and have him go downstairs with him to check. Once they saw all the gifts Oliver ran back upstairs and woke dad (Tim) up... and attempted to wake Evan up, who could have given two craps about Santa and presents. Oliver enjoyed the fact that "Santa" took two bites of two cookies and drank all of his milk. Carter, God love him, doesn't believe but plays along and it is just the cutest thing. We enjoyed the morning with our boys opening gifts and playing with them. I think they were all excited about their beach toys, trunks, chairs and vacation (hell, I am too and I wasn't even surprised with the vacation). 

We were at Tim's parents by noon for the Seboldt Christmas where I kinda laid low because my headache was still giving me lots of pain. 

We left there about 6p, drove around looking at Christmas lights before heading home and heading to bed. 

Tuesday I was lucky enough to be off work and allowed my boys to recover from their Christmas hangover in the comfort of our home. Where they played quietly with their new toys and allowed me to get a few things done. 

Like nap with Evan.

We really just took it easy most the day and about 2p finally changed out of our pj's... so when Tim came home from work he didn't thing we were bums all day. 

The weekend flew by but a lot of memories were made. Look out 2018, we are coming for you.

An Influenster Review

It has been a while since I have posted even a weekend update and today I am here to talk soup. But not just any soup, Imagine Super Reds Creamy Soup. My family and I are lover of soup and sandwich night, especially a creamy soup that we can dip our cheese or peanut butter sandwich in. 

Last night we tried out the Super Reds soup, it is made with beets, red lentils, cranberries and coconut cream. At first when I opened my Influenster box with my two samples inside (the other being chicken broth) I was a little put off by the "beets"... I mean, gross, then add the cranberries and I was all "what were they thinking". Well they always say "never judge a book by it's cover" because this soup, without adding anything spices, was amazing by itself and perfect for our soup and sandwich night. 

It went perfectly with grilled cheese and peanut butter sandwiches. It has the perfect creamy texture and just a hint of sweet. The only regret I have it not trying the soup sooner. 

We do have plans for the Super Reds flavor again. As we were eating our soup last night we were discussing what it would best be paired with. We came up with a tortellini and grilled chicken soup idea... we will let you know how it goes.

Weekend Wrap Up

I was off a half day Thursday through Sunday and all I really did was deer hunt. Out of all the family members hunting I saw the most but the only one who didn't get a deer. How that is I have no idea...I still always get really excited for those that get one, as if I got my own. 

Sunday afternoons hunt was the most memorable. I took Oliver who is always talking about hunting and "hunt's" everyday. He has gone with Tim twice in previous years, however this year he really started to get it, in a way. 

He was extra quiet but wouldn't stop asking to use my binoculars between playing on his Leapster. He sat very still and at one point took a nap. 

Unfortunately we didn't see anything and when we got back to the car Oliver says "Mommy, thanks for taking me hunting. I had fun." That alone made my hunting experience that afternoon the best one yet. 

Now he still got to see a deer. I checked my phone before leaving the field and I told him we got a text from Aunt Lacey saying she shot a doe. He started to get really excited. Oliver and I met Tim and headed to where Lacey was hunting to help bring it home. Oliver was so excited to get to see a deer (albeit dead) before the hunting evening was over. The remainder of the night he kept saying "you know I am a hunter".

Weekend Wrap Up

It was a laid back weekend. Friday I was off for Veterans Day so the boys and I lounged in the morning then that afternoon made a Target run, which I don't know why I went with kids because I didn't get to really look at anything and spent most my time getting on to one of the three for touching something they weren't supposed to, arguing with each other or just down right getting on my nerves. Once we left there I had a few stops in Waterloo before heading home. Carter wanted a few friends over to play that evening but only one could make it... They enjoyed hanging out while I enjoyed the tv. Once Carter's friend left we all headed to bed. 


Saturday we were up early and headed to Rural King so I could buy a ground blind to put in this sink hole I am going to hunt. Once we got back home we spent the afternoon setting up deer stands and sighting in our guns. Carter went with Tim's mom to trivia night at the church while Evan and  Oliver spend the evening at home playing and watching movies. 

Sunday Tim, Oliver and Evan made biscuits and gravy for breakfast. While Oliver was at Sunday school, Carter was still sleeping and Evan was napping I was able to get laundry folded. Before I knew it we had to head to Tim's Aunt and Uncles for a going away party for his cousin who is moving to Idaho. Once we were back home the boys and I napped while Tim winterized the camper and put it away. We spend the rest of the night getting ready for Monday.... I also did a little online Christmas shopping. 

What did you do this weekend?

Weekend Wrap Up

This weekend was our Annual Fall Classic Campout, a/k/a the last camping event of the year. Friday Tim and the boys headed down after work while I milled about Waterloo until Carter's 4H Award Program started. He received a superior in Technology and got firsts in Cooking and Photography. He was pretty proud of himself, as was I. 

Once I got to the clubhouse I visited a bit before heading off to bed with Evan and Oliver. 

Saturday we were up and milling about about 9a, had breakfast ate by 10:30 and were setting on our 10 mile round trip bike ride by 11a. I thought it would be a great idea to pull Oliver AND Evan in the bike wagon... this was later a huge regret. See Oliver weights 37 lbs and Evan 33.5, those two alone were 70 lbs and I wasn't adding the bike trailer. 

The hills and slight inclines killed me. Tim didn't go with me and I take my Aunts and Uncles who would stroll up beside me, grab the trailer and start pushing us up the hills. It was a 5 mile ride to the closest town where we stopped for snacks and beverages. 

When we left there my Aunt had the ok to stop at a farm and see all their calves, cows and chickens. My boys were in heaven. Oliver was right in the calf pin and was not phased when he was told he was sitting in chicken poop.

The ride back was hell, I literally was giving up right at the end and was going to just walk my bike the rest of the way but my Aunts wouldn't let me. Once I made it back to the clubhouse I was exhausted. It took everything I had to get Evan showered and ready for his 2 year pictures that my SIL at Raven Vasquez Photography was taking for us. Once the pictures were over I spend the remainder of the evening in one spot, with the same beer in my hand until I couldn't keep my eyes open any longer then I was off to bed... at 8:30pm. 

Sunday I thought I would be sore but to my surprise I was not. I was a little sore where the edge of the bike seat hit my thighs but that was it, not muscle soreness at all. With it being out last camp out of the year we all pitched in and closed up everything... that is until Evan escaped the clubhouse with a sucker in hand. As I followed him outside Tim caught up with us at the same time Evan was dropping said sucker on the ground and crying as he was wiping his mouth. I kept looking in his mouth but never saw anything until I folded his bottom lip down and found a stinger sticking out. The bee stung him and he ate the bee... We gave him benedryl and knowing there wasn't a place to put him for a nap I loaded him in the car to get Carter and head home so I could watch him better. One the way to get Carter from his dad Evan became lethargic and wouldn't respond to me. Once I got to Carter's dads I rushed in the house for Carter, they gave me a rag and some ice. On the way home Carter managed to wake Evan, get him to chew on ice and kept him laughing... but the poor baby's bottom lip and left side of his face was really swollen. Once we were home for about 2 hours the swelling went down and he was acting himself. My biggest concern was that tongue... I kept watching to make sure it wasn't swelling. 

By the time we got the camper unloaded we were loading up the walnuts Carter collected and off to turn them in. 

It was kind of fun watching them shell the nuts to get an accurate weight for Carter's payment. He had 156 lbs and made over $20. Once we were finished we headed home and spend the rest of the evening relaxing.