Marco Island FL!!!!

I have the privilage to use my Cousins Condo in FL last week!!! It was wonderful!

A high school girlfriend and I headed down there for a few days...... A WONDERFUL, AND MUCH NEEDED Girlfriend Getaway!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We hung out in the pool and got A LOT of SUN!!!!!! (different sun in that part of FL than there is up here in WI/MN!!!!)

While there we saw a very funny comedian named Brad Williams..... at Captain Brians!!!!

There was good food and TOOOOOOO much BOOZE..... but in the end, I wouldn't trade those days for anything..... In fact, we are hoping to book another trip down there this next year!!!!!!!!! Maybe with more GIRLFRIENDS....

WHO WANTS IN?????

200th POST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I can't believe it.... I came here to share a great photo and realized it was my 200th post!!!!!!! YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Anyways, here is the great Photo!!!!

2 weeks ago I went and saw Barlowgirls and CASTING CROWNS at our state fair.... it was the BESTEST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

They both rocked the house! I have never been so energized than that night! If you ever have a chance to see either of those groups, DO IT!!!!!!! You won't regret it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

CAMPING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

SO, we took our VERY FIRST AS A FAMILY camping trip! It was very fun!!!! The hiking, the beach, the cooking on the fire, ALL FUN!!!!!!!! NOT fun was the fact the temp got down to 45 at night... that was NOT FUN!!!! BUT that was OK, we lived.... OH, also not fun, sleeping on the ground... YES, hubby and I did have those self inflating mats, and a sleeping bag for comfort, but still.. I AM NOT SURE adult bodies should sleep on the ground!!!

Our site was great, HUGE, full of nice trees, and tucked back in the camp ground. We choose to have NO electricty, which was OK... didn't need it anyways!

Anyways we ate many smores, a few too many chips, plump on the fire hot dogs, Pocket Pizza's, and some other fun camp things!!!! We enjoyed a few hours on the beach (SO MAD I FORGOT TO GRAB MY CAMERA....) because we built a great sand castle... OK, not great, but the only one on the beach..... The kids collected TONS of rocks to bring home... YEAH (NOT!) and we also took a hike though the woods!

All of this inspired the good ol' hubby to look into saving for a pop up camper! Not only for more room, but for some storage while we camp.... I mean really, the van was LOAD to the TOP! 4 kids, a tent, 6 sleeping bags, 2 roll up mats, 6 fleece blankets, 6 pillows, a large cooler, 2 bags of food, 2 adult fold up chairs, 4 kids ones, a water jug, a suit case of towels, and a large TOTE with all the clothes in it!!!! That was just for a weekend...LOL!!!!!!

Anyways, we are planning a few camping outings next summer, the kids loved it and we had a good time too!!!!!!

Our fun ZOO trip!!!!!

Our tradition is to take this PHOTO every year.....

Here they all were just 3 yrs ago at our first trip to the zoo after adding Kaylin!!!!!

This is all of the kids that went.... They are my neices and nephew!!! It is soooo darn fun to hang out with them, because from June 7th until Sept 2nd... their ages go like this.... 3,4,5,6,7,8,9.... and so on... they each FIT into my childrens ages!!!!! SOOO FUN!!!!!!

Our trips to the zoo are always oh soooo fun. Even though they look at the same thing each time... they never get bored of it!!!!!!!!

GO FISH!

What a great CONCERT this was!!!!!!!!!

The kids all had a great time..... Jim said he had an OK time... and I thought it was super fun!

The best part was looking over at my 9 yr old singing away to the music without a care in the world, worshiping God!!!!!!!!!!!!

If you have a chance to take your children to see them, DO IT!!!!!!!!! You will NOT regret the money spent!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The church that held the concert sat 850 people, they sold 700 seats (to keep the seating comfy!) and since we got there early to stand in line, we were in row 6!!!!!! At one point, all the guys headed into the audience to greet the kids...... ANDY, (they LOW NOTE GUY) shook my kids hands, even TRYING to get K to shake his.... IT WAS GREAT!!!!!!!!!!

FYI: for all your moms who live around MN, they will be at the hearts-at-home conference in Rochester, MN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I know I will be heading there FOR SURE!!!!!!!!!! Not just for GO FISH, but for all the wonderful workshops and speakers!

Gods Great Power

My husband LOVES looking at the stars at night, but even more than that, HE LOVES watching thunder storms move in!!!!!!!!!!! Lastnight we were sitting on the deck together, enjoying the silence of the children sleeping in their beds and enjoying Gods Great Glory here on earth!!!!!

Como Zoo....

So we took our first summer outing the other day and I had to share this Gorilla photo with you! It was tooo funny!!!! I think he was telling us all to GO AWAY!!!!!!!!!

Todays Adventure!

Today I met up with my Sister-in-Law/ Step Sister/ Girlfriend, and her 2 daughters who just happen to follow my girls ages (hers 6, mine 5, hers 4, mine 3) . Yes they are very cute all together! Anyways, the 2 oldest road their bikes and the youngest 2 rode in our double jogging stroller (we let them bike last week, but they are sort of slow...LOL!)

Anyways, we finished our walk and took the path that leads to the VERMILLION FALLS in Hastings, MN! It is so beautiful... I remember back to when my dad used to let us come down here.... This is also the place where my husband (after 3 mo. of dating) told me he wanted to marry me....