Ice Castles & Monster Trucks

How's that for a title? With all the sickness we've had around here, I never got around to recapping our super fun filled weekend! (a couple weekends back)

On Saturday we headed to Lake Geneva, WI to see the Ice Castles - these just started coming around here last year and we didn't make it then so we knew we wanted to see them this year! They were delayed in opening because we were having an unseasonably warm-ish winter but finally dates opened up. My mom, sister, brother in law, niece & nephew joined and it was a good old fashioned family fun day!

Now I'm not going to lie, my inner 10yr old self was totally thinking these would be some kind of Elsa-like ice castles and they weren't (wahhh) but, they were still sooooooo pretty and unique and something I've never seen before. Totally worth the experience! We stayed for over 2 hours exploring them, if that tells you anything!

  

  

Once we were done, we went into town for dinner and then drove home - we all went straight to bed as we were exhausted!


The next day was Monster Trucks with Ricks side of the family - I had never been, neither have the girls and some other family members, so we decided to all go together.  It was surprisingly really fun and enjoyable! and also really LOUD!!

ha Avery's face!

Monday the kids were off and we just relaxed after such a busy, fun weekend!

Weekend Recap 2.10.20

Oh hey there Monday! You came too fast! Last week we were battling some sickness (myself & Avery) so not much got done around here, but that's ok. I was mainly just so happy Avery felt better in time to go to the Daddy Daughter Dance Friday night!

Unfortunately some of our friends who they go with every year were sick, so it wasn't the same :( nonetheless, my girls were SO excited to get dressed up and go out with their Daddy!

Avery wanted a dress that sparkled and twirled when she spun around and Ella wanted to design her own shirt to wear! I love how different they are!

When they got home, they were wiped out! Rick said they had so much fun, and that makes me so happy to hear!!

While they were out having fun, I took Brayden on a Mom/Son date night to Dave & Busters. We both love arcade games so we had a blast!! We won so many bonuses and went home with way too much crap, but the memories we made were worth it!!

       


Saturday was a slow morning, then Ella had rehearsal for the musical she is in, both her and Brayden had a basketball game, then all 3 kids had playdates with friends in the afternoon.

The 5 of us went out to dinner which was really nice (everyone behaved, woohoo!) then it was home for a movie - have you seen Playing with Fire?! such a cute, funny one!!

Yesterday was my nieces baptism but Ella woke up with a headache and a slight fever so we decided to stay back while Rick and the other kiddos went.  I was sad to miss!


This is a short week for the kids, they have half day Thursday and no school Friday, throw in Valentines parties in there and it's going to be a good one!

Weekend Recap 1.20.20

Happy Tuesday! We had an extra long weekend with MLK day yesterday so I'm here today to recap it all.

We picked the kids up from school early on Friday and headed a couple hours away to a cute town for a friends/ski weekend! the plan for Friday was go out to dinner and relax at the rental house but once we arrived in town the snow was coming down so hard. We decided instead of driving into town for our reservation we went to the clubhouse in the neighborhood for dinner - all together there were 17 of us and it was a little chaotic at times but fun too!

After dinner, we went back to the house and all hung out and we probably let the kids stay up way too late




Saturday morning it was up early to get moving to the ski mountain. the kids had ski school and we had to get them all set up and dropped off around 8:30 - once that was done I went to get my rental equipment and headed off to a lesson. I've only been on skis twice and never had a formal lesson so I was glad to do one.




After my lesson I met up with Rick and the rest of our friends and we skied for a while then went into the restaurant and grabbed a drink before we had to get the kids from their lesson.





We all had lunch then we took the kids back out for a little, but the weather took a turn for the worse and a crazy wind storm came in so decided to call it for the day - we were all EXHAUSTED. I was incredibly proud of our kids for giving their all in their lesson - it was a long time to be away and learning something new but they did great!!!!






We ordered in some dinner later on and played some games and got the kids to bed at a decent hour without any pushback on their end (they were all so tired!) the adults stayed up a while playing this fun game then we needed sleep.

Sunday was a nice big breakfast then cleaned up and headed home. We relaxed the rest of the day which was so nice.





Yesterday since the kids were off and we had snow, a bunch of us went sledding. the kids lasted over 2 hours and would have kept going! we took them to lunch then home for more play in the snow!



Phew, looking forward to a scheduled rest of the week!

Weekend Recap - The One with Taylor Swift

Happy Happy Monday! I am coming off a super fun weekend so the momentum is still high! Let's hope this continues because I have lots to do today!!

So this weekend was our girls trip to Indy to see Miss Taylor Swift! I saw her in Chicago 3 years ago but that time I went alone with my nieces, SIL and cousin - this time was a little more special because I got to bring Ella with me!! There was 8 of us total and when I say it was so much fun, I mean it was SO MUCH FUN!!!!

We got to our hotel a little after 4 and once we were settled in we all got ready. We curled the girls hair and most of us were doing the knot with our tees but Ella wanted no part in that, so I didn't push it. I just wanted her to feel comfortable since I knew it was going to be a long night.

We got to the stadium around 6:30 - snapped some pics then got some drinks/food and got settled in. Ella wasn't really into the opening acts so she must have asked 50 times when Taylor was coming on. After more food breaks and one last potty break it was time for her to come out!!!

My gosh she puts on an AMAZING show! I remember how good it was last time but this time I think was even better! We all got bracelets when we walked in which I remembered also from last time so when Taylor came on stage it was sooo cool to see them all light up throughout the entire stadium! Ella really loved that!!






Our seats were really good but for a petite 6yr old kind of hard to see so Ella spent the entire time standing but since she's so light I had to hold down her seat with my knee - I think it went numb half way through but it was worth it to make sure she could see everything. We had so much fun dancing and singing together and to see it through her eyes was purely magical!! These are the memories I will never forget!

Until her next show!!!

*linking up with BLovedBoston & The Sirois Family

Weekly Recap {8.27.18}

Good Morning! I totally am not ready for this Monday, today my sweet Ella Bella starts ALL DAY KINDERGARTEN! Insert extremely emotional Mama here!! I know she's more than ready, it's me who's not. I felt the same when Brayden went so I thought by now it would be a little easier, but it's really not - today is going to be the longest day!!

Anyway, enough of my sob story, here's a look back at our week!

Monday was Brayden's first day and it went great!!

I took the girls to the carousel room for some last week of summer fun! They both made friends with girls their own age and had a blast

Then they played this game where they went to sleep, I have to say, I'm a big fan of this game :)

Wednesday we went to this little zoo in a neighboring town with friends - it was another really fun day!!

 

 Each morning at the bus stop we play shadow tag, these are the moments I soak in 😊

Thursday night Brayden had his first baseball game for fall ball. This season him and his buddies are all split up but we were all playing at neighboring fields so we grabbed a few pics - and so cute they all chose #17 without knowing the others did!

 

 Then, Brayden won MVP of the game!! His coach gives out this obnoxious wrestling belt to the player of the game and they bring it back next game

Friday I woke up early all ready to publish my blog post for the day to realize our cable & internet was out - I got an appt for 2-4pm later that day for a tech to come but in the meantime, I took the girls to an early lunch at McDonalds and took advantage of their free wi-fi :)

Saturday was a crummy start to the day so we took the kids out for some bowling and arcade games

 

 

Later that night, Avery was having a sleepover at my Moms and the other 2 were going by my in laws because we had dinner plans with my BIL & SIL. But before we dropped them off, they had dinner and were trying out the lady & the tramp move with the noodles. It was so cute watching and listening to them giggle and when they got too close Brayden would run away to the garbage and spit it out LOL

Only pic I got from our night out!

Sunday was a slow start since we were out late then we went swimming at my in laws later on, it was a gorgeous day!

I'm off to get my sweet middle child on her way to kindergarten, somebody hold me!!




*linking up with BLovedBoston & The Sirois Family

Weekly Recap 8.22.18

Hi blog world! I'm finally getting around to recapping our week on the blog - it was the last official week of summer break for Brayden so we tried to cram in lots of fun!!

Monday we went to lunch and then the neighborhood pool with lots of friends! The kids all had so much fun!!

Oh man, poor Ella - she wanted to jump off this diving board SO BAD but just could not get the courage to. She gets an A++++++ for trying though, because she did try no less than 30 times! It was a little comical watching all the kids cheer her on and getting frustrated waiting on her LOL

 

Another day we went to Gameworks with friends and again, the kids had a blast!! They scored enough points to get a bunch of junk in the game room and they couldn't have been happier

The girls spent time doing their workbooks and as usual, Ella was excited and Avery was NOT - haha

We went to the zoo one day with my Mom and the weather was perfect, not too hot and not cold

They have this new thing where you can feed the giraffes so I let the kids do that - Brayden & Ella loved it and I held Avery while she did it and she got nervous

Friday night I went out to dinner with some friends and girl time is just what I needed!!

Over the weekend, I had bridesmaid dress shopping, then we went to my aunt & uncles for a pool party for the bridal party in my cousins wedding - the kids swam for HOURS and I actually got to sit and talk!

 

Sunday the 5 of us went to practice baseball (Ella's playing t-ball this fall!) then out for ice cream! We ended the night going out to dinner and relaxing before Brayden had school the next day!!

And that's a wrap for our week (last week LOL)