Instagram

I have found a new love - Instagram.  I have been using my phone for Instagram photos far more often than my actual camera, which is probably why I haven't been posting on here as much - all of my pictures are on my phone!

I pulled over my Instagram photos so you can see what I've been up to the past few months!  Going forward, I'll try to update them more regularly so I won't have such a long post!  

Carter's first Johnsville All Star slip:
Reading in the doctor's office:

Beautiful colors on our drive up north:

Target's new wellness center - very cool concept:

Gorgeous view of the sunset on Centerville Lake:

Taking care of my sweet great-nephew:

View of the sunrise out of the basement window at Mom and Dad's:

Carter's class field trip to Pinehaven Farms:

Bunny snuggles:

Fun night out with Sommer and Malyn - two of my co-workers:

My fish checking out their winter home for the first time of the season:

Boys are in school, time for me to be creative:

Ryan's pencil designed rocket for Cub Scouts:

Kyle's feet are officially bigger than mine!

Grandpa taking Ryan out to his deer stand:

Grandpa and Carter heading out for the evening hunt:

Kyle's 10 point buck on opening weekend:

Evan had this waiting for me on the counter one evening when I got home from work.  What a great surprise!

Carter reading his animal books:

Ryan read the new Diary of a Wimpy Kid The Third Wheel book in less than 24 hours. :)

Evan and Kyle were hunting so the boys and I had an evening to ourselves.  We went out for pizza and they enjoyed a long jacuzzi in the master bath.

I love working downtown at this time of the year.  Downtown was transformed into a winter wonderland overnight!

Driving home from my cousin Kim's on Thanksgiving night.  It went from low 60s in the morning to 30s and driving rain/snow mix.  Mom and Dad had to stay overnight the roads were so bad!

Thanksgiving weekend:  the tree was up, the house was decorated inside and out, time for a Frosty movie!

Charlie, our Elf on the Shelf, made his appearance on Thanksgiving weekend in a marshmallow bubble bath:

Charlie went camping and roasted marshmallows:

Charlie took Carter's tooth fairy money and made it into a paper airplane:

Carter lost his 2 front teeth in 2 days.  "All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth..."

Josh and Ryan playing Skylanders on the ipad:

Carter playing tic-tac-toe downstairs while I ran on the treadmill.  I had to keep looking backwards over my shoulder for every move.  I tried running backwards on the treadmill, but that didn't work too well!  ;)

Monster jam with our friends - what a fun night!

Me and my little man cheering on our favorite monster trucks!

Ready for the Twins Stadium Tour on their day off school last Monday:

When I picked Carter up from A+ this week, he gave me this card he made.  Melted my heart...

Ryan's friend, Alexis at lunch last week:

A new Pinterest favorite recipe:  apples, bacon, walnuts, feta cheese and raspberry vinaigrette dressing on spinach.  YUM!

Carter giving Santa his wish list:

Holidazzle Parade

Every year we go to the Target Plaza for dinner and then watch the Holidazzle Parade from inside the building.  They pipe the music inside, so it is like being in on the action, and still being toasty warm inside!  We also go through the Macy's 8th floor display every year (but it hasn't changed in about 5 years - used to change annually) and see Santa.  This year the only one that wanted to visit Santa was Carter.  He loved it!  

My parents came down and we made a full night of it.  I love being downtown during the holidays!  And it just started to snow lightly in the evening, so it was the perfect setting for a holiday parade. :)

Eating dinner at the Plaza:

Mom and the boys watching the Parade:

Jewelry

One of my co-workers had a baby this week, so this is a Christmas/Baby Gift for her:

And this is for her infant daughter:

Monster Jam

We had a very impromptu night of fun on Saturday night. Aaron texted me and asked if we would be interested in going to Monster Jam that night. Ryan already had a birthday party scheduled for a friend, so we had to do a little juggling, but it all came together in the end. And I'm so glad it did - the boys had a blast! I love watching their expressions as they watch the trucks!! :) Evan could take it or leave it, but I enjoy it only because the kids are so into it!

Aaron, Lukas, Ryan, and Evan:

Carter and Zach:

We had seats in the nosebleed section because we bought them at the gate, but it was still fun.  The pictures weren't nearly as cool as when we are closer to the field!  This is Maximum Destruction, a crowd favorite, but he was having trouble with his truck and didn't do well:

El Toro Loco:

The field set up for the races:

One of many, many rollovers.  The driver is standing on top of his truck, giving the crowd the thumbs-up sign.  The heavy equipment came in and rolled his truck back upright:

Jumping one of many old RV's brought in for destruction:

Another crowd favorite, Monster Energy.  He did very well in both the races and the freestyle event:

Freesytle event:

Check out this series of photos, all taken within just a few seconds of one another.  Monster Energy jumped these cars and RVs, rolled over, and then righted himself again and continued his freestyle performance.  A crowd pleaser for sure!

What a fun night with the kiddos!  I'm glad Aaron suggested it! :)

Jewelry

I think I have jewelry orders wrapped up for Christmas now.  Just when I say that, more will sneak their way in, but that is where I am at now.  Yeah!!!!

Picture this one with a tree of life charm in the middle:

This is a new one of mine.  The back says - My hands are almost as full as my heart.  Love that saying!