love note from Lily

I NEVER want to forget this:
This morning we (me, Ella, and #babyB) were driving Lily to school.  Before she got out she handed this to me and said, "Because I don't get to see you very much when I'm at school."

My heart may just have melted & it totally made my day.

first EVER girls weekend

This past weekend Jocelyn & I met up in Myrtle Beach.  We have been friends since I was in 5th grade & she was in 6th grade. We planned this first EVER girls weekend months ago & we both have been so excited for it! We stayed at Ocean Reef which was right on the beach. We had an amazing view from our balcony.

We enjoyed hours of talking & catching up - uninterrupted adult conversation! We took long walks on the beach each morning - without strollers. We did some shopping - no little hands touching breakables. It was so refreshing! 

I appreciate Jocelyn's friendship for many reasons.  We both don't have time to keep in contact regularly via phone, but when we do chat, after months of playing phone tag, we can pick up right where we left off.  We also challenge one another regarding our spiritual lives, parenting our littles, our families and our marriages. 

We enjoyed two dinners out - no one said "sit still" or "take one more bite."  Friday night we ate at Ultimate California Pizza and Saturday night we ate at Tupelo Honey Cafe.  Tupelo Honey Cafe was definitely my favorite! The food was amazing & the farm house decor was beautiful.  

A HUGE thanks to our husbands who took care of our kids while we were away. This was the first time Jake has ever had the kids alone overnight, and YES, we have a 5+ year old! I feel like I need to clarify that by saying we (Jake & I) have had a few nights away to celebrate birthdays or anniversary's, but I haven't ever been gone overnight without Jake. I also appreciated coming home to happy kids, a picked up house with dishes done & even some laundry finishing up. WOW!

we have a kindergartener

I've heard it said by my Mom, and I've said it myself, many times.....the days may be long but the years go by quickly. This is so true.  God graciously allowed me to have our kids with me even when I worked from home or at an office.  I've had this girl 24/7 for the last 5+ years.  Today she headed off to kindergarten. It was such an odd feeling to drop her off for the day.

This morning me, Ella, and #babyB took Lily to school & walked her in to her classroom.  Lily marched right in with a huge smile on her face.  She had a great day - "I loved it, it was great!"

Lily got to see her classroom, sit at her chair & meet her teacher, Miss Schmig, on Tuesday morning at the Open House.  We are so excited for her school year.

11 months

 This happy boy is 11 months old TODAY!

He is eating table food like a champ.
He is walking around furniture.
He is walking while holding onto fingers/hands.
He just got another top tooth so he is up to 5 teeth now.

Summer Vacation 2015

We've almost been back a week now from our summer vacation to Minnesota & Wisconsin to see our family.  We were gone for TWO weeks! We enjoyed seeing everyone, some family we had not seen for a WHOLE YEAR. Here are the picture highlights:

Visiting Grandpa at work.

Lots of family meals & playing with cousins.

We were able to spend our first weekend with all the Flaming's.  We haven't all been together, at the same time, since the Christmas I was pregnant with Ella.

We had two full houses at Christmas Mountain Village in the Wisconsin Dells. We enjoyed the mini golf, many of the pools, paddle boats and the time we had together.

cousins

The FLAMING crew

Once we got back to the Twin Cities, we enjoyed many more family dinners. I also was able to meet up with a few of my friends for coffee or a playdate.

Jeannie, Kristina & I worked at Thomasville together.

Gloria & I have been friends since high school.

Jake & I snuck away on Wednesday morning for an overnight to celebrate our 7 year wedding anniversary.  We enjoyed our time together. Of course we went to a MN Twins game!

Dinner at Ling & Louie's

We did some sight seeing & shopping on Thursday morning before we headed back to my parents.

While we were on our anniversary overnight, the girls had a blast with Grandpa & Grandma Tuttle! They even went to Como Zoo. 

The second weekend we spend time with my family.  My Grandparents & Aunt came up to visit from Iowa.  It is always special spending time together.

Margot loves to eat!

We were anxious to get home, because #babyB was here in North Carolina.  He was with a family who provided respite care.  We flew in really late Wednesday night & we got up pretty early Thursday morning to go pick him up.  So happy to have him back with us! We missed him terribly.