Summer 2013 Bucket List

Ooooh, boy girl, do I have something fun for you today!

I saw there was a link-up for summer bucket lists. And I thought, "well why not?" Clearly this is bound to be one of the more exciting summers of our life.

Half of it will be spent in Scotland, where 'summer' may not be the best word for season.  Seriously folks. No air conditioners, because the temps rarely get over 70 degrees.

The other half will be in Minnesota, and after two full summers away, we are excited to get back there, mosquitos and all. (No, seriously. You should see the Jenny Long Legs in Scotland. Look like a mix between mosquitos and daddy long legs.  Gross. They don't bite, but still.  Gross.  And no screens on windows....so.  I'll let you think about that for a second.  Eeew.)

With that being said, I humbly present our 2013 Summer Bucket List:

What do you think?  Anything we should add?  Who's up for a bonfire?

I should have added a bubble gun fight.  Oh, wait.  That already happened. 

Alright, I'm off to find out how to make our own bubble solution, since I have a feeling J#3 and J#4 will be chomping at the bits to take these bubble guns out again.  Pinterest, don't let me down.  

** 

Linking up with these ladies:  

Unsolicited Advice

Here is the unsolicited advice I usually dispense onto young couples:  

Move as a couple on your own, away from  your family. 

It will make you stronger as a team, as a new "family".  I still believe, to this day, it was one of the best decisions J#1 and I have made.  We moved to New Jersey in 2007, with no children and no plan of when we would return to Minnesota.

But having now added not just one, but two children to our family? 

NOW, I make sure to tell people to do it BEFORE they have kids.  

Once you have kids...well, as soon as we knew we were pregnant with J#3 {in 2008}, we were starting to think about how we would move back to Minnesota from New Jersey.  

I wanted him to be by his grandparents.  I wanted him to have memories that I hadn't when I was growing up {seeing as how I just had one living grandparent, my grandma, who passed away when I was seven.}  

Something about having a child made my view on the adventure of living as a couple on our own change.  So, we moved back to Minnesota.  

Fast forward to 2010, and we get the opportunity to move to Europe for a predetermined amount of time. Before our kids would be starting school. Perfect, right?   

Yes, except here we are an ocean away from our family...those exact grandparents that I wanted my kids to have memories with.  

We are away from the rest of our family. 

The people that would watch our kid's at a moment's notice, if needed.

And we are away from our very, very good friends.  

Thank the Lord for Skype, planes and the internet.  

Seriously.  How did people do this before those things were invented?

Don't get me wrong.  I know that I am extremely blessed to be in this situation.  But our trip back to Minnesota in December...where all of these photos are from...was very good for this girl's {that'd be me} soul. 

I know there are other folks who live away from their families who read...what are you thoughts?  What do you think are the good and bad parts of living away from family?

It's the little things: a brain. or maybe its bread?

From 'the big picture' yesterday, to the little things today.

Linking up with Lindsay, and making sure to make note of the little moments that I am so grateful for.

~  ~  ~

Earlier this week, I dropped J#4 off with her grammy, and J#3 and I had a mother/son date.  That doesn't happen very often.  Or, since J#4 was born, EVER.

So we headed to downtown St. Paul with Lori and her son Tony, a few of our very good friends.   Lori and I were so excited when we started having kids, because our boys ended up being being just one year apart in age {J#3 is younger}. We couldn't wait for play dates.

And then I up and moved on her.

But we DO visit.  So, on this visit, we decided to take the boys to the Children's Museum.  I am guessing I'll have a huge 'ole post about the day, but here are a few of my favorite "little things":

Play in motion. 

They almost make you think they are working together, don't they?  Hehe. 

A brain.  

Or bread?  

I'll let you decide.  Ha.  Haha. 

Oh.  And guess what?  Lori's daughter?  She's only about three months older than J#4.  

Can't wait for our shopping dates.

Although, I am sure our husbands can wait.  Don't ya think? 

Have you ever?

Have you ever checked out Bloglovin?

My google reader has gotten a bit out of hand, but I do check through it for: the blogs I consider must read, interesting titles, or posts specific to whatever topic is closest to my heart at that moment.

But the must reads?  The blogs I have to read as soon as there is a new post? I thought I would try to use Bloglovin to keep track of them.


And then I found out that you could "claim" your blog on Bloglovin.  So, that's what I'm doing {and the reason that I happen to be writing this post}.  Follow my blog with Bloglovin

SO, back to the blogs that I just HAVE to read.  You know the ones, right?  The ones like Meg's, and Kelle's and Edie's.

Have you ever wondered how that happens?  How those specific blogs become "the" blog to read?  I do.

I have to think it has something to do with their mad writing skills and awesome photos.

Seeing as how it is 11 p.m. on Friday night, I am guessing that this post is probably a fail in the "mad writing skills" department, but maybe this photo can earn me a point or two in the "awesome photos" category?

And just for the cuteness factor {even with the low resolution}, maybe this photo could garner a few more points?

Have you ever seen such a cute 10 month old girl?  Oh, I'm sure you have.  But I sure haven't.

Okay...well...maybe her brother....about 23 months ago.

{Insert extreme sarcasm here} But I'm not bias or anything.

Tuesday Top 10: Home Sweet Home

No worries.  This is NOT another post about the many homes we have lived in.

When I say "home" in this post...it is a bit more general, as in "Minnesota".  Where I have lived 30 of my 33 years of life {Funny, I almost typed 32 of my 35 years.  How can I age myself so easily, when I keep thinking that I am still 32?}

We {meaning J#2-J#4} are here in Minnesota for an extended visit.  Even though we have only missed one winter here, I may have forgotten how cold it gets.  And I may have said to J#1 that we could just head back to Scotland with him when he left...but I was totally kidding.

I do that sometimes. And how could I even say that?  We are so unbelievably blessed and lucky to have this opportunity.  I need to be thanking God {oh, and J#1 too, I guess} every day for the chance to get all of this quality time with family and friends.

I need to count our blessings.  Which are unlimited.  But, since this is just a blog post..and it is Tuesday...

Here are the top 10 things about being home in Minnesota {in no particular order}.

#1.  Snow?

Yup.  Snow.  Just went out and got some snow pants and boots for J#3 yesterday.  And can I just say...$24.99 for boots? For a 2 year old?  Geez.

#2. Favorite restaurants...with friends, of course.

I wish I could get to the point where I was gusty enough to take photos inside of places.  You should see the inside of this place.  When I am there, I feel like I have been picked up and placed in New York City. Dreamy.  And the big, fluffy snowflakes falling? Definitely added to the beauty of the evening.

#3.  Movies...also with friends.

Source: breakingdawn-themovie.com via Jenny on Pinterest

Breaking Dawn, Part 1.  Sigh.  I know they had to end it somewhere, so there could be a part 2, but...well.  I don't know.  Don't know where else I would have wanted them to end it.  But, I guess maybe I just didn't want it to end.  {wink}

#4.  Christmas cookies with who? Friends.

Ooops.  I might have started eating one.  Pretty sure it was broken.  {wink}.  Oh!  And do you see my mustard, ketchup & relish cookie?

#5. Having a baking assistant.

...And a nice BIG kitchen to bake in for a change.  But having the baking assistant (a.k.a.  my mom) was awesome.  Good company, she washed dishes and measured out the ingredients.  I almost felt like I could be on a cooking show.

#6.  Fun cousin moments.

J#3 went on to try and put his cousin B "to bed" several times.  Complete with a good night kiss.  Unfortunately, I was either too slow...or too quick, to get the money shot of the actual good night kiss.  And we may have tried to stage it quite a few times.  Guess I better get a quicker trigger finger!

#7.  Caribou Coffee.

Nuff said.

#8.  Living in a hotel.
Sort of seems like an oxymoron, right?  Being "home" but in a hotel?  But, it works pretty well for us, and provides routine for the kids.  Plus: no cleaning, full breakfast provided and a pool.  Need I say more?

#9.  Getting to see my niece E show off her mad gymnastic skills.

#10.  J#3 helping Grandma decorate her Christmas tree.  Priceless.

Linking up this week with:

Nicole @ Miss Mommy {who, when I win the lottery, I will by flying to Canada}

and

Amanda @ Oh Amanda

So...which hairstyle???

First of all...have you ever lost your mojo?  Your blogging mojo...your mommy mojo...your work mojo...any kind of mojo?  I did. But good news...  It's back.  Must have been that Caribou Coffee I had this morning.  {wink}  On a complete side note, I can't believe I have been in Minnesota for 12 full days, and I just had my first Caribou Coffee today!

But anyways....on to the real reason for this post.

Do you remember back in October, when I asked for your thoughts on a new hairstyle?  You don't?? Well then click here.

If you don't want to use an extra click though,  in short, there were 10 different choices, and most of the comments liked #1:

Source: sunshineblossomsblog.com via Jenny on Pinterest

This is actually a fellow blogger over at Sunshine Blossoms.  {You should probably check her out. She's got a fun blog.}

I took all the options to my stylist, and then just sort of let her do with it as she wanted.  I mean, that is her specialty, right?

And I went from this:

to this:

So...what do you think???

I'll tell you what I think.  I seriously need to get better at taking photos of myself in the mirror.  {wink}

Oh, and FYI. Mojo return did NOT occur with the haircut.

Just in case you were wondering.  Which...I bet you weren't.

Happy Monday peeps!

numbers. most random blog post ever.

Numbers.  Good numbers.  Not so good numbers.  Let's start with the not good, and move to the good.  M'kay?

Not so good...

# on the scale:  Dudettes {I love the word dude.  Wish it wasn't so 80's}.  About two months ago I was at the lowest # I had been since I was married.  Now?  Not the case.   I am pondering making myself accountable for my weight fight here on the blog.  Contemplating.  Just not sure yet...

#s on the statistics page: UGH!  Why do I look at those?  I don't blog for followers.  I blog for me.  I gotta stop looking at 'em.

# of days until our move:  EEEK!

Good...

# of days until our move:  Yay!!!!

# of days until our fall trip back to Minnesota: Yay again!

# of days it took me to get through the Bible in 90 days:  79.

# of months J#4 is:  8 {as of yesterday}.   UNBELIEVABLE.  Fantastic.  Love. Her. To. Pieces.

Grandma...how's this one???

First time in a cart. Rockin' it. 

Five Minute Friday: Beauty (& a Baptism)

Today I am linking up again with The Gypsy Mama for Five Minute Friday.  This week the prompt is "beauty".  As a reminder, here are the "rules": 

1. Write for 5 minute flat with no editing, tweaking or self critiquing.
2. Link back to They Gypsy Mama and invite others to join in.
3. Go and tell the person who linked up before you what their words meant to you. Every writer longs to feel heard.

START
Beauty.  For me, the definition of beauty changed dramatically once I became a mother.  

Oh yes, there is still beautiful scenery, decorating, clothes, and more.  But now, the most beautiful things to me are my children, my husband and my family (including my friends that are LIKE family).  

What could be more beautiful?  Knowing that you have people to depend on, day in and day out.  They will always love you, no matter how goofy (or crabby) you are acting. 

Especially our children.  I am constantly amazed at the depth of their love for us, as parents, and the depth of my love for them.  Unconditional.  

It amazes me that J#3 can be disciplined and crying one minute, and then two minutes later (after a time out, of course) can be hugging and kissing me.  That is beautiful.  Truly beautiful. 

Another beautiful moment for me has been the moment that each of my children were baptized.  To have all of the people that mean the most to us in one place, celebrating our children and telling us (by being Godparents, or just by being there) that they will support us and our children throughout their lives?  That is a truly beautiful moment.  Priceless.  

Beauty is having my family surrounding me.  My immediate family (the J's), our extended family, and our friends that ARE family.  

STOP


Note:  Photos were added after five minutes were completed. Oh, and one more note--as usual, my baby girl was brilliant during the baptism and entire mass.  Not a peep.  Not even a tear when she had the water and oil poured on her head.  


Want to join me?  Or read about other blogger's thoughts on beauty?  Click that fancy little button below.