Wisconsin Dells Vacation 2015

Linking up again with Erika, Andrea and Narci!

Our summer 2015 adventures started out with a trip to Wisconsin Dells this past week.  We left Sunday morning and came back Wednesday late afternoon.    The weather was absolutely perfect and we had a blast!

We stayed at the Kalahari Resort, this is our third time staying there and we love it.  There is an indoor and outdoor water park, indoor amusement park, movie theater, gift shops and so many places to eat!

We let Emma bring her BFF Kyleigh with, and it really worked out so well, all the kids got along beautifully.

We also had an awesome outdoor pool that we used.  It was nice because there weren't a lot of people there, very quiet and relaxing!  Our room was like an apartment.  When you walk in there is the bathroom/vanity area and then the bedroom with a king size bed and doors that open to the living room/kitchen/dining area.  We bought groceries the first night and ate all our breakfast a couple lunches/dinners there.  We also had a deck which was awesome for drinks in the evenings and coffee in the mornings!

Brad had a work conference at the Dells, so it worked perfect to make a vacation out of it.  We had him for a while Monday morning until around noon.  We went out to the outdoor park for a few hours and then wen to the indoor one.  The indoor one has a lot more slides and things to do. 

Monday night was family night with the company he was with.  They fed us tacos with all the fixings (we had tacos the night before too, haha!), which were amazing!   

Love this picture of us...

After dinner we got to see the christian rock group Mercy Me.  Oh my word, if you ever have the chance to see them, do it, they were amazing!

And the best part was when we got to meet the band after!  I've listened to their newest cd several times already, so, so good!

A little mommy/Alayna selfie.  She was falling asleep on my lap about 20 minutes after we got there.  Rachel ended up taking her back to the room, as it wasn't "her" type of music.  14 year olds....

A little relaxing after being in the sun all day...

Tuesday Brad was gone all day working the convention, so it was just the girls and I.  We lounged in the morning, I got in a 30 minute workout both days at the hotel gym, I was proud!  We got to the outdoor park around 10:30 and stayed until about 1:30 and then headed back to the hotel for lunch.  We basically hung out in the hotel for the afternoon and then I had to get ready for the dinner and awards banquet.  Dinner was filet mignon and bacon wrapped chicken, steamed veggies and twice baked potatoes, dessert was cheesecake, everything was divine!  After the awards ceremony we met a bunch of people out for drinks, so fun!  

The girls all got their hair braided at a little kiosk in Kalahari.

So cute!  And then they all got airbrushed tattoos.  I am now completely broke, haha!

Wednesday Brad was done working so we took the girls to the indoor amusement park.  We let them each pick out 2 things to do.  One of Rachel's bucket list items was to do the rock climbing wall.  She damn near passed out once we got there, so unfortunately she didn't do it.  Emma, Ky and Alayna did, and loved it!

They also got to go on the go carts, although Alayna was not happy because she wasn't tall enough to drive.  I told if she would eat the food I serve everyday and not complain she could have been tall enough.  She wasn't a fan.

The last thing I let them talk me into doing was getting a picture taken with a baby tiger .  He was so flipping cute, but I can't believe I shelled out $45 for 2 5x7 pictures....Yes they got to pet him at least.

All in all it was a fabulous vacation!  It was such a great mix of relaxing, kid time, mommy/daddy time and lots of activities!

Heart of the Lakes Triathlon

I know I already included some of these pics in a post, but I wanted a separate post to keep track of my races.  (Yes all 3 of them, haha!)

Last Sunday Cory, Tonia and I did a triathlon in Annandale, and it was so much fun!  Honestly it was way more fun than I thought it would be.  Cory has done (and placed) many tri's, and somehow talked Tonia and I into doing one.  He is a phenomenal swimmer, Tonia is a biker and I run, so it worked perfectly!

Cory started the swim at 8:03 and finished his 1/2 mile swim in just over 12 minutes.  That's insane!

Tonia was up next with a 22 mile bike.  She was so nervous that morning, but she KILLED it!  She was hoping to finish in an hour and a half and her actual was one hour 12 minutes!  I was so happy for her, but now I was terrified, because everyone else came in under their goal time which left little ole me to run 5.3 miles in the heat, ugh.

Time to rock and roll!

My goal was to finish in under an hour, and I finished in 55 minutes, I was SO freakin happy!

Long Weekend on Lake Nisswa

We had another gorgeous lake weekend!  Friday we left to head up to Nisswa to stay in a cabin with 2 of my high school friends and their families.  The weather was PERFECT, hot and humid Friday-Sunday.  We spent most of our time in the lake, floating, tubing and just hanging out.

 

The kids all get along really well, and these 2 cuties below are besties!

Sunday morning Brad and I went fishing for an hour, well he fished and I read.  He caught a couple good size bass.

 

Monday we took the kids into town to shop, I LOVE Nisswa's stores, so fun!

It was a SUPER relaxing, fun weekend!

We got home Tuesday afternoon and came home to wind, rain and 55 degrees!  I promptly got my booty in the kitchen and whipped up some of Pioneer Woman's tomato soup and parmesan croutons.

Both were delicious!  I also made some apple crisp with the last jar.  This cooler weather has me ready for fall!

Weekend on Lake Osakis

We spent last weekend with 3 other families at a cabin on Lake Osakis and had a blast!  The weather was perfect and it was a great mix of food, fun, and drinks!

Jeanie and I took the girls up on Thursday night, we got there around 8 and played cards.  Everyone else got there around 2:00 on Friday.

This was my view Friday morning drinking coffee.

The kids had a blast fishing, kayaking, tubing and just hanging out.

These four ladies crack me up.  They hooked up the tube to the kayaks and took turns pulling it, haha!

There was a platform in the lake so the kids had fun jumping off.

Emma and Alayna LOVED the kayaks!  I seriously think Alayna could win kayak races!!

It was a really relaxing getaway, I made sure that I kept my eating (and drinking) in check and got some workouts in everyday.  Nothing like running by the lake!  This weekend we have abother cabin weekend in Brainerd, and I can't wait!

Lately...

This is what we've been up to...

Softball!  Alayna has her last game tonight, it's been so fun watching her play, she's such a peanut out there!

Her team placed first in the regular season!  She was SO excited to get a medal, haha...

Alayna and I got a night out last Thursday so we hopped on over to Kay's Kitchen for supper!

Rachel and Alayna have VBS this week (Rach is volunteering) so last night Emma got a daddy night which also meant Kays Kitchen!

This past weekend we went to our friends cabin and enjoyed a late evening 4 wheeler ride, it was so beautiful!

We unfortunately got some bad news that a good friend of ours was diagnosed with colon cancer.  He is a year younger than me with 2 small kiddos.  It's time's like these that really make you put your own life into perspective.

We don't know what God has in store for us and we know that life isn't always going to be easy.  I think since getting this news, Brad and I taken more time to enjoy the little things, life is too short.

A Play, Baby Shower and Triathlon!

I am exhausted.  Like can't hardly move completely exhausted.  It was a fantastic weekend but crazy busy!

Friday Emma had her performance as she was in theater camp all week.  The play was "Frozen" and she had a blast, but was super bummed she didn't get a better part (she was a narrator).  She is such a natural up on stage though, always knows her lines and looks so comfortable!

Saturday morning Rachel did the Color Run with some of her friends, they had a blast!

She got home around 11 and then had to shower and get ready so we could hit the road for my sisters baby shower 2.5 hours away.

The shower was so fun and it was so great to see her!  We cannot WAIT for baby Noah to come!!

We got home around 7 and I promptly made a yummy garlic and chicken pasta dish (thanks to freezer cooking!) to help me fuel up for our triathlon the next morning.

Oh my word, yesterday was such a trip!  Cory, Tonia and I signed up to do the Heart of the Lakes Triathlon in Annandale.  Cory is a stud tri-guy, as in he's placed in the top 5 several times.  Tonia is a biker and I run, so we thought it was a perfect fit!  The race started at 8, with Cory swimming a half mile.  He came in first in his heat!  Tonia was next, biking 22 miles.  She was hoping to do it in an hour and a half, and actually finished in 1:15!!  I was SO proud of her, she was really nervous.

My run was next and I was a nervous wreck, I really felt the pressure even though we all said it was for fun only.  I started at 9:32 and it was getting pretty hot.  My run was around Pleasant Lake, 5.3 miles.  I started to really feel the heat around mile 2, there were a lot of water stops and one stop even gave out cold sponges, that felt awesome!  I had my Polar watch on so I could watch my time and keep on pace.  I did stop to walk a few times.  My goal was to do it in under an hour and my actual was 55 minutes!  10:42 minute miles, I was very happy with that considering the hills and the heat!

Game face on.  

After we were done.  I was SO hot and tired.  My only pain/soreness is in my side.  I've been feeling it for the last couple weeks, but after the run it was CRAZY sore!

I am so, so glad we did this, it was an awesome experience!