The Christmas festivities have started!
Yesterday (Friday) Kya visited Santa at Kirkwood Mall, then rode the mall train with Grandpa Z (a new tradition for those two).
She was planning to tell Santa that she wants, "boots, a hat, and, a pony" (we have a little cow girl on our hands) but I think she got shy and told him about other things.
Saturday, December 22, 2012
Monday, December 17, 2012
tutu bowling
We took Kya bowling for the first time on Sunday. She selected insisted on her outfit - a pink tutu. Hilarious.
It was a family event – at Uncle Jim and Aunt Ronda's bowling alley, with cousins Parker and Lauryn (and their parents), my mom, and grandparents.
This is definitely one of our new favorite indoor activities! Strike!
It was a family event – at Uncle Jim and Aunt Ronda's bowling alley, with cousins Parker and Lauryn (and their parents), my mom, and grandparents.
This is definitely one of our new favorite indoor activities! Strike!
snow, frost, and fun
Saturday we woke up to a breathtakingly beautiful winter wonderland!
A few inches of snow and thick frost made for some major fun.
sledding
Kya said: more, do it again, and, fun – more times that I can count. She just loves a brisk North Dakota December day.
snow angels too!
it's extra sweet that I can still see the angels from my kitchen window.
she was very proud of herself "hiking up the big snow mountain"
love.
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
tap, tap, tap ...
Anyone out there?
Wow it's been a busy couple weeks ... hence my lack of blogging. I'll let the photos do the talking.
Celebrating Corey's birthday at Buffalo Wild Wings
Thanksgiving weekend in Kenmare with Corey's family - playing in the snow with dad and making snow angels.
Trying to make Frosty (was too cold so the snow didn't stick very well)
Nothing is cuter than adorable cousins in matching jammies.
Worn out!
Decorating the tree (she was much more excited than she appears)
Lots of Candy Land around here lately.
Her favorite outfit.
A funny (or maybe it was angry?) face
Kya's outfit of choice
Second hair cut! Kya loved it so much that she has requested that she get another haircut first-ting in the morning, each day since.
She was very excited to have her hair blown dry.
. . .
I'll be back soon with a Pride of Dakota show update. In one word: wow.
Wow it's been a busy couple weeks ... hence my lack of blogging. I'll let the photos do the talking.
Celebrating Corey's birthday at Buffalo Wild Wings
Thanksgiving weekend in Kenmare with Corey's family - playing in the snow with dad and making snow angels.
Trying to make Frosty (was too cold so the snow didn't stick very well)
Nothing is cuter than adorable cousins in matching jammies.
Worn out!
Decorating the tree (she was much more excited than she appears)
Lots of Candy Land around here lately.
Her favorite outfit.
A funny (or maybe it was angry?) face
Kya's outfit of choice
Second hair cut! Kya loved it so much that she has requested that she get another haircut first-ting in the morning, each day since.
She was very excited to have her hair blown dry.
. . .
I'll be back soon with a Pride of Dakota show update. In one word: wow.
Sunday, November 18, 2012
surprise weekend!
My super romantic husband Corey surprised me
with a fifth-anniversary weekend getaway to the Black Hills (in South
Dakota). We had a fun weekend of hiking and relaxing in Deadwood (yee
haw!) and Spearfish Canyon. Extra thanks to my sister Caitlyn and her husband Chaz for taking good care of Kya while we were away.
. . .
For the past two weeks, I knew we were going "away" for the weekend (and Kya was not joining us) but I had absolutely no clue where we were going. Corey gave me a few more hints the day before we left that included instructions to bring clothing for hiking and chilly weather and a nice outfit for dinner out.
We headed west on Friday, early afternoon. I didn't know where we were going until we arrived at the Lodge. This was such a fun and special surprise!
The trip was made even more fun with a emergency visit to the locksmith in Dickinson (100 miles into our journey) because Corey left this gas tank key at home. We were thankful we realized this while near a town and not during the 200 miles of barren nothingness in South Dakota. It was a quick fix ... and while that was happening, I got to pay a quick visit to MoeMoe's Garden (my #1 Bison Booties retailer). The visit was very overdue and I was super excited to have a good excuse to visit the store - it's amazing!
After about 5 1/2 hours of driving, we arrived at Spearfish Canyon Lodge - it was very dark nighttime even thought it was only about 6 pm (this photo was taken the next morning). Our room's deck is the one on the second floor, left side.
We had a suite decked out with rose petals, chocolates, wine, jazz music, a fire in the fireplace, and chilled champagne. Oooh la la!
The living room area of our suite.
The view from our deck.
Saturday morning we hit the trails! All in all we hiked three short hikes for a total of about 4 miles.
The first hike we did was the '76 Trail ... it went straight up and then straight back down. It was even more difficult with packed snow and ice on the trail and something joked about - 'mud ice' - that was incredibly slippery. My lovely hiking buddy was quite a gentleman and held my hand at all the slippery spots.
We made it to the top of the canyon rim!
Spearfish Canyon ... it's older than the Grand Canyon!
The next two hikes took us to waterfalls.
(somewhere along the trail)
I love him!
We were both fascinated at the partially frozen icy waterways.
This was a nature trail that was surprisingly exciting.
This was the neatest thing! The waterfall's spray/mist froze, creating beautiful ice forms.
I really disliked crossing this bridge. I also disliked Corey lollygaging on it.
We spent the afternoon in Deadwood.
We had about four hours in town until evening mass, so after aimlessly roaming Main Street, we donated some money to the Deadwood Historical Society (tried our luck at a casino). After Mass, Corey took me out to a nice anniversary dinner at Jakes. Corey discovered it based on online reviews and we found it amusing that the restaurant seemed to be secret ... located on the 4th floor of a small casino, with nearly no signage along the street. But wow! this was a fantastic – and romantic – meal! Upon leaving, we learned that the restaurant (and whole building) is owned by Kevin Costner. What fun!
. . .
This afternoon, we arrived back home safe and sound. I missed Kya dearly and felt a little guilty that we were hiking without her (it's one of her favorite activities). Again, many thanks to Caitlyn and Chaz for taking such great care of Miss Kya while we were away. She was happy to see us and told us all about her fun weekend with "Kiki."
I'm very blessed to have so much love in my life.
Thank you for this amazing weekend, Corey.
Happy fifth anniversary - I love you!
. . .
For the past two weeks, I knew we were going "away" for the weekend (and Kya was not joining us) but I had absolutely no clue where we were going. Corey gave me a few more hints the day before we left that included instructions to bring clothing for hiking and chilly weather and a nice outfit for dinner out.
We headed west on Friday, early afternoon. I didn't know where we were going until we arrived at the Lodge. This was such a fun and special surprise!
The trip was made even more fun with a emergency visit to the locksmith in Dickinson (100 miles into our journey) because Corey left this gas tank key at home. We were thankful we realized this while near a town and not during the 200 miles of barren nothingness in South Dakota. It was a quick fix ... and while that was happening, I got to pay a quick visit to MoeMoe's Garden (my #1 Bison Booties retailer). The visit was very overdue and I was super excited to have a good excuse to visit the store - it's amazing!
After about 5 1/2 hours of driving, we arrived at Spearfish Canyon Lodge - it was very dark nighttime even thought it was only about 6 pm (this photo was taken the next morning). Our room's deck is the one on the second floor, left side.
We had a suite decked out with rose petals, chocolates, wine, jazz music, a fire in the fireplace, and chilled champagne. Oooh la la!
The living room area of our suite.
The view from our deck.
Saturday morning we hit the trails! All in all we hiked three short hikes for a total of about 4 miles.
The first hike we did was the '76 Trail ... it went straight up and then straight back down. It was even more difficult with packed snow and ice on the trail and something joked about - 'mud ice' - that was incredibly slippery. My lovely hiking buddy was quite a gentleman and held my hand at all the slippery spots.
We made it to the top of the canyon rim!
Spearfish Canyon ... it's older than the Grand Canyon!
The next two hikes took us to waterfalls.
(somewhere along the trail)
I love him!
We were both fascinated at the partially frozen icy waterways.
This was a nature trail that was surprisingly exciting.
This was the neatest thing! The waterfall's spray/mist froze, creating beautiful ice forms.
I really disliked crossing this bridge. I also disliked Corey lollygaging on it.
We spent the afternoon in Deadwood.
We had about four hours in town until evening mass, so after aimlessly roaming Main Street, we donated some money to the Deadwood Historical Society (tried our luck at a casino). After Mass, Corey took me out to a nice anniversary dinner at Jakes. Corey discovered it based on online reviews and we found it amusing that the restaurant seemed to be secret ... located on the 4th floor of a small casino, with nearly no signage along the street. But wow! this was a fantastic – and romantic – meal! Upon leaving, we learned that the restaurant (and whole building) is owned by Kevin Costner. What fun!
. . .
This afternoon, we arrived back home safe and sound. I missed Kya dearly and felt a little guilty that we were hiking without her (it's one of her favorite activities). Again, many thanks to Caitlyn and Chaz for taking such great care of Miss Kya while we were away. She was happy to see us and told us all about her fun weekend with "Kiki."
I'm very blessed to have so much love in my life.
Thank you for this amazing weekend, Corey.
Happy fifth anniversary - I love you!