April in Minnesota - Day 4 - Last Day

The day after a wedding weekend is usually set aside for resting and re-cooperating, however, when its your last day home and its a short visit this doesn't happen.
Tired and probably not looking to hot to trot after a 2 day binge with my high school friends little did I know that my dad had invited my grandparents, including my great grandma - who is 100 years old, to come out to see me, Dan, and the kids.  My mom is busy already in the kitchen preparing a ton of stuff for lunch, the kids are out with grandpa, and I am trying to sleep on the couch (this was not successful).  All of the sudden here comes a car pulling up the driveway and it's my grandparents.  I had to get up and attempt to compose myself and be sociable, which I did.  They visited and got to see the kids which was a good thing.  My brother and his family also arrived soon after.  We did some visiting and ate lunch and then my grandparents left.
I had planned a few fun things for the day. I had my brother stop and pick up the Wii game, Dance Moves 2 so that we could have some fun.  First we played outside with the kids since it was also relatively nice out even though it had snowed just 2 days before.  We got out our 4-wheeler and tied a sled to it and the guys gave rides to the kids.  It was great to see my kids get to play with their cousins.  This is one of the things that I have guilt over for moving so far away.  I spent so much time with my cousins they are really more like brothers and sisters to me and I have taken that opportunity away from my children (at least right now).  They all played so good together. We rounded up the crew to go inside and start dancing.  It was hilarious!  I made my dad dance against me first.  We put it on random and the first song that came up was "Jump, Jump".  This has got to be one of the most tiring songs and most active.  To see my dad doing these dance moves cracked us all up.  We all needed to take a little break for the dancing, because let's face it - we are all getting old!  We headed outside where Dan had set-up a target for us to do some shooting.  We brought home my pink 9mm handgun so that I could shoot it a couple more times.  Dan shot first and then me and then the rest of us all took a shot.  I was trying to have a shoot out with my brother, but I think he probably was a better shot then me.  Back into the house we went to eat supper and do a little more dancing.  Everyone was heading out and it time for me to start packing bags and getting ready for the morning and the long, unforgiving drive back to Colorado.  Before I knew it, it was already 10:30pm and I was just heading to bed.  With a little help from a little sleeping pill I finally fell asleep for some much needed rest.  I set the alarm for 5:00am.  Of course when the alarm started going off and I tried to wake up Dan it was a big no go, snooze, snooze and after multiple times I finally re-set the alarm for 7am.  Seven rolled around and we still didn't get out of bed until closer to eight.  We finally were on the road for the long 14 hour drive home.  Here comes the hard part, always - saying good-bye and leaving.  My dad and mom stood in the garage and watched us back out. My dad as usual takes off into the house to have his own time to I assume be sad.  My mom tries to hold back tears and it never happens.  Katelynn then also starts to get extremely emotional this trip and grandma has to come to her window and say good-bye again and then Katelynn starts to cry and then my mom starts to cry.  This breaks my heart more than you can imagine and I have my own regrets and guilts more and more each time we leave, especially when we don't have a scheduled date of when we will see them again.  We have gone a year before without going home and its getting to the point where I want to be home at least every 3 months.  We didn't end up pulling up to our house until 12:30am.  Dan and I were completely wiped out.  We unloaded the kids to their beds and unloaded the stuff we needed.  Working the next day was not going to be fun.
This was one of the quickest, but most fun trips I have had home.  I wanted to turn around and go back and do it all over again.  There is something to be said for friends that you haven't seen or talked to for months at a time (and a few of them years) and you pick up just like you never left.
Here are some pictures from our last day home.

Junior and Riley

A little Wii dance competition

Nap time for the boys - how sweet.

Katelynn and Junior getting a ride.

My nephew Greyson.

April in Minnesota - Day 3 - Wedding Day

The day of the wedding!  Let me tell you after staying up late the night before and probably having a few too many drinks it was not easy getting up at 7:30am.  It didn't help either that my dad decided to get me back by coming and jumping on me at 7:00am to get me back for the night before.  Yes, we are ruthless that way too each other.  I had to be at the church by 9am to get my hair done and I was determined not too be the one showing up late.  I was definitely slow moving, but made it to the church on time.  What do I find - no one?!  I see that all of the curling irons where plugged in and hot and ready to go and someone had brought some breakfast in for us, but no one around.  I sat there for a little while and then walked around the church and still didn't see anybody.  All I could think of was, I could have slept a little bit longer - what the hell - and where are the 6 other bridesmaids and the bride?  I sent a text to the bride and she responded that she was on her way, she only lived a block away.  Slow but sure the other girls all started to trickle in as well.  We were supposed to have 2 people there to do all of hair.  One being the personal attendant and a friend of our from high school and the other the bride's niece.
Is any wedding a good wedding without a little stress?  Well, here is where ours started.  The bride's niece hadn't shown up yet and we gave her a call.  She asked what time we thought she needed to be there to do hair and we said that we were told to be there at 9am, it was now 9:45am (keep in mind she lives about 45 minutes away from where the church is).  She said okay.  The bride gets her hair done and starts on the flower girls hair. At this point it's around 11:00am or so and the rest of us are just kind of sitting around, waiting.  The stress is starting to set in - where is she?  They give her a call again and she has not left her house yet.  At this point there are 7 of us that still need to get our hair done and pictures are at 1pm and we start to freak out a little bit.  I felt so bad for Verna, she really didn't need the stress.  We start plugging in additional irons and hot rollers where we could find outlets by mirrors and start curling hair.  Some of us were also supposed to get our make-up done by her, but definitely no time for that.  A mad rush to start our own make-up as well.  A couple girls were able to do their own hair and help those of us not as capable (I was one of those).  Her niece finally showed up around 12:15 and said she was ready to help out.  She ended up curling one bridesmaids hair and the rest of us were ready.  Thank goodness we got through that ordeal.  Pictures started and we took a bunch of pictures at the church.  We then jumped into vehicles and drove around to miscellaneous locations in our old town to take some pictures, which turned out beautifully.  I had some dress malfunctions with my dress.  I didn't take it in to get fitted because I thought that by buying this miracle bra from Victoria Secret and using some body tape would take care of the upper half situation and it didn't.  The top of  my dress just didn't fit well and they were strapless. You could see part of my bra from the top if I bent over and it felt like it was falling down.  I finally had someone put pins in each side to tighten it up and it worked for the most part, at least good enough.  Stupid me, I should have went in and had it altered, lesson learned on strapless dresses!

Here are a few pictures of us getting beautified and before the wedding.

The bride to be!

Verna and her daughter.

Me and Verna

Whew, we made it through the morning and through pictures.  Now it was time to wait for the guests and get ready for the ceremony.  Time went by fairly quickly at this point and the ceremony went off without a hitch. The reception was in another town about 30-40 minutes away so they had a limo truck pick up the wedding party and we were off.  We took a few pictures after the ceremony.

I now pronounce Cory and Verna M. !

Dan and I 

Our ride awaits us

And so do a few beers and the guys.

The wedding party jumped into the limo and the champagne bottles were popped!  We had such a blast and the excitement was coming out of all of us, let the party begin!  We of course love to road trip so we toasted and drank.  Because the reception was in another town and we had to go through 2 other towns to get there we stopped at a few bars along the way as well.  It was fun to walk into a place all dressed up and especially to see the looks on people's faces when they saw Verna and how beautiful she was in her dress.  We eventually did make it to the reception!  We walked in when we were announced and proceeded with the normal reception activities.  Pictures, toasts, drinks, and speeches and clinking of the glasses.

Of course after the Reception is every Minnesotans favorite part of a wedding - The Dance!  The usual dances were done - 1st dance, dollar dance, the garter toss, etc., etc.  We had such a fun time.  We want to do it all over again.  Katelynn wanted only to come to the dance portion of the wedding so my mom was great enough to drive over to the hotel and get her.  She was in love with Verna.  She was the princess of the night. She stayed and danced with us for about an hour and then went back to the hotel.  Any good dance also has to have an after party.  We went to the hotel room and I changed out of my dress (remember - malfunction!) and we headed around the hotel listening for the loudest room because that is where my friends would be.  We found them of course and soaked up suds until 3:30am and Dan finally said "enough"! and hauled me back to our room for some much needed rest.
Morning of course came quickly and thank goodness there were 3 grandparents around to help take care of kids.  We packed up and headed down for some much needed breakfast and ice water and headed back to my parents house.  Whew what an adventure.  I want to do it all over again.  (After I recover for a week).

My dad and his girls - he was so happy!

Me and my mom

Me and Katelynn on the dance floor.

Verna and my mom.

April in Minnesota - Day 2

Friday was definitely Fun Day, Friday!  We arrived at my parents house and the kids again were so excited to see their grandparents!  We unloaded the car and my mom had the best lunch made for us.  By request, we had chicken noodle dumpling soup.  The reason for the request - awhile back the kids and I had bought a couple of Campbell's Soups and cooked all 3 to do a taste test and see who liked what best.  One of the flavors Chicken and Dumplings.  Katelynn had never had them before and I told her how great dumplings were and she agreed.  She said they were the best dumplings ever.  I had to inform her, that no, they weren't.  Grandma Renee and Grandma Trautner made the best dumplings ever.  I was excited for her to have them and I absolutely love them.   Of course I left home again without getting the recipe, stupid me.
We hung out for awhile and visited and then my dad and Dan took off to go look at some land that my dad had recently purchased.  The kids watched a movie and took a nap.  I had to get ready for the Groom's Supper (Rehearsal Dinner).  I debated all afternoon if I was going to wear the outfit that I intended to where.  It was a tank, skinny jeans and sandals.  This is not a good combination to wear when it is raining, sleeting, and snowing out, but I did it anyway.
I got to the church around 4pm to help decorate and when I got there everything was pretty much done already. Bonus for me because I stink at decorating.  We went over to Verna's house so that she could get ready and we could have a cold one before the rehearsal back at the church.  It was just like old times.  The girls getting ready and trying on a few outfits and having a beer.  I loved it.  Back to the church we went and met up with everyone else in the wedding party.  It was pretty fun.  Afterwards we headed to the restaurant in town for dinner.  Dan met us at the restaurant.  The bride and groom handed out our gifts and we had an awesome supper.  Of course in true Minnesota style we headed to the bar after because it was definitely not time to go to bed.  We headed to the spot light to tear it up, and did we ever.  Verna finally started to relax and the drinks were flowing.  The bar was mostly the wedding party and a few others from our hometown.  It was so much fun to visit with everyone.  Dan had a great time too.  It was nice to have this night out before the wedding and he was able to meet the other husbands and the other guys in the wedding.  Everyone got along.  The unfortunate part was we probably stayed out a little too late, 2am!  I even tried to get a new job that night.  The superintendent from our school was hanging out and we had a brief conversation over a drink.  I told him how it would be nice to move home and be closer to my family and that my husband really wants to move home, but with no job in line I won't budge from where I am.  I asked him point blank if he had a job for me and he said he does have an office manager position open.  We talked about the duties and they would be a piece of cake for me after working through Dan's business.  I told him what my current salary is and said it would have to be pretty comparable and that was when the conversation died.  It pays way less than what I make now.  I offered to pick up the year book class and coach cheerleading even and it still wouldn't have come close.   Too bad.  Looks like I won't be moving anytime soon.
Dan and I were having so much fun together as a couple too and made the night that much better.  We were truly enjoying our time out and our time out together.  We went home and my dad had fallen asleep on the couch (no surprise for us there).  I couldn't resist and I jumped right on top of him and woke him up and tried to wrestle with him.  It was so funny and he loved every minute of it.  Of course he got me back in the morning by jumping on me.
So here are a few pictures we took from our Friday night out.  Let me tell you though - 7:30am comes mighty quick when you don't go to bed until 2:30am and you need to attempt to look beautiful the next day for a wedding!

Me, Verna, and Chrystal

Kiss the bride!

Me, Verna, Chrystal, and Dawn

Verna and me.

The bride to be.

Me and Dan

April in Minnesota - Day 1

Our quick weekend trip to Minnesota started off as it usually does when we decide to leave after work.  Dan is chomping at the bit to get going and I am at work trying to wrap things up and get out of dodge.  I had a training the day we left and was at work until just after 3:30pm.  I got home and barely had a chance to change my clothes and check to be sure we had everything because Dan was running around like a mad person trying to get us on the road.  He wanted to leave at 3pm.  Sorry babe, but the girls got to work first before leaving for vacation.
Finally in the car and headed to Minnesota everyone was in a good mood.  Junior and Katelynn were happy in the back seat and Junior even sang us a lullaby song, at the top of his lungs.  We had barely been on the road for an hour and the kids were hungry and ready for supper.  So, stop #1.  The kids did some activities in the car and then watched a couple of movies.  I finally shut all power down in the back seat and they went to sleep.  I took a cat nap because I knew that come 1 or 2am it would be my turn to drive.  The advantage of driving at night is the kids do sleep, but the downfall is every time you stop to fuel up they usually wake up too.
We arrived at Dan's parents house at 8am.  They were ready for us and had breakfast waiting.  The kids were so excited to see them.  Hugs all around.  Even Junior.  He was so cute in the car; every time we stopped and he woke up he would ask - "Grandma"?  And we would say - no not yet.  We did some visiting and unloaded a few suitcases and then Dan and I headed upstairs for a nice long, much needed nap.  We slept for 4 1/2 hours.  It felt so good after driving all night.  When we woke up both the kids were taking naps.  Dan and his dad took off and went and did whatever and I visited with Dan's mom for a bit and then jumped in the shower to get ready.   Dan's entire family was coming over to visit that night and we had the bonus of being home for his Dad's birthday, so we celebrated that as well.
It gets a little chaotic when all the Davids' are in one house and a little loud, but always enjoyable and fun (or at least entertaining).  Everyone got along and the cousins were all together.  Everyone was gone by 10:30pm and we were tired.  Katelynn slept in the big bed with Grandma and Junior fell asleep in Grandpa's arms and then slept with them until about 2:30am.  He then came and slept with me and Dan for the rest of the night.  In the morning we had a great breakfast and did some more visiting and re-packed the car and headed to my parents house.  We also got to see their new baby donkey that was born just 2 days before we got there.  He was so precious.  We also confirmed that Junior loves cats!

Junior got a new automatic nerf gun from Grandma and Grandpa.  It's something.

Junior, Grandpa, and Katelynn

Dan and his mom.

Macey and Junior

Macey, Junior, and Katelynn 

Junior and Brock

All the Davids' cousins - Cassie, Tyler, Ben, Macey, Katelynn, Brock, and Junior.

Time to Learn

I will add more to this post, but wanted to get this on here before we leave for Minnesota.  

Dan and I had a date night last Saturday and our first stop was the Indoor Gun Shooting Range.  It was time to shoot my pink hand gun that he bought me for Christmas.  I have lost of words to say, but will get back on here later and tell you the feelings that ran through me as I fired off the gun for the first time.  A handgun is definitely different than shooting a rifle. 

The Tooth Fairy Comes to Visit

Katelynn was up so early one morning and so excited.  I had just gotten up and jumped in the shower to start getting ready for work.  Here comes Katelynn opening the door and saying that she has to tell me something.  I tell her to go ahead and tell me, but she says that its too important and it needs to be quiet and she sat patiently and waited for me to be done.  When all was quiet she then said "look mom, my tooth is wiggly and loose".  I was so happy for her and she was thrilled.  She had been wondering for the past few months when she would loose her first tooth.  A few weeks went by and we wiggled the tooth and kept an eye on it.  I kept freaking out thinking she would be eating breakfast, lunch, or supper and would eat the tooth.  

Finally on a Friday night I picked the kids up from daycare because Dan was in Reno hanging out with my dad and brother (I know, scary), and the tooth was so wiggly.  The daycare sent her home with a red apply and told her to start taking bites of it on the way home and it would continue to loosen the tooth.  Saturday we kept on wiggling it.  I was putting Katelynn to bed that night and I couldn't take it anymore.  I asked her if I could wiggle her tooth a little bit more.  The thing was hanging in there, but not quite by a thread, yet.  We had a little conversation about the tooth and then we both decided together that I should go ahead and give it a good push/pull and get it out.  I went and got come paper towels figuring that it was going to bleed.  I don't know who was more jittery, me or her.  I kept asking her "are you sure? are you sure you really want me to? I can't guarantee it's not going to hurt."  She was a tough little bird that night and the adrenaline must have been rushing because she was dead serious and said, yes.  So, I mustered up enough of my own bravery - hey, I've never pulled a tooth out before - stuck my fingers around the tooth and gave a good push down on it.  Shit.  I didn't push hard enough, but here came the blood.  I quickly grabbed the paper towels and had her put it in her mouth.  Then I had to tell her that I didn't get it all the way.  It just kept bleeding.  I cannot believe that she didn't make a peep, at all when I did it and she still was fine with seeing all the blood and feeling it in her mouth.  I couldn't bare to do it again.  I was to scared.  I told her we would wait until the next day when Dan got home and he would pull it the rest of the way out.  The poor tooth was now hanging by a thread.  I can't believe that either of us went to bed that night.  If I thought I was freaking out before about her eating the tooth you can only imagine the thoughts going through my mind now as I sat thinking the tooth is going to fall out and just slide down her throat while she is sleeping or fall out and we can't find it the next morning.   Morning came and I checked right away.  Whew, tooth is still in tact.  We went about our morning business, but I couldn't let her brush her teeth after breakfast.  I finally told her that we couldn't wait for Dad and had to get the tooth out.  I went and got a piece of dental floss to wrap around the tooth and give it a tug.  Then I said a little prayer to not have the same thing that happened the night before happen again where I don't pull hard enough and that damn tooth is still in there.  She again was a little trooper.  You wouldn't think that wrapping some dental floss around a little tooth would be hard, but it took me a few tries to get it where I wanted it.  Finally I told her I was ready and pulled it.  Out came the tooth!  Whew and we caught it.  

She was amazed.  I was amazed.  She was pretty excited then, but had ten million questions about the tooth fairy. All these little details that I really have never thought of come out of this child.  The tooth fairy came that night and left her a dollar bill and a quarter.  

Here are the pictures that we took a couple of nights later to show off her missing tooth. I am glad that it may be a little while before I have to go through this again!