Christmas

I hope you all had a great Christmas, I know we did! It did come too fast and was over too fast. Nick and I went up to Hibbing to spend x-mas with my family. We got to hang out with Stef, Sam, Vicki and Blight (and Mable!) on Saturday and see old friends. I'm sad I forgot my camera but I took a mental photo! The rest of the time was spent with the family; going to church, eating, shopping for last minute gifts, opening presents and enjoying eachother's company. Auntie and Unc's house was crazy as usuall (12 people sleeping under one roof all weekend and other family coming over during the day). I'm surprised we all got some sleep, especially Nick and I (we were so lucky to share a room with mom who snores like Paul Bunyan chopping down trees).

Don't be mad G-Auntie, I didn't mean to spill the tags!

Good job cleaning Sis!

Christmas day we put on our skates and walked down to the ice rink. It's been a few years since I've had skates on and Nick said he couldn't skate but he got out there and never fell! He was the only one that didn't biff it (we don't have our figure skating skills like we used too!); however, he was only going .25 miles per/hour.

Ice capades here we come!

We are so talented

Merry Christmas!

This weekend off to the quad cities!

Presents

Merry Christmas to Nick and I!



Friday night Nick and I couldn't wait any longer to open our gifts (how old are we?) I finally jumped on the bandwagon and became an ipod owner and all the other fun accessories that you can have. I also got an updated Notre Dame sweatshirt. Nick is finally a proud owner of an ice house and some wool hunting clothes! He couldn't wait to set up his house so it was up in our apartment for a day. Gee, we got such great presents that I can't wait for our other

2 Christmas'.


Saturday night I got 2 free tickets from work to Christmas at the Cathedral. They even televise it during the "Letterman" slot on Christmas Eve (they're airing the 2004 show though). Anyways, it was awesome, I'm definitely in the Christmas mood now! My favorite part of it was when everyone lit their candle and sang Silent Night and then this awesome Opera singer

(Scott Piper) sang Ave Maria!

As usuall we had a great weekend!

Babysitting

Everyone survived! This weekend Nick and I went to the cities so mom and I could enjoy almost a full 24 hrs of Adelyn to ourselves! Shannon and Jon went out for Shannon's b-day and stayed at a hotel downtown. Since it was Adelyn's first sleepover they did a pretty good job of not calling every 20 min.! Mom and I met up with Stacy B. and Brielle and went shopping while Nick went with Jon S. to play in a poker tournament. We had plans to go to the Holidazzle parade but mom knows why we didn't make it there haha. After we were shopped out we took Adelyn back to the house so she could eat and go to bed. She slept good through the night and was ready to play at 8:00 am., good thing she takes a nap after breakfast!

Auntie wasn't feeding me fast enough


On Sunday mom's dream came true of finally getting professional photos done of the family. I think we would all vote that was a great time, except for our 3 hour decision making. All of our photos turned out great, so we couldn't decide which ones we wanted. Unfortunately Nick and I passed up some awesome photos of us haha, thanks Jon's big mouth!



2 weeks till Christmas and I got my 2 bottom teeth!

Happy Birthday Shan!

Happy Birthday to the best sister in the world!

Wish we could be there but we'll celebrate next weekend. Here's a pic from when you guys surprised me in Clear Lake for my birthday, love you!

5 Years!

Nick and I have been together for 5 years now!

We went to the Parade of Lights on Friday and of course it was chilly out so we had to snuggle! Well two clowns came over and made fun of us and both of them took my arms and were telling Nick they were taking me back to the float to shoot me out of the cannon haha. It was probably a you had to be there story but we got a kick out of it (it's not everyday 2 clowns bombard you!).

We also did lots of Christmas shopping, wrapping and decorating. Sunday night we stayed in and made some homemade pizzas for our anniversary and mmmmmmmmmm were they good!


Yesterday Nick stayed home from work and school so he didn't have to drive because we had an ice storm. I went to start my car that morning and barely made it our the door, I tried to walk in the grass and it was so frozen I was just breaking it off! There was such a thick sheet of ice on my car that I had to chisel it off, good workout though! However, once I got out of the parking lot it was nice driving (weird it was safer to drive then walk!). Then last night we had a huge thunderstorm, good thing it didn't freeze outside or I might have had to wear a helmet and safety pads today!

If you have any good after Thanksgiving shopping stories do tell!

Happy Thanksgiving

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What a great Thanksgiving, mom came to visit and she didn't have to cook or clean up! I cooked a mean greenbean casserole (thanks to RoseAnn) and Nick cooked a delicious turkey. After dinner we walked Falls Park where there are hundreds of lights displayed and there are spot lights on the water so the falls turns colors! It was like I was in Candyland. Afterwards we drove through Yankton Park where we enjoyed different holiday displays. Even though we had a great day we still missed everyone, especially Nick's family where we were suppose to be. We'll see everyone at Christmas and New Years though!! I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving, let the shopping begin (good luck to all of you who are braving the wild shopping tomorrow)!!

Update

Life here has been staying busy, two weekends ago we went to our first Sioux Falls Stampede game (hockey). We actually had a blast, it was a high scoring game so that kept it interesting and there was a good fight. Last weekend we went to the cities to visit Shan, Jon and Addy. We wanted to go to the Body World exhibit at the Science Museum but it was booked with reservations until Sunday night. Instead we went shopping, I got my hair done, baked Christmas cookies and had Thanksgiving dinner. I thought it was a little early for Christmas cookies but we had a blast, even Adelyn helped. It was as usual an overall great weekend!

Look how big I am!

M.I.A

Hi all, I'm sorry I haven't written in over a week but I've been busy. Lets see, I've been teaching my body how to wake up early again (even when I had early classes I never got up and showered for them!). However the wonderful weather has been very motivational, I love sleeping with the windows open in Nov. The last three days it's been sunny and in the 70's! Too bad tomorrow it will be back down to the 50's. One thing Nick and I have been busy at is working out. We decided a monthly membership to a gym for a year would pay for an elliptical (since I only use that, weights and the ball). So we found one that wouldn't break the bank but still would hold up. It's so nice and convenient to be able to jump on it everynight, watch some t.v. and shower. Nick and I (I think Sis is joining us too) have personal goals for Christmas, if we make them we get to buy a new outfit (or as Nick says it's not an outfit it's a shirt and a pair of pants!!). I'll let you know if we meet our goals...

I love you Adelyn!

P.S. I'm so upset about Coach McCarney, I was hoping he would always be at ISU. He's so nice, I wish him luck wherever he ends up going.

Happy Halloween

What a sweet bunny!

Boo!

Friends

We're such good friends!

I went to the cities Wed-Fri to visit the family and Nick went hunting in Iowa with his fam. I got to spend time with my little pumpkin!! She rolls like a pro and loves eating her feet now. Stacy B came over so Brielle could play with Adelyn. Adelyn and Brielle were holding hands, so cute!! That evening we all went to dinner at Shan and Jon's favorite little place, Babes. I joined Shan and Addy for mommy and me class the next morning (Addy really likes to play with the boys!). We shopped all day and then helped the Bradleys pack for Alaska. I can't believe my 4 1/2 month old niece is going before me! I hope she likes it.

Halloween Fun

I called mom on Friday to see if she wanted to come visit for the weekend and after work she was on her way! Nick and I made it home just in time (after his fisheries banquet) to greet her. Nick went pheasant hunting on Saturday so we spent the day shopping. I forgot how much I love T.J. Maxx (can't wait for Thanksgiving weekend with Rose Ann!!!!). We were going to pick up pumpkins at the pumpkin patch but they were closed by the time we got there so we had to go to the HyVee pumpkin patch. Mom and I wanted to get a head start on my pumpkin (usually Nick is so speedy he kicks my butt) but I couldn't find the carving kits. I hadn't carved a pumpkin with just a knife in a long time so I picked an easy carving. When Nick started carving his he found the carving kits, figures. Sunday we went to the pumpkin patch/apple orchard to get another pumpkin but it was too cold to ride the tractor out to the field and choose so we picked apples instead, mmmm.

I wish I was a black cat!


We made some yummy cookies, mmmm


Don't laugh at my cat, go Irish!


I hope we can eat all of them, we'll have to make a pie!

Jenny & Kyle's Wedding

Tuttle is now a Meeske! Nick and I went to Ames this weekend and of course it was a blast. Friday night we went to the rehearsal, rehearsal dinner and O'Malleys. Ally and I had colds
so we made it home early that night. Saturday Ally and I spent running around doing odd end things for the wedding, being the go-to girls. The wedding was beautiful and Jenny's brother did a wonderful job singing!! We headed off to the Gateway for the reception and had some fun. The old O'Malley group got to sit at a table together so of course it was good times, did I mention it was open bar all night haha! After we left the reception we had to go to O'Malleys where Tim made us Campechangas!! Before we left Sunday we got to squeeze in a quick brunch at The Cafe! Great weekend, thanks Ally for letting us stay at your house.

Hats off to Nick

Word has come back that Nick, Chris and two of their ISU professors are getting their paper published! It was their first try and the best journal (North American Journal of Fisheries Management) has accepted it. They have to make some changes but way to go!

Fun Weekend!

Natalie and Ben are married!

We finally arrived in Hibbing around midnight and ended up staying up until 2:45 a.m. We had to take advantage of our time there so we woke up early and visited with the family. We even found time to go to lunch with Stef and Sam, see Stef's new house and dog (Mable)! Her house is beautiful and Mable is very cute. I wish I would have taken a pic of the house and Mable. I'll have to get one.

We met up with some friends and headed off to the wedding. It was beautiful and I got to catch up with some of my best friends from highschool and two that I hadn't seen for five years, it better never go that long again. I also finally got to catch up with Megan and Jim about their year in China! We were suppose to leave for the cities that evening but we were having so much fun we couldn't leave the reception. So at about 1:00 a.m. we made it back to auntie and uncs and set the alarm for 4:30 a.m.

5:00 a.m. we were on the road to the cities. We got to Shan and Jon's in time to have breakfast and shower. By 10:30 we were out the door to Adelyn's dedication. Adelyn had many guests and we all got together at the house later for lunch. We were going to head home but figured Nick didn't have class or work and I didn't have anything going on so we stayed there. Thank goodness because we were tired! Jon's parent's and other family left Monday morning so we all went to Shan's "secret paradise" 9 mile creek and took a long walk! It was a very long but wonderful weekend!

Lazy Day

Nothing new has been going on here, just looking forward to the weekend! Nick and I will leave SD Friday afternoon for an appx. 7 hr trip to Hibtown (it will be our first trip to H-town from SD so we're not sure how long it takes) for Natalie and Ben's wedding. We'll leave that evening or early Sunday morning to head to the cities for Addy's dedication and then head back to SD that evening. Should be fun!

Anyways, it been pretty low key here. I've spent the whole day cleaning and doing laundry, my favorite thing to do on my day off! Thank goodness my foot is better, on Mon. a frosty mug came flying at me when I opened the freezer and gave me a nice bruise on my knee and I swear just about cut my pinky toe off. My pinky and right part of my foot instantly bruised and was swollen. I only had a minor limp the next day but dang it still hurts when I step wrong. On a positive note, I was shopping for a gift for Addy and asked the sales associate when the next Karen Kingsbury book is coming out and it's OCTOBER! Shanny got me hooked to this series of books and they are the best if you like to read. Go Baxter family, haha. Anyways, so they're calling me asap when it comes it and holding me a copy, can't wait!


Congrats to Doug (Nick's dad) for winning 1st place in a fishing tournament!
This is a pic from Nick and Chris's trip to Corpus.

Tuttle's Bachelorette Party

So, I had the whole weekend to go to Ames for Jenny's bachelorette party and now I can't go. I didn't get to go to her shower and of course I was so excited to see everyone! However, something came up and since it's tonight I won't make it on time. Thank goodness the wedding is in 2 weeks so I can see everyone then. I'm a terrible personal attendant, good thing Ally lives in Ames so she can take on the responsibility for the both of us! I love you Ally and thanks for letting us stay at your house when we come, I hope Jewels remembers us! Anyways, thought I'd post a previous picture of the ex-O'Malley gang, miss you all and have some shots for me!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DINA!

Happy Birthday Dina! We hope you have a wonderful day, we love you.

Family Weekend

This weekend my family came to visit Nick and I in SD! They arrived late Friday night, just in time to say goodnight to Nick because he was getting up at 3:00 a.m. to go duck hunting. I woke up to a phone call that morning from Nick asking me if we had insurance on our cell phones. Unfortunately they didn't kill any ducks because they capsized the boat. They hit a wave wrong and all three men had to bail out of the boat. When the boat flipped over it hit Nick in the back but he's okay! So...his phone is drying out at this moment (cross your fingers it works) and his friend's gun sunk to the bottom of the lake. They had to swim the boat to shore, good thing the water isn't too cold right now!

As for the rest of the weekend it was great. Shan helped me enter the blog world, Jon tried to eat a serrano pepper (I'll correct myself, a serrano pepper seed) and Sunday was a beautiful day to go to Fall's Park.





It was a great weekend and I already miss them (especially Ady!)

Nortre Dame Wins!

Adelyn sure is a good luck charm!