Crazy Days {2010}

Crazy Days {2010}

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

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I feel like the title to this post is what my life has been like the last couple of weeks. A lot of ups and downs. I will elaborate on that more in another post.

But this post is a happy one. Crazy Days is actually in downtown Buffalo. It's in mid-July and totally different than Buffalo Days that happens at the end of June. It's kind of like a sidewalk sale. One of the streets downtown is closed off and all the shops bring their stuff out on the road or sidewalk. If they aren't out on the road or sidewalk, they usually still have some sort of sale. It's fun perusing because everyone has great sales, along with bake sales and junk food.

This year, Kally and Drew, were visiting us for the weekend. They live in Florida with their Mom, Kari, who is Wayne's 2nd cousin (His mom's 1st cousin). They have been up here a couple of months visiting during summer vacation and so we had them spend the weekend with us.

Friday, July 16, 2010

I picked them up Friday evening after work. We had KFC for dinner, went to Walmart and Target to look at new TV's for our bedroom and then I made a large cookie with ice cream that Kally I tackled! I was pretty tired and so we went to bed around 11pm.

Saturday, July 17, 2010

I had to work at the gym that morning from 9-12. Kally came with me. It was super slow, so we ended up only being there from 9-11. We then went home and Drew was still sleeping. He didn't go to work with Wayne. Wayne said he couldn't wake him up. That's a teenage boy for ya.

Shortly after we got home, we decided to head downtown to Crazy days. Green Grandma came with. We walked around and looked at clothes, jewelry and other knick knacks. We had lunch at BJ's Deli. I had a turkey sandwich that was AWESOME! Kally and I shared this Heath Bar cake for desert:

After a few hours downtown and visiting Barbara in the nursing home, we went home. There were a couple different storms that hit our area that evening/night which caused us all to head downstairs (2 different times). It was crazy with all of us downstairs (Green Grandma, Sandy, Wayne, Me, Drew & Kally) with the (10) dogs watching the storm pass us by.

We ended up watching Hot Tub Time Machine (which I thought was just OK) and then we headed to bed as once again I was super tired. I know I am lame and go to bed super early.

Sunday, July 18, 2010

After a yummy brunch of swedish pancakes and sausage, we went for a boat ride, played video games, watched tv movies, ordered pizza and just hung out until it was time for them to leave. That's always a sad time now that they live in Florida, we don't see them very often. I'm hoping to see them at least one more time before they go back to Florida on August 5th.

[Kally & Me]

She had just woken up from a nap. LOL. I love you Kally and Drew!!

Leah

April & Kevin {Wedding}

April & Kevin {Wedding}

Thursday, July 22, 2010

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Thursday, June 10, 2010

A few pictures from their special day at the Marjorie McNeely Conservatory.

Beautiful!

Ceremony

Before

After

Family

This is a super cute one of April with her daughters:

What a fun couple!

So glad I had the privilege of taking their wedding pictures.

Congratulations April & Kevin!

Leah

Prairie Fest {2010}

Prairie Fest {2010}

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

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Saturday, July 10, 2010

Usually the weekend after the 4th is Prairie Fest days in Clara City with a street dance, parade, pageant, carnival, great food, tennis/softball tournaments, fireworks, etc. It's always a great time as a lot of people come into town just for that. My Mom and I had made plans to meet at about noon-ish in Hutchinson, so that we could make the trip together to Clara City. That is my parents hometown and I guess you could say mine as well. I was born in Montevideo, MN, but grew up the first few years of my life in Clara City. We still travel back there on occasion as some family still lives there.

After getting caught in a hail storm and having to pull over on the side of the road for a few minutes, I finally arrived at the Burger King in Hutch and my Mom and I had a quick bite to eat. It was great to spend some quality one on one time with her. That rarely ever happens because one of my sisters is usually in tow with her at all times. But my Dad and my two sisters had gone out the day before. After eating we continued our drive.

We arrived at my Gramma Edna's house early afternoon and said hi. We then headed down to the park as we knew that's the place to be Saturday afternoon. We arrived down at the park and were greeted by: My Dad, Aunt Cindy, Uncle Jeff, Gramma Stager, Cousin Aron, his girlfriend, Kelsey, and their daughter, Anya.

I was so excited to see this little pumpkin, Anya:

Last time I saw her, she was 2 weeks old. Now she is almost 7 months old in this picture.

Here are a couple of pics of what the park has to offer:

[Multiple bouncy games and laser tag for the kids]

[Amie liked the rock climbing wall]

After about an hour of socializing and a chocolate ice cream cone, we headed back to my Aunt Cari and Uncle Jeff's house for the parade. Every year we gather at their house because they live off the main road. We always see a lot of family and friends in the parade every year. This year I had a few people in the parade that I knew.

My cousin, Aron (Dad's side), was one of the Grand Marshal's of the parade. Him and a few of his buddies that he served over in Iraq with were honored for their service. It's kind of hard to see him, but he is sitting on the other side of the truck from us.

It's funny to see the kids in pictures as they run to collect the candy that is being thrown. That's always a big hit with us adults, too! 

My 2nd cousin, Amber (Mom's side), was a Clara City Princess this past year. This means that her, the other princess and the Queen represent Clara City in the other parades throughout the state. They do a ton of traveling and appearances throughout the year.

[Amber is the blond one in the front on the right] 

My cousin, Emily (Mom's side), was one of six candidates in the running for royalty this year. Even though she didn't win, it was still fun to see her participate in the parade and see her in the pageant that Saturday night.

My 2nd cousin, Patrick (Dad's side), is the chef/cook at the most popular place to eat in Clara City, Donner's. He's obviously the one in the back with the chef hat on. Ha.

My cousin, Brittney (Dad's side), was in the parade for being the State Girl. She rode with the State Boy. Basically, one girl is selected out of every town in each state and goes to a location to learn about the government. She stayed at Bethel University for a week. It is sponsored by the American Auxilary unit.  Approximately 300 girls went to Bethel this year and they learned about the different government branches. First they started with the cities, then counties, then the entire state. She's beautiful and smart!

After the parade, a family friend, Steve, came and let us take a ride on their horses.

That was a highlight of the day. Amie was a natural of course. One of the horseshoe's fell off of her horse as she was riding it. Steve ended up giving it to her. She was so excited! Everyone took turns riding. My Mom and Gramma Stager even went for a stroll.

After the parade we went back to Gramma Edna's to eat a quick dinner. Then we headed to the high school for the pageant, where the new royalty would be crowned. I didn't get any good pictures, because it was so dark. But it was fun to watch. I was so tired from the long day that I didn't make it as late as everyone else. I think I was in bed by 10:30 p.m. Haha.

Sunday, July 11, 2010

I woke up to me Gramma Edna making breakfast. Which is always super yummy. We hung out and visited in the morning. I took a cat nap. The Diekens came over for lunch and we visited. Before leaving town, we stopped at Jeff & Cari's to say goodbye to everyone that was there and then off we went.

It was a great, much needed weekend with family!

Bella Baby

Bella Baby

Friday, July 16, 2010

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Last week I had to take my Bella into the Dr's as she was acting "funny." She just wasn't her normal self and so we knew something was wrong. It's so funny that me as a dog owner knows when something is not right. It's just like being a parent. Dogs, much like kids, can't tell you what's wrong, you just have to pass on what you are witnessing and hope the Dr can take a look and figure it out.

This was Bella while we waited for the vet and Dr totally out of it sitting on my lap:

After filling in the vet tech and Dr on all that I knew, which included her having trouble pooing, not acting like herself and the fact that she hadn't eaten her food that afternoon, the Dr examined her and told me she was dehydrated and having a bowel issue. There is a more technical term to it, but to put it plainly that was what was wrong. She didn't want to eat her food, because her instinct told her not to because of her trouble pooing and in that effect she was dehydrated because of not eating/drinking.

They gave me pills to give her for a week and they gave her a shot of antibiotics which gave her a hump on the back of her neck. It was weird, but went down after a few hours as her body absorbed it that night. After a couple more instructions we were on our way home after 1 1/2 hours at the Dr.

This is her normally. Very spunky, curious and inquisitive:

After about a week and a half (and all her medicine) she is back to her lovable self. 

Love you my baby Bella! 

Leah

4th of July Weekend {2010}

4th of July Weekend {2010}

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

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Friday, July 2, 2010

Wayne and I went to a BBQ at my friend’s parent’s house. Tim & Vanny Mahoney, whose son Pat, is married to one of my very best friends, Wendy. I’ve know Wendy since we were in 3rd grade. Pat & Wendy started dating when we were juniors in high school (1999) and have been together ever since. They were married just a week shy of their 10 year anniversary on 11/7/2009. That was the last time I saw either one of them. So it was nice to see them as well as other friends that were there and Wendy’s parents.

Saturday, July 3, 2010

I worked at the gym in the morning and caught up with my friend Lizzie, who also works at the gym. I wanted to get all my cleaning and errands done that day so that both Sunday and Monday I could enjoy relaxing! So I got my grocery shopping done as well as my cleaning for the week done.

Sunday, July 4, 2010

My brother-in-law, Andy, came up for the day to hang out. What I thought was going to be a relaxing holiday spent on the boat, eating food, hanging with friends and family all day, turned into 3 hours of work. Thanks Andy. Ha.

I didn't get any before pictures, but it was basically overgrown with weeds as well as some stupid white rocks/shells that Grams dumped there. Wayne helped me get rid of the shells and most of the rocks. At some point we are getting new rock put in as well as some new sand on the beach.

While I worked on that, Andy took out all the weeds in the rocks. I didn’t get any before pictures of this either, but it was all overgrown with weeds and plants. It was nice to see him and spend some time with him.

Our friends John and Chris came up for the day as well. After completing the yard work we then headed out onto the boat for a few hours to soak up some sun. We parked the pontoon on one side of the lake and slowly drifted to the other side. As the only girl on the boat, I took the opportunity to lay in my pink floaty. It was nice and relaxing and also fun to hear the boys on the boat talking and laughing.

After a couple hours on the lake we headed in to eat dinner. After dinner John and Andy left and so we took Grams for a ride out on the boat.

[This was our sunset.]

After our ride, we had a bonfire to burn some of the weeds, twigs and branches that we pulled that afternoon. I enjoyed a few marshmallows and s’mores.

[Chris & Wayne]

When it started getting dark I took a shower and settled on the couch to watch the Fireworks on tv. At about 10pm, the neighbor started doing some great fireworks that ended up scaring the dogs. At that point I could barely keep my eyes open, so we just went to bed.

Monday, July 5, 2010

Most of the day was spent hanging out. Sandy made my Mom’s Mostocolli recipe for dinner and overall it was a nice relaxing day.

Grams and I went to visit Barbara in the nursing home that afternoon. It’s been a little over a week since she got here. She arrived 6/26/2010. She is Gramma’s friend from childhood. We first visited her when we went to Florida in April. She was in an awful nursing home and to be frank her children are assholes. So we decided to move her up here to get better care. Here are some pictures of where Barbara is at now.

[Front]

[Beautiful Outdoors]

[Her room]

[Barbara & Grams]

[Me & Barbara]

Overall a fun filled weekend!

Leah