The past couple of weeks...

I know I'm behind...

Sorry I haven't posted a new blog in a little bit, but I've actually been busy. I've actually had to work! I am working more at the hospital, which is good for our flights home! :) Here is a little of what we have been up to lately.

Lets see, one evening we went to a fall festival at the University of Minnesota Research Center in Waseca. This was during the cold spell so it was pretty chilly.

We went for a tractor ride.

We got to meet Goldy the Gopher, who Ansley didn't care for at all!

 

Lance has been playing softball with Federated. Well, he has been coaching since he has been in his boot for most of the season. Ansley loves watching the games and it doesn't hurt that most of the time, the field is next to a playground!!

(This pic is from earlier in the season)

This is Ansley with her friends, Parker and Aria

Here is Ansley all bundled up at one of the softball games

The weather here has been crazy lately. A couple weeks ago we had a FREEZE warning! Not a frost advisory or a freeze watch, but a FREEZE WARNING! It was 28F one morning when Lance went to work! CRAZY!

               

Not even the cold will keep this little girl from swinging

or keep her from sliding!

What else have we been into....

Of course, cheering on the VOLS!

We even got an awesome UT care package from Mimi and PJoe!

 

We got to babysit Parker for a little bit one day!

I was thinking...I can do this, I think I can handle two, it isn't that bad...then Parker started crying and then Ansley wasn't happy that I wasn't paying enough attention to just her...then I started thinking, nope I think I'm good with just the one for right now!!! :)

 

I feel like Ansley has grown up so much recently! I know I'm a little partial to her, but she is a smart kid! (We will have her 18month check up by Dr. James when we go home next.)

she loves doing things by herself....

like putting on her own shoes :)

She also loves to help...

especially with the dishes!

Ansley repeats anything and everything! Her favorite thing to say right now is "hold you". She says this when she wants to be picked up/held. She got this from when I would ask her if she wanted me to hold her! She has been going to a daycare a couple of times. The first time we dropped her off I think both me and Lance cried more than she did! :) She cries for just a little bit when we first drop her off, but then she is fine and has a good time. Ansley started swim lessons last week. I wasn't able to make it to the first one because I had to be in the cities for training, but Lance said she did good and they had fun! Her lessons are every Monday for 8 weeks. She will be ready for Norris Lake next year!!!

Like I said before the weather is crazy....this past weekend it was actually warmer here than back home! Lance and Ansley took advantage of the nice weather and went to the park while I worked all weekend....

It is supposed to be in the 80's and beautiful all week!

Like Lance said, this is the calm before the storm cause we know the cold weather is coming!!!

These pics were taken around Owatonna...BEAUTIFUL!!!

Continue to pray for us and our adventure!
Only 26 more days til we come home!!!!

We love and miss you guys!

Two Harbors/Duluth Trip (Part 2)

Split Rock Lighthouse was our next stop along our trip http://www.mnhs.org/places/sites/srl/index.htm.

Some quick info on the lighthouse...."The structure was designed by lighthouse engineer Ralph Russell Tinkham and was completed in 1910 by the United States Lighthouse Service at a cost of $75,000, including the buildings and the land. It was built in response to the loss of ships during the famous Mataafa Storm of 1905, in which 29 ships were lost on Lake Superior. One of these shipwrecks, the Madeira, is located just north of the lighthouse."

Back Row: Jennifer, Gene, Pat, Patrick, and AJ

Front Row: Lance, Ansley, Me, Allison, and Parker

Ansley, she is supposed to be the dog :)

Inside the lighthouse

the water was sooo clear!

(Ansley was taking a nap in the car at this stop)

I took this pic of our wonderful photographer on the trip...he took all these great pics!

AJ and Jen

Gene and Pat

Patrick, AJ, and Jen being silly

Jen and her momma Pat

Our last stop for the day was Gooseberry Falls. There are 5 falls to see, but we only made it to the upper, middle and lower falls. http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/gooseberry_falls/index.html. 

Ansley checking it out....actually she wanted in the water, but it was COLD!

We even ran into another one of Lance's classmates, Nick and his girlfriend Kimmy

On our way back to the cabin we saw an AMAZING rainbow! I don't think I have actually ever seen the beginning (or end) of a rainbow...but I have now!

We couldn't pass up a photo op!

We left Ansley in the car watching a movie...she had a long day at this point

Once we got back to the cabin we got ready to go eat dinner. We finally decided to eat at Ledge Rock Grille, which is located within Larsmont Cottages (http://www.larsmontcottages.com/) which is a beautiful resort. The food was great, but the location was beautiful, it overlooked Lake Superior! After dinner, we enjoyed smores, which were offered by the resort, along with a bonfire. It was nice to sit by the fire and listen to the water. 

After a super fun filled day, Monday morning was check out. After we got everything loaded up Me and Lance decided we wanted to stop in Duluth on our way home. We actually don't have a single picture from Duluth! Not only was Lance tired of taking the pictures, but me and Ansley were tired of being in them! :) We had a great day in Duluth. It is such a neat town (http://www.duluthmn.gov/). We made it home late Monday evening, just enough time to get back to the grind for Lance on Tuesday!

recovering from the trip :)

Continue to pray for us and our adventure!

We love and miss you guys!