Girls hit the highway: Pepin and Burr Oak

Day two of the road trip was a blast! We had so much fun traveling to Pepin, WI and Burr Oak, Iowa.

During the driving we read to the girls about what the Ingalls family did in each town, and even got to tour the hotel the Ingalls lived in during their time in Iowa!

 Jordyn and Maddy both taking a turn posing 

Little House in the Big Woods

Next stop Iowa!

Inside the hotel/museum

(a lovely grainy picture from the point n' shoot.. i will be leaping for joy when we get the DSLR back in my hands!)

Meanwhile... when we got to our hotel room, grandma had a surprise up her sleeve!

 homemade butter!

Khloe didn't feel the need to use a cracker... just putting the butter straight in :)

Grandma and her girls butter makin'!

The next day will entail Spring Valley and Walnut Grove, MN

and then we'll be making our way to SD for the last stint!

Girls hit the highway: 1

To end this fantastic trip in MN I am currently road trippin' it with my mom, sis-in-law, and three young nieces.

As a girl I LOVED the Laura Ingalls Wilder books... and I mean LOOOOOOVED them. Loved as in my mother made me a white flannel nightgown for Christmas when I was a kid. Because of my obsession enjoyment of these books I always wanted to go to all of the homesteads that were talked about in the books.

My childish dreams were crushed, as we never took the trip... until now. 15 some years later my dreams are becoming fulfilled :) It's not quite the same, but I'm sure if I tried I could some how manage to fit in the flannel nightgown again to bring me back to a younger "me".

Our first day entailed getting to Wabesha, MN right across the river from Pepin, WI. We had beautiful weather, and we are all excited to see Pepin tomorrow morning!

view from where we ate

The crew

BEAUTIFUL night 

sweet shot :)

fine dining at it's best

swimming time!

This is Khloe's "cheese"

don't let my smile fool you... it was FREEZING

Fun with the girls!

Hot Time in the City

Last Sunday I had the pleasure of joining in on the Bachelorette party of a most dear friend.

eight girls in bridesmaid dresses

one bride in an old wedding dress

90 degrees 

good time had by ALL.

This was Jen's response to me saying

"it's all about the little movements"

what can i say... she catches on quickly :)

Emily and I clearly have no idea what to do here.

makin our way to the trolley!

Jen's dress matched the beanie... we thought it was a good look.

With the conductor

ringing the bell!

And why wouldn't we go and rent a bunch of kayaks and canoes and row out into a lake?

Sara and Jen workin' it

trying to get a picture of the sweet trolley.

I now realize that, that man is a perfect example of what all of us were feeling in our dresses.

A classy passenger

Congrats again Emily!!!

And Levi... if I haven't said it before... you are clearly a lucky lucky man :)

oh Micke you're so fine!

The last 10 days Jon and I have been back in MN and it has been glorious!

Being able to see family and friends has been relaxing and refreshing, and it was a much needed break from life in CO.

While spending time at our homes has been great, our real reason for coming back was for some weddings. While we were in Korea land we missed out on the weddings of SO many of our closest friends... so now that we are on the same continent it was time to make it happen!

First up... Sarah Micke (now Shelerud) Micke and I lived together for two years during undergrad. We spent many evenings watching Friends, making music videos, and sharing our love of all things Christmas :)

LOVED this ...

Me and my hot date :)

They are just a beautiful couple 

Reunited and it feels so good!

The candy/cookie bar... we strategically placed ourselves right next to this table.

Us with the beautiful bride!

Cuttin' the cake. 

After Sarah repeatedly telling Joe not to smear it on her face... he did what any clueless groom would

smeared it on her face:)

nice work joe.

Congrats my beautiful friend!

So excited for what is to come for you and Joe!!

p.s. a move to colorado should most definitely come next :)