Minnesota

We have had a busy summer and were away for most of July so here's an update for you. We were really lucky and got to visit home! Chris had to return earlier than me for work. Aww, the joys of having the summer off. Here are some of the highlights from our trip home.

1. Valley Family Cabin

Well, I think we have officially out grown the 2 bedroom 1 bath place with 8 adults and two dogs, it was still fun. It may be one of out last over night trips to the cabin. Chris and I talked about what next summer will look like and we have no idea how baby girl and all her things would fit in the cabin on a busy weekend. If there's a will, there is a way. Who knows...I'm sure we could make something work.

Other highlights of the cabin include a trip to the St. Joe's Meat Market, St. Joe's Carnival, visits from James, Pam, Mimi, and Grandma, Reese's smores, and the mosquitoes didn't eat me alive.

No luck with the Ring Toss this year.

Action shot of enjoy mini donuts

Chris' Aunt Mimi stopped by to say hi. It was great to see her and get an update on her daughters.

Chris and his Grandma. She quilted a beautiful quilt for our little lady.

Grandma Carlin and all of her Valley grandkids 

2. BBQ

My sister and her family were in town from CT. Her in-laws invited us over for a delicious BBQ. (They seriously are the best cooks!)  We got to spend some time with our niece and nephews.

Teaching them how to use silly string

It's blurry, but look at how much fun he is having!

Uncle Chris help A get me.  Thanks! She is so proud.

O and Chris have a lot in common like playing video games. They were very happy playing together.

This little man was sick. :( All he wanted to do was cuddle! Poor guy.

First photo of Sladky Cousins! (kind of)

3. Couples Shower

My parents and my sister threw us an amazing couples shower at Chris' parents' house. It was so much fun. It was also very humid! Sadly, I was too busy talking to take photos. I really wish I had a photo of my sister and me.  We were both wearing practically matching outfits plus we have been told a few times that we look a like. It was so great to see so many of our friends! We miss them so much.  Baby Valley was spoiled and is loved by many.  Thank you!

My sister made these cookies while on vacation with 3 kids. Oh and one of those kids was really sick.  She is super mom and wonder sister!  Thank you Claire! Not to mention they tasted so good!

Thanks Mom and Dad for bringing all the WI beer to the shower.  Even MN natives will admit that WI makes some pretty good beer. I can't wait to have a Spotted Cow! :)

4. Lots of visits with friends :)

- Happy Hours

- Supper Trucks with Movies

- Kickball

- Ladies Night at Pig Ate My Pizza - An absolute blast! 

- Walk around Lake Nokomis

- Lunch dates

- Pedicures

- Coffee dates
- Valley Cousins visit

You all kept me/us busy! I really need to learn to take more photos.  I don't have a single photo from all of these fun events. The photos I do have are thanks to my friends taking photos. I feel so lucky to have so many great friends. We miss you all so much!

Lauren - Thanks for taking photos! One of my most favorite dogs, Marty! 

Miss you!

Sweet little lady! This was taken second before a massive blowout diaper. 

Valley Cousin Photo - I promise the next time we get these two girls together the photo will be way cuter.

Valley Cousins- Chris and Nick are about 10 month apart - Our girls will be closer in age than these two about 4 months apart.

5. Juernes (jueves + viernes = juernes) and MTKA friends Shower

I have written about my Juernes friends before aka other white girls that speak Spanish too. We all taught together and started the Spanish Immersion Program in our district. We made a really great support group for work issues and for life.  Juernes has changed a lot over the years. I think there are almost as many babies now as adults. 3 of us have moved away too. We have been there for each other through good times and bad. I feel truly blessed to have these ladies as friends and colleagues too.  Thank you for an amazing shower! Next time we have to play Mexican Dominoes.

¡Gracias guapas!

6. Visits with students

I stopped by to see the family I babysat for last summer.  We had a great time hanging out! The 3 year old was obsessed with my tummy. She kept asking if they baby was still there and what would happen if the baby came out right now. Ha!

I also went to a big play date at a park with a bunch of my former students from over the past 5 years. It was amazing to see so many of them.  I loved having conversations in Spanish with the older kids.  They have learned so much since first grade!  I got so many hugs, even from the boys! It was great to see their families too. I taught so many siblings that I felt like I really knew their family after the 2nd or 3rd child. 

Needless to say, I drove away in tears. I felt so loved and missed all of them so much. I had it so so good - great school, excellent community, involved parents, and sweet students. I started teaching at that school when I was 22 years old! Talk about landing a great job right out of college!  ( Don't get me wrong, I really like my current school too. It's just still new and I'm still the new teacher.) 

I actually have lots of photos of this play date, but I don't want to post any photos of students without parental approval.

7.  Maternity Photo Shoot

One of my AZD sorority sisters lives in the Twins Cities area and is also a very talented photographer.  She was renting a cool lens for the weekend and asked to take photos of me. I said of course. It was great to see her and catch up with her. I loved watching her smile behind the camera.  Here are a few of my favorites. The only thing I would change about the photos would be to add Chris.

If you're in the Twin Cities and need a photographer, check her out at https://www.facebook.com/RebeccahParksPhotography. 

8. Connie's Wedding!

My coworker, mentor, and close friend, Connie, got married! And I was there to celebrate it!  She was at our wedding 5 years ago. She means so much to me and has done so much for me.  Sadly, Chris couldn't stay in MN long enough for her wedding, he had to go back to work. I'm so very happy for Connie and her new hubby Kurt! 

Sealed with a kiss! Congrats! 

Another amazing coworker, mentor, and close friend, Janelle!  I've learned so much from her. :) Miss her!

I got this great photo with the beautiful bride!  

Next stop Wisconsin!

This Guy I Met

Long story short, 9 years ago today I met this pretty awesome guy at a 4th of July Slip'n'Slide party. Two of my besties were there with me, Tam & Sara. We were totally out of place, but we were having a good time. I noticed this guy in a white t-shirt. I kept trying to talk to him, but he was quiet.  His friend*, Zach, kept talking to me and the guy I had my eye on just listened.

It was about time to leave for fireworks and we were walking back to the car. I told my friends I had to go back and get his number.  Clearly I had some liquid courage to help with this reasoning. Luckily, my girlfriends were supportive.

We walked back to the party and he was sitting in a big circle so it would have been awkward to ask for his number. All of a sudden he got up. Tam and Sara got to him first and explained that I thought he was cute and invited him to go see fireworks with us. He said yes! If you ask Chris, he will say it was beyond obvious that I was coming for him so he left the circle to talk to me. I didn't think I was that obvious, but I got what I wanted. :)

Our first photo together at the Union in Madison

1 year anniversary trip to Chicago

The ironic thing was I wasn't looking for anything serious. I was leaving for a semester in Spain in a month and a half. I really didn't want to fall for some guy before I left. Of course, I did. We did long distance from Spain to WI, Milwaukee to Madison, and Milwaukee to Minneapolis. Once I graduated from MU, I joined him in MN and we have been together ever since.

Rose Garden near Lake Harriet in MPLS

4th of July Parade in St. Joe's MN - a few weeks before he proposed

Wedding Day - photos at the Union of course!

Since we have been together a while and I was pretty young when we met, all of my girlfriends know him really well. I would say they all like him too. (He had to win over, Kate, my protective friend, but he did.)  So if I ever call to complain about him, they side with him sometimes. It's a little frustrating, but it makes me smile.

Camping and Hiking in the Porkies UP of  MI

Badger vs Gopher Hockey Game

East Coast Trip for Nick and Kerin's Wedding

I feel very lucky and happy to be with someone that can make me so happy and also drive me crazy at times. I'm really excited for our next adventure. I've know since the summer of 2004 he was great with kids and would make an excellent father.

Celebration of Excellence Awards - Chris has 2 teaching awards and I only have 1.

Parc Ciutadella in BCN

Our next adventure - a little late on the upload

*Zach is a great guy and I would say he is our friend now. He picked a really awesome wife, Nicky, who is a great friend too!

HAPPY 4th of JULY!!! For many good reasons it is one of my most favorite holidays!

La Pedrera and Montjuic

Our last two big sight seeing items in Spain were La Pedrera and Montjuic.

La Pedrera

- An apartment building designed by Guadi.
- This was his last private project before starting the Sagrada Familia.
- It's now a museum and you can tour one apartment.

View from the street 

On the roof top

Courtyard

On the rooftop overlooking the courtyard. These funky statues hide chimneys and other practical things.

Inside the courtyard

Me in my element: Museum Gift Stores. Love them!

Once again we got to skip the line! :) 

On our way to Montjuic, Catalan for the Mountain of the Jews, we stopped by the Cathedral on last time.

Cool view from the courtyard

We also had to stop to get a photo of Christopher with Cristobol Colon.  Notice C.Colon is wearing a FCB coat to show his support.

We took the Funicular or Rack Train up the Mountain. Then we walked to the Olympic Stadium. The stadium is now used for concerts. The Olympic pool, which we didn't go see, is a public pool and used for competitions still.

Then we hiked up a super steep hill to get to the Montjuic Castle.  This "castle" is more like a fort. Tanks and  other big guns were all around it. It's free to see and offers some pretty amazing views of the city, but it has a dark past. It was the headquarters for Franco's regime in Barcelona. Firing squads killed many people in the grassy area behind the castle. There were no explanations posted on anything there. It was ok, but differently not a must see.

Can you spot the Sagrada Familia?

Now it's time to get ready for the MN/WI trip. Excited to go home to see family and friends!