YUM :)

I can't believe I'm saying this ALREADY, but... On Sunday, it will be Max and I's ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY! I have no idea where the last year has gone, it seems like just a couple months ago I was planning our wedding and now, it's already been one full year together.

For our anniversary weekend, I actually have another wedding to be in, my long time friend Elicia's in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin. I am excited to celebrate her big day with her, and even more excited to celebrate my first anniversary with my hubby the next day on Sunday! Since we'll be in Wisconsin, Max and I will be heading back to the cities Sunday morning to catch an afternoon TWINS GAME (so excited for!) and then possibly a little shopping, and then dinner (which I chose the restaurant and am keeping it top-secret because I want it to be special for Max!)

So apparently a 'tradition' for newleyweds is to eat the top of their cake on their one year anniversary, but since we had a little 'incident' with our downstairs freezer a while back, that simply wont be possible anymore since our cake pretty much went to hell and we had to throw it away. Anyways, when we were picking out a wedding cake over a year ago, Max rallied for carrot cake for the top layer. I have NEVER had carrot cake and was completely anti the idea, but gave in anyway since Max claimed it was his favorite. Since we'll be gone all this weekend, I decided to surprise Max before he got home on Sunday from golfing with my FIRST EVER homemade carrot cake--he was very happy, and I'm pleased to say that it was deeeeelicious!

It wasn't until halfway through making this scrumptious cake (I just found it in a church cookbook) that I realized it was my momma-in-law's recipe!

::My best friend's wedding::

My best friend was married on Saturday...

I wish I could be happier about this, but in all honesty, it is a sad subject for me! I'll get to the sad part later, but first off, CONGRATULATIONS KRISTIN AND ERIC KAMMERMEIR (yes, I know, I probably just butchered your new last name, deal with it). It was such a beautiful day and the wedding was just perfect... The morning started off bright and early at 8AM (what??) at the Hampton Hotel in St.Cloud where the girly festivities of hair, makeup, food, etc began. From there it was rehearsal, lunch, bonding with our boys (ps, groomsmen of the wedding, I adore all of you--so glad I was able to meet such a fabulous group of guys!) and then of course, pictures, pictures, and more pictures. At 5pm (and about 90degrees!) at the Grands at Mulligans, the ceremony began and the happy couple said their "I do's" and happily ever after began, as well as the party of course! The reception was a GREAT time and no doubt did we end up downtown, St.Cloud at the Red Carpet for shots, dancing, and other crazy nonsense. (The next morning, however, no so cool. This girl just can't handle a hangover like I once could--->lame.)

The sad part is, Eric and Kristin are now off to KEY WEST, FLORIDA to begin their new life as husband and wife! I have no idea how I'm going to adjust to life without Kris here -- she's practically a member of the Johnson household and we pretty much do everything together. Not to mention my sister just moved 5 hours away as well, which has also been an adjustment. I am so excited for all of them and I know how exciting moving away and starting out somewhere new can be, so even though I will be lost without them for a while, I am thrilled for the new adventure they are beginning!! I'm also excited to go visit -- trip to Florida in October??? Hmmm...I think so! :) Get on that, hubby!

On a side note, I think Ryder played hookie today from daycare. I made it to Kandiyohi this morning only to get a phone call from Max saying that Ryder threw up this morning. I, being the concerned mommy that I was, turned around right away and called into work to be home with my poor little man.... I got home a half hour later to a very tired/sick looking little boy. I wasn't feeling the best either so we tucked ourselves into bed and went back to sleep all snuggled up.... After that, we woke up and Ryder was F-I-N-E the rest of the day! Running around, playing, eating, no big deal..... I secretly think he just likes to stay home with his momma! ;)

Only In Darwin....

do you see in broad daylight, in someone's FRONT yard, with a crowd of enthusiastic, beer holding, pot bellied individuals as spectators....a pickup truck decide to drive up on top of two little cars. Wait, I'm not finished -- this particular truck could not make it all the way on top of the two cars, so then next up comes a BIG BRONCO (out of nowhere??) that makes the biiiiiggg climb all the way on top, then over the two little cars, then proceeds to back up back on the little cars, park his precious Bronco (on top of the two cars), get out of the bronco and do a victory "shake". What I mean by this is he lifted his shirt and SHOOK his belly in victory as the crowd cheered.

You may think I'm kidding, but I'm not. This was just one of many highlights of Darwin Day this year. Moving right along.... For the second year in a row, Max and I got a volleyball team put together. It was me, Max, John, Megan, Mellissa, and Joe. We weren't the best this year (haha--who is surprised by this??) but it was a good time anyway! Ryder was with his daddy for the weekend so later in the evening we went out to the cabin, grilled some delicious food (my husband is an amazing griller, no lie) and hung out with our good friends, Joe and Kate. My sister and Nate re-joined us again at one point in time (after they were done screaming with eachother...For anyone reading this who thinks I am difficult.....Have you met my sister Mellissa?? :)) Anyways, as tradition goes, Max, Joe, Kate, and I made the long trek (like 2 miles?) into Darwin and visited with the local darwinites! SUCH a fun night-- great crowd!! Then when Jacks decided it was time to close up shop, we made the long WALKING trek to Jen and Josh's house and harassed them into hanging out with us in their garage for another hour or so. I won't go into details about our trip home for the night, only I will admit their was a golf cart in our yard the next morning-haha! :S

Okay, that was my excitement for the weekend last weekend. Now, it's Thursday and I am DONE with work for the week and have a FULL WEEKEND OF WEDDING BLISS ahead of me!! T-Minus 2 days until Kristin and Eric's big day!! Tonight, however, is all about the little man and we are headed to the McLeod County Fair Motorcross tonight!! He is so excited! He's been riding his little dirtbike around all afternoon since I picked him up from daycare! :)

A Few Images of Our Summer :)

BUSY!!!!!

Holy Shit - I really have NEGLECTED this blog for a long time, but honestly if you knew how BUSY this familia has been you would understand, hands down. Let me just TRY to catch you all up to speed on as much as I can think back to... Probably the most exciting news that we have is that STAR, our BEAUTIFUL and SWEET registered quarter horse is finally settled in here with our family! She has been such a joy to have around, honestly, she is so calm mannered and sweet we've just fallen in love with her. Once it FINALLY cooled off tonight, we were able to saddle her up again for another ride and even Ryder got to take a little stroll on her! :)

What else.... I have been GONE way too much lately for work -- in the cities for a few days two weeks ago and then spent three days this past week in Duluth for a youth conference with some of the boys in our program. I HATE being away from home for work, so needless to say, I was not impressed. Not in the least.

On a positive note, I HAVE A NEW NEPHEW!!!! Max's brother and his wife just had their new baby boy, Zane Preston on July 27th. He is doing really well and we were able to go visit him at his home this afternoon :) I forgot how tiny newborns are, he was so precious! Awwweee babies! :)

My best friend is getting married in TWO weeks!! Can't wait for the wedding but will be sad to see them leave for Florida a few days after the wedding -- good thing my husband has already been checking plane tickets for me in October--woohoo! After that is another wedding of one of my longtime friends, Elicia, and then my sisters wedding in November -- I will be happy if I never have to squeeze my ass in a bridesmaid dress for a LONG time :)

Okay, I know there is more to update but for now, mommyhood calls and Ryder needs to go to bed...