The Dells.

The Dells.

Do I even need to say 'Wisconsin' in front of it?

More than likely not, 

because everyone is aware of the fun that awaits 

at such a place!

And lucky for us, our family gets to go for free

because Luke goes to a conference there for CEU's.

Lots of free fun...it does not get better than that!

This year our family got to have a lot of fun with the Olberding's.

Brock jumping over the big waves in the wave pool.

Adler & Luke tackling the mammoth waves. 

Relaxing in the pool until the next round of waves start! 

Enjoying the sun in the waterdome! 

Brock needed a picture with the real bear at the lobby! 

All the kids had fun at the duck races every morning. 

Playing with the ducks before the waterparks officially open.  

The little ones bouncing around. 

More duck races. 

 

Smashin the waves again! 

Time for some bingo & playing arcade games. 

Vance was getting into everything on vacation

(& the poor guy was sick with a ear infection).

We're hoping he can enjoy the Dells a bit more next year. 

Then we ate at Buffalo Phil's & watched the train bring us drinks & food. 

Then we went to Knuckleheads & played all night

until us parents were exhausted & had to go home!

Having fun on the jumping pillow. 

Bumper cars. 

This was both funny & scary to watch!

Brock had no clue what he was doing, but he sure had fun. 

The kids & the dads going a thrill ride, multiple times! 

Then it was time to do the ropes course.

p.s. check out Lyle's stache!

Having fun high in the air.

More jumping pillow!

(ahhh did this night ever end?) 

Evelyn & Adler were just tall enough to go down the BIG rides.

I can't believe they did it...this ride is very scary!

(When I got off this ride my legs were shaking & I was panting!)

Our kids are getting old! 

Of course a lot of the time was spent eating snacks, 

& snacks, & more snacks! 

It was a great mini vacation.

The kids & parents all had a good time together

(minus Vance being sick & owl-ie).

Here's to another fun year next year

AND

another great ride in the big van!

(The ride home was like a dream.  I sat in the back with Adler & put my legs up,

blinds down, & chitty chitty bang bang on the tv!)

The van.

The van.

A conversion van.

A hunter green conversion van.

Yes, it is all something I never thought we would do.

A conversion van.

But as we started a search for a good deal

with lots of room,

you just can't find anything more appealing!

So we bought one.

And we love life even more now!

(and the boys think we now own a camper!)

Our previous vehicle...a gorgeous diamond color Acadia fully loaded.

It was all wonderful, until it decided to become an unreliable expensive vehicle.

Oh the joys.

So we sold it off & found a heck of a deal on craigslist!

(where else would you have assumed we would have found a big green machine?)

We bought it just in time to drive to Wisconsin Dells.

The whole family was in heaven.

If someone needed something...we would just walk to the back of the van.

There is NO other vehicle that gives you such luxury!

It's ugly, but it's exactly what we want.

From the large DVD and VHS entertainment system

to the accent lighting & blinds...the boys love it. 

And Luke & I have not stopped laughing EVERY time we drive it.

I picked Luke up outside the Target doors the other day

& even honked the horn a few times so he wouldn't miss us!!! haha

Then I laughed really hard again.

This van gives us more laughing sprees than we could have ever asked for.

February.

I don't know what happened to life in February,

but it was a blur.

Well in all reality...it was cold, we were stuck in the house, 

& we were just living day to day

hoping for spring (or at least for the sun to shine through the window!)

In anticipation of the winter Olympics

Luke & I decided to build up the walls of our sled hill to make a luge for the kids.

We all thoroughly enjoyed it.

Until it kept snowing, & snowing, & snowing...& it filled in.

It was amazing & fast & deadly! 

One afternoon our friend Ingrid stopped over

while mom & dad Hanson rushed to the hospital 

to have her little brother! 

 We had a fun night with our little girlfriend.

Olivia also turned 10!

I can't believe we've had her for that long.

She had a good birthday with hugs from the boys,

frosty paws treat,

& a special trip to Petsmart for some new toys. 

Home from Petsmart & ready to play with the birthday girl. 

Alder also had his kindergarten pal come over & play. 

We also played lots of games in February.

What else do you do when it's absolutely freezing outside? 

Luke played in the BOLD alumni tournament. 

I asked Adler to take a picture of dad.

Here's his shot! 

All the dads had a good cheering section.

And every year it keeps growing! 

The boys loved watching dad play b-ball. 

He shoots, he scores! 

That afternoon we celebrated Ethan's birthday.

Here's Vance with his favorite cousin Aubrea.

He loves to hug & stare at her! 

 The ride home was pretty peaceful.

Ms. Olivia has a bit of the winter blues too.

Every time we come home we find her laying in the one spot on the floor

where the sun is shinning!

Rarely do our kids plop in bed in the middle of the night,

but how can you argue a scary dream.

But do you see the space I'm supposed to sleep in?! 

While I'm stuck in the house I also tend to bake a bunch of goodies.

The boys seem to enjoy it too! 

Nighttime book reading.

This particular night everyone joined in, even Olivia made it to the top bunk! 

Adler lost his first tooth & was quite excited to use his tooth fairy pillow for the 1st time. 

Liv dog enjoying another frosty paw treat. 

Valentine's day is always a special day for the whole family.

We try to make it special in little ways.

This year we had heart shaped meals 

& I had the boys go on a 

treasure hunt with a bunch of clues!

They loved it. 

In the morning I took the boys to a Valentine's storytime & crafts.

Later that day I went to visit Adler at school & help with his Valentine's party.

On Valentine's we went to Litchfield & grandpa & grandma watched the boys

so Luke & I could go out on a date to Anton's in St. Cloud.

I had the best popover.

If you like popovers...you will never find a better one than at Anton's.

They're truthfully the size of your head!

It was a good day.

The next morning was my sister's birthday.

So we took her out to eat at Runnings!

It was 25 cent hotdog & pop day.

Apparantly in runs in our genes...because we saw lots of family there!

Ohh it was funny. 

Here's to a warmer March! (please)