review: my year

What a year this has been. Full of trials to be sure, but a lot of awesomeness, too. 
Some of the highlights were trips to the farmers market, going to England & Paris, Duluth, the Minnesota State fair, and the Packers & Vikings game, the sock hop-just to name a few. 


Some of you may have noticed I haven't blogged much lately.  Partially it's being busy, but another part is lack of inspiration. I'm working on the inspiration part, so we'll see if I'm not blogging more in the future. 


But for now I'll leave you with the highlights of my year. :)





Farmers' Market 

One of my favorite things to do in the spring and summer is go tot the farmers' market. I just love seeing all the different things for sale and the bright array of flowers.

I remember this was such a fun day with my mom. I also got some sugar-free ice cream on this day too. It was hard not eating the whole container in one sitting. ;)


Now onto England & France. You can read about my 5 posts here

What can I say about this trip? This was the trip of a lifetime, and I'm so glad I was able to spend it with my mom and sister. 

a week in Paris. Let's just say I'd pack my bags and go there today, if I had the chance.

Duluth 

One of my favorite day trips. I've been noticing how a lot of these posts were during the summer. Must be because I have free time then. 

Minnesota State Fair

this day is always a highlight of my summer. I'm not sure what makes it so magical, but to me it's such a fun day to spend with my family eating junk food. 

Packers vs. Vikings game.

This was my second year of going. Total blast! But it definitely helps when you're team is the best.


Our 4-H sock hop 

This year I was on the planning committee and my idea for the theme of our banquet was a sock hop. All in all I'd say it was a hit. 


I would have to say this has been a most fabulous year. Maybe even the best ever?? (I think I say that every year, though.)


Happy New Year! 
xoxo

Merry Christmas from Lacey

It's hard to believe that Christmas eve is tomorrow! 

For a while, it seems like it will never come, but here it is. 

Time flies when you're having fun, they say.

If Lacey (aka Rudolph) sent out a Christmas card, this is what it would look like. ;)

xoxo, Leah & Rudolph the Red Nosed pup Reindeer.


Merry Christmas! 

Korte

A month or so ago, my mom & I walked into a sporting goods store.  They were having a big sale on skis.  My mom was looking for some new skis, and I came along for something to do.  I had tried skiing last year and I had lots of fun.  I wasn’t particularly interested in buying skis…Until… Well, let’s just say we had a good salesman (who was a pro skier himself) and the next thing I knew, I was the proud owner of some cross country skis.

To make a long story short, my mom, sister & I are all signed up for the Kortelopet ski race next February, in Hayward (we went last year when my cousin participated in the Birkie).  I am very excited- to say the least. :)  Yesterday we got the conformation postcards in the mail.  Yay!

We got some more snow today, let’s hope we get more soon!
xoxo

Yes List

I saw this on Mikala’s blog, and she got it from Rosie’s blog. It looked like such a good idea I thought I’d try it because I love happy listy type things. Here we go!

Yes to it being Saturday! Even though I had to work… Oh well.
Yes to having a girls night last night. Confessions of a Shopaholic, anyone? (And, yes, it is completely silly.)
Yes to finding a sweatshirt in my closet that I’d forgotten about! Yay!
Yes to my mom coming home tomorrow. I’ve missed her!
Yes to listening to Good Time. Or country music in general.
Yes to making no-bake cheesecake. The crust just came out of the oven. Yumm.
Yes to Christmas being right around the corner. Who can help getting in the festive mood?
Yes to a good make up day. :)

Well, this about wraps it up. What a great idea, right?
Happy Weekend!

Packer vs. Vikes game

Last weekend was all about football for our family. I didn’t go to two games like my mom & brother, (they went to a high school game to see my cousin play). But, I did get to go see the Packers beat the Vikings! It was such a fun game. Very suspenseful at times, but we had a blast. Emily, the Viking fan, sat with my dad and not by us since we had on Packer shirts and he didn’t. ;) The tickets were split up, so my mom & I sat together. 

my fierce look. I’m also trying to make a “g” with my hand, ha ha

the end score. 

All in all, it was a great day & Red Lobster for dinner finished off the night fabulously (it was my first time there & it was delish!).

Sock Hop!

This past weekend we had our annual 4-H Banquet. The theme this year was a 50’s sockhop. I think this year was my favorite of all. Maybe that’s because it was my idea, but I think everyone else had a good time, too. :)

•  Daniel & Mya won the dancing contest! 

•  Emily & Jessie 

•  Our cupcakes!

•  Maggie & Rachel enjoying the music

•  Anna, Becca & Jessie

•  Becca doing the cupcake walk

• My mom & Mrs. Carter with the food

Jessie & I handled the cupcakes- I spent Friday morning baking and Jessie came over in the afternoon and we frosted up a storm! I can’t wait until next year! Maybe we’ll do the 60’s...

Tomorrow’s Friday! Yay!

The Help

I recently (last weekend) read The Help. In about 48 hours. All 410 pages of it, on my mom's Nook. (It was my first time reading on a Nook, which actually was really nice & portable!)
As you may have heard, it’s a very good book.

My favorite characters were Minny & Skeeter, because it’s not all about one person, it’s about a whole town, seen through the eyes of two maids, and a young aspiring writer. They met up, after lots of thought and persuasion on Skeeter’s part to get Aibileen to help her. It was really dangerous for them to meet, to write down the stories (including the Terrible Awful Thing) of all the maids lives with their employers, but they did it anyways -but not without a cost. Skeeter lost so much: her friends, her would-be fiance & everything she knew in Jackson. Aibileen lost her job. But the rewards were good too. Their book made it big.

Anyways, I really enjoyed this book, and I’m hoping I’ll be able to see the movie soon.


Just as a side-note, it does have some language & a tiny bit of gross-ness. So, I wouldn’t necessarily recommend this for younger readers.

Happy Tuesday!

Photo Challenge: a photo of your pet

Okay, okay. I may as well win the worst blogger award, but I have been busy. You know the drill. But, before church this morning I do have time to enter in Allie’s photo challenge! The photo this time, is a photo of your pet! Well, if you know me, there are no shortage of photos of Lacey. (ha ha)

I know y’all saw this photo when I posted it a couple of weeks ago, but I seriously love it. She always sits there (when there’s someone up in that room) to watch over her kingdom.

Anywho, have a great day, lovelies.  I know over here today’s going to be a busy one.

Newsie

Sorry my posts have been lacking lately, everyone!
Since Friday, I’ve been working everyday day at my aunts booth at a 4h horse show. It’s long days, but I’m glad I was able to help out. The really happy part was that on Friday night Emily picked me up early and we watched Wives & Daughters with Hannah & Jessie! The only bad part was that I didn’t get to bed until late and I was really tired the next day! But, it was worth having a girls night.

Anywho, tomorrow is my first driving lesson and a orthodontist appointment. Then I have a dentist appointment on Tuesday. Doesn’t sound like a very fun start to the week, but let’s hope it’ll only get better from there! This next Friday I go back to work at the same place for a champ show. Then, Saturday, is my aunt & uncles Fall festival! I’m thinking this weekend is going to be really good. :) 
I’m currently relaxing, listening to Adele & enjoying not being on my feet. I’m going to bed early tonight, and whenever I wake up, it’ll feel like sleeping in after getting up at 6 or 5:45 am… I never thought I’d say I was looking forward to Monday, ha ha:)

Oh, & tonight when we walked in the door, my dad called us to the tv where there was the 60 Minutes interview with Dakota Meyer who won the Metal of Honor. It was so interesting to watch, I’m so thankful for our service men & women who are serving our country.

Oh, and today, (I keep saying that!) I had this mustache on my finger (see photo) and this girl who was at the register (as I was ringing up her purchase) asked me if I would pose with my mustache for a photo! I was a little taken aback, but I figured, what the heck, so I said sure. I didn’t get to see how it turned out, I hope it looks alright!



Have a great week, lovelies!

someone like you

Our family went up to our cabin for Labor Day weekend. My dad, brother, aunt, uncle & my other uncle all went up on Friday. My mom, Emily & I went up on Saturday. Friday night we had a fab girls night. We met up with Emily after school finished for the day and went out to dinner at Panera & then later we watched this show called Northern Exposure. (So funny!) Anywho, the weekend at the cabin was nice and relaxing. Much needed naps were in order. :) We drove home on Monday and I “modeled” for Emily for a photography project she had when we got home. Now, it’s back to school. I’m really thankful for that extra day off, though. 




Isn’t she something else? She’s always on high alert for danger (squirrels are on the top of the list)


Happy Tuesday!

Remembering

Today is my cousins birthday -she would've been 23. Sam was only 15 when she was killed in a car crash, but she always seemed so old to me. I wanted to be just like her, and I still do. I still miss her so much it hurts.

But, this isn’t the end. I’ll see her again, I know that -but it’s still hard. For now, I’m going to focus on the life and loved ones I have, because life is precious. 

We were all in my aunts wedding. :)

Happy Thursday, friends. 

Fair is Fair

The Great Minnesota get-together. Aka: the State Fair. It’s pretty much the best thing after sliced bread. The food is amazing-my favorite is the french fries. Of course we decided we would go to the Marine booth, and I wanted to go to the Ford booth (last year we got free tee’s!) & the art building. I love the state fair. There’s so much to see, so it’s hard to do in just a few hours.

-DNR fish pond

-Spoon Man at the talk show booth.

-Emily at the circus train

-Winner winner. Huge pumpkins!

-The Marine challenge- they won lanyards!

-Pretty much my dream car.

-Enjoying late-night shakes. I wish they had these at expo!

I really want to go back one more time before it closes!

School started today. I’m a little bit sad, but fall is always a happy time. :) Happy Monday!

a picture is worth a thousand words

Here it is, the end of summer.

I have to say, I am ready for school to be starting. A new year, with new things to learn. (please don’t be too hard geometry!) Anywho, this has been a great summer. I took a trip to the UK & Paris, got my permit and took a trip to the Duluth & the cabin.

I’m so excited for what Fall brings, such as my aunt and uncles famous Fall hayride, baking and wearing leggings. (When I was about 10 I swore I’d never be as “uncool”, as say, a mom & wear leggings. Well. Looks like I’m about to be “uncool”. ;)

my brothers lunch!

Hey, summer. I’ll be more than ready for you next year.

Remember When

After not really taking too many photos lately, (which have been mostly photos of people) today I grabbed the D70 and started taking some shots, first inside, but then my mom & I took a walk as the sun was getting lower in the sky. Not the best for lighting, but I still got some satisfactory photos. :)

Lacey, Theo & Millie were ecstatic that we were outside with them- taking them for a walkie.

I love Sunday’s. Not doing too much, but it’s been a great day. Yesterday consisted of a parade, a family reunion, & Captain America drive-in. It’s been a fab weekend.

School starts next week. How is that possible? Where have you gone, summer?

I’m going to enjoy these last few days of freedom before embarking on my next year of high school.