Lutsen Part Two

I could only post a few pics of Lutsen, so I will continue the post to a second entry so I can add more pictures.

The funniest part of the weekend was watching how these boys entertain themselves when they are together. They had a cookie eating contest- not how many cookies a person could eat, but how fast someone could eat one cookie and have zero crumbs left in their mouth. I think the record was 18 seconds, but I could be wrong on that. At one point, Brian and Joe had a competition who could make it around the entire kitchen and living room of the condo without touching the floor- so yes, Joe climbed on top of the refrigerator amongst other things! Then there's the famous booze luge that I talked about in the previous post. It was hilarious to watch them carve not only one path down the ice luge for liquor to be poured into, but this year was a triple threat- there were three tracks the alcohol to take. You could choose a shot made with three beverages and they would all mix together and land in your mouth as you waited a few seconds for it to hit your mouth! Hilarious!!

Lutsen, Lutsen!

This past weekend Joe and I went to Lutsen with some of his college pals. This is a tradition, and typically we go every January or February. It usually depends on who is able to make it - but regardless, it is always a good time.

This year however, it was a little colder than in past years. Chad, Stacy, Joe and I drove up on Thursday night and it was about minus 40 that day! Friday morning it was minus 20, so us ladies decided to stay inside and just chill. The boys were adventurous and decided to give the cold skiing a try. Stacy and I waited until Saturday when it was above zero, and we lucked out because there was about three or four inches of powder that day.

Besides skiing, we then just hang out in our nice spacious condo that faces lake Superior, we play games, we take turns making meals, we read magazines, and talk. We also laugh at the boys who are always finding creative ways to entertain themselves - and each year they go hunting for the perfect mass of ice to make a booze luge.


What is a booze luge you ask? Well, they take a hunk of ice and haul it back (yes, like Cavemen) and then bring it up to our condo and put it on the deck. Then they bring it in for some serious drilling and carving. They make a slide within the chunk of ice and later they pour alcohol down it and someone can sit at the bottom of it and take a shot!

So here's to another successful year at the booze luge!

37 Days Until Warmth!!!!

It's a frigid minus ten degrees right now without windchill. With windchill, it's probably in the minus 20s. Are you kidding me is all I have to say???? We are heading to Lutsen this weekend for a ski weekend- and it will be a high of five degrees the day we ski! Gotta love Minnesota!

The only thing getting me through this long and cold winter is the fact that in 37 days we are going to Mexico. We booked the trip late last fall, and we are going with Angie and Todd. It is a town just north of Playa Del Carmen, and south of Cancun.

Here are some pictures to get you all in the mental state of warm weather!!!!!!

El Dorado Royale Resort here we come!!!!!

Remembering Back to Jan. 6, 2006

I know this is cheesy, but I had to post it..Joe and I met three years ago today! Today, we thought back to what time we met at and what we were doing...so at this point in the evening (it's 9:30 as I type) we had been chatting away for a few hours and having lots of laughs!

Crazy that three years ago from today in the morning/afternoon - we had no idea who eachother even was! Crazy how life just works out the way it does....so thankfully the stars were aligned that day - January 6, 2006 - and now three years later we have been married for eight months!! I am very blessed and thankful that we happened to be in the same place at the same time! This picture above tells you where we were when we met, in case you didn't know! Yes, it is my favorite place downtown MPLS too. :) http://www.the-local.com/

New Year's Day!

So, even though we were up late on New Years Eve- 3:30 I believe, we got up and did "The Biggest Loser Cardio Workout" and got ready to head to Shawn and Kurt's. We didn't get to see them for the holidays, so it was a chance to catch up and celebrate New Year's together.

The boys were in rare form- making us laugh and full of energy. Levi had on his Wild jersey- which we were told he had already been wearing for over 24 hours. It only had a few spills on it, so I wonder how long he ended up wearing it for. Mitchell showed us his new computer games and was already so computer saavy! Little Ava slept most of the time, and then she just sat their peacefully when I held her. She is growing bigger and bigger, but she's still a tiny peanut! It was soooo good to see them, and we look forward to going to their skating/Bunco family party in February. We can finally see the boys show off their skating skills, they may be better than me..it has been years and years! :)

A Toast to Good Things to Come in 2009!!!

This is my favorite picture of New Years Eve! Kamie with her tall hat over her face and the blow horn hanging off the side of her mouth! This picture says it all- both she and I did not care much for going out for New Years Eve this year, but neither one of us said that to eachother until like the day before..after we already agreed to go to the local bar that's close to their house - The Rail Station. So, that made me laugh. We both would have been content staying at home in our jammies, but instead we said we would suck it up and go out while we still could...she made it past midnight even with a cold, and I made it until like 2 - but paid for it the next day because I don't sleep in very well!

It was fun to be with friends who make you laugh and who don't really care where you are, but who you are with. It was a laid back night, with low expectations and that's when the fun happens! As long as you are in good company, it doesn't matter where you are.

Although 2008 had some rough patches for people all over the world, there's a lot to look forward in 2009 just amongst the group of us that were together on NYE: Matt and Kamie are heading to Africa next week for a wonderful vacation, Joe and I are heading to Mexico in February with Angie and Todd to celebrate Todd's 40th B-day, and Joe and Nikki just bought a new house by lake Nikomis (picture below). Let the good times happen in 2009! I am hopeful that it will be a good year!

Here's to a wonderful new year for each of you and your families. I hope everyone is blessed with health, happiness and all of the things that matter the most in 2009!!!

College Roommates Christmas Gathering!

I talked about traditions in my last post, so speaking of traditions - each year we have a college roommate Christmas party. We have done this for about 6 or 7 years now. For the past three years, Gina and Bernie have hosted as they have the most central location and they seem to have great space to fit us all.

This year there were 13 kids and 14 adults. Depending on who can make it- typically the kids outnumber the adults. It is pretty fun and pretty crazy watching all of the kids playing and running around the house. Usually after two or three hours there are a few meltdowns or fighting over toys, and that is usually a sign that it's time to head out soon. Joe and I are the only one kid-free, so we joke that each year this party will be the event that makes us realize maybe we are not ready for kids...that is our ongoing joke of course! It's fun to see all the kids get bigger and bigger each year- and see their little personalities develop.

In this picture it's just of the girls, obviously. It's too hard to round everyone else up! Tania's little girl Kennedy is the little one in the lower left hand corner of the picture- she is the one that made me laugh the most at the party..a little spit fire with an attitude, and dressed adorably - perhaps a spitting image of her Dads personality and her moms fashion sense? :)

I look forward to this tradition each year as well!!!!

Hanging with the cuzs...

So Joe and I were gone until Saturday night of Christmas weekend, and Sunday we made plans to have lunch with my cousins Julie, Heather and Ryan who were in town for the holidays. We met at Fabulous Ferns in St. Paul for brunch. It was a good two hours of catching up, and laughing. Julie lives in Seattle and Heather and Ryan live in Los Angeles. It was great to see them, as we only get together maybe once a year!

Topics of discussion at our lunch: Heather and Ryan are having a baby this coming June- oh what fun! Heather also has a new job- her first job outside of the classroom, although she is helping to test/develop programs for kids. Julie told us about how the city of Seattle shut down for a few days when they got hit with a snowstorm. She was stranded inside for a few days- as cities like Seattle never get snow so they are not equipped to handle it - no snow plows, no sand or ice trucks! But the good thing, is she got to have a few days off of work!

What a fun day catching up with the cousins!!!! I hope this is a new holiday tradition!!

First Christmas Married!!

It was a Hammond Christmas this year. Joe and I rotate holidays- so this year it was a Sullivan Thanksgiving and a Hammond Christmas. We hit the road to lovely Neillsville, Wisconsin on CHristmas Eve after we both worked until about 2:00 p.m. We stayed there until Friday morning. Then, we drove to Dodgeville, Wisconsin (Home of Land's End) until Saturday..and returned back to MPLS on Saturday evening. Needless to say, it was a very fun four days of eating, drinking, playing games, and just hanging out. What was the highlight?? Well, I might admit- it could have been visiting a local and random bar called "The Store" for an hour or two on the day after Christmas..only in WI would you find a place like "The Store."

I am so blessed to have an amazing in-law family who has accepted me in with open arms as a daughter and sister-in-law...I am so blessed to have TWO outstanding families! What more could a girl ask for?!??! Hammonds, thanks for a wonderful Christmas - a first married Christmas!!! I look forward to learning more about WI Christmas traditions- "The Store", jello shots, Eucher, and so much more!