Finally- Some Updates! Instagram Style!

I feel like I just can't quite get caught up.  I'm getting closer...but not quite there.  When I'm bogged down with tons going on, my blog is what takes a back seat.  Not how I want it to happen, but that's how it has to be right now.  I'm sitting at home with a steaming cup of coffee after receiving a call from my school district.  No School- we had freezing rain and fog overnight, and I appreciate his cautious approach.  Days off are always better when they are unexpected!  I'm hoping for a productive day, and have lots if mind that I'd like to get to.

I finally had some time to sit down and upload some pictures.  It's been a while.  I also had a little phone catastrophe, and have had to borrow one, get mine replaced, and then comes the issue with getting all of the pictures back in one spot.  I think I finally got it!

Here is the past month with Instragram:  (follow me at jilltomala)

Our small little town holds an amazing St. Nick celebration.  Complete with Mr. and Mrs. Clause, real reindeer, a horse-drawn carriage ride, a bonfire complete with s'mores, and more!

We had lots of fun getting creative with Clyde during the Christmas season!  I love how our kids have totally bought into him!

With a new addition soon joining our family, I bit the bullet, broke down, and finally caved for a mini-van!  It was a tough choice for me....I loved my Lincoln, but this was the practical choice right now for our {growing} family.  Sadly?- Both Chad and I LOVE the new van- the convenience is unbeatable!

We continued our annual tradition of Reindeer Food.

Chad snapped a quick picture of my growing, 3 month baby bump.  Right after Christmas Eve mass, on our way to my Grandparents to continue on with the 4 celebrations we attended this season.

My kids love Santa Clause!  I love that they love him and crawl right up on his lap.  Probably helps that they saw him 3 times this Christmas, and 2 of those times were in the comfort of family's homes.

He decided on Christmas Eve that he REALLY wanted a DreamLight.  It was the first time we heard mention of this all year!

Santa Clause always ends his visit by making the kids ring his Jingle Bells and sing a Christmas carol.  So cute!

Our final Christmas celebration was at my cousin's house who lives just down the road.  Chad decided to pull the kids behind the snowmobile, and get them a little fresh air!

We spent 5 days at the cabin during our Christmas/New Year's break.  Most of that time was spent either in the fish house, or in the cabin preparing yummy meals with friends.

Adi loves to fish as much as big brother.  Little lady has no fear, either!

We bundled the kids up at the cabin and Daddy pulled them around on the lake.

They both enjoyed this until the sled tipped over, and she had a face-full of snow!

Her favorite thing to do while fishing is play in the minnow bucket.  This particular one she named 'Shiny'.

We let the kiddos stay up to watch the ball drop for New Years.  She didn't quite make it, but he did.  We toasted with some sparkling cider, and then went straight to bed!

This little one has been getting lots of use out of her dress-up clothes, and we've had lots of princess sightings in our house lately.

Along with Spiderman sightings.

We loaded the kids up, cozied them up, popped in a movie and headed down to hang out with our friends on Saturday night.  It was filled with great company, lots of laughs, some skating, hot dog roasting, football watching, and wii playing.  Lovely night for all of us!

And Adi and I got up the next morning to head to the bridal shop.  This preggo Mama is in a wedding in April, and we needed to get fitted.  Another wedding with the whole family involved?- I think so!!!

And that's a little look into what we have been up to!  Hope this finds you all well.  Enjoy your weekend!

Merry Christmas!

Our Christmas was absolutely wonderful.  Now, I am dealing with some yucky crud that has hit our house.  Chad and the kids are at the lake fishing, and I am trying to rest and recoup.  Hopefully I will be up and running with them again real soon!  Hope your Holiday was just as Merry!  Blessings to all, and have a Happy New Year!

Help, please!

I have a lot to say, and I have a lot to share.....but right now I need to figure out how to upload more photos.  I've maxed out my photo capacity.  Now what?  What have others done to fix this??

Pumpkin Patch...round 3.

One of our favorite family activities to do in the fall is head to the Pumpkin Patch.  We've done this for 3 years now, and our kids love it more and more each year.  We always meet up with our cabin friends there, which of course, make it that much more fun!  We make a day and an evening, and an over-night out of it.  Then get up the next morning and watch the Vikings play.  This year was just as great as always- (other than leaving my keys on the straw bales by the corn pit).  We were a little nervous for a second.  Luckily, some kind gentleman found them and turned them in at the front desk.  Oh, my- That could have turned out much worse!!!

I'm going to overload you pictures once again, cuz that's just what I do.  These shots were just too hard to pick through, I did my best:)

For the past 3 years we've gone to the Pumpkin Patch at 101 Market.  Each year we go there are new fun activities.  We haven't been disappointed yet, so we will continue to go back!

The corn pit is always a crowd favorite!

Our little gymnast ripped off her sweater and was doing summersaults into the corn.  I think the rules said that was not allowed.  We broke the rules a bit.

They put this little guy on the biggest go-kart they had.  Good thing the seat adjusts!

Eli and his friend, Reagan.  So cute!

"Mom, take my picture!"

Adi got to go for a 2nd ride with her friend, Jared.  All go-kart riders in this picture are the friends we met there.  We took over the track for a bit!

This time around he got a go-kart more his size!

This big bounce pillow was a new addition this year.  And, by far the favorite activity.  The rules said 5 minutes max.  We broke the rules again.  The were having way too much fun!!!

It was so cute how our little group always hung together.  They would move all over the pillow, but always stuck together.

Then we tried out the potato launcher:

Adi clung pretty tight to Rick.  She knew she was staying overnight at his house while all the Mommy's and Daddy's went out for a bit that night.  And, she missed him and Kathy- we hadn't seen them for a couple of weeks since the cabins had closed.

I wanted to get a quick family shot, but Eli had run off with the bigger boys to check out the petting zoo quick.  So, I got one of me and my girl!

After the pumpkin patch we all head out for dinner.  We make reservations for about 25 people, and fill up each spot.  We enjoyed our dinner, then put all of our kids in jammies at Rick and Kathy's, and the Mommy's and Daddy's got to enjoy a fun night out with each other!  We love this crowd....always so much fun!