You may say that I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one.

After a serious hiatus, I’m baaaack! Why not? Blogs are fun.

Let’s do a year (and then some) in review:
July 2009 – Started my new job. Still there. Still LOVE it.

September 2009 – Competed in my first duathlon (run, bike, run). It was much easier than I thought it would be. Next up, triathlon?

I also went hiking in Colorado with my mom and aunts again. Here’s a picture of my mom and I from Twin Sisters. That was a tough hike. By the way, that’s Longs Peak in the background.

October 2009 – Ran the longest race I’ve ever run—Monster Dash 10 mile race. And then started physical therapy on my knee in November. Haha…

March 2010 – My mom was diagnosed with thyroid cancer and went through surgery and treatment. I am proud to say that she is now cancer-free but that was a very hard time. Love you, Mom.

May 2010 – I accomplished one of my main goals—I ran my first half marathon! Someone took this picture of me during the race. I look like I’m crying and I really wouldn’t be surprised. By the way, I say ‘first’ because I actually want to do another one.

Also, one of my best friends got married—it was a beautiful wedding and was so much fun. I love weddings! I have to share at least one picture. Beautiful, right?

August 2010 – Ran the Ragnar Relay with a great group of people—this involved 190 miles, 24 hours, 12 team members, sleeping in a van, and running down a highway in Wisconsin in the middle of the night. It was SO much fun! I highly recommend this race to all of you adventure seekers!

Football season started!! Let’s recap the Vikings season: Favre’s last year, lots of injuries, sexting scandal, Moss comes back…and then leaves again, Childress is fired, dome roof collapses, etc. Basically, next year can only be better!

September 2010 – My parents came up to the Cities for a weekend of fun. We went to the state fair (obviously), a Twins games, and to Senser’s to watch the first Huskers game of the season. Go Big Red!

I also went hiking in Colorado again and finally climbed Longs Peak!!! It was honestly one of the most amazing experiences of my entire life. I could easily write an entire post on that adventure. Here’s the proof:

October 2010 – Found out that I’m going to be an aunt again!! I’ve been waiting to hear that! The little girl (or boy) should be arriving in late April.

I’m sure there’s a lot more that I missed but those are some of the my favorites. I’ll post more often so I don’t have to think back so far!

Going back through the past year really makes me realize how truly blessed I am. I am so grateful to have so many great people in my life and to have had so many great experiences.

Here’s to a healthy, happy, and prosperous new year!

Twins (...as in the baseball team)

Here are a few photos from the Twins/Yankees game a couple weeks ago that Jon and I went to with my parents. The Twins lost but it was still a fun game!

My dad with his 'hunting orange' Twins hat.

A picture with the team. :) Jon was too embarrassed to be in the photo, but can you find the rest of us?
This was my dad's view of the game between innings.

Twins vs. Yankees during the last season of the Twins in the dome.

A kid in front of us was celebrating his 6th birthday at the game and my dad stole his sign when they went to the bathroom. In this picture, he looks like a kid that got caught with his hand in the cookie jar. :)

My mom and me.

The rally cap.

My parents after the game.

EXCITING NEWS!

Seriously, where have my weeks gone? Between soccer, weddings, showers, vacations and a new job (more to follow) I've had minimal free time. Don't get me wrong, it's all very exciting but I just get so busy that I forget what it's like to have free time!

I have some GREAT NEWS! I've accepted a position at another law firm in Minneapolis and will start my new job on Wednesday, the 29th! The firm has been ranked one of Minnesota's "Best Places to Work" for SEVEN years in a row! I've already worked with several members of the marketing team (through an association that I belong to) and I am so excited to be joining their team. It's nice to go into a company already knowing what kind of people and environment they have. There will also be great career opportunities for me and I'll be able to learn from some amazing people.

Other than that, I went to the Beyonce concert last week, my parents came up for a Twins/Yankees game (I'll post pictures later), I've been doing a lot of biking to train for my race and I've also been trying to spend spare time with friends. Whew...that was a mouth full.

I still don't have internet at my apartment so I'll post some recent pictures when I have some spare time to go to a coffee shop...don't hold your breath. :)

I hope everyone is enjoying the summer and making the most of this beautiful weather!

Grandma Luv

As I sit here typing today, I still can’t believe it’s true. Grandma Luv has left us after 90 wonderful years of life. It just seems so surreal because she was such a large part of my life growing up and it just seemed like she would always be there.

We made our way down to Nebraska Friday morning for the visitation and it was so hot! I’m just glad the church had air conditioning! I’m always nervous to see how people look at their visitation/funeral because often times they don’t look like they did in life. However, my grandma looked absolutely beautiful and so peaceful. It was also so great to hear stories of her from my relatives and others that came to visit. My grandma was the school nurse in a town of 1,200 for 20 years (also the town where my dad and his 7 siblings grew up) so you can imagine all of the people that got to know her. She touched so many lives and I’m sure she will be remembered by all.

There was a four-piece brass quartet for the burial ceremony and I must say they made the whole day complete. After the priest said a prayer and the burial ceremony was done, the quartet started into the most fantastic, grandiose version of “When the Saints Go Marching In” that I have ever heard – kind of like it was straight out of New Orleans. At first people didn’t know what to think and then after a few seconds, everyone was clapping along to the song – just the way Grandma Luv would have wanted it.

The couple days in Wisner were spent doing things that reminded us of Grandma Luv (when we weren’t at the church). We went down to the Wisner Lanes for some bowling (much like we did every Christmas), played cards (like every gathering at her house), went to the VFW and enjoyed a fuzzy navel (her favorite drink) and drove by the old house to see what the new owners have done with it. I was happy to see that they still have her bench on the front porch and the birdhouses in the yard. :)

I have so many great memories of Grandma Luv and she will always hold a special place in my heart. She was such an amazing woman and her feisty spirit will most definitely be missed.

Rest in peace, Grandma Luv.
Will love you and miss you always.

It's a Beager

My friends, Jess and Eric, got married last weekend at an amazing log cabin resort along the shores of Lake Superior (about 15 miles northeast of Two Harbors – see map). I met Jess through a teammate and we became friends and ended up being roommates our senior year and "super senior" semester of college. Eric happened to move into our apartment building our last semester and it was just meant to be. I still remember the day he moved in like it was yesterday. We were peaking through our window shades at the "new guy" and she kept talking about how cute he was. :) I am so happy for you two...congratulations!!

Back to the weekend...we went up after work on Thursday so we could extend our vacation and spend some extra time with friends. We had a bonfire on the shore of Lake Superior and then had some drinks and played cards at our cabin with the whole group (entire wedding party and then some).

On Friday, a few of us went hiking at Gooseberry Falls and made our way down to Lake Superior. It was so relaxing and refreshing! Then we went back to our cabin in the afternoon to grill some hamburgers and play cards. We finished off the day with the rehearsal and dinner.

Saturday was the big day! All of the girls got ready and had brunch over at the bride’s cabin. It was cloudy and rainy most of the morning, but it all turned to sunshine right before the wedding! It ended up being a perfect day.

June is going by so, so fast! I just got back from the North Shore and I’m already packing for my trip to Colorado – I leave Saturday! I am so excited to go hiking and spend some time my mom and aunts.

Here are some pictures from the wedding last weekend.

Map of where we were at (15 miles northeast of Two Harbors on the shore). Our bonfire on the beach - it is so beautiful up there!

By the lake.

This is a picture of the patio at our cabin (with the grill) and the wedding/reception site in the background (with the arch). We couldn't have asked for a better location!

Sally, Jon, Me and Tresa on our hike.

Kind of cheesy...but I like the picture. That's me by Lake Superior.

This is the beautiful view of the lake from the log cabins at the resort.

The handsome groom anxiously awaiting his beautiful bride.

Me with the beautiful bride.

Me with the bride and bridesmaids (minus one) minutes before the ceremony.

Me with the goat boy.

The Mankato girls...having a good time. :)

Number 5....Is Alive!

Wow…it has been a while since I posted last. Since then my summer soccer league started (playing twice a week), I went up north for a friend’s bachelorette party (making yet another appearance at Zorbaz), went for some bike rides, enjoyed a good amount of bonfires and spent some time at the lakes on the weekends. I promise to start posting on a regular basis again. Summers just get so busy and hectic!

My good friend, Jenna, is coming back to Minnesota for a long weekend (from Colorado) and I’m really excited to see her! She just got engaged so I can’t wait to see her ring and celebrate. I’ll be gone for the weekend, so she’s meeting me for lunch downtown Minneapolis tomorrow – if she can navigate her way there. :)

Then after work, I’m heading up to Two Harbors, MN. A good friend, Jess, is getting married and I’m her personal attendant. I’m really excited to be a part of their big day - it should be an absolutely beautiful wedding. They picked a great resort on the shores of Lake Superior and we’re staying in log homes on the beach!! I’ll post some pictures next week.

That’s it for now. One more day of work for me…then it’s time to play. :)

Have a great weekend!

P.S. The title of this post popped into my head when I was thinking about how long it's been since my last post. Just wanted people to know that I'm still alive! Number 5...Is Alive!! Can you name the movie??

Wedding Pics

I thought I would post a few pictures from the wedding (for those of you that don't have a Facebook account).

The rehearsal

My siblingsMiss Kaitlyn gettin' her hair done. She was being so well behaved!Jon, Me, Aaron and CassieKaitlyn flirting with Jon!

Before the ceremony.Ang, Kaitlyn and Jesse - what a cute family!

She looked so darn cute in her dress!

In the limo after the wedding. This is by far my favorite picture of Jesse and Ang. He has such a good smile and they look so happy!

We stapled a dollar bill to the ceiling at the bar. Ang wrote their names and wedding date on it (she wrote April 25, 2007). Haha...don't worry, I fixed it.

Aaron and me.

Some of the McGuires at the wedding

The first danceThe wedding was so much fun but I am sad that it went by so fast!

Congratulations Ang and Jesse! Love you!
April 25, 2009