labor day weekend. literally.

although, I was scheduled to work the entire Holiday weekend AND Holiday - fracking BOO - we still managed to have a fantastic time. 
Knowing that I was making a bit of money while working - not to mention the 'break' work sometimes provides me from the day in and day out of the kiddos...it was really a good weekend! And it's only Sunday morning...SO much more weekend/holiday to go:)

so here's a bit of our weekend, thus far...I figure my schedule won't really permit too much more excitement, besides the late family walk and possible bon-fire. SO leaving the phone at home till Tuesday;)

thursday night my sister, Pigg and our friend, Karey, headed to our 3rd Old Dominion show of the summer - at the Minnesota State Fair! We are officially OD Junkies! I can't get enough! They just seem like such amazing guys and SO talented, writing so many great hits and they're sound is soooo catchy. I think they are going to find so much, much deserved, success.

if you haven't already looked them up...DO - HERE.

saturday, after I put in a few early morning hours at work, we packed up and headed to the lake:) Good sandwiches and drinks and weather...it was the perfect day to let the kids run wild - and naked;) We I was so wiped out when we got home at 530PM that I could hardly keep my eyes open!

theo was lookin' so damn cute, so I got an over abundance of photos of her. Unfortunately, Homer's farrrrr too busy to be bothered with photos lately. Which is a bummer:/ But we managed to catch him running by in a couple of the shots;)

with everything that's been going on lately...it was great to feel more like myself for the afternoon. I hate falling into a 48-ish-hour funk:/ They can sometimes be hard for me to pull myself out of. BUT an afternoon at the beach remedied my mood:)

looking ahead...there are still some hurdles before I'll feel like things in our current situation - more details in a future blog post:) - are settled but Tuesday is our 4 year wedding anniversary...which is kinda blowing my mind and I've already got my mom lined up to watch the kids so we can go out to eat and walk around a furniture store, with no intention of buying anything, and take the back roads home. Dear lord...I.Can't.Wait:)

hope you're enjoying your long weekend, Friends:)

the 48hour smile:)

it's rare that my husband and I have weekends off TOGETHER. So sad:( But this past weekend...the stars aligned and we were able to spend 48 glorious hours together...as a family. Jacob, myself, Homer, Theo and this extra 30lbs that we're blaming on the baby;)

the person I feel most comfortable and happy with in this world...is Jacob:) So it was funny that when we left early Saturday morning for Copperfalls, with the kids loudly seated behind us...we both agreed that something felt weird. Like an awkward, first date feeling!!! We realized that we sure...sometimes get Date Days/Nights every few months - definitely due for one of those;) - but we have not had alone time with JUST our little family! It felt odd to us not to have our siblings there...our nieces and nephews...my parents! We spend SO much time with them - which is damn lucky:) - but we just don't do a lot separate from them! I'm kinda laughing about that right now...cause both options are great and I'm not sure what my point is but it was such a fantastic day, all smiles...and all of a sudden, we felt like grown-ups - cause apparently, 2 kiddos and one on the way and 2 mortgages, hasn't done that yet;)

copperfalls was so beautiful! I've heard that it's even better in the Spring when the water is running a bit higher and even in the winter when things are all white and frozen! We definitely scouted camping options and really hope to make an overnight trip back there at some point next year!:)

the drive was about 2-1/2 hours each way and I thinkkkkk that was the only 'stressful' part of the day. IF you can call it that. Typical, being cooped up in a vehicle shit with the kids but we were in good spirits, so it had no negative affect on the day and you can see us taking it in stride HERE - Homer telling us what's what;). 

but we had a picnic lunch. walked a great trail around the falls...Jacob wore Theo with the Ergo and Homer walked and besides just a few times that I had to carry Homer for just a few minutes...they both did SO amazing:) It was a scorcher that day...upper 80's...so we treated ourselves to the beach after our hike and the water was a great finish to the day:)

all the photos you can handle below:)

we're starting to make this get-together at my aunt and uncle's cabin a yearly tradition. A much loved tradition!!!:)

it really is just the chillest day. We all bring a bit to eat and drink and then hang-out on kayaks and on the beach and do fishing and tan and just ENJOY:) I joked that next summer is MY summer at the cabin...meaning...Jacob can leave all his fishing junk supplies at home, chase kiddos and only bring me the boob baby when necessary and I'll be planted in a chair on the beach with a cool - alcoholic - drink in my hand:)

i felt incredibly lucky that Jacob was even able to come with us...2 days in a damn row of family time!!!!!!??? That's good stuff:)

again. Photos oh jeeeezzz;)

and I'll leave you with a quick video of our weekend:)

xoxo. The Smith's:)