Best Friends.

 One of the saddest parts about leaving Minnesota, is leaving our best friends the Salisbury's.

I feel like our kids have grown up together.

Brooke and David truly are best little buddies.

 We had one last dinner with our good friends before we headed out.

 I will miss my running partner!

But we will see each other again, cause they come to Idaho every summer. I'm making them come to see us. Non negotiable!

Closing a Chapter.

 One day. We have one day left in Minnesota.

I am getting pretty emotional. 

This has been home for nearly five years. My children have gone from babies to children here.

We started school here. I can't even begin to express the way I am feeling about leaving this place.

I am so sad to leave my home:

 It's been a great house. It feels like home.

But yet it's time to move on. I know there is so much ahead of us in Idaho. It's going to be another great chapter of our lives.

So until then, farewell Chaska. I'm sure there will be a visit back in our future.

Farewell.

 Saturday, sweet Shannon threw yet another farewell party. This was for the Ellis clan this time.

It was so much fun to get together with people from the ward (both EP and Waconia). 

I am really blessed with such great friends. And of course I made sure i got some pictures!

These are my girls from the Waconia ward. The ward I was part of for most of our time here.

They are my camping, adventurous buddies!

The other Katie. I keep saying I'm not getting too sad to say goodbye to her, cause it really is more of a see you later. She is from Idaho Falls, so we will get to see them again!

 Sweet Darla. My talented friend.

 Becky!

 And really what would I have done without Adriene?!

Minnesota is full of such wonderful people. So if you follow my blog, and may be contemplating moving to this state, despite the sometimes questionable weather, it really is a great place to live.

I learned a tid bit of info the other day.

Minnesota is the hardest state to recruit to, but also the hardest state to recruit out of. Once your here, it really is hard to leave.

Good Bye Becca.

 Thursday, we had a dinner for Becca. Turns out there is more than just us little Ellis family leaving MN. Becca is traveling to a much more exciting location, CHINA! Oh I am so going to miss her. We had a fabulous dinner, by Shannon! She had quite the helpers, great servers, Evan and Kristen. This is what makes leaving the hardest. Leaving behind dear friends.

Me and Melissa.

 The two movers:

 Great friends:

 Love Tiffany!

I"m patiently waiting for Becca to send me the group photo, and the pictures of the delicious food we ate. Seriously  Shannon could open a restaurant!

Good food. Good times.

ARIZONA.

This is where I spent my weekend:

 Don't you just love palm trees?! I do! It means warmth:)

 The resort was absolutely breath taking.

 Even at night!

And clearly I was having way too good of a time, cause this are all the pictures I got! Ha.

The first day I spent with my good friend Melissa. We had fun eating and shopping!

What every girl loves right?!

Then I got some awesome alone time at this beautiful hotel, as Ryan's flight was delayed and he didn't get in until 3 am. Poor guy!

We spent a lot of time eating at amazing restaurants, lounging in the SUN, running in the SUN, and just enjoying one anothers company.

I was also able to have lunch with my amazingly talented friend LaDawn. She moved back to Arizona from Minnesota this past spring, and I have missed my friend. She was my movie buddy! We had a great time catching up and eating! Do you see a pattern here??

Saturday, after a great workout outside, Ryan went with his work on an excursion, and I enjoyed some R&R at the Spa. Can I say HEAVENLY!!!

This was a much needed getaway, even though the timing wasn't ideal. Now I am back to the grind, and getting us ready for our move across the country! Holy crap, can it really be less than two weeks away?! It is, and so now I must get off my behind and get some things done!

Peace.

My Valentines.

These were my special valentines this year:

Without my honey around, me and the kids celebrated together. Nothing better than a heart shaped pizza for dinner!

Brooke helped me make the valentines dessert. They were delicious!

And seriously, my kids were on a sugar high, cause these were the best pictures I could get:

Kids, gotta love 'em!

Siblings.

This past weekend I headed back out to Idaho to do some more house hunting.

I think we found our new home! Whew. This moving business is really stressful. I can't wait for it to be all over.

On my way out I had a 4 hour layover in Salt Lake, so I was able to go out to dinner with Hanna and Joey! I got to meet Allison, and Joey, I approve!

 It was so much fun chatting and laughing. I just love my family, they are the best!

The end of a season.

Last weekend Brandon was asked to be on the travel team, so we headed down to Lakeville early Saturday, and cheered on our little wrestling man!

Caden and Kylee had parties, so were spared the all day long tourney. But Brooke came along and was quite the trooper!

So we learned, traveling team, way more intense than the other tournaments he had been in. And boy those kids can wrestle! What do these parents do, teach them at the age of two?! Brandon had a couple of rough matches.

One resulting in this:

Poor guy had his arm stuck, and the kid kept trying to run a half, thus seriously almost breaking my poor kids arm! Between me and the coaches yelling you think the ref would have stopped earlier. Ugh. The coaches went out there and talked with him, and he kept at it! So proud of my little guy!

After three hard losses, I had to boost his spirits somehow, so after he had eaten an airhead, and his mouth was completely BLUE, I told him this was how he was going to win! Distract the kid with a blue mouth!

Brandon's coach is such a good guy, and so good with those little kids. Brandon loves him!

Brandon ended up winning his last match with a pin! All cause of this blue mouth! Ha.

A last team huddle. These boys worked hard. And boy the traveling team is a high stress situation. And an incredibly long day. But all of Brandon's hard work paid off. What a great season he had!

I'm IN!

I am officially registered to run Chicago this October!

Woot, woot!

Nothing is going to stop me this year from running my race!

I am excited about this on a few different levels.

One I can't wait to race the streets of Chicago. I place I lived, and created so many memories.

Most of my marathon group is running this, and that makes it all the sweeter. Getting to run and finish and congratulate each other on an amazing accomplishment is HUGE!

What makes this even better, is since I am moving, and won't get to train with my wonderful friends, it will be a reunion run! Words can't begin to express how much I'm going to miss this amazing group of people...

And to make this day even better, I just booked a mini vacation to spend a few days away with my sweetheart here:

Arizona here I come!

Ryan has a conference and I get to tag along!

2012 is going to be great!

Grandma.

I cant even tell you how happy I was to have my mom come and hang out with us for a week.

So much fun!

Caden was not wanting a hug. He was so happy to have Grandma come visit.

 I just love my Mom. She is an amazing woman. So blessed to have her in my life.

Kylee was her little shadow. And even snuck in to sleep with her most nights.

 The Brandon man and Grandma Lila.

Thanks Mom for coming and making my life easier!