Tax time = ??

Finished our taxes today...I always do our own, I mean, I went to school for Accounting and my job doesn't utilize it so I should be able to do our own taxes right?? It gets a little tricky since Ryan itemizes due to all his work expenses and mileage, and I had my little stint with Tupperware last year so I had to work through all the income/expenses of that... but I made it! We are just waiting on one more slip from a lady Ryan rented an apartment from in Paynesville last year so that we can add in that, then we are done! Yippee!

We can't submit it until after the 14th...apparently the IRS isn't taken itemized taxes until the 14th due to the updates they are doing on their systems.

Now the big question...what to do with all that money?? Ha! Just kidding...we won't be rolling in the dough! But we will be able to get a few things I've been wanting (like maybe boots, bag, and jacket??)...or maybe a few things for the house huh?

Enough tax talk...

Ryan and Hannah went snowmobiling today, they went on quite a ride and were able to put on some miles. Hannah's even been taking control while they go on the lake...Ryan says she's getting pretty good! She must have had fun...she looked a little rough when they got back...

How's my hair?

Soon hopefully we'll have another one so we can all go out together. Brooklyn refuses to go with Ryan...she says he goes too fast... My top speed is about 13mph...so I think she's good with me! Her and I are gonna go out around the lake tomorrow before the game. Brooke's been terrified of the snowmobile up until now, but Ryan talked her into going around the lake with me to see if she likes it...we'll see!

Oh, and Ryan found a 120 (child size for those of you who do not know snowmobile language like me) at an auction next Saturday...he's hoping it'll go for a reasonable amount...these things are crazy popular, and go for crazy amounts of money...they don't depreciate! I suppose they don't get the miles put on them like the big ones, but I'm kind of hoping we can get a deal on it...if nothing else, enjoy a nice auction?

Brooke and I went to Tangled while they were riding today....super cute movie!! I love it! I've been wanting to see it forever but it's never worked out... Can't wait for it to come out on DVD!

Talk to you later...on to some movie and snuggle time with Ryan!

XOXO,

Erinn

dinner and a movie!

Finally Friday! Woo! About stinking time! I realized today at work that by the end of the day I had 50 hours of work in this week. Wowzer! Next week's 40 should be a cake walk right?

So tonight we are doing dinner and a movie night. For dinner I picked up Subway on the way home...Subway apparently had a busy night (or some kids who could not watch the bread oven properly) as they only had wheat and honey oat for bread choices. Fine for me, however, it forced Ryan to be a little more creative in his normal "white only" bread choices. I got my usual...turkey and ham w/cheddar, tomatoes, cucumbers, extra pickles, little bit of mayo...yummo!

Oh, by the way, Subway now has raspberry cheesecake cookies....delish. I had to try them. Subway told me I had to...literally...they had a sign!

Now for our movie....I'm all about a relaxing night after this week! Super excited to sleep in tomorrow also!

Update on my wishlist, Ryan did ask where is steak was...good sign??

Nite all!

XOXO,

Erinn

boots, bags, and jackets....



So while Ryan was catching up on some of his shows on TV tonight, I was parusing the internet for a few "personal interests".... I'm still deciding if they are really needs, or just really bad wants... Alright, alright...I know they are wants...I'm really just deciding if I want them that bad..

Item number one on my list:



Ugg Black/Metallic Cardy boots

These make my heart flutter! I've wanted these puppies for a long time, however now that I can't wear my flip-flops anymore...my feet will only settle with these...(think Ryan will buy that?)

Item number two:



My true love!

Item number three:

Warm and toasty!

I love the color, the look, the feel of this jacket! It'd be perfect for the in-between weather that I know is on it's way! I'm trying to decide how to sneak these through to Ryan...Maybe a nice steak dinner is in order!



XOXO,

Erinn

Erinn....Are you still there?

That's what I feel like lately! Ever since the new year we have been run, run, run! First getting ready for our vacation (busy, busy)...now since we are back from our vacation it seems as though we are trying to get back in our regular routine. Plus all the "catch up" stuff. At work my life is a mess right now! I have work piled to the ceilings, I've decided that going on vacation is a punishment to myself as far as work goes! Oh, and we have a new boss now who apparently decided we cannot work 4 10-hr days anymore...back to 5 days a week, down with office morale!

On a good note our vacation was wonderful!! We started off with some plane "malfunctions", while leaving MSP on our way to Chicago, Ryan and I decided it would be fun to listen to the pilot channel on the radio....We both pulled out our headphones and tuned in, as we are sitting tarmack for an unusual amount of time all of a sudden we hear over the radio our pilot call to the controllers that he's going to head back due to maintenance issues (this was the end of my listening the radio). Shortly after that the pilot came over the loud speaker to announce our plane had a hard start and they wanted to bring it back to have the mechanics take a look before we were in the air....great! So we sat there for way too long, Ryan and I impatiently watched our watches as we had our Honolulu plane in Chicago to catch....finally we were able to take off (after his announcement that the engine should be fine)...when we landed in Chicago we looked at the screen right away to find out where our gate was...all the way across the airport of course, and our plane was boarding! We ran the whole way (originally we were suppose to have all this time to get a sandwich, go potty, take our time!) But no...we were just like Home Alone! So we ended up having to buy an airplane sandwich....we split it a $9 piece of turkey between 2 pcs of wheat bread... but we made it at least, and we arrived in Honolulu and it was beautiful! 80 and beautiful!!
We had heard the weather the week before was unusually rainy, so we were a little bit skeptical...but we honestly had about 3 sprinkles the whole time, it was perfect!

Highlights:
Snorkeling (seeing a sea turtle!)
Luau (food and hula dancing, and boys in tiny towels)
Weather, Smells, Sandals!!
I'm tan (it may only be for another week, but hey, I'll take it!)
Chocolate Hurricane...worth the trip!
Lava Flow...yum!

About the tan thing...I'm actually brainstorming ways to keep my tan. It makes me feel so summery!! The beach was awesome! I've never swam in the ocean before...I was shocked how salty the water really is, and how you really just float, I mean I cannot swim at all...but I was all over that ocean (at least the waikiki beach part...)

I promise I will post some more pics...but here are a few at least!

Here fishy, fishy, fishy....

The sunset from our balcony.....wonderful!

Ryan and I at the USS Missouri Battleship

Can we go back now!? Please? It makes me so excited for our next vacation! I want to start planning it now! I better get caught up from this one first though...

Lazy Sunday

Today has been a pretty relaxing Sunday. I've been fighting headaches lately again...no good! I'm on a daily medication for my headaches, but ran out of it for a couple weeks before I could get in for a dr's appt (and never knew I could call it in to the pharmacy and they'd fax it to the dr for a refill). So now I have my meds again, but fighting some headaches.

Needless to say today has been a bit of a slow day. Trying to get in plenty of water and advil. Right now we're watching the end of the packers vs eagles game...go eagles! We don't want no pack in the super bowl! (they're losing by 5 points with 1 min to go at the 30 yd line)

The girls have been outside much of the day building snow forts, that's their new thing this weekend...silly girls.

This week is going to be a crazy busy week. Guess I should start by finding something for dinner...might be a fend for yourself kind of night...the girls like those, they usually pick pancakes or peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.

Oh, and the eagles lost...boo that means the falcons better take them out!

Have a good week! I get to go visit Tina and have my hair done...that equals a good week in my book!

XOXO,

Erinn

The week before, the week before vacation!

Follow me?

So this week at work was crazy...just preparing and getting as caught up and ahead at work as possible (which in the human services field lately is impossible!!) trying to get as organized as possible so one of my lovely co-workers can step in and do a few necessary things for me. I'll be gone for 2 weeks! It will be great fun, and I'm gonna soak it all up, because when I get back it's going to be pure torture catching up again!

It's been wonderful having Ryan home...suppers started when I get home, the house is picked up and girls are home and homeworks done! It's so nice to just be able to come home after work! And to have my hubby here every night!

My cars in the shop...per my previous post of the mystery car basher! My cars gettin a new rear end...she be pretty! Hopefully we'll have it back early next week!

This weekend I'm hoping to just relax and get some packing for us and the girls done, along with some mid-winter dusting/cleaning. I'm craving cleanliness and organization....I need to hire an organizer!!

On to the weekend!

XOXO,

Erinn

I'm still here!

Apparently the hustle and bustle of Christmas has kept me away from the computer! I hope the Christmas season was as good to you as it was to us! The girls got their bedding...Brooke went with a bright Hawaiian style theme, Hannah went with a cute Black with different color polka dots. Our next weekends will be filled with painting their rooms, our bedroom and repainting the dining and living room. Hannah also got a snowmobile helmet from Santa...she's been just aching for one so she can go out with Ryan! She loves to snowmobile and has used Ryan's old helmet for just "around the house" rides, but Ryan wanted one that fit her just right before going out on the trails with him...Brooke's not really into the whole snowmobiling thing yet (she really hates anything that makes noise), she better get used to it though as Ryan's snowmobile will be paid off in a few months and then he plans on buying a new one so we both can go out...I even passed my snowmobile test! Ryan says that I need to learn how to go faster than 11 mph (my current highest speed), however when taking my test they teach you that you must ride at the speed of your least experienced (that's me), so guess who else will be going 11 mph? Maybe I'll make my goal 15??

Oh, Ryan and I treated ourselves to one of these:

I was excited...let me tell you (sarcasm)! We decided we needed one after the one we got from Grandma and Grandpa just wouldn't work for us on our steep driveway, and we killed our backs shoveling! It was a great purchase...now if we'd only get some snow to try it out!

Now we are just trying to get ready for our Hawaii trip. Of course I didn't lose the weight I wanted to! BOO! Oh well, it'll still be extremely fun! We've been ordering our last minute summer clothes and shopping for the few things we need. The girls will be staying with my mom...which is great, they'll have a blast! I've got a ton of stuff to do at work before I'm gone for 2 weeks, the world seems to fall apart for my clients when I'm gone two days...let alone 2 weeks, so we'll see how it goes!

Ryan is off for good for a little while, they threaten going back in February...but I'm hoping it's more like April, I love having him here (and being able to have him start supper before I get home!). It's so much more relaxing during the evenings when I'm not rushed to do supper, homework, baths, bedtime, and getting stuff ready for the next day...it's nice to have my partner in crime back!

Oh, our car was backed into, or driven into...not really sure which. The really awesome person decided NOT to leave a note. It was quite a doozy of a hit too! Ryan said it pushed the car about 3 or 4 feet over. Ryan of course was not in or anywhere near the vehicle while it happened...so thankful for that, but now we've got to foot the $500 deductable for $1800 worth of damage!

Ain't it pretty...? So that's what we'll be doing before we leave for vacation! At least Ryan was able to drop it off tonight, and it should be ready by the end of the week...good thing, cuz I'm sick of driving Ryan's work car...you get spoiled driving 4WD vehicles, going to a 2WD car feels funny.

Did I mention we leave for vacation in 2 weeks!? Two weeks!! I gotta go...I've got stuff to do!

Lata!

XOXO,

Erinn