A lovely country wedding...

Last weekend was the much anticipated wedding of Ashley & Elijah!  It was a lovely day and a lovely weekend for a farm wedding.  What the Ohren family is able to accomplish in a short amount of time always amazes me... that coupled with the ingenuity of a Hokanson = priceless.  They planned the most lovely farm wedding in just a few short months.  Everything was perfect, beautiful, breathtaking and just so dang cute.  Here are some of my favorite pics!

Waiting for his bride.

The elk tent can be a classy warming shelter... I promise.

Two sweet girls VERY excited for the big day 

Since I was having major video camera break down during the real thing I only managed to get this shot during rehearsal.  Jill and Swan rocked it on "I will be here" by Steven Curtis Chapman.  Shawn's beautiful guitar playing brought tears to Elijah's eyes (no sarcasm there).

 I thought the elk tent was the most lovely touch to this country wedding.  It was extra cute while serving an excellent purpose (warmth!)... and maybe the only time you could call the elk tent "cute"!

Shots into the sun don't always turn out but I LOVE this picture of Justin & his daughter Keira.  SWEET with a capital S!

In Robby's words "Gary, the nicest man you will ever meet"... giving his one and only daughter away.

Just Married!

Robby & I on the people mover

The Balgaard family... it's hard to get them all looking (ahem... SAM!) 

My little man.  He's probably the most ambitious little man I know.

These are probably the most efficient ushers I know... they made sure everyone had the perfect spot for the ceremony.  And they are pretty charming brothers too...

 Robby thought that since he didn't get a cupcake at our wedding he deserved FIVE at Ashley's.  This is no joke my friends.

The Happy Couple! 

My beautiful sisters. 

Jill... making everyone laugh about how basketball & coon hunting will be an interesting mix...

Sisters!

Everyone is showing off their best move here... Lily took it to the ground.

CUTE!

Lily is the best twirler in town.  She's got some brilliant dance moves as well.

And last but not least... I bet you can't guess what dance this is!! :)

Congratulations to Ashley & Elijah!  Wishing you many many many years of happiness! Cheers!

He's HOME!

Back on U.S. soil and it's a beautiful thing!

A relative of Becky's made a sign and apple pie - because what's more American than apple pie?

The first sign of Robby being home...

A trip up to Emily's to celebrate with bloody mary's on the deck.

... and of course Nutty Ice Cream Bars at the Candy Kitchen! 

The beautiful pottery Robby got at the bazaar in Afghanistan.  I still can't believe he carried it in a backpack traveling home and it didn't break!  I love it!

CLIFF Bar loves the U.S. military! 

We spent a Saturday hiking with Beckett up the shore on the Superior Hiking Trail.  The fall colors were premium (as Bob Olson would say).

Beckett pulled out all of his tricks for a piece of beef jerky

Happy ME Day!

I had the BEST day yesterday.  I had the day off due to putting in extra hours last week... and I had a complete me day.  I woke up and went to caribou for coffee, oatmeal and skyped with Robby for a couple hours.  Then I went up to Spa Sensations and got a dimatome facial (thanks to the base for the gift card!).  It was wonderful and my skin feels amazing.  Then I had just enough time to go to 3rd Street Bakery for the best cookie ever... the Thunder Cookie.  Yep, that was my lunch.  After that, I finally cashed in my anniversary gift of an hour massage with Judy.  Everyone needs an hour with Judy.  It was the best massage of my life.  Hands down.  They had the most incredible tea made by Aveda and of course truffles after the massage.  Ahhhhhhh.  I never want flowers again... only massage gift certificates please (hint hint, Robby). The rest of the day I spend organizing the house and getting things ready for ROBBY!

25 HOURS and 36 MINUTES until I pick him up from the airport!  YEAHHHHHH!!!

I can't wait until life is (somewhat) normal again.

A lovely Sunday indeed

Could today have been more lovely?!  No.  It was perfect.  I woke up and had coffee and breakfast on the deck while enjoying a beautiful sunrise over the lake.  I made friends with a hummingbird that decided to hang out with me for a good portion of the morning as well as two deer.  I did my secret craft out on the deck and then spent some time in the word.  I'm reading through Ecclesiastes, and although, a very pessimistic first chapter - i'm inspired by the words of Solomon to live a life completely for God.... something I struggle with every day.  After my lovely time on the deck, I went to church and spent some time in worship - praising God for a lot but especially for keeping my husband safe and sane while overseas.  God is good - one week from today he will be home!  After church, I did my weekend ritual of biking up to knife river and enjoying some sugar love from the  Great Lake Candy Kitchen.  (I got more than just ice cream this time).  Oops.  I brought some sugar love back to the Johnson family and Elsa was overjoyed to get mini gummy bears.  Oh, for a lovely Sunday.

Pretty pretty pretty view

I was so surprised to see these two hanging out below my deck.  I initially thought they had ginormous antlers - but then I looked at the pics and realized they are maybe a 1st and 2nd year?  I'll let you figure that out - cool nonetheless.

And the biggest Vikings fan of the year goes to: Elsa (for staying awake for the game of course).

My highway 61 bike route view up the shore.  Does it get any better?  Not if you love freezing cold (pretty) water as much as me.

Home sweet home

Mom & I have had the best busy weekend together!  Dad is in CO elk hunting and the siblings weren't around most of the time so it was pretty much just us spending some fun time together!  We motored up to Ottertail to go antiquing, thrifting and garage sale-ing.  It was so much fun and we both found some treasures (don't worry no big, heavy items that Robby will have to move one day).  We went up to Ottertail Lake and met the Johnsons at Zorbaz and we also had a girls night out at Stella's in Battle Lake.  What a fun little weekend!  I also got majorly addicted to the cutest craft project... but I can't blog about it yet (weddings are for surprises ;).  I had to tell mom to make me stop... mom thought I needed a craft intervention.  Also, we spent a lovely evening on the pontoon with the Ohrens catching (mini) sunfish.  It was so relaxing and the epitome of a gorgeous MN evening on the lake (you will have to visualize this because I forgot my camera! ugh.)  Today we were up before 8 waterskiing,  rollerblading and enjoying coffee on the deck.  Never a dull moment!

Rollerblading the Central Lakes Trail - beautiful!  (this picture does little justice of how pretty it is)

Zorbaz pizza with good friends!

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This is embarrassing to admit... but I enjoyed my first ever ice cream cone from Granny's Pantry!

Wine by the moon light.

Girl's night at Stellas

Good HAPPY Morning!

Don't you just love mornings.  I sure do. Love them!  There is nothing like the start of a new fresh day.

Morning coffee with my momma.  These lovely cups are from the Duluth Grill (a fresh, local, organic diner in Duluth - they grow veggies on their roof - Yep, Duluth is cool like that.)

Grandma and her smiley boy.

Sister loves brother.  Brother loves sister.

Photography by Lily.

Look at that smile!  Gavin's isn't bad either ;)  (I got that joke from Mary, thank you very much.)

Mom grew this lovely flower.  And that jar is from a garage sale yesterday!