Remember us? Yea, we're still around.

Soooo, it's pretty clear 2017 wasn't the year of blogging for me, or 2018 for that matter. What used to be a weekly updates on our home shenanigans, gradually turned bi-weekly and eventually moved to monthly and most recently they morphed into "whenever I get around to it." After nearly a year hiatus, the blog is back. 

The blog didn't dry up because I lost my passion for writing these posts and documenting our adventures as a family. To be honest, I always looked forward to writing these silly things even if only two people read my ramblings (thanks Mom and Dad). I sometimes find myself reading old posts when they pop up on my TimeHop, and honestly some of the earlier topics seem so trivial. For instance, I had an entire post while I was pregnant with Harper dedicated to my stress level about purchasing bedding for her nursery. I clearly remember crying in Pottery Barn Kids - about bedding. ARE YOU KIDDING ME? I wish someone would have sent me an anonymous text or email letting me know how absurd that sounded. Stressing over bedding... for a baby. Yikes. It's been nearly 7 years since those times, and now I'm feel like I'm winning at motherhood if they even have semi-clean sheets on their bed. 

Things slowed down because life sped up. Not to mention that there are just so many easy, less time consuming outlets available these days to archive my thoughts, pictures and family stories. I mean, have you seen my Instagram account? I'm a known overposter. What used to be weekly topics on the blog have turned into regular every day posts on Instagram. Times are a changing. I'm sure blogs are probably old news too. Maybe I'll dabble in vlogging (nah, I'd have to shower regularly and put on makeup) or start a podcast. Kidding. :)  

Because people nowadays have a very short attention span (myself included), and don't like reading actual words - here is a recap of our last year in pictures. 

HARPER STARTED AND COMPLETED KINDERGARTEN

EMMETT STARTED AND COMPLETED HIS FIRST YEAR OF PRESCHOOL

OUR KITCHEN WAS GUTTED AND COMPLETELY REMODELED

before

after

ENJOYED A GIRLS TRIP TO MEXICO (MITCH STAYED HOME WITH THE KIDDOS - BECAUSE HE'S THE BEST)

HARPER SAW HER FAVORITES ON STAGE AT SHOPKINS LIVE



EMMETT'S DREAMS CAME TRUE AT MARVEL LIVE

SUPERBOWL 52 WAS IN MINNEAPOLIS

HARPER COMPLETED HER FIRST YEAR OF COMPETITION DANCE (YAY BABY COMPANY!)

MITCH AND I SNUCK OUT ON A COUPLE DATES

HARPER AND MITCH LOOKED ADORABLE AT THIER SECOND DADDY/DAUGHTER DANCE

MITCH AND HARPER ROCKED THE STAGE DURING THE DADZ & DOLLZ DANCE 

EMMETT FINALLY AGREED TO WRITE HIS NAME WITHOUT COMPLAINING :)

WE ENJOYED A STAYCATION WITH GRANDMA TRISH AT GREAT WOLF LODGE WHILE THE BOYS WERE FISHING

MITCH AND I CELEBRATED OUR 9TH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY

WE ROAD TRIPPED TO KALAHARI RESORT IN WISCONSIN DELLS FOR DANCE NATIONALS (WONDERWOMAN WON!)

EMMETT FINISHED LIL' SPORTS WHERE HE PLAYED SOCCER AND TBALL (TBALL WAS HIS FAV)

HARPER PLAYED KICKIN' KIDS SOCCER BUT KEPT HER SASSY FACE FROM DANCE

BOTH KIDDOS ENJOYED A WEEK OF VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL

JIMMY BUFFTT FINALLY CAME TO MINNEAPOLIS (WITH THE EAGLES)

WE VENTURED TO US BANK STADIUM FOR THE X GAMES

WE HAD A GARAGE SALE WHERE THE KIDDOS OPENED A SNACK SHACK 

BECAUSE MITCH AND I ARE GROWN CHILDREN, WE BOUGHT A NINTENDO SWITCH AND LET THE KIDS THINK IT WAS FOR THEM

HARPER LOST BOTH FRONT TEETH (BRINGING HER TEETH LOST TOTAL TO 5!) THE TOOTH FAIRY IS READY FOR A BREAK!

There you have it, our last year quickly summarized in a handful of photos. Now I feel like I'm all caught up on this whole blog thing. 

Life continues to move at a rapid pace. It's Emmett's birthday month and he's turning 4 (excuse me while I weep). We're in the midst of the back to school hustle and bustle too. We've crossed out school supply shopping, but I've promised to take Harper shopping for clothes, earrings and shoes. I have very fond memories of back to school shopping as a kid. Specifically begging my Mom to buy me real Doc Martin boots and a Lisa Frank trapper-keeper. I'm looking forward to starting this tradition with our own kiddos - and it should be interesting with our accessory loving, the more glitter the better, fashionista of a daughter. 

Until next time...

The Helleen's