A little Erin time...

One of my New Years resolutions (I don't really make a serious one, but have a number of things that I try to work on) was to make it a priority to have some "Erin time" when I need it. I really do not make much time to do the things that are required for just me (at press time, I am overdue for a hair cut, dental appointment and eye appointment...ugh) If I'm not making time to get a hair cut, I'm also probably not making time to put my feet up, read a book, take a bath, take a walk, etc. As most moms know, we just don't have much alone time, I guess there are the occasional trips to the grocery store without the kids (maybe half the time??) and the middle of the night after I have just put one of the kids back in bed (wow - that sure doesn't count!), I've made it to Zumba twice in the last four months, even the bathroom is seldom without the children:) 

I know! Who could need a break from these cuties?!

Dave has always told me to just speak up and make it happen. And so I am! A couple times, I have decided to put the dishes down and go for a walk (one day it was about -13 degrees, so it wasn't a very long one!) but I got some fresh air, time alone to think. I have been doing yoga at night after the kids are in bed and am loving it. Ideally, I would find a league somewhere and have a standing night that I get out. Dave has sand volleyball league and dart league, so roughly once a week, he gets out to have fun with friends. How can this town not have a competitive volleyball league?!! Well, I'm on the search for something that would make sense. 

When the weather is nicer, it is a little easier to get outside and find a little break each day, but I was craving more of an adventure. I told Dave last week that since he was not on call over the weekend and we didn't have plans, I wanted to go somewhere. Anywhere. Just outside, by myself. For a couple of hours. He was all for it and I decided to go to one of the state parks nearby (there are so many, love it). On Saturday, I decided to go cross country skiing at Mirror Lake State Park near the Dells. 

Of course, Dave made sure to get some "time off" in as well:) he went snowmobiling with a friend for a few hours on Saturday and then our families met up for supper. Dr. Eckerman and his wife have four kids, so we were quite the bunch to show up at Portofino Bay:) Dave had a blast out on the sleds and we had a wonderful supper too, good day!

Yesterday morning (Sunday) we - ahem - didn't make it to church...had breakfast and played, worked on reorganizing a few rooms (kids rooms, sunroom) and then I headed down to the Dells. It was a bit of an adventure as I had never been there before, and I was quite surprised when I pulled into the main parking lot, it was crazy busy! People everywhere and I got a little intimidated. It turns out it was a free day and there was a fishing contest and some sort of winter celebration going on. I grabbed a winter trail map, some free cookies and put my skis on. There were so many trails to choose from - how fun. I picked the easy classical/combination trails that were nearby. I have never skied on groomed trails before...it was so nice! A beautiful day, I just enjoyed it so much. I was vowing to come back...practically every day:) I really can't wait to take Dave and the kids back soon, as well as over the summer. 

Nice groomed trails..

I was out on the trails for about an hour and came back to head home. It was the perfect little break and should spark me to make these breaks a priority in the future. The kids slept while I was away (so that means Dave probably did too:) 

Can you see the sign? I'm headed to the beach!

Very beautiful, we'll be back.