Summer Rewind

7 weeks ago, I was patting myself on the back . . . congratulating myself on planning a very laid-back summer. Or perhaps, that should read "failing to plan" a very full summer. I don't know. Take your pick.

At any rate, it doesn't much matter. What started out as a very lazy-sleep-in-and-we-don't-have-to-be-anywhere-anytime-soon kind of existence fast forwarded into a busy few weeks here lately. Mackenzie was busy, for example, finding the perfect outfit on this particular day. ;-)


And then there was the busy day of hanging out with Aunt Sass and Cousin Katherine . . . Amish Country, baby! Don't forget to buy some homemade peanut butter while you're there!


Then it was a busy few fun-filled days vacationing in Omaha. I can't tell you how many people said to me, "Vacation? In Omaha? Really?"

Yes. Really. It's a beautiful city . . .


. . . rich in history and amazing landmarks, as shown here at General Crook's house.



We also visited the Durham Museum. Below is a giant floor map of Omaha. Even though it's difficult to see, I'm pointing to Paddock Road . . . the road where my grandparents, Nanny and Poppop, built their home, raised my mom and her sister and opened it to all of us grandchildren time and time again. Poppop was the one responsible for naming their road. I love that I can tell my own girls about this little piece of history, and perhaps someday they will tell children of their own.


We were also busy at the zoo. Bless Gregg's heart. I think I can say with utmost confidence that the zoo was a big part of the reason for vacationing in Omaha. For at least 10 years (since the last time I visited Henry Doorly Zoo when Cassidy was a baby) I've wistfully said "gosh, I'd love to visit the zoo" every time we cross the Nebraska state line for the purpose of going to a football game. I think Gregg was tired of me saying it.

Below, a meerkat poses for a photo. I think he finally decided on his "best side" for the photo op. (Doesn't it look like he's wearing a headset? The girls thought it was hilarious!)



I love the next photo. It's a nest . . .



. . . well, actually a very BIG nest!


We've all seen elephants at zoos, but I had to include this one on the blog because it looks EXACTLY like the one that Gregg took. No lie! (Remember, my husband does this professionally.) I was busy doing the happy dance all day long when we compared photos. Duplicate photos, people!


The photo below is at a drive-thru safari park in Omaha. Yeeeeeeee-hawwwwwwwww!!


The animals throughout the park are THIS close. Our girls were enthralled.



I can safely say that I've never seen a buffalo scratch its nose with its hind foot. I think it's pretty safe to say that I probably won't ever see it again.


Before we left Omaha, we made a stop at the cemetery where my grandparents are buried. Some might frown at this one, but I thought it was appropriate . . . Mackenzie turning cartwheels next to their grave. I'd like to think that Nanny was watching and applauding while Poppop was simply smiling and shaking his head. Either way, it's a place where I'd rather remember them as full of life . . . just like Mackenzie is busy demonstrating.


And for a few days, I was busy re-painting Mackenzie's bedroom. She chose the colors and while I initially had some doubts, I absolutely love it now! Gregg painted clouds on the ceiling and it's a great room! Nanna also fell in love with the room and jokingly asked Mackenzie if she could move in with her. Later, in private, Mackenzie asked me if that would be ok to invite Nanna to live with us in her room. She stopped short of granting Nanna permission to sleep in her bed, though. She has decided that Nanna gets the beanbag chair instead. ;-)




I was also busy helping Cassidy find an outfit to wear to a 60's party. Thankfully, we'd just had a tye-dye party with a few friends, so the shirt came in handy. I even tye-dyed a shirt!

We were also busy getting in the basement one evening . . . nasty storms ripped through our area and part of a tree in our yard ended up in our neighbor's yard. I had to take a photo of the cloud (below) 'cause there were just some really awesome formations. Later, the girls and I decided that the cloud resembled a dog wearing a scarf, sitting up and begging. :-)

And on the topic of begging, Cassidy was busy begging me to "stop taking photos already" when she ventured out for a camping trip with her youth group at church. Nice look, don't you agree?

I promise that as soon as I snapped the group photo below, I got busy and left the church, much to her relief!

Have I mentioned the word "busy" in this post yet? If not, let me say that it's been a nice relaxing summer. BUT . . . it's about to get busy. REALLY BUSY!

Preview

Welcome to the family, Bo! This will be the summer we remember anticipating opening our hearts and home to another furry family member!

Now . . . if you'll excuse me . . . I need to go get busy.
:-)

Catching Up

It's been forever since my last post. I have great excuses explaining my absence, though.

In an attempt to catch up, I present my latest Top 10 List . . . "Reasons I've Been MIA."

In no particular order (except to try and document the last 2+ months chronologically), here it is:

10 . . . Spring Break. We didn't travel anywhere, but thanks to Gregg's employer, we did get to enjoy a date night and catch a Bulls game at the same time. Fun!


9 . . . Spring game with the family in mid-April. AWESOME!!!!! Go Big Red, people!



8-7 . . . Preparing for AND executing the annual "Friday Night Live" event at Cassidy's school. (This one deserves TWO numbers, as it required a "little" more doing than many of the other items on this list!) I co-chaired the event and had a blast doing it. Our top secret theme for the evening was "UP," with a few twists. In these photos, you will see a replica of the house from the movie. Gregg spent lots of hours building it and his hard work paid off. We also participated in the skits that took place throughout the night-hence the gray hair you see on Gregg, although underneath the fake gray, there might be a few "real" ones after completing that house!!!



6 . . . Preschool graduation for Mackenzie-what a fast three years of preschool. Wow!



5-4 . . . Studio performance!!!! (Again, note the fact that this one earned TWO numbers on my list!) This is a photo with cast members. It was a family event . . . in addition to all of the behind-the-scenes work, Mom and Papa Dean danced, Gregg ran lights, Darci and her girls danced, Happi and Jerry sang, Cody played violin, and us three girls danced. "The Triplets" (Mackenzie, Alaina and Chloe) also made their studio debut all together. So much fun!!


3 . . . Field Day at Cassidy's school. I helped out again this year and had a lot of fun along with the kids.


2 . . . Fifth Grade Graduation. Not only were the fifth graders bidding the school farewell, but also both the teachers . . . one to retirement and one (Cassidy's teacher in the photo) to play professional volleyball in Europe!


1 . . . Strawberry Season!! We've never picked our own strawberries before now. We celebrated the first day of summer by heading out to choose our own berries for the annual "making of the jam." We had so much fun that we invited cousins along to repeat the trip the next day. Chloe was in HEAVEN!

I did mention that we did a repeat of this trip the next day with the cousins, right? 5 buckets later, I did MANY batches of jam and still have 2 buckets remaining. That's my cue to close this post and go figure out more uses for strawberries!

Cuteness Defined

Cute!!!!!




Cuter!!!!


Cutest!!!!!!

I'm SO Stealing This One . . .

Ok friends, I'm back. And I'm a bit rusty . . . not a lot of time for writing, but missing my blog nonetheless. As I was catching up on some other blogs earlier, I saw a post on Beth Moore's blog and am totally stealing her idea. She listed 10 random things "You Might Not Know" and encouraged her readers to do so as well in the comments section. If you want to play along here on Thing 1 and Thing 2, be sure to list your own 10 items in the comments section. I can't wait to see what you've got.

In no particular order, here are 10 COMPLETELY random things about me:

1. I sleep on my stomach, both arms tucked under my pillow with one leg bent and the other leg straight down . . . sometimes hugging a pillow to my chest. Yes, I do see a chiropractor from time to time.

2. I am currently doing price comparisons for a new clothing steamer. I hate to iron.

3. I don't sew. I used to sew back in middle school . . . made a bag, a stuffed dog, a pillow in the shape of a "K" and an outfit consisting of a prarie skirt with matching quilted jacket. I haven't sewn since. Just ask any one of my family members.

4. I get a lump in my throat whenever I see the "Nebraska . . . the Good Life" sign on I-80 and also weep during the tunnel walk that precedes every Nebraska home football game. That's how I roll.

5. I've never seen one episode of "Lost," "The Office" or "Survivor." I CAN tell you, however, about my favorite pros on "Dancing with the Stars" and that I think Jake is an idiot for choosing Vienna.

6. I'm not a fan of my feet and shudder at the thought of getting a pedicure. Gross.

7. My first car was a '64 Plymouth Barracuda. If it's still alive out there somewhere, I'm wondering if there's still half of a candy cane in the carburetor. (Don't ask.)

8. I am "directionally challenged." Whether you put me in the middle of a forest or a shopping mall, I'd have a hard time telling you which way is north. It's horrible.

9. I can't stand to throw away stuff that is recyclable. I've been known to take empty plastic water bottles and soda cans with me if it's something I can put out with our recycling.

10. I like roasted marshmallows, but shudder at the thought of eating Peeps or anything else that is pure marshmallow. Disgusting.

Your turn . . . the more random, the better. Ready? Set? GO!

Happy Birthday Cassidy

Eleven years . . . my life is richer because of this sweet girl!

Happy Birthday Sweetie! I love you like crazy!

Love,
Mommy

Someday, When I Grow Up . . .

Once upon a time, there was this park across the street from Nanny and Poppop's house and the main attraction was this:



If you look closely, this rocket has 3 floors . . . the top of which is known as "the cockpit."

Do rockets have cockpits? I'm not really sure, but it doesn't matter. It's what I called it as a kid, so we'll leave it at that.

Whenever all of us cousins were in Omaha together, there was a mad dash to reach the rocket first. Truth be told, the mad dash was usually between me and my older cousin, David. Sadly, he always outran me and reached the cockpit first. Therefore, being the "loser" in the race, I was banned from the top post in the rocket and relegated to the lower floors, serving as the cleaning woman.

Do rocket ships have cleaning women? I'm not really sure, but it doesn't matter. David made up the rules.

There were times that David wasn't in town to make that race to the rocket with me. Some days I'd race by myself and triumphantly reach the cockpit-only to feel a little empty. There was no glory since I hadn't really won any race to get there.

Later, as adults with our own kids along, we ventured over to the rocket. I'm sure you know what happened next.

Sadly, our kids couldn't have cared less about the rocket. I don't think our spouses really "got it" either. David and I were left to fight it out on our own.

Nearly 7 years ago, we arrived at Poppop's house for a reunion. He had big news for us.

The rocket was gone. Poof. Almost like it had lifted off.

The story was such big news, as no one ever saw the rocket leave the park or knew what happened to it. I immediately turned to David and accused him of stealing it. It would be just like him to take off with it in the middle of the night, never to allow me to come and clean it again. I could just picture him at the top in the cockpit every morning, sipping his coffee before starting his work day-laughing with glee and gloating. Lots and LOTS of gloating.

I'm still not entirely convinced he didn't take it. I haven't been to his house since he moved. He could have it sitting in his backyard for all I know-sitting in the cockpit day in and day out and STILL gloating. (I think I can hear him laughing as we speak!)

That's ok though. I am an adult. I have matured. A lot. (sniff)

Besides. When I get a little bit older and make a little more money, I'm going to have something even bigger and BETTER than he'll EVER have in his backyard . . .

Did you hear about what NASA is selling?


Oh yeah, baby. Want to come and play in MY backyard?

I wonder if David knows how to dust.

Perspective

It's days like today that remind me to appreciate the things that can easily be taken for granted.

Pure silliness is one of them. One day, Mackenzie might be just "too cool" to be willing to pose for a photo like this one. ;-)



Or the sight of my mom being just as excited to have Santa sitting in the family room as her granddaughters were. (You can't see him in this photo, but he was there-trust me!)



Aha-there he is! And I can't take for granted that my 10 year-old sat on his lap. "As long as I live, my baby you'll be."



Speaking of babies, we can't take our furry babies for granted. I love you, Ozzie!



It's also nice to be reminded of the importance of a good snuggle!



I love it when the cousins get together and to listen to the sound of them playing and having fun with each other. As they get older, the dynamics might change and they may also fight us on wearing their new Christmas PJ's for a group photo. For now though, it's all good and I'm lovin' it!



Today, I was given the gift of perspective-sadly however, as I attended the funeral of an 18 year-old boy. I watched his family say goodbye and I thought about my own girls. I also hugged them extra tight when I tucked them into bed tonight.

And again, I am reminded to be more appreciative of the little things easily taken for granted and to perhaps not "sweat the small stuff" so much.



Thank you, Evan. You will never be forgotten.