Fall Fun!!

So I know it has been a while since I last posted and much has happened since then. I have been really busy all summer with activities! But... I should tell you that I have also been a little lazy! But the kids are now back in school and doing great. Skyler is in first grade and Emma Lee is in pre-kindergarten! Growing up so fast!!

The weather is getting cooler and it is Halloween (I will post pics of the kids in costumes by Sunday, hopefully!)! The kids really do like this time of year. The leaves are changing, the air has a nip to it, and we like to curl up and drink lots of cocoa!! Several weeks ago, I took the kids to the Pumpkin Patch with my MOPS group. I was a little different than what I was expecting. I was remembering my childhood when my mom would take us to the pumpkin patch which was on a farm and you could actually cut your own pumpkin from the vine. Silly me, I forget sometimes that I am not in New England anymore!!! Anyway, we went over there and they had pumkins everywhere!! Not just regular pumpkins either, but ones that were pumpkin/gourd hybrids, all bumply and funky!! It was wonderful and the kids loved it!!!

My friend Kit, who is a professional photographer, organized the trip and she brought her camera. She ended up taking some great pictures of the kids and I. I am so lucky to have such a wonderful friend!! I can't wait to take them and have prints made! The colors were just wonderful!! When I get them, I will be posting them here for all to see!!

Happy Mother's Day!

This weekend was incredibly busy with many events going on. First off, I graduated with my Associate's Degree on Friday evening. I was unsure if I wanted to go through all of the stress of getting me, Skyler and Emma Lee ready for the ceremony but when my name was called and I walked across that stage, I realized it was so incredibly worth it. Dan tells me that this one feels good, but the next one feels so much better. A bunch of people came to the ceremony which made me feel really good.
The second thing that happened was that Dan came home after spending 18 days in Nebraska and Colorado. This trip was really difficult for me and for the children for some reason. He is leaving tomorrow for Texoma on Monday. This trip should be for about 2 weeks. So maybe it will be better than the last one, pray for me!!!
Also, this weekend was Mother's day! My parents took the children Saturday night through Sunday afternoon so that Dan and I could have some time together before he leaves again. I haven't been sleeping well since Dan left and I am pretty sure that I caught up on all of it!! I woke up this morning at 11:30, at breakfast, went back to bed until 3:30 in the afternoon. It was wonderful! Nobody needed me to handle anything today and I relished it. Because Monday, Dan leaves and it starts all over again.
On Monday, my mom and I are going to a local greenhouse to get some great bedding plants (and maybe a few others!) for my front flowers beds at the house. She wanted to give me a graduation gift that would keep for a long time and would be a great reminder, so this was her plan. I think it sounds wonderful!! My house needs a lift, seriously! I will post some pictures of the flower beds as soon as it is done!
But for now, I just want to say Happy Mother's Day to every mother out there!

Mindy

Summer has Arrived and so has T-Ball!

We are really excited for this season to start. Skyler is playing T-Ball! He is loving it. This morning, he had his first "game" (more like a two innning scrimmage, but I am not telling him that!) They also took picturesand had opening cerimony. My dad and my uncle came to support our little Slugger. Dan couldn't make it because he is out of town for work. He is working in Colorado, but staying in Nebraska! I know he would have loved to see Skyler play.


This is our first T-Ball practice. I think I was the only Mommy there with a camera taking pictures of practice! But like I said, Dan is gone and I wanted him to see some of that too!



This is Skyler, right in front #10, heading to the dugout for their scrimmage. Remember, I am preserving memories for Dan, don't poke fun at all the questionable pictures.



I looked out, saw Sky on second base, turned and told my Dad (excitedly) "He's on second base!". My Dad looks at me, in a very serious way, and says "Isn't he a little young to be going to second base." Only my Dad would turn it into something ... well, a little dirty , and really funny!



Here he is getting ready to hit his first ball in his first game! I know... I know, a little sappy but I don't care!



He missed the coach-pitched balls, so they gave him the tee. Man, he ripped that ball. It went passed the infield (which was the furthest hit by both teams playing). He said after the game that he was trying to bust the stuffing out of the ball.

The best part of his game was when he slid into home! I missed it because I was looking for Emma Lee under the bleachers. THat would have been a fantastic picture but, of course, I missed it.

We had a wonderful time, except for the high winds, both kids did great. Emma Lee found some friends under the bleachers, playing in the dirt. She got nice and dirty, but that's why we have bathtubs!

I will leave more for another day!

Mindy

It's A British Invasion... sort of

No we didn't have the Beatles over for dinner but who cares... With Dan's new job, comes new friends! A couple weekends ago, Dan invited his new friends Greg and Carl over to the house for dinner. They are from England and are completly wonderful! They stayed and played pool with Dan and Todd until about 2:30 in the morning. We had such a great time. We will be sad to see them go home the end of May.



Greg is standing and Carl is holding Emma Lee. I think Greg told Dan that he would mail him an authentic British dart board for the game room. It will be wonderful to keep in touch with them even when they go home!

It's Been A While!

Many things have happened since the last time I posted. Dan has changed jobs, Emma Lee had a birthday, we celebrated another year of marriage, and Skyler is starting tee-ball! So many things going on!!

Emma Lee turned four early this month. She had a wonderful party at our house, and another at school.



She had to show everyone everthing (well, most of it!) she got for her birthday. Yes, that is a crocheted pony purse, and man is it the cutest thing ever!




Happy Birthday To You, Blow out your candles and have one to grow on!!




I thought this picture was too cute. She was so excited that it was her birthday. She was definitely the Birthday Princess... well, she is an everyday princess!

We had plenty of people at the house and she played with her cousin, Kylie, for a long time. Daddy bought her the pretty party dress that she is wearing, since he was at work when she had her party.

More for you later!

It's Over!

I don't know how many other people feel this way, but as much as I love the family time of the holidays. I am so glad that it is over. I didn't get nearly as many gifts made for people. I let the time get away from me. Now I get to spend the next week or so while the children are in school, catching up on some sewing and knitting. The children had a wonderful Christmas. They were on Santa's Good List, and they were well rewarded.
Now it is resolution season again. Not a great time for me. I can never keep those things! There are a few things that I want to do this year, and I am going to see them done. I am determined!
We'll see!