Happenings by The Martinez Family

Stories

2011-03-22T15:43:00.000-05:00

I have been lacking in the blogging department lately. The last two years have, unfortunately, been extremely overwhelming for me, struggling to keep my head above water. There hasn't been time to think of my stories that used to come so easily for me, nor has there been time for the pictures that would accompany those stories. So I am asking for your help......Is there anything you want to know? Any story you want to hear? Ask away......

Jackpot

2010-11-10T09:44:00.000-06:00

What would you do if you won the lottery?

No, really......what would you do? Have you ever given it any thought? I know the odds are small.....but all of those people who have hit the jackpot, never imagined in a million years that they would be the recipients of all that glorious money.....at least "glorious" in the beginning.

I diligently play once a week. As most of you know....I haven't won yet....and will probably be out $52 this year......but it is fun to play, hope, and dream.

If I won, I am not sure I would be able to remember all the people I have made the..."OK, I'll remember you if you remember me".........pacts with. Sorry guys! I may have to go into hiding as one friend has stated he would do if he won.

How many of us have said, "If I win the lottery, I am going to be smart about it. It's not going to ruin MY life!" (I recently watched "How Winning the Lottery Ruined My Life" marathon and took notes on what NOT to do.)

The first thing I would do is quit my job and stay at home with my four children.....just think of the money we would save in child care alone!!! I would immediately set up a retirement fund....college fund....pay off my house.....car....set up my parents and my in-laws for the rest of their years.... give a considerable donation to my church, and with the rest I would set up a foundation.

I am sure if I won.....I would have no trouble finding someone to "help" me invest my money.......whether or not they would be trustworthy is a whole other story. I am sure I would be amazed by who would come crawling out of the woodwork. But winning the lottery is still an interesting possibility to ponder.

Even if I my lucky numbers are never drawn, I still consider my self to have won the jackpot of life. I have 4 beautiful, active and healthy children, a wonderful husband, the most incredible family one could ask for, a roof over my head, a bed to sleep in each night, and food on the table.

So...it's Wednesday. Go out and buy your ticket and I wish you all the luck in the world!
(And if you could......remember me!)

Thank you, Mom!

2010-05-10T11:00:00.003-05:00

Thank you, Mom, for putting up with me all of these years! I know I haven't always made it easy for you.....but even when I made it hard to like me.....you have always loved me.

Thank you for....

rescuing me from Buster, the dog, when I was 3ish and he had me cornered and was fiercely growling at me. So scary!

gently breaking the news to me that cold, icy, winter day about what had really happened to Tabby.

staying up all night with me when I was 3 or 4 when my ear drum burst. OUCH! The pain was excruciating, but you made it all better simply by stroking my hair. I know you must have desperately wanted to lay your head down and get some sleep...but you didn't.

rescuing me when I blew up my bicycle tire. Boy, did my ears ever ring! The lesson I learned that day was invaluable. :)

waiting to tell me that the first ribbon I earned at the fair was not such a good thing. It was a WHITE ribbon (last place). You waited to tell me because I was so excited about that little ribbon and in my mind, it was so BEAUTIFUL.

all of your help with numerous 4-H projects and those wonderful record books.

making sure my shoes remained spotless and forever "unscuffed" no matter where we went. I apologize for not carrying on that tradition with my own kids....I know that drives you crazy.

spending endless afternoons perched on that park bench outside Steinhart Lodge, quietly tolerating the summer heat, while Brent and I swam our little hearts out each day.

sewing my "first day of school" school clothes way back in Kindergarten....because I know you hate to sew, but you did it anyway.

volunteering to drive for my first end of the year field trip....we went to the Bicentennial Train. Does anyone know what "bicentennial" means anymore?

making our birthdays absolutely wonderful and making us feel like the most important people on Earth.

making all of our holidays so very special.

piano and guitar lessons and carting me back and forth.

taking me to the "country school skating parties"....even when the weather was treacherous and you would have much rather stayed home where it was safe and warm.

putting up with those difficult teenage years.

checking up on me during those difficult teenage years.....making sure I wasn't driving around on my learner's permit, meeting me at my car in the IGA parking lot when I was obviously way past my curfew, making sure I was where I said I would be, and not being overly upset with me when I rolled the Bronco. If you hadn't done that, who knows what kind of hoodlum you'd have on your hands today. :)

staying up late, cooking and serving up breakfast for us after the Holiday dance.

letting me fight my own battles but sticking up for me when needed to.

giving me a safe, loving home to grow up in.

showing me that I can be a working mom and still be a great mom to my own children.

this last year!

last week!

everything else you have done for me that I have failed to mention. And I know there are so many things I haven't mentioned.

all of your love and support in everything I have done and have failed to do. One of those being...not telling you more often what you mean to me and how much I love you! You are truly the best and I hope I can be half the mother to my own children that you were/are to Brent and me.

Happy Mother's Day....a day late!

You truly are the wind beneath my wings!

I love you!
S

Dear Chi-Chi,

2010-04-25T13:18:00.001-05:00

April 2010

Dear Chi-Chi,

    Today is your 6th birthday. I cannot believe that you are already 6 years old. You were so excited this morning when you woke up and you couldn’t stop smiling. I love how your face completely lights up when you are truly happy! You get this huge grin that stretches from ear to ear….this cute little laugh which you can’t stop….and your eyes are so big and bright, taking everything in!
   I told you this morning on the way to school, that this was going to be your last birthday we would let you have. (You know I was just kidding!) I love watching you grow up, yet I want you to be my little boy forever…..and in my mind and heart you always will be. You will understand one day when you have your own children. When you do….enjoy every second with them and love them for they grow up so very fast.
    The day I found out about you, I couldn’t have been more thrilled….my prayers had been answered! I couldn’t wait to hold you in my arms. In my eyes, you were the most perfect baby on Earth, and I couldn’t believe God had entrusted me with such a perfect little being! You have continued to amaze me with each and every thing you do, no matter big or small. I love how your mind works. But most of all, I love looking into your deep, brown eyes and getting lost in all the wonder that makes up YOU!
   Chi-Chi, you are an absolutely amazing kid! You have such a good heart…..just like your Brupa and Uncle Benny.   I know they are your heroes and you would give anything to spend all of your days with them.   Just like Brupa and Uncle Benny you are always kind…..thinking of others before yourself. It never fails….you always make a friend wherever you go. You may go somewhere alone, but you will leave having made a zillion friends.
   I love how the littlest of things fascinate you. I love how you act all macho, but at the end of the day you still need a hug and a kiss…..no matter how much you try to deny it. I love how you are always up for anything and you don’t let “grass grow under your feet”. You are a mover and a shaker.
Chi-Chi, I want you to grow up and be the best person you can be. I want you to be a person who stands strong in your morals and values. Be one who can be trusted and one who stands by their word….it is important to mean what you say and say what you mean.
    Chi-Chi, remember to put family first. Family will always be there. Family will always need you and you will always need them. Family will be one of the most important things in your life. You will always make new friends….but you can’t make a new family.
    You will always be my “baby”. ALWAYS! I would love to give you a world where you wouldn’t have to worry about any heart ache, hardships, sickness, or sadness…..for watching you go through anything like that will break my heart. But know that you can always come to me, and I will forever be there for you, waiting with open arms.

Love you with all of my heart!

Mom

Dear Dew....

2010-04-20T20:39:00.000-05:00

April 2010

Dear Dew,

You have just celebrated your 8th birthday! I can’t believe how fast this time with you has gone. One day, when you have your own children, you will understand why I always want to slow down time or turn the clock back to when you were small and I could hold you in my arms.

Dew, God answered my prayers when he gave you to me. I love when your birthday rolls around each year. I love remembering the night before you were born. Daddy and I were so excited for your arrival we couldn’t sleep a wink. For in a few short hours we would have you to complete us.

I love remembering the first few moments after you were born and your first night on this Earth. You were absolutely the most beautiful baby I had ever seen and my heart instantly swelled with more love than I had ever felt for anyone. I stayed awake all night long just admiring this perfect little being that lay sleeping in my arms. Thanking God that he had given me a child that was healthy, perfect, and wonderful.

You didn’t stay little long. From the minute you were born, you have been in such a hurry to grow up! Early to talk. Early to walk. You went from a baby to a boy overnight.

Never underestimate how much a mother loves her child. I love you with all of my heart and all of my being! I fell in love with you from the moment I found out about you.

Always be kind and understanding to others. (Yes, this includes your brother and sisters. Especially them…as you are family and will always have one another.) Make an effort to see things from the other person’s point of view. I want you to grow up to be a responsible and helpful person. To be someone others can count on, go to for help, and rely on.
Always be the best person you can be!

Dew, you are a good person and you are so very smart. I know you can do these things that I ask of you and know that I am with you every step of the way.

You are always with me. Always in my heart and I am always in yours!

I love you to the moon and back......times infinity!

Love,

Mom

The "C" Word

2010-04-19T22:38:00.001-05:00

Cancer is such a dirty little word.

For such a little word, it is so very powerful.

The mere mention of this word can instill instant fear. It is life changing....for the better or for the worse.....yet can give one a sense of determination they thought never possessed.

There are all types of cancer. Some are more aggressive than others.

People often live for years without knowing that this parasite lives within them.

There are different stages of cancer....stage one, stage two, stage three and the dreaded stage four.

Cancer knows no discrimination. It can happen to anyone.......moms, dads, grandparents, aunts, uncles, friends.....and the saddest of all, children. Reasons are unknown. I am sure most of us could say that cancer has touched each of our lives whether directly or indirectly.

We all have known people who have had cancer. Lived through it. Shared their stories with us. Given us hope for the future.

Then there are those.....who have fought the battle with every, single ounce of their being and lost the fight. Some fight for years.....others for months. Leaving a gaping hole in the lives of those left behind....but leaving us better people for having known them. For having touched our lives.

Last month I found out I have papillary thyroid carcinoma (cancer of the thyroid). Not a death sentence by any means. Very easy to "take care of". I have been told that if you are going to get cancer.....this is the kind you want. It is not aggressive....very slow growing. People live for years without knowing they have it. Thankfully, for me, it was discovered when was and not years down the road.

However......who wants cancer? Really...who wants it? Any takers out there?

My first thoughts were disbelief. A lot of worrying went on....and still does from time to time, but think I can safely say I have moved on to acceptance. There is no choice but to move on, deal with it head on, and make the best out of the situation.

I would not have been as strong as I am without the the love, support, and reassurance of my husband, my parents, and my mother and father-in-law. They have been there for me throughout this entire ordeal. They are all phenomenal individuals and I love them all, more than words can say!

The same goes for my co-workers. They are amazing and have been willing to help in any way they can, and have been so very understanding. Over the past ten years they have worked around several "maternity leaves" and many, many last minute (might even say last second) absences. Thanks guys.....

My situation could be much, much worse. I am so thankful that it is not! And I would much rather it be me than one of my children....I would completely fall to pieces if that were the case.

The other day, while driving to pick up my kids, I saw a billboard. It said, "I have cancer. Cancer doesn't have me."

Words to live by.
S

Only In Nebraska

2010-03-18T12:50:00.000-05:00

March, so far, has been dreary, gloomy, cloudy and gray. Only glimpses of sunshine which have been teasing us. Enticing us with the hope of spring! Which is just plain cruel after 4 of the longest months of one of the harshest winters we have had in years!

Each and every day we wake from our slumber hoping to see the sun peeking through the clouds to brighten our day and our moods.

Today, that very thing finally happened!

Today is a bright and beautiful day! Not only is sun reminding us of her presence, but the temperature is in the mid 60s. Something that hasn't happened since...............I don't know when. Everyone is basking in the sunshine!

It's a very good day!

However.......

Only in Nebraska can we go from this....

on one day. To this.....

the very next day! Yep! Once again, snow is predicted for tomorrow.

Old Man Winter is rearing his ugly head one last time.

Doesn't Spring officially start Saturday?

Longing for days filled with fun in the sun,

S

Writer's Block

2010-02-26T12:24:00.001-06:00

It's not that anything exciting has been going on in our life. I am just experiencing a horrible case of "Writer's Block".......not that I am a writer in any sense of the word.

Did you know out of all the subjects I teach......I absolutely HATE ( I know.....hate is such a strong word), HATE to teach writing?

I have planted myself in front of my computer numerous times....and have several drafts to prove it....the words just aren't flowing from my brain to my finger tips as the usually do.....therefore not producing anything I consider "post-worthy".

Could it be that I am just plain tired????

Let's see my husband was out of town for 4 days. That same week I had Parent/Teacher Conferences which make for extremely long days......... My day starts at 5 am---daily, and I don't get home until 8 pm on conference days. Thank goodness for moms! I wouldn't have made it through that week without her help. Mom, you're the BEST! Have I told you that lately????

Most nights, I average 3-4 hours of sleep. Three out of my four kids wake up during the night. I swear they have it all planned out. They wait until that exact moment I fall into that deep, heavenly sleep. #1 wakes up. Then just as I fall back into that deep, heavenly sleep.....#3 wakes up. And finally #4 wakes.......usually within 30 minutes of when my alarm is to go off!!!! She's lucky she's cute, and that she's my daughter and that I love her more than anything on Earth....otherwise I may not be as forgiving! The only one that sleeps peacefully throughout the night is #2. Thank you for that, Chi-Chi! You don't know how much that little gift means to your mama!

Have I mentioned that I love to sleep? I long to sleep. Right now it is what I desire the most in life. One day it will happen, then I will long for the time when I had little one to wake me in the middle of the night. Isn't that the way it goes??? You want what you don't have and then when you have it....you don't want it.

Could it be that life at our house is rather hectic?

I know everyone everywhere is busy. Maybe if I were an organized person......a planner.....a little more OCD.....more of a control freak things would be different. But anyone who knows me, knows that's not how I roll. ( I do every once in a while have those organized moments....albeit they are very brief and few and far between. And when they happen I AMAZE those around me that I actually got something done.) However....I am prompt...even with four kids to get ready and load into the car....I am always on time. And that's a feat in itself!

It's not like I don't get anything accomplished.....I hit the floor running when my alarm blares at
5 am and I don't stop, most days until 11 pm.......(which easily ties into that whole tired thing I mentioned earlier and explains my rumpled appearance most days). I just pick what is the most important and focus on that.

So....for now I am going to stick with my original excuse.....good ol' fashioned writer's block. 'Cause I don't foresee the tired and unorganized aspect of my life changing anytime soon!

Thanks for sticking with me! Maybe this weekend I'll get some much needed rest and be back with a story sometime next week.

Much love from one frazzled and weary traveler through life..........
S

Love

2010-02-12T12:27:00.002-06:00

In honor of Valentine's Day.....

“Love is always bestowed as a gift
freely, willingly,
and without expectation.
We don’t love to be loved;
we love to love.”

― Leo F. Buscaglia

Turning Point

2010-02-10T11:50:00.001-06:00

The Battle of Lake Eerie was a turning point for the Continentals in the Revolutionary War. (I love history!) It proved to countries like France, that we just may actually beat those nasty Red Coats.....which resulted in France, and other countries, becoming our allies and sending troops to help us win our independence.

We have had a major turning point at our house. Maybe not as significant as the Battle of Lake Eerie....but it seems that way to us!

More like a milestone, really.

To be honest, I wasn't sure I would EVER see this day come.

From now on.....you will see one less of these stockpiled in our basement.

Whoo! Hoo!

and....

Yee! Haw! (Sorry...country girl coming out in me!)

If I would have known that I would spend 8 out of the last 9 years consistently changing diapers........I would have purchased stock in LUVS.

Yes....8 out of the last 9 years!!!!!!

That's a TON of diapers! Most of which were not that pleasant.

Truth be told this is a bittersweet time....'cause as I stated in my last post.....it means my baby is growing up.

One thing I will say...once "The Law" makes up her mind to do something, she sticks to it. Guess that is why we call her "The Law".

I am so proud of you little girl!

Mommy

Three years ago today........

2010-02-08T15:49:00.000-06:00

Once upon a time there was a mommy. This mommy had two little boys that she loved with all of her heart. This mommy and her boys did everything together. Their days were filled with fun and laughter.

She thought she had everything she could possibly want.

Life was perfect.

One day this mommy found out another baby, a girl, would soon be joining the family. Sadly, this mommy didn't know what to think. Would she have enough love for this new little baby and her two little boys?

But as the days passed.....this mommy and her two little boys grew more and more excited for this little girl to join the family.

Finally, the day came for this little bundle to enter the big, big world.

God graciously answered the mommy's prayers and her baby was born healthy, beautiful, and perfect in every way. From the moment she was placed in her mommy's arms, her mommy's heart was captured once again.

All of her mommy's worries instantly disappeared. Instantly!

From that moment on, that mommy couldn't take her eyes off of her new baby girl. She was completely in awe of that tiny little creature.

I continue to look at my girl every day and am so thankful that God chose me to be her mommy.
She is truly a gift.

To this day, I can't believe that she is mine. And that I am fortunate enough to be the mother of someone so incredible. So incredibly perfect.

I can't get enough of her smile, her eyes, her personality, and, of course, her kisses. She has that twinkle in her eye, and I love when her little arms wrap around me and she squeezes me with all of her might and says, "I love you so much, Mommy!"

I love how she is sooooo into princesses right now!

I love watching her line up her babies so she can read and sing to them. The stories this little one can tell.

I love when she crawls into my lap and her little hand slips into mine...it's just the two of us and my heart melts.

The Law turns three today.

THREE! Where did the time go? Where did my tiny baby go that I once held so tightly in my arms?

She is "The Law" I live for and live by.

You are my dream come true!

Love you forever.......
Mommy

Shocked

2010-01-20T23:12:00.002-06:00

Life has a way of moving....and moving rather quickly at that. I started this blog about a year ago. I had just had baby number four. My mother-in-law came up to the frigid North from the warm South to take care of Q-T when I went back to work. One night I was dinkin' around on the computer and thought, "I think I 'll start a blog."

My mother-in-law was watching me from across the room, asked me what I was doing, so I filled her in. I had to explain what a blog was..but she got the idea. She asked me, "Well, what are you going to blog about?"

I consider myself one of the lucky ones and think I have an amazing mother-in-law and we get along extremely well.

I looked at her and replied, rather dryly, "My crazy mother-in-law who has come to spend two months with us!" Luckily, I can joke around with her like that and she knows I'm joking.

I blogged and I blogged and I blogged. I love blogging. I love looking at everything as if it is a story to tell.

My last blog was dated in August 2009....then school started (I am a teacher...and I have four kids....so things get a little busy around here) and just couldn't seem to find the time to chronicle my stories anymore.

Even though I don't make resolutions...I never keep them so why set myself up for failure...I told myself that I was going to get back my blog this year.

Here was the shocking part.....at least to me. When my hiatus started in August, I had about 500 hits. Sunday, I logged back on, and saw that I have had over 11,000+ hits in four months!!!! Not only that, but I have/had three followers. (Not sure if they are still following me. Kind of hard to follow someone who hadn't been blogging. If you have kept the faith in me these past four months and are still a follower, please say "hi"....if you just stumbled upon this, "Welcome and hope you come back!")

My stories aren't that great. Not sure why I do it other than for the mere fact that I simply enjoy it. It's my ME time. Didn't think anyone was reading this other than my very own mother.....and I beg her to read it. (Thanks Mom! You're the best!) You can always count on your parents for their support.....or maybe she's just humoring me??????? Hmmm!

Well, it's a "school night" and I have stayed up way past my bed time.......so good night all. Thanks for letting me step into your life, and thanks for stepping into mine.

Ya'll come back soon now, ya hear!

S

What I don't like about living in the city.

2010-01-19T13:38:00.002-06:00

Tuesday is trash day. It is really important that we make sure we haul our trash bin to the end of the driveway every Tuesday.....a family of 6 creates a whole "lotta" trash!

Yesterday, like many, I had the day off so today seems like Monday. I will be "off" a day all week...the only pleasantness, if that is a word, in that is that Friday will come early for me. When we have a long weekend, either I, or my husband, forget that it is really Tuesday/Trash Day.

Not the case for today. The bin made it to the end of the drive way...thanks to my husband, but before we left, I found some additional items that needed to be put out. I took one step out of the garage, and no I didn't fall!!!! I literally slid to the end of the drive way.

Here's the problem. Our drive way has a slight incline, and I couldn't walk back up the stupid thing! I made it about half way.....then promptly slid back down.

Two things I didn't like about this. 1) I was already late for work. 2) I just knew the neighbors were having a good laugh at my inability to walk back up my very own drive way......normally a task one doesn't think about.

After about 10 minutes, I did make back to the garage but not before falling in the snow. I have never appreciated non skid surfaces more than I did at that moment.

What I don't like about living in the city is that you can't make a fool out of yourself, out in plain sight and in your drive way, without everyone on your street seeing you!!!! (You know every neighborhood has it's very own Mrs. Kravitz.)

Thanks for letting me share my embarrassing moment of the day!
S

Winter

2010-01-17T23:12:00.001-06:00

As I sloshed my way from my parents house, in the country, to the highway....(so happy that I have 4-wheel drive)....I am so thankful that I live in the part of the country that I do.

Even with all the snow, the mud, and the muck....I love it.

Yes, four months out of the year are devoted to winter. And right now we are in the middle of one of the snowiest winters we have had in 10 years. Yes, it does get bitterly cold, and those who know me, know that I am not a cold weather person. But in the end I wouldn't trade one cold, snowy day for ANYTHING!

If I didn't live where I do.....I wouldn't wake up to this....

Or this......
For the last three days we have been living in a fog.....literally. And it has been cold enough for it to be a "freezing fog" so it clings to everything. Absolutely beautiful!

I think this winter will go down in history as Dew and Chi-Chi's favorite winter.
They have played in this wonderland almost everyday. Those faint lines are the screen. I took this picture from the warmth of my living room. Did I mention that I am NOT a cold weather person????

And if I didn't live where I do I couldn't do this:

Before.........
After.......

Before......

After....In just a few short months we have this to look forward to.....but for now I am enjoying the place where I am at.

Hope you are all enjoying the beauty of winter.

S

Clean and Sparkling Cousins...For Now

2009-08-26T10:57:00.006-05:00

Look at this bunch of hooligans! That is just what they are too....hooligans! When they are all together, WATCH OUT!

Mischievous describes this crew perfectly. I shudder at the thought of what it will be like in 7 years. That little blondie on the end will be driving then, and those two next to him will be his partners in crime. (Good thing my two have a couple of uncles that are lawyers. We may need their help.)

Here they are after they had been scrubbed clean. In fact, they are so clean, they almost sparkle.
I wish I had a "before" picture to share with you....After an entire day of playing outside on the farm, they were filthy! It was a such a scary sight. Just too scary to share. Especially that guy in the middle. I don't know how he does it...it's like he's a dirt magnet. Dirt just seeks him out.

Sludge. That is the only word I can think of to clearly describe what is left behind in the tub after his bath. So nasty! He's lucky he's cute, or I just might not put up with his love for dirt.

They love being together. And when they are, they're inseparable.

I hope they will always be the best of friends.

Just do me a favor guys, and stay clean!

S

Summer....where has thou gone?

2009-08-10T22:54:00.002-05:00

Waaaaaay back in June, when I saw nothing but long and lazy summer days before me, I thought I would get so much blogging done and was really looking forward to it. My goal was a blog a day. I was so excited about all the blogging I was going to do that I was almost giddy! Well, I officially have one day of vacation left and didn't accomplish a lot with my blog.

Everywhere we went I had my camera in hand to chronicle our events and outings, but we would get back home and I just couldn't seem to find the time to get on the computer to post the pictures and write the stories. The kids and I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of our summer, and it went by way too fast. I loved doing nothing but staying at home with the kids day in and day out, going on long walks, bike rides, trips to the zoo and the children's museum, our walks around the corner to the ice cream shoppe, and, of course, our trips to the farm.

In the upcoming days, I will post our summer memories. So please check back and see what we have been up to. Now that I will back to work, maybe our lives will have some order and structure, and I will make better use of my time. OK, who am I kidding....but one can always hope!

S

"This is going to be the best night EVER!"

2009-07-31T05:15:00.003-05:00

I am currently in the middle of having my Big Ass Garage Sale. I really needed to purge some of the "junk" we have accumulated over the years and what better way than to have a garage sale.

In order to make my life a little easier during my Big Ass Garage Sale, my mom came up and took the girls home with her so I wouldn't have to worry about keeping an eye on them. I have such a wonderful mom! Thank you, Mom! Let me tell you that it is so different having just TWO kids. Way different! Much slower paced. However, every now and then, I did look over my shoulder for the girls, and Chi-Chi asked a couple times where "The Law" and
Q-T were.........and for a brief moment I would become panic stricken......then Chi-Chi would say, with his fat little tongue, "Oh yeah, Mom, they went home with Oma. Rememba?"

So for a few hours, we were just a family of four.

Here is the part that just melted my heart. Last night was the "last night" of Bible School for the boys. There was a big finale with a program and carnival. (It was wonderful but will post more about that later. ) After it was all over, the boys and I piled into the car. As the doors the slammed shut, Chi-Chi turned to Dew and said, with his fat little tongue, "You are the best brother I have ever had." I couldn't believe what I was hearing! Was the sky falling?
Dew turned to Chi-Chi and replied, "You're the best brother, too, Chi-Chi." They had this wonderful conversation all the way home, and I sat happily behind the wheel with the biggest grin plastered to my face thinking, "It doesn't get any better than this!"

To top it off, they wanted to have a slumber party with Mommy and Daddy in our room. So they made a pallet out of blankets, and Dew read a chapter to us out of his Magic Tree House book. Yes, they were thrilled about the fact that it was just them for one night. Yes, their prayers had been answered when we said they could sleep in our room. But the highlight of the evening was sleeping with their little lanterns they made in Bible School which consisted of a jar covered in tissue paper and then a glow stick was the candle. (As simple as those lanterns were, they were pretty cool and still glowing brightly this morning when I got up.) Dew and Chi-Chi carefully placed their lanterns on the floor just above their pillows. And as they were drifting off to sleep, Chi-Chi turned to Dew, and I heard him whisper (with his fat little tongue), "Dew, this has been the BEST night EVER!"

Dew answered, "Yes, Chi-Chi, it was!"

Once again, I ran to the window to see if the sky was falling, but it wasn't. For a few hours, they were brothers. Brothers that loved each other. And two little boys who were thrilled to get all of our attention.

And as I drifted off to sleep I took a moment to thank God for giving me that moment and for giving me those two wonderful little boys!

S

Lazy, Hazy Rainy Days

2009-07-16T14:00:00.006-05:00

It is no secret that I am NOT a morning person. Never have been and probably never will be. Back in the day, I could sleep in with the best of them. Now I consider "sleeping in"until 7 am as a real treat, instead of the 11 or 12 o'clock hour that it once was. And if I only had to get up twice in the night or wake up in my own bed....you better break out the champagne....because that is a celebration in itself!

That is what I loved about today. It was damp, dreary, cloudy and rainy when I woke this morning, and as I rolled over and looked out my bedroom window I immediately exclaimed, "Yes!" because a rainy day gives me full reign to be as lazy as I want.

I stumbled down the stairs, got the coffee pot a brewin', and started to make the kids' breakfasts. Which, buy the way, consisted of cold pizza for the boys and assorted lunch meat for "The Law". Q-T had her usual....blander than bland rice cereal. Blech!

This morning also presented the perfect opportunity to take some photos of the kids. I snapped them all except Dew.....Lilo and Stitch was on the Disney Channel and Dew's day is just messed up if he can't see the "experiment of the day".

Q-T is starting to love having her picture taken. The camera comes out and she is all smiles!

Look at her chunky self......such a big chunk-a, chunk of love!

Bright light! Bright light! She wasn't too sure of the flash. Have you ever seen a more adorable double chin?

Back to normal.

Hamming it up once again. Can you see how much this girl loves her mama?

"What you lookin' at?"

Chi-Chi had to jump in and have his mug in the picture. Now he really loves to pose for the camera. Sometimes he's serious.....

Sometimes he's macho.....

Then there's this little slice of heaven! She is my little ray of sunshine.....even on a rainy day.

S

Goodbye 2741 Scott Avenue.....Thanks for the memories!

2009-07-14T14:35:00.004-05:00

For the past several years, it has been my brother's dream to move back to our hometown. Well, as of this past weekend, he's back. He and his family are now living the country life and will love every second of it. I, on the other hand, will miss them terribly. I even asked....more like begged them every time I saw them.....begged them to stay in the big city with me, but they wouldn't even entertain the idea.

This is where they have called home for the last 8 years. So much has happened at this house. So many family celebrations....holidays, birthdays, cookouts, and was the central meeting place for our family get togethers for years.

My nephew had just started crawling when they moved in. It was here where he took his first steps and said his first words. Seems just like it was yesterday....where does the time go? Now he is constantly in motion, and it is hard to get him stop long enough to give me a hug and a kiss.

When my niece was born, she came home to 2741 Scott Avenue. This has been the only home she has ever known in her four little years. She, like Schmax, has experienced so many firsts here.....too many to mention. If only those walls could talk!

Guess I am a little sentimental!

It was here that Dew got whacked in the head with a golf club. Man, did he ever have a gash...one that required stitches. Chi-Chi was "golfing" in the back yard, and Dew was pretending that he was blind and therefore walking around the yard with his eyes closed. I am sure you can figure out the rest.......yep......Dew in his "blindness" walked smack dab into the golf club just as Chi-Chi was hammering it down. An event that has been permanently imprinted in their minds.

It makes me sad that Q-T will not have any memories of this house and all the good times that took place here.

Sometimes I am a little too sentimental.

Goodbye house! Thanks for the memories!

Goodbye Uncle Benny and Aunt Aubree! We will miss you!

I am making it sound like we will never see them again....but we will....this house is the new hangout only they don't know it yet.

This is their new home.

The site of many new family experiences and memories.

Hello house! We look forward to getting to know you!

S

Fourth of July Celebration

2009-07-06T16:00:00.008-05:00

I must admit that I do not like to buy fireworks. I love to watch them.....just hate to buy them. All I can think about is that my money is going up in smoke....literally! My kids haven't figured out yet that you can actually buy them and do them yourself....however, my days are numbered and they will soon call my bluff.

We did go to my hometown this past weekend and went to watch the fireworks display the local Jaycee chapter sponsored.

Luckily, we found rock star parking, grabbed our chairs and started our search for the perfect spot to watch the show. The boys were so excited! It was just the four of us. We chose to leave the girls at home with Oma and Brupa as it would be a late night, and we thought that the loud pops would scare the bejeebers out of them.

It has been quite some time since I have roamed around my old stomping grounds, (Believe me, there was a lot of stomping goin' on back in the day. I knew every street and back alley.....escaped many of cop in those alleys....but we'll save that for another post.) and I kinda forgot about this bridge. Well, ok, the bridge wasn't even there "back in the day". I just don't like to think about how much time has passed since I stomped on those grounds!

I love how it is decorated.....so patriotic, yet so simple. Dew actually took this picture....not too shabby!

I also forgot about this. This came from the old bridge that took you across the Missouri River to Iowa. Lord, how I HATED that bridge. It was an old green monster of a bridge, only had two lanes and was extremely narrow. I would hold my breath as I drove across, and pray the entire time, "God, please don't let me meet a semi! PLEEEAAASE don't let me meet a semi! And if I should meet a semi, please don't let me plunge into the river below!" The bridge was so narrow that semi trucks would actually cross over into the other lane to keep from hitting the side of the bridge. I know the drivers tried desperately to stay in their lane, however, they risked losing their side mirrors by doing that as they would hit the sides of the bridge. I am sure if one was brave enough to dive to the murky bottom of the Mighty Mo....they would hit the jackpot of all jackpots of side mirrors that were once securely attached to the passenger side of a semi truck!

After the new bridge was built...the old one was, of course, torn down. But this was saved and the city chose to put it atop the gateway that leads into Steinhart Park which is where the fireworks display is every year.

With chairs and sweatshirts in hand searching for that perfect spot to sit, we walked past the pool. As a child, I spent many of a summer day here just living the life. Brought back a lot of memories. The boys were absolutely astounded that, once upon a time, I actually went near and in a pool! Something I would never do now! And you wouldn't want me to......having 4 babies has taken quite the toll......a sight I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy!

While we waited for the show to begin....we took pictures to commemorate the evening.

We finally found our perfect spot. At the base of these terraces. See that building at the top of the terraces? This is my most favorite spot in all of the world. I have so many wonderful memories of Steinhart Lodge. About 30 years ago, it used to be a wonderful restaurant. In high school our Holiday Dance was held here. My brother and cousin, Heidi, graduated the same year and had their graduation receptions there. And most recently, this is where Ro and I had our wedding reception and dance. It was and still is absolutely beautiful.

Now this was a miracle! Getting Ro in a picture. (Dew took this one, too.)

Finally, the show began. Only after Dew and Chi-Chi asked, about every 2 minutes, "What time is it now?" "When does it start?" "How much longer?" "Why haven't they started yet?" "I have to go to the bathroom! Noooowwww!"

Dew was completely captivated by the show and didn't take his eyes off the fireworks.

Not for one second. He didn't want to miss a thing!

Chi-Chi was another story......

After a day of playing non stop with his cousins.....he was tired, it was late and it just got the best of him.

I tried to capture the fireworks with my camera. A normal person would have given up after the first 20 or so missed shots and realize......this ain't workin'! Me, on the other hand, tried to capture every single one!!!!

I was either too early, or........

too late! ARGH!

Truth be told my competitive side took over. The guy sitting next to me was doing the same thing.....and all of his pictures, of course, were perfect! (I was peeking over his shoulder. He was probably doing the same and laughing at my feeble attempts! I think I heard him chuckling a couple of times.) So, with each picture I was trying to out do him, and cursing him in my mind each time I failed. Not really, but I felt like it!

There were a couple good ones.....but just a COUPLE!

The simple plain, white star bursts were my favorite! That's me...just plain and simple!

Hope you all had a wonderful and safe Fourth of July and that you were able to spend it with those you care about most!

S

Cousins...New and Old

2009-07-06T15:06:00.006-05:00

One of the highlights of my childhood was spending the night at my cousins' house. We would trade off every other weekend. It was a great plan that Mom and Patty came up with...gave them a completely kid free weekend, a concept that is completely unheard of around our house. Although I have to admit that when Ro and I are without the kids...our hearts are empty and we can't wait to get them back home. We just don't know what to do.....no fights to stop, diapers to change, or fussy baby to hold!

I loved going to Heidi and Dani's house. It was so much fun! They always had the newest toys, yummy snacks and they had SODA POP...in glass bottles! We never had yummy snacks and we NEVER had soda pop at our house. We also got to stay up late and watch Saturday Night Live and sleep on their sofa bed! They were also the first ones to have a TV with a remote....I thought that was sooooo cool! On one of our sleepovers we had a babysitter.....we took that remote and camped out on the stairway and kept switching the channels on her. She couldn't figure out what the heck what was going on. Eventually, our incessant giggles gave us away. Those were such good times. Yes, I lived a sheltered life. A very sheltered life.

This last weekend while we were at the farm, I called up my cousin Dani and invited her kids to come play with mine and my niece and nephew. I have meant to do this so many times, but the weekends always seem to go by so fast and subsequently time runs out. Heidi, Dani, my brother and I grew up seeing each other everyday at school...we were also in the same 4-H club (A shout out to all the Perky Pals out there) and we went to the same church. Unfortunately, the next generation of cousins are growing up virtual strangers.

So they came and a good time was had by all. However it was slow going in the beginning.

You can tell Chi-Chi was unsure of he newly discovered cousin, B.

"The Law" on the other hand warmed up rather quickly. I think she was simply thrilled to have another girl to pal around with.

I loaded them all up and took them on a gator ride with Popsicles in hand. (The Popsicles were nothing more than frozen water...but they loved them!)

This little girl just stole my heart! Just look at her. I don't know how her mommy and daddy can say no to this little girl!

Her brother was just as sweet.....I just couldn't get him to stand still long enough to snap a photo of him. Especially after my nephew arrived....all they boys took off and did "boy stuff" like get dirty, ride bikes, chase each other, sling things at one another...the list could go on and on!

B sure loved the playhouse. She played and played and played in there. I have never had better tasting lemonade or more sinful chocolate cookies than the ones she made for me in the playhouse!

Simply divine!

S

What would your reality show title be?

2009-06-26T12:26:00.005-05:00

If there were a reality show about you and your family, what would the name of it be? Ro and I catch A LOT of slack for having four children. One name for our show would be Steph and Ro Plus Fo' And We Don't Want No Mo'! I want to know what would the name of your show be?

Yay! It's Friday!
S

What were you doing 9 years ago?

2009-06-24T13:02:00.012-05:00

The evening of May 12th, 1995 my life changed forever, although I didn't know it at the time. (You are probably telling yourself, "That wasn't 9 years ago." Just wait. I'll get there.) I was living in Waco, Texas then, and on that particular night, my friend Amie and I decided to hit the town.

Actually, I had a date. A date that I didn't want to go on. So Amie, being the good friend that she is, helped me out.

I was really dreading going out with this guy and was whining to Amie about it. She suggested a double date and knew the perfect person for her to bring along. So, I called the guy I was to go out with and asked if he would mind if we went on a double date with a friend of mine. He said no......so Amie and her friend met us at a local restaurant.

All of us ended up having a great time that night. Well, almost all of us. My "date" not so much. I think he felt threatened by Amie's friend. He kept trying to control the entire evening.....where we could sit and even who we, more specifically me, could talk to. We, of course, ignored his commands and did whatever we wanted to.

Before we knew it, the evening was over. We said our goodbyes and retreated to our respective homes.

Amie's friend's name was Roman. And when we met that night something just clicked. A couple of evenings later my phone rang......on the other end of the line, I heard Roman's nervous voice. We talked for hours that night and finally, just before we hung up, Roman worked up the courage to ask me out on our first, of many dates.

My original plan was to move back to Nebraska that May, but my meeting Roman postponed that plan for 3 more years. I eventually made the decision to move back to Nebraska and to my surprise Roman followed. I thought he would never leave Texas......you know how Texans are.

So, what were you doing on this day, nine years ago? I was getting ready to marry the man of my dreams. We had a beautiful wedding that we were fortunate enough to share many family and friends who were brave enough to make the trip to Nebraska. And we have had a beautiful marriage to which we have added 4 beautiful and amazing, children. I couldn't imagine taking this journey with anyone else other than my husband.

I love you, Roman......Happy Anniversary!

S

A Kid's Paradise

2009-06-24T11:37:00.005-05:00

We went to the farm for Father's Day. Ro didn't mind as long as he could sit in the house and watch the US Open. The kids are always in favor of going as there is always something to do and they can get as dirty as they want and it is OK. This is great for Chi-Chi...his nickname is Pigpen...we just can't figure out what he does that gets him so dirty. But because he is a boy, he takes pride in the fact that he gets filthy from head to toe and tries to out do himself from one day to the next.

We went to the farm not only because it was Father's Day and to see Brupa, but my parents have been after us to come for about two weeks. In fact they were quite adamant! My dad (Brupa) secretly had this playhouse built for the grand kids....his granddaughters more specifically. Doesn't it look dreamy?

As we drove up the drive way and my kids caught their first glimpse of this little surprise.......they absolutely, positively could not contain their excitement. The doors of the car flew open...almost before we had come to a complete stop, and they all popped out and made a bee line for the play house.

They played and played and played. Lunch was served to them in the play house. Then they played and played some more. They even planned a night when they would camp out in the
playhouse. I think it will be Ro's job to supervise that sleepover....he doesn't know that yet.

You know, I really could have used one of these when I was a kid.

They all had a marvelous time and Oma and Brupa couldn't have picked a better setting for this little house. It is far enough from the main house, but close enough to monitor them from the kitchen window.

The playhouse sits under this beautiful canopy of two big cottonwood trees.

The front porch turned into a stage for Schmax and Mac to sing I Love Rock n Roll. Still like my version...I Love Mackie Jo. Mac on the other hand doesn't like it so much. I just had to video their performance.

Then Mac decided she wanted to play hide and seek in the sweet corn patch. Can you see her her little blond head among the stalks of corn?

Brupa and Uncle Benny took time out from the laziness of the day to sort cows. Not a lazy activity by the way. They probably could have used my help, but I was too busy taking pictures. Besides I hate, hate, hate it when I step in a cow pie. It's gross. It's smelly. And it is a great way to ruin a good pair of shoes!!!!
Bovine creatures creatures can be so "clique-ish". They are always hanging out in groups. Here's a bit a farm trivia.....Did you know that when cows clump together that a storm is approaching? Check it out....they are usually pretty accurate.

Then there was little guy. His mama has abandoned him so Brupa has to bottle feed him. Chi-Chi loves to help him with this little chore.

I love early summer in the country. There is nothing more beautiful.

Everything is so green, so new.

I just love the country. I love the peace, the wide open spaces, and the connection you have with the land. I love the people in my neighborhood, the people they are and what they stand for. You will never meet more honest and hardworking people.

To me, there really is no better place to be than living in the country and I am so glad that I can share this life with my children.

They will be better people for it.

S

Music

2009-06-14T18:34:00.007-05:00

Not that I have a lot of people who check out my blog, but I'd like to think that I have a few that check us out from time to time. To keep you entertained while reading about our latest happenings, I have posted a play list for your listening pleasure. However, I feel like I need to explain this list as my musical taste is quite different from that of most people. So here it is.......

Music. I LOVE music! I am the one at the stoplight jammin' in my seat, singing at the top of my lungs, and the car is visibly vibrating due to the volume of the music. Unfortunately, that is about the extent of my musical abilities. My dad and brother are blessed with the natural musical talent. They are both fantastic singers. While neither one of them can read a note of music, they can hear a song on the radio, pick up their guitar, and play it through perfectly! Me.....I don't sing (at least when there are others within ear shot) and I have to practice a song on the piano a million times before it sounds remotely familiar.

Now to my play list choices.....

My first choice is Marie Lavaue by Bobby Bare. When I was little my dad used to sing this song all the time. He would come in from a long day of work and we would beg him sing it for us. I love those songs that are half sung, half spoken as someone is telling you a story. (I know, that is what most songs are, a story, but this is a little different.)

Then there is Thank God, I'm A Country Boy! by John Denver. First of all, I love John Denver. Secondly, when I was about 5, my dad got a new tractor that had a CAB.....at the time, the fact that it had a cab was a big deal. (One day I'll tell you about the combine we had that had a horn. Hours of entertainment I tell ya! We led such simple lives!) It had air conditioning, which was awesome, and my brother and I were able to ride with him because it was all enclosed and we wouldn't fall out! But most importantly, it had an 8-track tape player. Whoo-hoo! We thought we were so "up town"....or maybe I should say "up country". John Denver was the first 8 track tape we bought to break in that 8-track player, and Thank God...was the song that was playing on my very first ride. Just brings back happy times.

The other tape we bought was Kenny Rogers and my favorite song on that tape was Lucille. "You picked a fine time to leave me Lucille....With four hundred children and a crop in the field." Dad would laugh hysterically when I sang that......it's really not four hundred children, but four HUNGRY children.
Hee! Hee! I was so cute back then.

Put Another Log On The Fire.....that's a tricky one. It is sung by Tompall Glaser and he was a member of The Outlaws which consisted of Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings and Jessi Colter. I used to love this song and thought it was the silliest song I had ever heard as I couldn't believe that any woman would let anyone treat them that way. Listening to the lyrics now....not so silly...but still like the song.

There is a little town close to where I grew up. Every January, or maybe it's February (could even be March....hey, it's been 20+ years since I've been there) anyway, they have a small festival called "The Quack Off!" What they do is ice over the tennis court in town and you can "rent" a duck and race it down this icy tennis court. As silly as it sounds, it really does draw quite the crowd. In conjunction with "The Quack Off!", members of the community would put together a mock Hee-Haw show.....and let me tell you it was absolutely HILARIOUS! My dad's band was the house band for the show and would do special features in between the skits. One of the special features was Dueling Banjos performed by my brother and dad. Except, in their case, it was "Dueling Guitars".

Just a couple more I promise......

Back in his band days.....one song my dad was known for was The Auctioneer by Leroy Van Dyke. I remember Dad working and working on this song until he got it just right. It was my favorite song he sang at the time and still request it whenever his band mates get together.

I had to include Fat Bottom Girls by Queen but put the Hayseed Dixie version in on my play list to stick with the theme. Even though Fat Bottom Girls is not a country song and Queen was so not a country band......my boys know every word of that song! Our friend, Rick, asked Ro one day, "Do you know your kids (this was back when we only had two) know the words to Fat Bottom Girls? That's kind of cool!" They also know Bohemian Rhapsody.....we all shake our heads wildly through that crazy part in the middle (imagine sitting next to that picture at a stoplight)....well, all of us except Ro....he's a little too reserved for that kind of behavior.

You can't go wrong with any song by Roger Miller. He was so versatile...... Johnny Cash is one of the "great ones" and I chose A Boy Named Sue because Shel Silverstein wrote it. If you know anything about Shel....he is a famous children's poet.....funny, funny, funny!

Did you make it all the way through this post without falling asleep? zzzzzzzz

And finally...Happy Trails by Roy Rogers and Dale Evans. My grandma had a beautiful upright piano and my brother and I would sit on the end of the bench while she played and we would sing like we had never sung before. The most requested song by us was Happy Trails. We spent hours sitting on that bench with her and singing along while her fingers flew up and down the keys. I really miss her.

To most of you, the mere mention of the word "country" would send you running as fast as your legs would carry you in the other direction. However, to me, these songs bring back a simpler time and take me back to the country roads of Otoe county, sitting next to my dad in his red Ford pick up truck, windows down, summer breeze blowing through my hair, and the radio turned up.

Good times.....

S

Camouflage

2009-06-13T00:01:00.003-05:00

Tonight Chi-Chi found the dental floss and helped himself to some. Actually he helped himself to more than some......almost half the roll! Just as I was about to ask him what he was up to.....he said, "Mom, I'm just camouflaging my teeth!"

I couldn't help but laugh.

S

Go, Chi-Chi! Go!

2009-06-12T23:05:00.008-05:00

This guy accomplished something this week that he has been waiting ever so patiently for over a year to do.

We took his training wheels off and he just took off! I wish you all could have seen the smile on his face. It literally stretched from ear to ear. He was just bursting at the seams! Unfortunately, and unbelievably, I didn't have my camera with me. Truth be told it was kind of hard to help him balance, run behind him, and hold Q-T all at the same time!!!!! I think adding a camera into the mix would have been a little too much......

Dew has been cruising around on two wheels for the last year. Chi-Chi tried so desperately to do the same last year, but his balance just wasn't there. Let me tell you it broke Chi-Chi's little heart when those training wheels went back on his bike. He's so tired of being the "little brother" even though he is almost just as big a Dew.

Anyway, here he is........zippin' up and down the sidewalk.

Look at the focus. The concentration. The drive. All the while, I am jumping up and down shouting, "Go Chi-Chi! Go! You are doing it!" (I think my excitement got the better of me as some of the neighbors came out to see what was going on. Ooops!)

This is what he usually looks like when he is riding his bike. Bike is heading in one direction and Chi-Chi's head looking in the other direction. Drives me crazy!!!! Because he is usually in front of me on the trail looking every which way but directly in front of him and constantly stops without warning. "Mom, did you see that cardinal?" or "Mom, did you see that critter?" or he just stops to talk.

Every now and then, he would stop and flip his bike over, and turn the pedals with his hands just to watch the wheels turn. It must be a boy thing, because I remember my brother doing the same thing when he was little. Do you remember doing that Uncle Benny?

Here's another shot where he is looking DOWN instead of in front of him. YIKES! Look straight ahead, Chi-Chi! Look straight ahead! You're giving your mom a heart attack!

He eventually gets everything in sync.

He had gotten so good and so fast, that after a while it was hard for me to get him in the frame.

And there he goes!

Chi-Chi, I am so proud of you! You hard work and determination paid off.

Zoom! Zoom!
S

Facebook

2009-06-10T13:24:00.008-05:00

I have resisted having anything to do with Facebook for the longest time. Well, this week I caved....and I must say I am absolutely LOVIN' it. I have connected with people I haven't seen or spoke with in years! Guess that is the whole point of Facebook, isn't it?!

I am now "friends" with Helen, a friend from junior high. I used to sit next to her in Mr. Novak's Civics class. Helen, I must say you haven't changed a bit.

I am also now "friends" with Amie. She is the reason my husband and I met. Amie, you look great, too. Actually better than great! You may have to hook me up with some MK....so I can be a hottie, too.

There's T who has always looked fabulous and still does. I'm guessing T's last time in Nebraska was when she came to be in our wedding. The weather was horrible that wkend...tornadoes, sirens, taking cover!

And there's Marnie. We had several classes together at UNL and she lived in the apartment building next to mine. We were pretty good friends in college. I moved to TX shortly after her wedding and we lost touch. She did give me a call about 10 years ago after seeing my engagement announcement in the paper and then she moved. Let me know that next time you are going to be in town Marnie!!!! It will be fun to catch up!

Today, I became "friends" with TK.....the lone guy out of my small group of Facebook friends. We were friends throughout high school and college. He was such a bad influence on me. Not really......he actually saved my sorry self a couple of times....but I will not share any of those stories until after my kids are grown....and by then, I will be too old to remember that crazy time in my life. I do remember that gray car you had with the alarm that always beeped twice....."Hello, Tom!" it would say.

For those of you that have become my "friends" on Facebook and have checked me out.....you'll notice I didn't post a pic of myself. The years haven't been as kind to me as they have been to all of you. I am much more comfortable BEHIND the camera than in front of it.

It has been so much fun the last couple of days discovering where life has taken everyone and what they are doing. I am looking forward to making more connections with friends from the past.

S

A New Friday Night Tradition

2009-06-09T13:46:00.011-05:00

Friday evening was absolutely perfect. After a relatively hot and humid day, all the heat and humidity seemed to magically disappear after 6 pm. Better weather couldn't have been custom ordered. So...we packed everything up and took it to the park for a picnic.

The kids were so excited they could hardly stand themselves! They wanted to ride their bikes to the park, but after working all day, I didn't have it in me....and I wonder why I can't lose any weight....you actually have to put forth some effort but that is a whole other blog topic.

By the time we got to the park, the kids were starving. Not quite sure why as they had been grazing all day long. We had turkey subway sandwiches....nope didn't make them.....picked them up at the HyVee, Cool Ranch Doritos because we are so cool (Hee! Hee!), grapes, root beer, and raspberry tea.

They ate like there was no tomorrow. Look at "The Law" shoveling it in.

We picked a table by the lake and "The Law" couldn't take her eyes off of it. There was so much going on......fishing, people biking, hiking, and boating.

Chi-Chi was a little groggy. No nap for the day, and he fell asleep right before we left for the park......he was not in the best of moods when we first arrived.

This kid, on the other hand, was completely in his element. You can tell because he is actually showing teeth when he smiles. He never smiles like this.....NEVER!

The lake was beautiful. It was relatively calm and the sun just shimmered on the surface of the water.

After we finished eating we headed to the park........there were so many kids! I am so glad that Ro and I were both there to help each other keep track of all of our kids....or as my friend Kim says my "hundred kids". All I have to say is, "Kim....one more! One more is all you need and then we'll be tied! Go for it! Everyone need four kids!" I am not biased or anything, but having four kids really is wonderful!

Dew loves to swing and loves to show off. Here is doing his famous, "Look, Mom! No hands!" move. This was right before he fell out of the swing because he wasn't hanging on. (Just kidding, he didn't fall out....he jumped out instead. Almost knocked me over!)

"The Law" loves to drive. I asked her where she was going and, of course, she was driving to Brupa's. I know you can't tell by the picture, but her beloved flip-flops are on the wrong feet. She, of course, refused to switch them around.

Q-T was "jus' a swangin' " and loved every minute of it. She was quite enthralled with the little boy that was swinging next to her. Probably wishing that she was swinging as high as he was.

Look at how her face lights up when she sees her mama!

Ro took the boys exploring.

They saw a kayaker.

This sailboat looked like so much fun.

Then there was this guy. I am not sure what he was in, but he saw me with my camera and kept turning the other way. I finally snapped him. His contraption was quite interesting. I do think he was a bit annoyed with my attempts to get his picture and am surprised he didn't shoot me the bird here.
The boys built these well constructed mounds in the sand.
Chi-Chi is proudly admiring his. Dew's is in the foreground.

Not to be out done...Dew also wanted a picture with his mound of sand. Wait! I am being corrected. It is not JUST a mound of sand.......it is a volcano. See how the top is caved in. Boy, its tough when they start reading......nothing is sacred!

Dew's a good speller, too. Gone are the days when we could spell out what we didn't want them to know.....M-O-V-I-E, Z-O-O, M-C-D-O-N-A-L-D-S. He always ruins the surprise.

"The Law" is taking it all in and asking, "What are they building those mounds in the sand, Mommy?"

She is concentrating really hard. Look at that furrowed brow.

On the way back to the car, the boys spotted these. Daisies are my favorite flower......they are so delicate, light, and airy.

Our evening was capped off with a trip to the ice cream shoppe around the corner from our house. "I scream! You scream! We all scream for ice cream!" There were resounding yays and whoo-hoos from those in our group. They live to go to the ice cream shoppe! Yes, we live a pretty sheltered life.

After we all had devoured our ice cream (which I didn't not NEED!)........ Dew, Chi-Chi, "The Law" and I walked home.
"The Law" is always checking to see if I'm coming. Chi-Chi could care less and is always in a hurry where ever he goes.

A perfect end to a perfect night!

S

New Life

2009-06-06T07:47:00.003-05:00

We have this tree outside our front door. It makes a perfect little Christmas tree and we load it up with lights each December and you can see the glow for miles. OK, maybe not miles, but at least down the block.

As we were leaving one day, we saw something in the tree that caught our eye.

It was this.

Yes, my lights were still on the tree. They were red so we left them up for Valentine's Day, and at the time of this photo.....they were still up.

Anyway, we found three little eggs tucked away in the nest....which was so meticulously woven. Robin's eggs are so beautiful. For days we checked on the progress of the eggs.

Then one day we notice the eggs had hatched.

It wasn't long and the little birds had feathers. The middle guy was always hungry. Every time we checked on him, he had his mouth open waiting for his mama to bring him his supper.

Then he would see me with my camera and immediately close his mouth. I would go in the house and watch them through the window and his little mouth would be open again.

The nest is now empty. They flew away about two weeks ago, but it sure was fun and such an amazing learning experience to watch the whole process. The kids absolutely loved it and would spend hours with their little faces pressed to the window observing their progress giving us play by play announcements, "MMOOOOMMM, one of the birds just moved a feather!" "The mama bird is watching me watch them!" (Again, what is it with boys and the "play by plays" on EVERYTHING????) We did stand on the front porch from time to time, but the mama bird was a little protective and I wanted to avoid an attack of the birds if at all possible.

I love Spring. I love to watch everything turn green, see the leaves unfold, and feel the breeze turn warmer. I never tire of the new life that comes each year.....the wonders of nature never cease to amaze me.

Hope your spring was just as magical and that you have a wonderful summer!
S

Dist. 2

2009-05-29T22:32:00.002-05:00

Last weekend when we were visiting my parents the kids and I went for a short drive. While we were cruising the countryside, my boys wanted to know where I went to school as a child. Well here it is......

This is Giles School District #2. My grandparents went here in the early 1900s. My dad in the 50s and my brother and I in the 70s and 80s. It didn't look this shabby when I was in attendance during the 70s and early 80s. It was kept up, painted, and the yard was mowed. It has been empty now for well over 10 years. It is so sad to see it in its present state.

Brace yourself....when I was in kindergarten....now mind you, I am not that old.....there was not indoor plumbing and if you had to use the "facilities" you had to go out to the outhouse. So we wouldn't get lost or fall in, we had to ask an eighth grader to escort us to the outhouse. Not the most pleasant experience during the winter. Fortunately, by the time my first grade year started restrooms had been added on....one for the boys and one for the girls. If you look closely you can see the small addition on the back side of the building.

I went to this school house all the way through to the eighth grade. There were only 8 students and 4 of us were Madsens....my two cousins, my brother and myself. Our teacher was Mrs. Snyder. She was really strict. I didn't appreciate it at the time, but now think of her as one of my favorite teachers.

School started at 9:00 am. At 10:30 we would have a 15 minute recess. Lunch was at 12:00. Then we would have a 15 minute recess at 2:30 and dismissal was at 3:30.

I just noticed the other day that some things were missing from school yard. I haven't traveled down that road in a long, long time. In the middle of all that green grass, there used to be an enormous swing set that someone at some point in time had fashioned out of pipes. Sounds strange but it was really sturdy. There were 4 swings and a tire swing and on either side of the swings were bars you could climb on....the low bars and the high bars. Just past the swing set were two teeter totters. It was always our goal to get ourselves to balance on them and see how long we could stay perfectly still. We also had a flag pole that we flew the flag from each and every day and one of us would go out and get everyday at 3:25. We always took great care to fold it into a triangle with stars on the outside. The flag pole was also our base when we played hide and seek. Not only did we play endless games of Hide and Seek, but also Tag, Andy Over, Red Rover, kick ball and softball.
Just on the other side of these trees we built a small fort by picking up sticks and carefully stacking them on top of one another making the walls. The minute we were let out for recess....we would head to the fort. So many memories. As I sit here and type, a flood of memories come back......things I haven't thought of since I walked out the door of the school for the last time in 1983.

There used to be several country schools in the area. Dist. 1, 2, 13, 18, and 81. I remember when Dist. 18 closed. I was only 7 or 8 at the time. An auction was held to sell off the property and I remember how sad everyone was. It was the beginning of the end of an era. We used to do several activities with Dist. 1 as they were only a couple miles away. We had a soft ball game with Dist. 81 once and several country schools got together for a few years and sponsored a track meet. My little country school and Dist. 81 are the last ones standing. All the others are gone.

I wouldn't trade any of my elementary experiences for the world. So many wonderful childhood memories happened at Giles School Dist. 2 and are great stories to share with my children.

S

Memorial Day

2009-05-27T20:01:00.003-05:00

When I was a kid, Memorial Day was one of my favorite holidays.
This little country church is just 3 miles from where I grew up, down a dusty country road. My dad attended this church when he was a young boy, but it closed in the 50s and he and my grandparents started to go to church in town.

Although the church was officially closed, every Memorial Day a special service would be held. There would be a guest minister who would come out and conduct the service. One year I said the Gettysburg Address, which was amazing because I was painfully shy. My grandmother would play the hymns for the service on the piano. I loved to watch her play....her fingers would fly over those keys. She made it look so effortless.

The little church was packed with people from the community, and some who had left but
would make a point to come back and attend this service. I loved how everyone came together.

After the service, homemade cookies, lemonade, and coffee were served and everyone would mix and mingle and walk through the adjoining cemetery visiting loved ones they had lost.

For the last 35 or so years, my dad has had the honor of putting up flags on the graves of fallen soldiers and veterans at our little country cemetery. The Friday before, we would pile in the pick up, head to the cemetery and my brother and I would race around and see who could put up the most flags. We always had to do this the Friday before so those who came to cemetery prior to Memorial Day were sure to see their loved ones graves decorated. It amazing how many soldiers and veterans a small farming community produced....my dad included.

My favorite part of the morning was after the service. My friends Susan, Sandra, and I would roam the cemetery while our parents chatted with neighbors.

This is one stone we walked by at least a million times. My grandparents were planners and had their plot purchased and this stone put up about 30 years ago. I always thought it was a little morbid to still be alive and walk by your own stone, but they didn't see it that way.

In all my years of roaming the cemetery, I never thought I would see this. In a corner of the family plot, not too far from my grandma, is our first child who was born at rest. It is comforting to know that he is in such a beautiful, peaceful place and that my grandmother is up there taking care of our Maddie.

I love to stand there on the hill and just take in the views. Every once in a while you will see a small herd of deer roaming through the fields. I especially like to go and listen to the wind rustle through the trees and just soak up the peacefulness of the country.

Memorial Day services are no longer held in our little country church and it has stood empty for years falling victim to vandalism. Soon there will be new life breathed into that church. It is currently undergoing restoration which will bring it back to its original glory and will be available for weddings.....getting ready for future generations to create their own memories of this little country church.

S

Memorial Weekend at the Farm

2009-05-24T13:51:00.021-05:00

We went to the farm this weekend to spend time with my parents and to just plain kick back and relax! I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE being there. It's so nice getting away from the hustle and bustle of the city.

We pulled up in the drive way and this little scene was waiting for us. So serene!

I swear, my mom could put Martha Stewart to shame!

Here is the trademark red barn. Right now it is the home to 3 little calves my dad is bottle feeding because their mothers abandoned them. It's sad but it happens. My kids love to go out with Brupa and help feed those little calves. Especially Chi-Chi....he loves to anything as long as he is with his Brupa.
"Joe Cool" (Brupa) took a short break from his chores to spend time with two of his granddaughters. They love being with Brupa, but I think the feeling is mutual.

By the way, my dad always has those sunglasses on...always...even when he is inside. They are so scratched up, it is amazing he can see anything at all.

When I was a kid, my grandparents had a 3 wheeler that my cousins and I would spend hours on tearing around their farm. Boy, did that make my mom a nervous wreck! Now, I can see her reasons for concern as we were more concerned about the "ride" than any one's safety. It's amazing that we still have all of our limbs. I guess what goes around comes around because today, my parents have this Gator....and the kids love it. Me? Not so much. They love to go for rides and are constantly begging for someone to take them out and about. Today my mom is the chauffeur. My niece and nephew are the blondies...the dark headed one is my oldest.

We loaded up the kids in the Gator and ventured down the road.

My niece is so funny. As long as the Gator was moving she would sing at the top of her little lungs...making it all up as she went along. Then we would stop, and so would the singing. We'd go....singing....stop....no singing! Hilarious!

Once we returned from our little "road trip" we had to go see the horses.

More than anything as a little girl, I wanted a horse. I mean I really, really, really wanted a horse. Never did get one! My how things change once grand kids enter the picture. There are horses all over the place!

Candy is another thing ......went grocery shopping and my mom actually had candy on the list. There was never candy on "the list" as I was growing up. What is this strange power that grand kids have over their grandparents????

They are such beautiful creatures....the kids can't wait to ride them!

From there we went to "Sherwood Forest". What a hot spot! When the weather is nice we roast marshmallows in the fireplace and feast on s'mores.

Doesn't this look like a wonderful place to just let your imagination run wild? The boys love to go out their with their plastic swords. They are the nights and Oma (my mom) is the Queen and they protect her from all things evil in Sherwood Forest. They have an absolute blast!

I know what you are thinking....."If this is such a hot spot, where are the kids?"
Well, just as everyone jumped out of the back of the Gator, my brother pulled in with the mowers and the kids took off and hopped on the trailer and rode it to the shed.

Yes, my kids are actually riding on lawn mowers on the back of a moving trailer. And you are saying...."The Gator looks a lot safer than this!" A) I was yelling for them to get off..but couldn't be heard over the roaring of Uncle Benny's truck and B) Uncle Benny was barely moving.
After a long day of playing with cousins, Gator rides, doing chores with Brupa, and roaming Sherwood Forest, it was time to go to bed. My kids were beat! They got to sleep on air mattresses in the den and were absolutely thrilled with the idea. They were sawing logs within minutes!

Q-T is an early riser. She hasn't quite figured out that mommy likes to sleep in on the weekends. Is that too much to ask of a 6 month old? Anyway, since I was up, I was able to watch sunrise through the grove of trees.

My grandparents used to live where my parents do now. My grandma always called the group of trees across the driveway "the grove". We would go on adventures with her through the grove, and every now and then we would have bonfires there. She would be so sad to see it now. It used to be packed with cottonwood trees. Through the years they have slowly disappeared to where there are only a few left. Some of those trees have to be at least 100 years old. If only they could talk.....the stories they'd tell.

Once everyone was up we gathered around the table for a hearty breakfast.

This is "The Law's" favorite place at the table. While we were all eating our breakfast of bacon, eggs, and hash browns....she crawled down from her chair and planted herself under the table in the center circle....just as happy as a two year old could be.

These two black lumps are actually cows grazing. They have all the sweet grass they could dream of eating. Imagine being able to eat all the food you want and not have to worry one bit about our weight. In fact the fatter you are the more attractive you are.

Then there is this guy! He has three other buddies in another pen. In two weeks they will get to mix and mingle with all the female bovine creatures and have their way with them, so to speak.
He's not too aggressive, however two of his buddies apparently couldn't wait the two weeks and jumped the fence, literally jumped the fence, to get in with the girls a little early. My dad was not a happy camper. He not only had to go chase them back into their pen, but he now has to repair the fence they took down.
When my grandparents lived on the farm this was a working windmill. I can still hear the squeaking of the wheel as the wind blew. Today, the top is gone and this tree has decided to branch out through the remainder of the frame.

My dad is a John Deere man. Everything he owns is John Deere. He has had this tractor for years. I can still see him flying down the road with his blonde hair flapping in the wind. Hey, it was the 70s and it was stylish to have hair that would flap in the wind.

Today I will leave you with this picture of my niece Mac. She is incredible! An endless ball of energy! And does she ever love to sing! Her song of choice Sunday was, "I Love Rock n' Roll". She bee-bopped around all day singing, "I love rock n' roll! Put another dime in the juice box baby!"

My version is, "I love Mackie Jo! She's so silly and she's so crazy!" Of course I get corrected and redirected to the "juice box".

What a great weekend!
S

Chi-Chi

2009-05-21T10:45:00.002-05:00

Anytime I have my camera in hand, Chi-Chi is the first one to volunteer to have his picture taken.

The thing is....this is what he likes to do. He is not the serious type.
In case I haven't told you already, Chi-Chi is our funny guy.

The minute his picture has been taken, he runs over and wants to see how it turned out.

Then he does this.

He tries to out do the previous picture.

It's a never ending cycle.

But he sure does keep us laughing!
S

Look Who Is Sitting Up!

2009-05-21T09:19:00.003-05:00

Look who is sitting up!!! At 5 1/2 months Q-T has gained a new level of independence, and she is absolutely loving it!

She has been trying for weeks to get herself into an upright position....she always has to be a part of the action and hates lying on her back and not being able to see everything that is going on!

Notice her eyes. "I see spots! I see nothing but yellow spots floating in the air!" (Flash had just gone off.)

She's got that tongue hanging out of her mouth......concentrating so hard on maintaining that balance.

Congratulations Q-T! I am so proud of you!

Just one question.....Why are you in such a hurry to grow up?

Love you with all of my heart-
Mom

My Girl

2009-05-17T21:55:00.003-05:00

This is my girl.
I am absolutely amazed by her. By everything she does. By everything she says.

She is my ray of sunshine each and every day!

I get lost in her eyes.
I love it when her little hand slips into mine, or when she snuggles up next to me in the chair, looks at me and says, "I love you Mommy!" Moments I wish would last forever are when I pull her out of bed in the morning and she wraps her arms around me. Then she gives me a big squeeze, and I feel her little hand giving me "love pats" on the back.
I could stay holding her like that forever........I want the feeling and images of these moments to last a lifetime. Kids just grow up way too fast.

She is my dream come true!

S

Can't Get Enough of Q-T!!!

2009-05-14T13:13:00.004-05:00

Look at my baby! She has absolutely been a complete joy to all of us. Yes, there are those moments. For instance, at 2 a.m., when all I want, more than ANYTHING in the world, is a full night's sleep....she looks at me with those beautiful brown eyes, gives me a little "coo" and flashes a smile, then her little hand reaches up and touches my face. My heart just melts. It makes those little "interruptions" worth it. She's not up for very long. Twenty minutes tops. However, I find myself staying up at least an hour....watching her sleep, feeling her breathe, simply holding her....just taking her all in.

She is growing up way too fast!

S

No Computer

2009-05-13T13:57:00.003-05:00

What did I ever do 10 years or so ago without a computer???? I haven't been able to blog, upload pictures, or check my beloved email for 3 days and it has been killing me!!!!! I can live with out my cell phone and without TV, but I find it extremely hard to make it a day without being able to do something that is computer related!!!!!
But, now I am back and will have to make up for lost time!
S

Q-T's Playmate

2009-05-13T10:37:00.004-05:00

Every Wednesday my friend, Kim, and I try to get together. We have been friends for YEARS, and have had bad habit of letting too much time go in between our get togethers, so we decided to have a standing date from now until one of us up and dies.

Kim has 3 kids...as opposed to my "millions of kids" as she so tenderly put it one day. Among her three kiddos is this little cutie pie....LuLu. (All of her kids are cute by the way.....there's just something about being a baby that makes one "extra cute".)

She was all over Q-T. Q-T was a captive audience and had no where to go. (Sorry Uncle Rob.....I know you hate exersaucers......but in our house, it is the one place I can put her and know that no one will sit on her, use her as a pillow, or as a baby dolly.

They had so much fun and just looked at each other and laugh and laugh and laugh!!!! LuLu tried to teach Q-T the ins and outs of the exersaucer. Luckily, Q-T hasn't used any of her new found tricks. I think she knows that is the safest place for her as well!

They couldn't be more opposite....LuLu blonde hair...blue eyes. Q-T brown hair...brown eyes. But they are already the best of friends.

I think we'll be getting this same look in a few years....."What party? What are you talking about?"
Although I, personally, would never know anything about parties or anything like that. Even my own mother would say I was always on the straight and narrow.........I think. Wouldn't you Mom?

Getting back on the straight and narrow path-
S

Baby Fertilizer

2009-04-30T09:34:00.005-05:00

Last night before we ate I told the boys to go wash their hands as they had been playing outside and were on the verge of what one would consider filthy. I emphasized the WASH WITH SOAP because they like to forget that step. Well, Chi-Chi dutifully fulfilled his obligation. Dew, who is every essence of the word defiant, decided to take a short-cut and went straight for the hand sanitizer instead of the sink. Chi-Chi immediately "told" on Dew because he had obediently followed directions and his brother did not, so someone needed to know about it. This is what he said, "MMMMOOOOOMMMM, Dew didn't wash his hands with soap! He used the baby fertilizer!" Chi-Chi was not happy!

I, of course, stopped dead in my tracks....then I realized he meant to say hand sanitizer. For someone who has spent 5 out of the last 8 years of marriage pregnant, baby fertilizer are two words I don't want or need to hear! So I responded, "Chi-Chi, did you mean to say hand sanitizer? Because we don't need any more of that baby fertilizer around here!"

It of course went over his head......

Breathing a sigh of relief-
S

My Little Q-T

2009-04-28T20:14:00.003-05:00

Mom, what ya doin'?

What are you holding in front of your face? Enough with the camera already!

ARGH....spots! I see nothing but yellow spots floating in the air!

Whew! I am starting to regain focus......please, please, PLEASE no more pictures.....I'm begging you....you're always snapping that thing in my face!

Sorry Q-T! It's those cheeks!!!!! I just can't get enough of those cheeks! Love kissing them, 'nuggling them, and squeezing them.

I'm addicted to those cheeks!

What are these things?

2009-04-27T21:48:00.006-05:00

We had the most beautiful day the last Thursday. After a day at school, we pulled in the driveway, unloaded ourselves from the car and spent the evening outside. Only coming in to eat supper about 7:00. That's the beauty of having a husband who does the cooking.....one can sit back, relax, and have absolutely no worries. (He also does the grocery shopping. Not because he enjoys it.....but because I spend too much money when I do the shopping, or so I have been told. Hey, I don't mind. It's one less thing I have to do. But that's a whole other blog.)

As we were basking in the sunshine, clear blue sky, and perfect temperature, I looked up and noticed that the leaves had popped out overnight. We have two beautiful trees that completely shade our front yard. Last summer, there were several branches that swooped down and touched the ground. However, my two rough-housers would swing on them like they were Tarzan, so we trimmed up the swooping branches....much to my dismay. We are already the noisiest people on the block....(with 4 kids that honor automatically goes to you whether you want it or not) and the last thing our neighbors need to hear is the Tarzan yell and see Chi-Chi swinging from branch to branch in his underwear. After such a long, cold, and merciless winter, this was a sight for sore eyes!

These little purple guys were blooming in full force.

The kids had a blast!!!! We put off homework and enjoyed family time.....come to think of it....the boys weren't yelling at each other....no name calling.....just good, old fashioned fun.

Dew shot some hoops.

Chi-Chi ran around with his shirt off showing the neighborhood his muscles. Doesn't he look like that cat that just swallowed the canary?

The Law buckled and unbuckled her baby dollies in the buggy. She did this at least a million times....and enjoyed every minute of it. I know. Cheap entertainment.

Dew zipped around on his scooter. Boy, the kid can fly on that thing! (I tried experimenting with some text on the pictures. As you can tell, my experiment failed as you are unable to read it....so just pretend as though you don't even see it.)

Lovin' Spring!

Easter in the Country

2009-04-25T19:05:00.010-05:00

A couple of weeks ago my family went to Oma and Brupa's for Easter. It was a nice day away....and Oma has a way of making everything.........perfect. There was yummy food as far as the eye could see........and of course I ate more than my fair share.......and of course I shouldn't have. Just walk away! Ignore the temptation! Have I mentioned that I have absolutely no self discipline?!

There was a main course before the main course. (Notice the look on Ro's face. He absolutely hates having his picture taken. Hates it with a passion!)

No one could keep their hands out of the food. Although, I don't think anyone tried very hard.

Oma's house looks like it slipped off the pages of Martha Stewart's magazine.

The kids even have their own little table.....set with love and little sweet treats.

Everything in its place. Everything matches. Well, at least until we arrive on the scene. Such a far cry from my house. Notice I am not posting any pictures of my house for comparison. I don't think I could tell you the last time it was "Martha Stewartized".

Nope. Not my house. Still Oma's.

Brupa always finds time for his granddaughters. Look at him breathing in Q-T. He adores all of his grand kids.....but there's something extra special about the Macster, Law and Q-T.

Chi- Chi was just itching to go outside from the moment we arrived. He could be outside 24/7....and it doesn't matter what the weather is like. Just as long as he is outside.

Oma put the Easter Bunny to shame. The boys' birthdays fell right before and after Easter so we had a small celebration while we were there. One of the biggest hits were these little note pads and a pen that has Brupa's name on it. It quickly became one of Chi-Chi's most treasured possessions......he goes crazy over anything that has to do with Brupa.

The other hit was these balloon rockets. They played with those things all afternoon! After each "launch" they would race into the house and give us all a play by play of where and how far the balloon went. (One balloon went a whole 15 cm according to Chi-Chi. It actually went further.....he just has no concept of measurement.) And no play by play would be complete without sound effects. What is it with boys having to reenact absolutely EVERYTHING????? Anyone have the answer to that??? Please fill me in if you do.

Our day ended with singing Happy Birthday to the boys and of course more food. We all had a wonderful time. Especially the boys.

I think if they could, they would move in Oma and Brupa in a heartbeat. Oma and Dew would spend their days creating recipes and making cooking shows, and Chi-Chi would spend his days in his Carharts working side by side with his Brupa and cruising the country side in the pickup.

All my love-

My Creative Side

2009-04-25T11:15:00.003-05:00

I am not a creative person.....I do not possess one, single ounce of creativity. I envy people who can think of something and effortlessly, or seemingly so, make it come to life. Well, here is my version. These are little Easter buckets I made for my kids and my niece and nephew.

The buckets came from the $1 section at Target....my favorite store! There were girly girl ones with little bows and plain ones for the boys.

I ordered little embellishments from Uppercase Living for about $2 each and everything started to come together.

I am still a far cry from Martha Stewart.....but it's a start! One day, maybe one day, I will be there.

Uncle Benny, You so CRAAAZY!

2009-04-18T11:53:00.005-05:00

Uncle Benny is just about the greatest guy to walk the Earth. (He, too, just oozes kindness. Must be where Chi-Chi gets it.)
At least in Chi-Chi's eyes. And whenever Uncle Benny is around, Chi-Chi just can't get enough of him. Notice poor Uncle Benny had a broken arm at the time this picture was taken.......he had an unfortunate incident with a 4-wheeler.

While that picture was taken months ago......these were taken just this week. Uncle Benny is still a boy at heart. Look at his 6'5" frame on this little machine.

He and his family are moving out to the country in a few, short weeks. (Please don't go....We don't want you to move away....We will miss you guys tremendously!) They found this little 4-wheeler for their kiddos and soon they will have all the wide open space they could dream of to zip around on this thing.

But for the time being.....this is his toy. There are tons of things wrong with this whole scenario.....first of all....he is just outright too big.....and secondly.....no helmet. I kept waiting for something to go wrong.... ....especially when he did this....

"BE CAREFUL, UNCLE BENNY! BE CAREFUL! THAT'S DANGEROUS!"

Uncle Benny, you so CRAAAZY!

Finally!

2009-04-16T20:56:00.014-05:00

While Dew had started his birthday countdown months ago.....in fact, he started it right after Christmas, Chi-Chi has been waiting to turn 5 for years! And today, his dream finally came true. Chi-Chi turned 5!

Look at that face. It gets me every time. Can't you see the kindness just oozing from his eyes? This kid has the biggest heart I know. He is always putting the well being of others before his own. Chi-Chi would give you the shirt off his back if you needed it and he make friends where ever he goes. (We had Kool-aid last night with our supper...if you look carefully you can see traces of a red mustache around the corners of his mouth.)

It has been so hard for him to stand on the side-lines and watch his older brother go off to Kindergarten, then 1st grade, and be involved in activities that he has been too young for. His day is finally coming. Chi-Chi will officially start Kindergarten in August and he can hardly wait.

Today Chi-Chi, "The Law" and I went to the opening day of our children's zoo to do something special for his big day. We called some friends and they met us there which made it even more special.

Posing with the Bald Eagle at the zoo entrance. Trying to look as tough as a 5 year old can.

The train the biggest attraction at the zoo for my kids. They are such train freaks! I think we have purchased enough tickets over the years to have our very own train. We made sure we went for a train ride...."The Law" loved screaming in the tunnel It's a zoo tradition to scream at the top of your lungs as you zip through the tunnel...but because he is a "tough guy", Chi- Chi never screams...never...not even a peep. We finally made it inside the zoo.

He was so excited to see the reindeer. They are the first exhibit you come to in the zoo.....and let me tell you...while they are beautiful animals, these guys STINK! UGH!

Chi-Chi's most favorite part of the zoo is this area. I call it "Billy Goats Gruff". This is where the goats live. Last year, the zoo built these little bridges so the goats can get from one pen to another without mauling the pedestrians. TRIP! TRAP! TRIP! TRAP!

Then there were these cute little guys. Their feed dish is almost bigger than they are.

Take a look at this. Aren't these three of the cutest eagles you have ever seen? Just in case you can't tell...they are standing in an eagle's nest.
I am thinking that this would make an excellent new mascot for the Baylor Bears. What do you think? Just don't tell Ro what I am thinking. I know he wouldn't care for the relaxed nature of this bear to represent "his team".

After our trip to the zoo, we went home for a special birthday supper. Chi-Chi chose the menu which consisted of salad, pizza, and root-beer. Here he is serenading us as we ate. His song of choice......"We Will Rock You" by Queen. (Yes, my kids know several Queen songs by heart. Chi-Chi's all time fave is "Fat-Bottom Girls".)

He really gets into his singing.

This is our everyday Chi-Chi.

He is constantly in motion and some sort of sound effect can always be heard as he flies around the house, around the yard, or down the sidewalk. This kid is just plain noisy.....and for that I am thankful. I am thankful that he his healthy and can be so active, all of which we take for granted 99% of the time. He tries to be tough, but deep inside he's a softie. He loves to be outside and "work" especially with his Brupa. I love that he tells me 3 things he's grateful for every night and his family is always one of them. I love his laughter and his mischievous ways. He's just plain lovable!

Chi-Chi, I love you with all of my heart and thank God that he chose me to be your mom! I hope you had a wonderful birthday and hope you have the best year a 5 year old could ever have!

Love you buddy!

Mom

Wild Olive Tees

2009-04-12T21:10:00.004-05:00

If you haven't taken the opportunity to check out the Wild Olive Tees button.....you need to check them out. These t-shirts are amazing and am sure you can find one to suit you . Just go to http://wildolivetees.com/

Let them (and me) know what you think!

Enjoy!

S

Lucky Number 7

2009-04-11T23:46:00.011-05:00

Dew has looked forward to this day for months. Today he turned 7.
Seven years ago, Ro and I couldn't wait until this little bundle of joy would arrive. The night before he was born, we were up the entire night too excited to sleep and filled with a million emotions. We arrived at the hospital at 6:00 am ready to be induced.....both of us thinking that by noon we would have a baby in our arms. Well, noon came....and noon went. Induction is such a long process....of which I am extremely thankful for epidurals....made the process a breeze. By 6:00 pm there was still no baby, no contractions....nothing....but I was starving!!!!!! Finally, about 10 pm things started happening and this bundle of joy arrived at exactly 1:00 am. I couldn't take my eyes or my hands off of him....he was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen. For the second night in a row, I stayed up all night and just took him all in. So thankful that he was healthy and absolutely perfect!

Now seven years later, I look at him wondering where the time has gone, wondering why he is in such a hurry to grow up, and completely and totally amazed that something so perfect came from me.

We had a small party to celebrate his big day. He wanted to wear his shirt with the ruby buttons...and if you look close...you may be able to see those little gems.We broke protocol and let him open presents first.

Then we had a special appearance from the Spy Kids. You didn't know we had those kind of connections, did you? But be careful in who you tell. These two were on a top secret mission......oo7 kind of stuff.

And this little one saw a spider in our house. This is her "I saw a spider" face. Don't worry....we called the exterminator and we are now pest free. I am so grateful she discovered that little critter.......as I HATE spiders myself.

Dew, I hope you had a wonderful birthday and wish you have a year full of many blessings.

Love you-

Mom

P.S. Thank you to all who came to help Dew celebrate.....and thanks for humoring my feeble attempt at throwing together a party......at none other than the last minute. (You know I wouldn't be me if I didn't wait until the last minute.....it's my biggest flaw!)

Easter Eggs

2009-04-11T22:58:00.014-05:00

This is what we did this afternoon.

After all, it is Easter and therefore you must decorate eggs. The boys had sooooo much fun. We had purchased the "tie dye" kit. but as you can tell....more ended up a solid color than tie dyed. Tie dying took more patience than Chi Chi and Dew had.

I love watching their creativity. This is right up Dew's alley. He LOVES to make things. Unfortunately, he has a mom who doesn't know the meaning of the word creativity. It was a little more than I bargained for. A little advice, always read the directions before purchasing the egg dying kit. Each egg needed to be rolled up in this little piece of cloth which needed to be damp and thoroughly rinsed after each "dye". Then the wrapped egg needed to be placed in this plastic contraption. And finally you injected the dye through these little holes. It's understandable why the boys gave up after two eggs and just plopped them in the cups and went the solid color route. We did end up with some pretty cool eggs and it was a great way to spend an afternoon!

Wishing each of you a very blessed Easter!

Splish! Splash! Q-T's Takin' A Bath

2009-04-07T20:53:00.007-05:00

No matter how fussy Q-T is.......strip her down, put her in the tub, and all her troubles just disappear.
Calgon......Take me away!

Aaaaahhhhhh!

OK Q-T, don't get used to the "spa treatment".

I just can't resist that face!

Love -

One Last Time

2009-04-05T21:02:00.004-05:00

Today was April 5th. Although you would never be able to tell. It should be warm and sunny, and we should be spending our days basking in Spring and all of its glory. Flowers should be blooming....trees should be spreading their leaves welcoming the sun.
Well, this is what we woke up to this spring morning!

Do you see that white stuff????? When will it stop?! I should be thankful that this is all we got.....by the end of the day it was all gone. There were places not too far from here that will take a while to dig out from all of the snow they received.

Old Man Winter can be such a bully!

Brrrrrr!
S

Grandma 'Tinez, Where Are You?

2009-04-01T13:57:00.002-05:00

"The Law" has been wandering around the house calling your name....."Grandma 'Tinez?!"...looking for you.....then calls your name a little louder, "Grandma 'Tinez?!".....searching for you....now she is yelling at the top of her lungs, "Grandma 'Tinez?!"....When she can't find you, the only conclusion her little mind can form is, "Grandma 'Tinez at work."

She misses you so very much! We all do!

Love-
S

We Did It!

2009-03-31T07:48:00.003-05:00

It may not be a milestone for some, but for us.......it is to be written down and recorded in history.
For the last two days since Grandma has been gone, we have managed to not only get ourselves up, showered, dressed and fed.....but also 4 kids, along with making all the beds, getting a load of laundry done, and all of us out the door by 7:15 a.m.!!!!!! Whoo--hoo!

Now today.....Ro's day started at 3:30 a.m. thanks to Q-T, so he'll be ready to crash about 5:30 this afternoon! I have had many a day like that, and by 1:00 all sorts of CRAZY things are coming out of my mouth...and my little students, to polite to say anything, just look at me and wonder why this crazy lady is standing before them...sometimes..... they just outright laugh! On those days, I just want to find a quiet corner, curl up, and take a much needed nap!

Love-
S

The End Is Near

2009-03-29T11:18:00.002-05:00

Less than 24 hours left of Spring Break........on the bright side........eight weeks until summer vacation!!!!!!

Grandma's Gone

2009-03-29T10:02:00.002-05:00

In fact.....she is probably flying somewhere over West Texas this very moment.....and I am sure she is gazing out the window feeling very thankful to be back where the weather is already balmy, at least by Nebraska standards. We had a nice cold snap yesterday, which, I am sure, made going home all the more wonderful to her.

Our house feels so empty without her here. In the eight weeks she was here we got used to her laugh, her smile, her stories, filling us in on current events (she became quite the CNN fan), her cooking (bye-bye homemade tortillas), and most importantly her special way with Q-T. I think Q-T was looking around for Grandma this morning when she woke from her slumber.....as they built quite the bond and became best friends.

I know she is going home to 13 people who missed her tremendously, and they will be very happy to have her back in their lives. Just know, Grandma, that you have 6 people in Nebraska who love you more than words can express,and we can't tell you how much we appreciate everything you have done for us! Glad you are back where it is warm....

All of our love-
Ro, Steph, Dew, Chi-Chi, "The Law" and Q-T

Bakerella I'm Not

2009-03-24T22:06:00.005-05:00

I am almost embarrassed to show these pics. I had this grand idea to make cake pops with the boys. It looked so easy! Well, looks can be deceiving! This is how mine turned out!

They look pitiful....but they are so very yummy! Check out Bakerella's website to see how they were supposed to look! One day......maybe when I am not so sleep deprived.... I'll have cake pops mastered.

S

This Is What We Did Today

2009-03-24T09:23:00.006-05:00

This is where Dew and I went this morning. (I'll spare you the nickname, but if you think long enough.....you might get it.)

Dew and his fellow Cub Scouts had the day off from school so one of the moms, one that is far more organized than me and has all the right connections, put together a very educational field trip to the state capital for the boys......the nickname was not part of the field trip.

These doors are absolutely beautiful. (It is extremely dark inside the capital.....almost
dungeon-like.... so my pictures aren't the best.) Anyway, these doors give tribute the Native American history in Nebraska. They are carved out of Mahogany from Honduras and together they weigh 750 lbs...the handles alone weigh 11.5 lbs.

See my little Cub Scout...notice his smile...the kid wouldn't show his teeth to save his life.

We had a wonderful tour guide, Gloria. The mom who organized this whole thing told Gloria that it was for a group of first graders, and I guess based on previous field trips this crew has taken, suggested that she may want to shorten the tour. Gloria's response was, "No I won't...they'll be fine." She was right! She kept the attention of 10 first graders for over an hour. They were thoroughly engaged and hung on her every word....not one peep!

And the minute she was done with our tour, Gloria went right back and did the whole thing again for another group! Not sure she even had time to take a restroom break!

Here she had them lay on the floor and look up at the dome. They just dropped and made themselves comfortable.

And here she is telling the Scouts how long it took and how much it cost to build the capital. (It took 10 years and 10 million dollars. Just a little trivia for you.) Notice how straight and how still they are standing.....and it is not because the moment is forever preserved in a picture. She said line up and they did!!!! No arguing, no nothing!!!! They just fell into this perfect line.

Each Scout represented one million dollars and one of ten years it took to build the capital.

Notice their hands are being kept to themselves.

My guy is on the end at the right. He represented the 10th year and 10 million dollars.

One day....maybe one day....he'll be a politician. Here he is trying it out. Lord knows the kid loves to argue, and boy, he can sure dance around a subject.....especially when he thinks he may be getting into trouble. In that case, he is very proficient in placing the blame on something or someone else...mainly Chi-Chi!

One of our last stops was meeting the Governor. He was very patient with the kids and their million questions. Most of the questions, strangely enough, dealt with why the furniture in the room was positioned where it was. He said he loved the questions (or maybe he's a really good politician) and they were quite observant....as he has had groups of middle and high schoolers and they don't ask any questions at all. I bet after today's questions, he'll welcome the silence next time.

Look at Dew! Again with the smile.....notice no teeth! I think the Governor is smiling because his time answering questions about furniture placement is almost over. I will say this.....originally he was only scheduled to give us 10 minutes and he ended up spending about 30 minutes with us.....it was all those furniture questions.

The Unicameral is currently in session and the boys got to go on the "floor" of the legislature while the Senators were presenting bills. Guests are announced and the boys got a standing "O" from the Senators when their troop was introduced.

Needless to say we had a wonderful morning...and very educational. The boys really enjoyed themselves! Thank you Virginia for putting this together for us! She takes her job as a den mother very seriously!

A Day Full of Blessings

2009-03-23T15:31:00.007-05:00

Yesterday was Q-T's baptism. All of her biggest supporters were there to help her celebrate....Oma and Brupa, Grandma 'Tinez, Uncle Benny and Aunt Aub, her Godparents Darren and Sherri....of course Ro and myself and a bunch of very curious and slightly restless kiddos. Q-T made it through the entire baptism without a squeak! In fact she smiled and cooed through the entire thing.

Nice shot of the back of Dew's head. He always has to be where the action is.

We had a small photo session afterwards.

The "star" of the day.....Q-T herself.

My arm is draped across her in almost every picture. Should have been a little more aware of what I was doing. I love that christening gown. A wonderful lady, by the name of Zip, from our old church offered to make it. Three of our four kiddos have worn it......for some reason.....we weren't that on the ball with "The Law". She was 18 months before we got around to having her baptized.

Here are her Godparents. They are two of the most wonderful people I know.....treat our kids like theirs. They also have 4 kiddos and can easily understand our crazy life.....in fact....if you threw the 8 kids together, your first thought may be, "Are they all siblings?"

Here we are with Grandma 'Tinez. She has been taking care of Q-T since the first of Febuary and will be leaving us in the 29th of this month. She and Q-T have developed quite the bond. She has been spoiling all of us with her mouth-watering cooking...especially those homemade tortillas.... and helping us get things done around the house.

We keep begging her not to leave us...as we aren't sure what we are going to do without her. I do think she is ready to go home to Grandpa and warmer weather. Thank you Grandma for all you have done for us!

Here we are with Oma and Brupa.

We are so lucky to have them...and spoil us as well. They let us come and take over the farm when we want to escape the big city. With 6 of us, we pretty much, "take over" where ever we go. I think Oma worked the hardest to make Q-T's day special. Thank you Oma for making her day so wonderful!

The only people we left out were Uncle Benny and Aunt Aub....sorry guys! Just know we love you, too!!!!!!

Thank you to all of you for making Q-T's day so wonderful!

Love-

I Can FINALLY See It Coming

2009-03-20T10:50:00.001-05:00

Exactly 4 hours until Spring Break starts..........

Generations

2009-03-17T20:36:00.004-05:00

Q-T's first visit with her great-granddad.

The stories he could tell her......he's 98......and am sure he has a million and one to share....country school, box dinners, square dances and on and on and on.

Then we took this...

......four generations. Something wonderful.

Cousins

2009-03-17T20:21:00.004-05:00

Look at this crew!

They're cousins....although by looking you could never tell they are related........and boy, are they a wild bunch! WILD, I tell you! Listen carefully and you can hear the chaos....can you hear it?

Chi-Chi has to be the "ham" in every picture!

But he can be so loving!

Reality

2009-03-17T11:01:00.001-05:00

Reality just set in! Spring Break is just around the corner.....my saving grace.....counting down the minutes!

S

Does It Really Have To End?

2009-03-15T19:21:00.016-05:00

Why do all good things have to come to an end?

The kids and I just spent the weekend at my parents. It was absolutely WONDERFUL! I was completely spoiled....not only by my parents....but I was able to sit back and watch HGTV, Food Network, TLC, and CMT to my heart's content. (We don't have the "big" cable package.....they have DISH.) Dad kept the boys busy and out of the house. Mom watched the baby and I actually got some sleep!

Don't want the weekend to come to an end and have reality set in.

The boys had a great time and spent most of the weekend out and about with their Brupa! Two weeks ago when we were there, this is what it looked like.

They went to "The Station" to have a coffee/Bug Juice, helped feed the cows hay, and made their way to the barn several times a day to give a little calf its bottle.Yesterday they went to a sale and this is what they came home with.

Today the kids and I went on a Gator ride before we left. The kids love those Gator rides! Here we are trying to get our act together.

Right before we left on our journey, E ditched us to do chores with Brupa.

Here is my chauffeur.

He takes his driving responsibility very seriously.

I tried to take a picture of "The Law" and me but it didn't quite work out. I think we must have hit a rut or something. It didn't quite come out like I have envisioned.

We stopped to see some of the sights as we were zooming around.

You'd never be able to tell it by looking at the pictures, but Spring is just around the corner. It really is! And we can't wait! (Notice the barbed wire running directly through the center of my picture.)

Brupa wants each one of the grand kids to have a horse. The kids are so intrigued by the horses and can't wait for the day when they will be able to ride around with Brupa.

Thanks for stopping by and sharing our weekend!

Thanks Mom and Dad for such a great wkend! Can't wait for summer!

Love-

So Funny!

2009-03-12T08:33:00.003-05:00

Just thought this was funny......
In my last post I wrote about the Baylor Bears and the Huskers......well, in a round about way, anyway. You may have noticed that there are ads in the upper right hand corner of my blog. Ads are placed based on the content of what I write. So I have ads containing information from both Baylor University and UNL. (Roman would be sure to point out that Baylor's ads are more academically based and the other ads deal with athletics. )
Maybe I need to write about diapers and formula......see what kind of ads pop up then.....see what kinds of deals I can find, as I need all the help I can get!

S

Going for the Huskers!

2009-03-08T14:33:00.009-05:00

Tis the season for Lent. We have given up many things in our house. I have given up chocolate and pop. Roman has given up sweets and pop. Reicher has given up the computer. E tried to give up yelling. Emphasis on the word tried. I believe that commitment lasted a whole 5 minutes. More on our sacrifices for Lent in a minute. Ro is a huge Baylor fan. HUGE ! Nothing is more frustrating to him than living in an area of the country that worships the Scarlet and Cream. His Baylor Bears just can't get the justice they deserves....not only from his friends, but from the media and even on the playing field, court, baseball diamond...what have you. He was really upset that the Baylor basketball team lost yesterday....and to add salt to his wound......they lost to NEBRASKA!
Today at lunch Ro said, "I think I'll give up something REALLY BIG next year for Lent." I, of course, have been trying for years to get our family to give up TV for Lent. (I think you can probably guess how successful that plight has been.) So I said, rather ecstatically, "Let's give up TV!"
Ro's response was (keeping in mind he has a rather distinctive Texas accent, which he thinks he has gotten rid of in the 10 years he's been living in Nebraska ), "Naw, I'm giving up following the Bears!"

Then there's this guy!

E looked at Ro after he said he was giving up the Bears, and without skipping a beat, E said, "Does that mean that you're going to be for the Huskers?!" Of course we all started laughing hysterically because we know THAT will never happen....and if you know Ro......if you were to cut him open....he would bleed Green and Gold!

Love-
Steph