Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Off to the Lake...

This weekend the kids and I are leaving daddy and the Big O behind us and trucking it to Missouri to my mom and dad's lake house. We've never been there before but are Very excited. My parents have a bunch of fun stuff planned out including things like hanging out on the boat on the lake, fishing, making s'mores, watching fireworks from the boat on the 4th and more. I am bringing the boys' bicycles so they can practice riding around their house.

This trip will be Tess' first time on a boat and her second vacation. I will post pictures after we get back. Hopefully the weather will cooperate. When we get back O and R start swimming lessons for two weeks. I think they'll have fun.

On another note - my house STINKS! I'm not sure exactly what it is, but it is definitely coming from my garage that sits directly under my living room. I'm pretty sure it's the sump pump that has something rotten in it or a dead animal or something, but I can't get rid of it and I'm about to be sick about it. Guess what Tony gets to do tonight!!! I've already sprayed about a half a bottle of febreeze air freshener in the house but to no avail. Aaargh.

So off to the lake on Friday until Monday. Let my loving husband stay in the stinky house. :)

Sunday, June 20, 2010

Is it Summer Already? Part 3 (Vacation - Indiana and conclusion)

After the family reunion in Illinois we headed to Covington, IN where my Aunt Nadine and Uncle Dale live. All of my aunts and uncles houses are a special part of my childhood, but seeing as we used to only live an hour from Aunt N. and Uncle D. , it's easy to understand why we spent every other weekend there when I was growing up and why it's got an extra special place in my heart for childhood memories. So I was very excited to share this place with my kids.

At their house, it is always relaxed. They are both very funny people in my opinion and sitting up all night talking is usually a part of the experience. We spent a lot of time here as kids and there are so many things that we did that the boys automatically started doing too. There is a creek across the street that has a dam that we used to play at and find rocks, etc. Unfortunately it stormed so bad with tornadoes in the area that the rain raised the water too high at the dam for me to take the kids down there- next time. My batteries died on my camera, so I am hoping my mom will e-mail me the pictures she took of this part of the trip.

One place that was very memorable as a child was the Indianapolis Children's Museum - the largest in the world! So since we were so close I thought it only appropriate that we take the kids there to experience it too. After the museum, we ventured over to Plainfield, IN where I used to live and drove around all of our familiar spots and took the kids on a tour. It has been over 15 years since I have been back there so it was definitely a little weird to see how it has changed. We stopped by the park that we used to play at and took some pictures - which are on my moms camera too.When we were done with our tour, we got caught in a tornado and tornado warnings and had to venture back to the Applebees in Plainfield where we had to sit it out and wait for the tornadoes to pass before heading back to my Aunt and Uncles house, that was a little scary.

Once we got back we passed out and got up the next morning to head back to Omaha. Going back makes me really miss living near my aunts and uncles and cousins.

Upcoming we don't have much on our schedule, but I am taking the kids to my mom and dad's lake cabin over the 4th of July weekend and Owen and Raymond start swimming lessons from July 12 - 22 for two weeks. Other than that, my goal is to get alot of purging done around my house and catching up on paper work and getting organized for this Fall.

Is it Summer Already? Part 2 (Our Vacation-Illinois)

We took our first vacation for the summer. It was a lot of driving, but it was fun. The kids were awesome and I couldn't have asked for better car behavior. I originally was going to go by myself with the kids but was so thankful that at the last minute Tony was able to come too. We left Sat. morning and drove to Petersburg, IL to go to my family reunion.

Sunday morning we got up early and went to New Salem State Park to the living history village where the reunion has always been held. We walked the village and after about melted headed to our picnic area to meet up with the rest of my aunts, uncles, cousins and family. It was a scorcher that day and we were all very hot and sweaty. But it was really good to go cause my dad and oldest sister and boyfriend were there this year and everyone got to meet Judd and Tess for the first time.

We hung out, ate too much and visited with all the family. It was so hot that when I went to feed Tess I had to take her and Judd to the suburban to sit in the air conditioning to cool off they were so over heated. They both passed out. After we were done with the reunion we loaded up and headed to Indiana with my mom and sister Kelly to visit at Aunt Nadine and Uncle Dale's house - that post to follow in part 3.So here are pictures of my family reunion.

Is it Summer already??? Part 1 (Owen's birthday)

Read the headline with sarcasm because I am actually feeling like now that June is almost over so is summer! I know, call me crazy. There is still a month and a half left of summer before Owen starts school, but it seems like if June went by so fast, then so will July and the beginning of August. I know, I know...my blog has inherited a new theme "Never enough time" or "Always busy". But that is my life right now with four very active and busy children.

Let me see if I can catch you all up on what we've been up to. We've had a few adventures in June so far, but now the slate is clear for me to actually work on organizing my house, catching up on paperwork, and simply hanging out and enjoying my kids. Ahhhhh. (takes breath). I am going to do this in parts because otherwise it would be annoying to try and post all the pictures I want to share. I know I take way too many pictures, but can't help it. My kids are just so busy and so darn cute! ;)

I guess we should start back with Owen's birthday. He makes me feel old because I am now officially old enough to have a 6 year old/first grader. Crazy huh? I know, I thought I'd never be here, but I have now arrived. Let me tell you it is bitter sweet. Though he is still young, once they start school time really flies. Kindergarten for Owen was a blur so I can only imagine how the rest of the years will be, especially once all my kids start school.

Anyways...Owen's birthday party was held at Rosenblatt stadium, the minor league baseball team. It was kind of nice because it was the first party for any of our kids that we have had away from home and they plan the whole thing for you right down to the cake. He got to invite 7 friends plus his brothers and sister to watch the game, play at the kids fun zone area, and get some free gear. They sang happy birthday to him during the top of the 3rd inning and he got to go on the field. By pure luck Judd got to be on the big screen during the game!
So here are the pictures of Owen's birthday party. My big 6 year old.