I am here...

I am not sure where I have been, but it has not been on the internet blogging. Beware of random photos of the last two months. Yikes...two months!
the boys enjoying a ride w/ Daddy. Obviously Kenner and Dad didn't think Patton's brain was important enough to protect. At Belivdere Museum Days. Kenner and Patton were so proud. They brought their own chore money and chose to buy italian ice BY THEMSELVES.

In preparation of finding something to buy w/ their chore money (2.00 whopping dollars), Patton said he wanted to find something from Toy Story 3. Sure enough, he found a home made photo book that was covered in Toy Story Fabric. What were the chances w/ less than 10 booths!

Rylan feeding Great Grandpa

I love this picture as they are each doing their own thing but doing the same activity. Life of crazy boys!

Playing w/ Great Grandpa's Trains. Obviously Kenner is stating, One more turn MOM!

Great Grandpa and his crew....wrecking crew or working crew. We will let Grandpa name this crew.

We were able to have a bonfire w/ the GREATest Grandpas...Great Grandpa Jim, Grandpa Pat, Great Grandpa Roger, Great Grandma Jackie, and Great Great Grandpa Cornie

Our Great Great Grandpa Cornie w/ the crew.

Meal plan for this week

This weekend was bittersweet w/ getting to spend an entire day w/ my sister Becca, but saying goodbye to my other sister Andrea. Her family moved to Boise, ID to open a Complete Nutrition store. They arrived safely yesterday and had neighbors help them move 1/2 the truck into the house. This was a huge blessing as my sister can't help (pregnant) and Jeremy's dad has a bad back. He is the only other person they know that drove the moving van out. W/ that being said, I am late in getting my meal plan out this week.

Monday: OVER

Tuesday: Hamburgers and homemade ff and grilled asparagus (last nice day here)

Wednesday: PATTON's BDAY! We get to go to Red Robin before Awana w/ my grandparents. Such a treat!

Thursday: Chicken cacciatore *

Friday: May go out w/ adult friends and no children or go to State Volleyball

Saturday: May to go Grand Island for State finals OR STAY HOME ALL DAY:)
If home:
L: Chicken breast and veggies
D: Beefy Vegetable Soup

Sunday: (do Sat menu if not here on Sat)
L: leftovers
D: Lasagna w/ green beans (if things go on sale this week (cross my fingers) I plan to do my 20 lasagnas this Sunday for December's freezer cooking)

I have been challenged w/ my menu planning this week and for a long time. I was recently given the challenge of having gestational diabetes. It is amazing w/ monitoring the carbs I get...or actually paying the least bit of attention to it, my sugars have actually been super low instead of super high. Simple substitutions like celery instead of chips for my sister Becca's awesome Buffalo Chicken dip, focusing on green versus brown (starches) to find a side for meals. It isn't that hard...just needed to actually pay attention to it.

As many of you know, I have been shopping sales only the past two years. Today was the first time in a long time that I actually bought broccolli and cucumbers NOT on sale. Yes it was hard and had to do alittle self talk through the whole process of getting the bag not paying attention to the price and putting it in my cart and keeping it there. I am going to TRY to put a salad together for every meal. There isn't much nutrition in a salad...but there is definitely less carbs in a salad than a 2nd or 1st heaping helping of rice, pasta or potatoes:)

I have the opportunity to work w/ several diabetics and some who have lost limbs to the disease. This is MAJOR motivation to not only change my lifestyle but also teach my boys and family proper portions of starches so we can possibly eliminate our increased chances of diabetes later in life. I am not eliminating starches...but just monitoring them. We will see how well we do...pasta, rice or potatoes are a STAPLE in my house...so this should be interesting.

Have a great week!
Rhiannon

Work verus Play?

This weekend was a great weekend. Daddy has been so busy trying to get the house done and I have been busy w/ work that the boys either get to spend time w/ just Dad or just Mom. On Saturday, our entire family was able to spend the entire day together. Although Casey has much remorse for not getting as much work as he wanted to get done this weekend, it was a refreshing weekend to just spend it together. What did we do to get such HIGH remarks for spending time together...spending tons of money at a great event or ride in a car to Sam's and Arby's and help each other put the boys' costumes together? No we didn't need to have to spend a ton of money to have a great day. A simple Sam's Sample day, trip to Arby's to get kids meals (thanks to recent Groupon purchase), and putting our talent's (mommy's sewing and daddy's construction) to make a gumball machine and scuba diver together.

I am so thankful for our neighbor Pat for her use of her camera. I was almost distraught that I was not going to get Halloween 2010 documented through pictures...but thanks to her we have pictures.

What did this weekend teach me? Spend more time as an entire family versus one parent. Another adult allows the conversation to go further both w/ the other adult but with the kids.

Hope you were able to spend great family time this weekend!
Rhi

Meal plan for this week

Wow! I found what it was like to work a more than 40 hour work week last week and what it does on cooking meals for my family. I guess it wasn't a good week to have to actually cook food instead of pulling it out of our freezer. Although I worked a lot last week, it was refreshing that I was able to keep my house clean and not feel overwhelmed about house work or my family. Although we had some random meals...we only got pizza once last week:) I am going to be doing some extra work at a Nursing Home in Adams, swimming lessons start back up on Mondays until Christmas and we have Awana on Wednesdays. Instead of thinking...YIKES how are we going to make it work, I approach it as a mental puzzle for me to figure out. I think I have the puzzle figured out this week. We will see if it pans out:)

Monday: Swimming 4:00 - Baked Ziti w/ peas *

Tuesday: Roast w/ potatoes, cabbage, and carrots in crock pot
*Work at Adams and have freezer cooking exchange

Wednesday: Awana - Chicken Lelani w/ rice

Thursday: Work at Adams - Hearty Beef and Mushroom Stew CP recipe from All You magazine

Friday: Hope to go to Friend to watch my mom's vball team in districts. If not, we will eat Ham and Potatoe Casserole if cold or Kabob w/ green pepper and mushrooms if good for grill.

Casey has GUARD DRILL
Saturday: L: Going to Omaha to say goodbye to my sister Annie's family and watch the game w/ my other sister Becca
D: Dave and Buster's for Patton's birthday and "last supper" with Annie, Jeremy and Rylan (if packing goes as planned)

Sunday: L: Ham and Poppy Seed Sandwiches
D: Tacos

Hope you had a great Halloween and have a great first week of November. I can't be any happier that it is November...as it is one more month closer to have #3. 2 months from Nov 11th!
Rhiannon

Halloween 2010

Our Scuba gear that Dad worked so hard to perfect:) The flippers only lasted 1 house in order to get a picture

No one knew what he was...I knew he was my favorite gum ball machine:)

Thanks to my friend and neighbor, Pat, I was able to get Halloween documented. I don't have any nice words for the repair crew at Best Buy that have had my camera since the 12th of October and have not touched it yet. Although they told me it would only be two weeks tops. GRRRR! So thankful for these pictures!

Look...have my scrapbooking done!

Meal plan for this week

One thing I have gotten accustomed to (which I thought would be a MAJOR downfall) is having a consistent schedule from week to week. In other words, working in the schools are great, but you often don't have the same schedule for an entire month. You go long some days then off others. It has helped my mentality and also my boys' mentality to know they have two days off between Sarah's. I am even finding them saying, "We don't get to go to Sarah's today?" in a whine. Amazing!

This is the first week we have been "off" schedule a bit w/ no Awana nor swimming lessons, so my OCD mind is having to take a break from scheduling. It is a good week for these to be off...so I can adjust to working a new job on T and Th afterwork for an hour in Adams. I am doing PRN work for another therapy company. It pays well and I am still home at the normal time. The only thing different is that Daddy picks the boys up instead of Mommy. Daddy has been completely amazing these days...by the way. He is filling the role that I can't or am too worn out to do each day. Picking the boys up, playing w/ them (showing them football moves), directing bath and bed time. Complete blessing that has allowed me to stay on schedule w/ the Fly Lady. This in turn has created a more positive Mommy that is evened out w/ mommy duties and house hold duties!

Here is the meal plan for our off week:

Monday: Made yummy Porcupine meatballs and broccoli w/ cheese. The boys had 5 each! Looks like I need to put this on the menu more often.

Tuesday: Nacho Spuds - new recipe

Wednesday: Hearty Corn Chowder (freezer cooking) and biscuits

Thursday: Slow Cooked Bolognese Sauce in the Crock Pot - New recipe from all you

Friday: Chicken Lelani or Chicken Pot Pie - both are freezer meals. We didn't end up having the Chicken Lelani last week...but if it is going to be cold the Pot Pie might hit the spot.

Saturday:
L: Chicken Fried Rice (from the box...yikes...I know!)
D: Homemade pizza

Sunday: HALLOWEEN
L: Roast w/ potato, cabbage and carrots - I have been craving cabbage!?!?
D: Sandwiched and Chips so we can have something in our tummies before the big night.

Have a great week!
Rhi

RANDOM Sept

The boys have been such great helpers lately! Thanks to the Fly Lady and her inspiration, my boys have given some responsiblities around the house. These little responsiblities have turned into major motivation to do even more. Yes this is a picture of BUBBI not Kenner helping Daddy set up the scaffolding on the one side of the house that is not finished. Side note: Daddy has been working very hard on our house. It looks AWESOME! I have a highly talented husband:) The swimming suit is because the boys have been taking swimming lessons on Tuesdays and have really learned a lot!

Can anyone tell that I MISS my camera DEARLY! They told me it would be a week and we are going on two weeks. My camera has to be back before Halloween...pretty please.

In desperation of missing my camera, I thought I would catch up w/ old photos. These pics are from a fun day in Adams. All this was FREE! So fun and a beautiful day!

Harvest 2010

Snowball

Patton is our animal lover and I wish, oh I wish, that my camera was not in the shop. A completely black cat showed up on our porch on Friday night. Patton immediately went and got a water dish for it. Then requested that we find food for it, because it told him it was hungry.

Patton was in HEAVEN! We have no idea if this cat is someone's or if it is stray. After we told the boys to say good night to the kitty, Patton came in and said to Casey, "Dad, I FINALLY have a pet cat." in his little sweet voice.

On Saturday, while we still had company, snowball came back. Patton couldn't have been more excited. My cat came back. We repeated the steps we had done the night before. This time I sat outside to soak in all the Pattonism's w/ the cat. Unfortunately I don't remember any of them except his departing comments as he said good night. "Good night snowball. I wove you! Will you pwease come back tomorrow?" Talk about a heart melting comment.
*Other comments I now recall: Meow, Meow - Patton: Mom he just said that he loves me.
Patton: Wet's put him on the chair so he has a nice bed. **He attempted to put the cat on the chair x 3 w/out luck.

Patton and Daddy made a trip into town tonight and of course they got Snowball some food. I was really hoping that our snowball came back tonight...since we made an investment:) Snowball arrived at it's normal time and LOVED the food.

Once I get my camera I plan to take a picture of this cat and post it around Sprague...so that if it does belong to someone we let them know we are "sharing" it. If it doesn't belong to someone...we probably need to come up with a winter plan.

Does anyone have any suggestions for taking in a stray cat? THIS CAT WILL NOT be coming into our house...but it is so sad to see it outside when it gets cold...any solutions anyone?

Meal plan for this week

Last week was "crazy" in terms of many things going on...needless to say I was able to stick to my meal plan, because I knew it was going to be crazy and planned accordingly...LOVE meal planning!

Monday: Beef and Noodles *
I have a meeting at 7:00, so Daddy and boys are going to go swimming.

Tuesday: Swimming Lessons...so crockpot night - Pork Pot Roast in Apple Cider (Betty Crocker recipe)

Wednesday: AWANA - Manicotti* w/ corn

Thursday: We get to go to Aurora and combine:)...Kind of ironic that we were going to have Hearty Corn Chowder:)

Friday: Chicken Lelani w/ Rice *

Saturday:
L - Hot dogs w/ mac and cheese
D - Maui Grilled Chicken* and Honey Dijon Ham* on the grill w/ on sale veggie.

Sunday:
L - Runza Playland (I have a B1GFree combo for signing up for their taste email)
D - Homemade Sausage and Veggie Pizza

Hope you have a great week
Rhi

What weekend:)

My dreams of being able to entertain people at our house w/out a formal function of a birthday party or holiday was a success for both the party and for not freaking out before everyone got here.

Really...if you haven't checked out Fly Lady and you are constantly fighting w/ keeping up with simple housework and life...you need to begin to fly. It has given me the chance to life guilt free for not keeping up with my house, feeding my family frugally and somewhat healthy and staying on top of the activities that we have been able to do w/out thinking differently.

Her way of life is not a system, but a guide for a person to adapt to their life style. I was able to have people say, "Wow your house looks nice." this weekend w/out me thinking...it should because I cleaned it for hours upon hours before you came:)

We had an absolute great weekend. I am sorry I don't have pictures...camera is in the shop. Friday night we had TWIG - Third Weekends in Groups at Zion. We played a hilliarious new game and those of us there were there experienced a new level of laughter and friendship. It was fun.
*I was worried what I was going to feel knowing that my friends at Crete had the day off. My thoughts and fears were quenched when I was at home by 4:00 on Monday and Thursday (days of Parent Teacher conferences) and didn't have a HUGE change to our schedule. I even worked LATE (4:00 he he) on Friday w/out guilt. This new lifestyle is such a Godsend:) for me and my family.

Saturday, well Saturday...we lost at football, but I definitely didn't lose in the making memories category. I was able to spend the day w/ my boys, Kendra, Trevor, Kenner, Jeri, Jayden, Annie, Rylan, Craig, Abby, Caleb, Becca, Mom, Dad, Jim and Jan. It was fun to provide everyone w/ food w/out having to be in the kitchen all day (thanks to freezer cooking and crockpot Chili:)

Sunday was another great day. I love teaching the 3 year olds (Patton's class). It is fun to teach the simple stories of the bible and make them come to life. All the energy that I put into teaching at school is being funneled into Patton's Sunday School (with MUCH less work:)). We created a HUGE rainbow above Noah's Arc today to remember God's promise to never send a flood like that again.

Loved this weekend and ready for a new week. Yes I am writing...I am excited to go back to work tomorrow...only to start another great week w/ my job and family.

Hope you had a great weekend too!
Rhi

Meal plan for this week

I am going to give a shout out to my husband and boys for not going out to eat for 2 weeks now:) We have been deligent w/ eating at home. It is amazing to hear the things we are all thankful for (as we have to give two things to pray for each meal): table, chairs, rice, (any thing we are having and if the boys don't know they ask w/ one eye open as we pray), mommy's, daddy's, days off, good weather, etc.

I am so thankful for freezer cooking so it allows me to keep FLYing and also provides a good meal for my family. For example, on Saturday night we were to have frozen pizza, but I didn't have my hubby's favorite...so he resorted to the Bertolli meal of shrimp and liguini. It was okay, but high in fat, sodium, etc and cost a dollar more than entire meal for my whole family w/ freezer cooking:) Fun times in the Svitak's.

here is what we are serving this week:

Monday: BROKE the no eating out rule as Daddy was working on the house very hard today...so free labor = $10 pizza from Pizza Hut

Tuesday: Swim Lesssons + Family Night at Library + Grandma and Grandpa Jimmy coming to town = RED ROBIN

Wednesday: Beef and Noodles* w/ green beans

Thursday: Round Steak and Mushroom gravy w/ red potatoes (3 lbs brown round steak, 1 package Lipton Onion Soup, 1 can of cream of mushroom in crockpot 4-6 hours)

Friday: TWIG - Baked Ziti*

Saturday:
I am excited to have my family over for the TX game. Why my family? Caleb is coming back w/ his girlfriend and they are going to the NE vs TX game...so I thought I would invite my family to come over (that is not attending the game) and watch the game. This challenges the #1 FLY LADY rule: FLYing = no CHAOS (Can't Have Anyone Over Syndrome). I refuse to go crazy w/ cleaning instead...cont w/ my routines I have set up and my house will be ready any day this week for a crowd:)
Lunch: Santa Fe Chicken Nachos* and/or Beef Calzone*
Snacks: Salsa/Sour Cream Dip w/ crackers, Ham/Pickle/Cream Cheese rollups
Dinnner: Chili and Cinnamon Rolls

Sunday: We get to go help our great friends, Don and Maggie, celebrate their 50th Wedding Anniversary for lunch.
D: Spaghetti and corn

Hope you have a great week. If you haven't checked out the "flylady" you need to...I can't tell you how nice life is to have a house that is picked up, meals on the table each night, and no stress about any of the previous said:)

Rhiannon

thought for the day...

After returning from Awana, both Kenner and Patton needed use the restroom. After Kenner did 1-2-3 (pee, flush, wash hands), he walked out and said, "Do you know why Bubbi and I wanted to go to the bathroom together?"

"No I don't know Kenner." I replied.

"We wanted to make a cross w/ our pee."

I guess they are learning something...

pure sweetness

I have MANY stories and pictures to blog about...but I can NOT post this one before I go to bed tonight.

We had a FAB weekend in Hebron just playing w/ Fall and family. Sunday we were able to go to Belivedere for their Museum Day. I remember helping my grandma w/ her pottery WAY BACK when, so it brought back good memories from those days and created new ones w/ all the new things they have and having my boys there to share in it.

As we were eating lunch w/ Rylan, Annie, Gma Jan, Gpa Jim, Kenner, Patton and myself at a large round table, Gpa Jimmy was sharing a story w/ me. Patton interrupts his story by saying, "Mommy, Mommy, Mommy (you get the picture)." I look at Gpa w/ the "I'm sorry for interrupting" look and said, "Patton, Gpa is telling me a story, please don't interrupt." He looks at me and says, "I wove you Mommy." Uhm...I guess you can interrupt Gpa's story to tell me that. It hit my heart like it always does...but I think he won a few other hearts over (gpa, gma and Annie) w/ that comment as well.

"I wove you too Patton." and off w/ Gpa's story.

Meal plan for this week

I am LOVING eating as a family each night and having some type of control on what my boys (and I) are eating. Next accomplishment will be portion control..he he he

Monday: Chow Mein - a family recipe. It was yummy, but missed the environment of my Grandma Jan's house.

Tuesday: Giant Beef Calzone (FC) and green beans
Freezer Cooking exchange - This is what I will be receiving in my freezer to use the next month or two...yummo!
Giant Beef Calzone
Beefy Noodle Soup
Poppy Seed, Ham and cheese Melts
Hearty Corn Chowder
Manicotti
Chicken Lelani
Chicken in a Pot
Meal in One Dish Pork Chops
Baked Ziti

Wednesday: Spaghetti Casserole w/ corn

Thursday: Beef Brisket w/ BBQ Sauce in Betty Crocker Cook book Crock Pot section
NE football vs K State 6:30

Friday: Meal in One Dish Pork Chops (FC)

Saturday:
L: Might go to the zoo to play penguin golf to support the new penguin exhibit or we might STAY home...
D: Homemade pizza or go to Omaha to see Daddy finish the run in the Market to Market relay

Sunday:
L: Chicken in a Pot w/ noodles and peas
D: Leftover buffet (Grocery Cart Lady does this, and this just might be the week for leftovers)

have a great week!

Anyone interested in finding out more about the Lincoln Freezer Cooking group, please let me know. It is such a blessing to our family and this tired mommy!

Fall Festival

Patton LOVED the fish pond. Kenner thanked God for the Cupcake walk...can you tell who won?

There is the special limo carrying the Grand Marshall's. It says C Svitak and Sons Auto Repair, Sprague, NE

Random one watching Grandma Carlece's TC Titans play volleyball and cheering with Olivia!

Apple Jack Festival w/ my friend Amber and her son Josh. I will definitely go back to NE City to the Arbor Day Farm...but maybe not on Apple Jack weekend. It was a blast though!

Meal plan for this week

We had a GREAT weekend w/ lots of visitors, plus having Daddy around ALL weekend. We had the Sprague Fall festival on Saturday w/ the boys getting to ride in Dad's "limo" carrying the Grand Marshall's (pics to come), then we were able to go to Adams to a fundraiser for the nursing home w/ Trevor's (my aunt Kendra's husband) on Sunday. Seems like this weekend was really long...which is a good thing. Here is the tentative plan for this week. Hopefully the boys and I will go to Hebron this weekend. Dad has guard drill.

A pat on the back goes to my family and I as we stuck with the meal plan last week and didn't eat out all week. It was a great feeling to be able to have a meal each night w/ our family. The boys are getting to pray for two things at meal time. I am just loving what they pray for: cupcake walk, lemonade, rice, etc.

M: Enchiladas (leftover taco meat and rice from previous suppers)
T: Hobo meal (ground beef w/ carrots, potatoes, and onions on the grill)
W: Either frozen pizza or homemade pizza. I am going to use the pizza meatloaf cups that we had in freezer cooking for my ground beef...as they weren't too big of a hit as pizza meatloaf cups.
Th: Grandma Jan's Chow Mein recipe
F: Going to Hebron. Leftovers for Casey
S: Guard Drill/Hebron
Su: L:Guard Drill/Hebron D: Hot beef sandwiches

Have a great week!

Mice or boys? Hmmm...

I think the scissors maybe give it away...this is the result of boys. You would think they would find a different way to "hide" there sneakiness in getting candy. Note: I often find different things behind our chairs and couches that they are not suppose to have go-gurt, candy, fruit snacks, etc.

All the joys of raising boys.

Our new Cousin

Our cousin Kenna came over to visit last weekend. Since starting to "fly" with the flylady.net, I LOVE to have people over. Flying with the flylady is easy to do and I LOVE my family so much more now. I think it really helps to love my family, house, and life more when you feel that you are on top of life and love your job as well:)

Thanks Kendra for all your support. It is such a joy for me to have extra time to spend with you once a week or so:) You are such an inspiration to me!

Cheese Kenna!

Meal plan for this week

Monday: Pork BBQ Sandwiches*, peas, and homemade fries

Tuesday: Chicken Nachos* w/ fresh salsa

Wednesday: Chicken Pot Pie*

Thursday: Pizza Meatloaf Cups* w/ green beans

Friday: General Tso's Chicken w/ rice

Saturday:
L: FALL FESTIVAL at Sprague Community Church. Meal and Auction
D: Ham and Cheesy Potatoes (we will be home/across at church all day, so it is my chance to cook the last ham I have in my freezer) Any suggestions on how to doctor it up?

Sunday:
L: Out to eat/leftovers
D: Pizza w/ hamburger, green peppers

I am excited to have enough time to cook meals for my family. * denotes freezer meals from the freezer cooking group. I am so thankful to have a great and different meal in my recipes without having to follow a recipe:)

Have a great week!

fun times at Hyvee!!!

Thanks to the Chicks on Chicks Dig Deals, I was able to score a lot of FREE things as well as a few other things very cheap at Hyvee. I had to pick up some things for a pot luck at church tonight or else I would have done even better. Missing is a 1.00 water. How much did I spend?

19.32

Two transactions, 8.00 in catalina's, 13 coupons!!!

Softsoap - FREE

Harvest Campbell's soup - Free

Pie Crusts were on sale for 2.48 each...so just those would be 10.00:)

Now if analyzing my purchases you will notice that not much of it is very healthy. I have so much fruit in my freezer that it works to have an easy dessert with the pie crusts. I have not boughten Crescent rolls or cinnamon rolls for along time...so time to reward ourselves when Daddy has been gone so much.

Have a great night!

Meal plan for this week

Do you meal plan? I can't tell you how much it has saved me on time, effort, and just plain feeling like I get a good meal on the table for my family. I had a goal to clean out my bottom freezer. With just the meals from last week, I can finally see some free space in my freezer and I also have less in my cupboards, becauseI used excessive items paired with the freezer ingredients to clean both out at the same time. My grocery bills have been within the $20-$30 range the past month, because I am using what i have and TRYING to stay away from the sales. So with that being said...this is what I still have taking up space in our freezer that should be in our tummies.

Monday: Tacos with homemade salsa and beans
Tuesday: 4:30 Swimming lessons - Spaghetti and Meatballs (I will make tonight so that all we have to do is warm it up and make the noodles)
Wednesday:AWANA - Popcorn Chicken and homemade french fries
Thursday: Leftovers
Friday: Chix Pot Pie
Saturday: I think the boys and I are headed to the Apple Jack Festival in NE City. We will be back for supper, so I am thinking Green Bean Casserole.
Sunday: LUNCH - Roast, Potato, Carrots DINNER - Leftovers or hot beef sandwiches
I might try to make some homemade bread on Sunday...depending on my energy level.

Have a great week!
I along with my Aunt Kendra are starting to FLY This week with the FLY Lady. I have been doing baby fly steps, but I am starting to see about my weekly routine to see how it fits into our schedule. I HIGHLY suggest her website www.flylady.net. A bit overwhelming at first, but amazing if you do what she suggests and take BABY STEPS!
Rhi

RAndom August

We had a great time this weekend at the NU football game. Kenner has gone all 5 years of his life:) Patton is a bit of cheese here...but what is new! I love to see my boys walking with their great grandpa!

riding rides at the State Fair.

feeding the zebras

headed on the shuttle to go to the fair for my grandparent's 50th wedding anniversary.

To the Kenner family...this is Comet. One of the last babies of Lucky's. We were very fortunate to get this photo as she lives up to her name, Comet. She was really sick recently, but she wasn't showing any signs of having difficulty.

Kenner on the "new" but old tire swing, borrowed from the "farm." Poor Grandpa Dennis was graciously pushing Kenner on here and accidentally scraped the tree. Kenner won't drop it...Grandpa Dennis couldn't be any more kinder of a person. He is getting more and more over it everday. But the minute he saw this picture he made a comment. Wow the kid doesn't forget a thing.

Mark this one down...getting to go to the library while Mommy is working full time. They are really into puppets these days.

Getting to go to the LAST Wild Wednesday with Lane and Heather.

Having fun on the turtle. I love these two! (you caught me on a good day...now yesterday I wouldn't have been able to say that so nicely). They decided to be the loudest kids at church, which frustrated me to the hilt, then decided to make a nice band with books and the fan while they were attempting to take a nap (and MOMMY NEEDED ONE DESPERATELY), and ran on the highest energy that I have ever seen them. It is Monday and we are starting over:)

Labor day weekend

Wow! What an amazing weekend. It was great to have Casey back early on Thursday. We ventured to Omaha and bought a new minivan - Pontiac Montana. The boys LOVE it. In fact, last night I moved the car seats back to the car. No sense in driving it around until we actually need it (aka when the baby comes). The boys were devastated that we weren't going to be riding in the van. I told them we could ride in it when we go to Grandma's house and when the baby comes. Patton decided to put those together and said,
"Mom, I have a great idea, we can take it to grandma's house so that we can show them the baby." That was a great idea Patton:)

We were able to spend a great Saturday at the Elge's. It is always a great time to relax, talk, and watch the boys play play play on everything and everywhere on the farm. They were a bit disappointed when traveling to the "real" farm that they didn't have horses any more.

After spending a day in Aurora, we traveled to Grand Island to a hotel with 47 other Wiedels for my grandparent's 50th Wedding Anniversary. It was such a blessing to be able to go to a hotel rather than cram us all in a house. Even though that has never stopped us getting together, I am voting for an activity like the hotel fun times again. Some of the clan went to the Martina McBride concert at the fair, while some of us watching littler ones swim and play a crazy dice game. The game consisted of 6 kids standing in a corner each with a number assignment. When their number was rolled, the one kid came out of their corner danced for 10 seconds tops, we clapped and they went back to their corner to wait for their number to be called. Yes it sounds crazy, but we were able to play this game for an hour without any difficulties....crazy! Casey also did a kids PE class. It was funny to see all of them lined up like in the military and following his commands.

I will have to get a picture up of all of us. There were 47 of us, 7 were missing and 5 are on the way. We will need a bigger place to house all of us at once.