Last Day of School 2011

Whoa!   Yesterday was the last day of school.....so that means it's summer break!  I can't believe another whole school year has come and gone and next year my oldest will officially be a kindergartner....oh my!  They have grown so much, in so many different ways over the past 9 months.  The question is can I handle these two live wires, with the addition of a toddler, by myself, for the next 3 months?  Because quite frankly I purposely left our calendar wide open, with the exception of VBS and a trip with the grandparents, with the sole intent of soaking up life.  I must have been feeling brave, because right now I'm wondering what we are going to do next week.

Hayden Christopher!

A big CONGRATULATIONS to Ashley and Taylor on the arrival of their first child, Hayden Christopher!  Avery, Amelia, and Audrey are excited to add a new cousin to our extended family.  We love you guys and wish you the best as you embark on the beginnings of parenthood.

Hayden Christopher arrived at 2:53 a.m. on Monday, May 23. 

Weight:  7lbs 13 oz

Length:  20.5 in

Random Thoughts from the Week

On Monday morning of this week my daughter told me I looked "pretty." This usually happens when I wear something other than workout gear, regardless if my hair is done, make-up is applied, or teeth are brushed. My son took this picture before we left for school, and this is how I looked.....my kids make me feel so good!

On Tuesday of this week Amelia made me read "My Chincoteague Pony" for the 100th time in a row and at the end of the book, once again, begged me to buy her a pony. I'm sorry sweetie, but ponies aren't in your future for a few years. Until then this is the closest your daddy, "Mr. Safety," is going to let you get to your four legged, swift running, mile high dream.

On Wednesday of this week I snapped a shot of
Audrey with her baby in one hand, mouse in the other, and her sippy cup clenched between her teeth. As babies, Avery loved his pacifier, Amelia loved her thumb (still does), and Audrey loves her sippy cup, using it as a pseudo pacifier or thumb. She refuses to set it down, even when using both hands to maneuver steps, and keeps it safely locked between her lips for a quick escape.

On Thursday of this week Avery's soccer coaches had an all out water fight for the last day of soccer practice. Poor Avery was sorely disappointed when on Tuesday he was told, by the same coaches, to bring a water gun, but later found out school policy forbids the use of water guns on school grounds. I was secretly happy, he was overtly upset, but Avery had fun regardless, and was soaked head to toe, water gun or not. However,this scenario amongst many others makes me always ask...What is it with boys and their guns?

On Friday of this week Audrey tried to feed her baby a cracker.  When baby didn't eat the cracker, after multiple attempts, she was dropped to the ground and Audrey ate the cracker herself, all the while leaning over to look at baby, dropping many crumbs on baby’s pink onesie....perhaps she was leaving baby a snack???

How We Met - His Story

This is my husband's version of the events that transpired the night we met.  The rules of this assignment included not reading each others story until the final copy was completed.  I thoroughly enjoyed reading "his story," and on several occasions busted out laughing as we both recounted some of the more comical happenings. 

Our mutual guy friend is located in the center of this picture.

Here we are at Sandy's on May 7th, 1999.

His Story

It was the night of May 7, 1999, and I had just returned to Nebraska from spending 4 months in Detroit, Michigan doing some medical school rotations. I was actually on my way out to Portland, Oregon to do some more rotations but had a free night to catch up with some college friends in Lincoln. Our first stop was Sandy’s, a well-known starting point for a night of bar hopping…nothing like starting off with a tall glass of some Elk Creek Water, their signature drink. It usually didn’t take long for one of my buddies, we’ll name him ‘Chad,’ to run into people he knew. And sure enough, after a drink or 2, he was off to mingle with a group of girls standing across the bar while Joe and I continued to hold up the wall….someone has to do it. There was one girl in the group that definitely stood out from the crowd. She, of course, was very striking, had beautiful big eyes and a gleaming smile with nice white teeth, always a plus. She had petite, yet athletic figure with great legs and a NICE backside. But it didn’t take much observation to realize there was more to her than looks. She was very engaging, had an air of confidence, and seemed to devote her entire attention to whomever she was talking to…not one of those types who was always looking around for someone better in the bar. So yes, it looked as if Chad was reeling in another one with his innocent harmless flirtatious way. Much to my surprise he returned to the ‘guys’ and said he wanted to introduce me to someone. After disclosing that he had dated this girl’s younger sister, we strolled over and, after a brief introduction, effortlessly glided into a very pleasant conversation. What did we talk about? Now you’re asking a lot. Remember, men are very visual people and yes, my eyes were stimulated. I just remember how very comfortable we both were chatting for quite a while. After leaving to go have a drink together at another bar, we reunited with our 2 groups of friends outside of Iguana’s, the usual final stop in the bar hopping routine. We then decided to continue the night at a friend’s apartment for a final drink. The post-bar hopping party, unfortunately, didn’t end as well as I had hoped. We didn’t really have the opportunity to talk much because Diane, of all the places to sit in the apartment (i.e. on a sofa with room for 2), decided to sit over in the corner on a single seat lounge chair….nice choice Diane, way to create an opportunity. Soon the mood for everyone seemed to fizzle and it was time to end the night. Unfortunately for the guys, the night was not quite over. As we walked to the parking lot, we quickly saw my friend’s car hoisted up on a tow truck ready to be towed down to the city pound for parking illegally. After politely declining the offer to pay this respectable honest tow truck driver a lump sum of about $100 cash to release the vehicle to us, he proceeded to take the vehicle to the city pound without a second thought. Needless to say, after getting off to a great start the night didn’t end so well. I didn’t even get Diane’s phone number.

The following day despite the excitement of the evening being over, I knew I’d made a connection with this girl. So after arriving in Portland, I was able to procure Diane’s phone number. Several days after leaving 2 messages (YES, 2 MESSAGES) on her voice mail and beginning to have doubts about the connection, she finally returned my call. I knew early on during our long distance phone conversations, that this woman would be my wife one day. After returning to Omaha to finish medical school a few months later, we commenced dating and ultimately became engaged about 1 year later.

How We Met - Her Story

As an anniversary post I've wanted to do a "her story" vs. "his story" for about two years now.  However, with a new baby and a husband in the middle of residency the timing just wasn't right.  Now that life is feeling a little less hectic, I've finally guilted my procrastinating husband into writing his version of the facts, one month and a few days after our original anniversary date, April 13th.  I've always enjoyed hearing stories of how couples met, but especially love the stories when they come from family members.  Shane and I are writing our versions so our kiddos can one day read and enjoy "how we met."

This is a photo taken from the actual night we met.  My birthday friend, Susie,

 is in the lower left hand corner.

Her Story

Let’s not waste time with romantic story lines, or an extreme sugar coating of the original, it may not be Casablanca, Paris, or a moonlit lake, but it’s ours and ours alone, and with time I have grown to embrace the original and now share it with humor …...we met in a bar….. on May 7th, 1999, my senior year of college. I remember the date specifically because this is the reason I was downtown in the first place, celebrating a college girlfriend’s 22nd birthday.

When I recount our story I am struck by the number events that had to happen in order for us to have our “chance” encounter in the first place. First, if it hadn’t been my friends 22nd birthday I’m not sure I would have been down town in the first place, Wesleyan was gearing up for finals, and if my memory serves me correctly I should have been studying. My girlfriend and I started our celebratory adventures at “Sandy’s,” a college hot spot in Lincoln, and this is the so-called “bar” where Shane and I first met. We met up with a couple of sorority sisters, one of whom was dating a mutual friend of both Shane and I, and who is now married to that mutual friend…..ahhhh. Anyway, this mutual friend introduced me to Shane, who was just passing through town that night and gearing up to begin a new medical rotation in Portland, Oregon. Ironically, Shane also attended Nebraska Wesleyan and was three years ahead of me in school; however considering the fact that Wesleyan was a small college and both of us spent a lot of time in the only science building on campus, it’s a little comical our paths never crossed. At any rate, my first impression of this guy ranked pretty high. He did everything right, used only his good manners, asked me questions about myself, and gave me his full undivided attention. Additionally, he paid for all my drinks including a shot I distinctly remember, a lemon drop, what more could a college girl ask for! We totally hit it off; he was fun, down to earth, nice, humorous, and the tall lanky basketball or baseball type…perfect. Unfortunately, since he was heading to Portland Oregon, and failed to mention the short duration of this rotation, I quickly checked him off my list. However, I wasn’t opposed to having a good time, so once the bars closed down we all headed to a friend’s apartment to top off the night. I stayed long enough to know I thought this guy was cool, but headed back to my apartment ready to buckle down for my upcoming finals week.


It wasn’t until after finals that I knew my phone number had been passed off to this guy and that he was, as a friend shared, “totally into you.” Shortly after graduation I received my first phone call from Shane and we talked long distance “off and on” for about four months before he returned to Nebraska to begin his residency at Offutt AFB. After returning to Nebraska we immediately began dating exclusively and were engaged almost one year later. Our engagement may seem kind-of fast, but the truth is, I knew I was going to marry this guy. Sometimes our “chance” meeting feels more like destiny than prospect, because at the time my interest in long or short term relationships with men was almost zero. However, Shane popped into my life at just the right moment, when I least expected him. And as it turns out, the unexpected is just what I needed and wanted. Love ya Shane!

Proud as a Peacock

Avery has been asking at least 5 times, with 5 separate promises from myself, that I post his peacock picture so Oma & Opa, and Mimi & Papa can view his work.  So I decided to upload his drawing before having that guilty feeling of somehow damaging my child's trust in my sometimes questionable word. 

To say he is proud of his work is an understatement...he is proud as a peacock of that little drawing you see below.  But it's not just his drawing that makes him feel proud these days, it's also the acquisition of his road rash, after his recent encounter with the cement, while doing a face plant off our red wagon, being pulled by the neighbor boy, that makes this boy look at himself in the mirror several times a day. 

We salute you on a drawing job well done and the attainment of warrior wounds while in the line of play duty!

45 Lessons of Life

David Letterman once said, "I feel in every important way, your life doesn't begin until you have kids."  I feel the same way...these kiddos are my everything.

Waking up to these three beauties, nakedness and all, made my day.

The kids picked out the "biggest" rose they could find at the Randolph BX (the equivalent of Walmart), and the "prettiest" bracelets the clearance section had to offer.............these presents are the best kind!!!!

Here is testament, collateral, blackmail, or whatever you want to call it, to what my lovely husband is capable of orchestrating.  Thanks babe, I love ya!

I received this e-mail from my mother-in-law in 2010, and fell in love with it the moment I read it.  In fact, when I'm having a bad day I sometimes re-read the life lessons offered in this editorial in hopes of gaining a better perspective on the offering of life.  It works almost 100% of the time.  Additionally, this commentary makes me think of motherhood 100%.  It makes me think of my mom, mother-in-law, grandma, great aunt, aunts, and so many other amazing mamas!  These women offer so much to the world and their families, and it's their love, wisdom, and strength that blow me away.  That's why I know only a seasoned mom could have written the column below.  Enjoy and happy mother's day!


45 Lessons Life Taught Me

Written by Regina Brett, of the Plain Dealer, Cleveland , Ohio.

"To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me. It is the most requested column I've ever written.

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.

3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch.

5. Pay off your credit cards every month.

6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.

8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.

9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.

10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.

11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.

12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.

13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.

15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.

16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.

17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.

18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.

19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.

20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.

21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.

22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.

23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.

24. The most important sex organ is the brain.

25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.

26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words 'In five years, will this matter?'

27. Always choose life.

28. Forgive everyone everything.

29. What other people think of you is none of your business.

30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.

31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

33. Believe in miracles.

34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.

35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.

36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.

37. Your children get only one childhood.

38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.

39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.

40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.

41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

42. The best is yet to come...

43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

44. Yield.

45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift."

Adventures with 17 month old Audrey

Today Audrey is 17 months old, and the most significant change over the past month has been her increased mobility.  She loves the outdoors and attempts to escape the confines of the house any chance the garage or front door are opened.  Many times I find myself running outside chasing down a shoeless toddler, only to be greeted by tears when I drag her back inside to put proper foot attire on her feet before releasing her to the wild.  Once outside she enjoys wandering around the cul de sac looking at bugs and sticks, or standing by the wagon whining until Shane and I pull her for a few laps around our end of neighborhood.  Her latest escapade included climbing onto the top of our living room side table in an attempt to confiscate the i Pod (pictured below).  She was very proud of herself and attempted a second climb, after I returned her to floor, but fell off the side table once reaching the i-Pod.  I felt terrible, she was upset, and hasn't attempted a third climb since.  I can't wait to see what Audrey has in store for the month of May....what a sweet girl.