New Look

Yes, this is still the same blog; I just decided it needed a new look. Blue is actually my favorite color anyway so it seemed like a good choice. Plus I don't have all that wasted space on the sides which always bugged me! Anyway, hope you enjoy.

Weekend

This past weekend we went to Moorhead, MN to visit our friends Mike and Emily Olson. They have a daughter Lily and all the girls played great together. Emily and Lily especially had a good time playing outside in the baby pool. On Saturday morning we got a babysitter and the 4 of us went golfing; we had a great time. The babysitter survived, too, and even offered to come back sometime! When we arrived home from golf she had them all eating lunch peacefully; that's more than I can say half the time! That afternoon Em and I took the girls to a pool and park in the neighborhood while the guys played another round of golf -- Jeremy had his best round ever and scored a 77. Way to go, honey! On Sunday we drove all the way to North Dakota to go to this huge playground. Ok, if you don't know, Moorhead, MN and Fargo, ND are right next to each other; it was really only about 10 minutes away.

Yesterday we broke out one of Emily's birthday presents (her birthday was 3 months ago) -- a new little frog pool. It took a good half hour getting the pool blown up, swimsuits on, sunscreen applied, water into the pool, . . . . you know how it is! Emily of course wanted to hold the hose while the the pool was filling. It was all fun and games until she accidentally put the hose with the cold water coming out onto Bri, who wasn't too thrilled with that. Then by the time everything was ready they didn't even care about the pool anymore! Until we put the slide into the pool, then Emily had a good time. Bri was more content roaming around the yard and playing in her playhouse.

Fun in the Sun

Bella hair

I found something that appreciates all the shedding Bella does -- the birds. Today I looked out our sliding glass door and saw the craziest thing. This very small bird was going around our deck and yard collecting Bella hairs in its mouth. I had always imagined that the birds would like all the hair for their nests, but I never thought I would see it in action! I even tried to take a picture but it didn't really turn out. I knew if I opened the sliding glass door it would scare the bird away.

Well, the girls are very crabby and needy so I better go. Emily can't stand to not be on my lap when I'm at the computer. Bri, on the other hand, plays pretty well on her own but even her patience is wearing thin!

Captivating

Has anyone read the book "Captivating" by John & Stasi Eldredge? Maybe you've heard of "Wild at Heart", also by John Eldredge. Anyway, my mom gave me this book a couple weeks ago; I'm about halfway through and really enjoying it. The jist of it is that every woman desires to be the Beauty, swept up into a romance, play an irreplaceable role in a great adventure. (Sorry, I stole most of that sentence from the back of the book.) Every woman should read this book; let me know if you want to hear more. Anyway, here is part of what I read today:

"God wants to live this life together with you, to share in your days and decisions, your desires and disappointments. He wants intimacy with you in the midst of the madness and mundane, the meetings and memos, the laundry and lists, the carpools and conversations and projects and pain. He wants to pour his love into your heart and he longs to have you pour yours into his. He wants your deep heart, that center place within that is the truest you. He is not interested in intimacy with the woman you think you are supposed to be. He wants intimacy with the real you."

"An intimate relationship with Jesus is not only for other women, for women who seem to have their acts together, who appear godly and whose nails are nicely shaped. It is for each and every one of us. God wants intimacy with you."

Bowls

Who knew that bowls of water on a hot day could be so much fun? Yes, we do have a baby pool but who wants to bother with the hose, Bella getting in and out, grass everywhere. It all started when I saw Emily playing in the one dirty/sandy area in our backyard. I decided to bring a bowl of water outside for her to clean up in and she loved it. So when Bri woke up from her nap, she decided to join her in another bowl. Emily could've sat in there and played all day. Bri was more content playing in her playhouse and walking around. Luckily a graham cracker lured them both inside afterward; we didn't need any sunburned butts!

Funny Sayings

Police were called to a daycare where a three-year-old was resisting a rest.

To write with a broken pencil is pointless.

The short fortune teller who escaped from prison was a small medium at large.

A thief who stole a calendar got twelve months.

The dead batteries were given out free of charge.

A dentist and a manicurist fought tooth and nail.

A bicycle can't stand alone; it is two tired.

I wondered why the baseball was getting bigger. Then it hit me.

(Sorry Jer, you know this is my kind of humor!)

Neutered

No, we did not get another pet. (Like Bella isn't enough work!) And no, there has been no surgery for Jeremy (though he might wish so). The occasion is that we are now the proud? owners of a minivan, and because of that Jeremy says he's been neutered. Apparently men are too good for minivans. Maybe it's a symbol that their lives are officially over. Sorry, honey, you'll come around.

On a more positive note, we want to wish a big congratulations to Jeremy's dad Don, who was just awarded the Robert J. Collier Trophy for the greatest achievement in aeronautics or astronautics in America. Don would never brag on himself so his wife Cheryl had to pass along the news. Basically, he was part of a group who invented "Garmin for airplanes." He is so smart.

The girls and I made it home on Thursday from Nebraska, and they were wonderful on the 8-hour car ride, just the 3 of us. Trying to change Emily's diaper in the rest area bathroom was interesting while Bri tried to run off, but we got it done! Thanks for praying, mom; I know that's what got us through. The girls were excited to see Daddy and Bella (Gabby, not so much), but Emily misses Ellie (my parents' cat). She was obsessed with Ellie (pronounced "ah-ee" by her) and was constantly looking for her, inside and out. Ellie didn't even seem to mind being laid on and dragged by the tail.

Now it's back to a "normal" summer, with no more trips in sight. Sounds pretty good to me right now.

Nebraska

We made it safely home to Nebraska yesterday and the girls survived the 8-hour car ride. Luckily mom was there to keep them occupied (with books and toys), pacified (with pacifiers) and fed (mostly veggie puffs and goldfish.) We both wondered how I will do this by myself when I drive back next week. If the 8-hour car ride wasn't exhausting enough, we went to two different 4th of July parties last night. It was a lot of fun seeing everybody and eating my neighbor's amazing brisket, but the girls and I were both exhausted and went to sleep before the fireworks. Good thing we left because dad got hit in the leg by a firework and now has a pretty nasty sore.

So far Emily and Bri are sleeping great here at grandpa and grandma's house, which is always nice for mom (me). Plus we got our fix of Val's today (Valentino's pizza). And tonight Grandpa (great-grandpa to the girls) and Rita came over for dinner so that was fun.

Jeremy is back home holding down the fort, taking care of Bella, golfing, and most importantly, working. The girls miss daddy and will be anxious to see him next week. And daddy wishes he were here killing squirrels and eating crispy meat burritos from Amigos. Love you and miss you, Jer.

Busy

Below are the latest pictures of the girls from J.C. Penney's a couple weeks ago. Aren't they adorable? Yes, I'm a little partial.

Jeremy and I were in Orlando last weekend for his annual trip with American Family. It was hot but fun, filled with a lot of golf and laying by the pool. I was ready to get home, though.

Now the girls and I are off to Nebraska tomorrow to take my mom home. Bless her heart, she has been here for almost a month and watched the girls through 2 trips of ours. If it was up to me (and definitely Jeremy) she could stay another month (or year). Hopefully she can come up again next summer for an extended stay. Thanks mom! Love ya.

My Sweeties