Dip in the Lake

Today we were invited by the Allens to Kim's parents home in the Hawaiin Villages in Papillion. We have never been there before. It is a private lake with homes that surround it. It was so much fun! Kim's parents have a beautiful home with a beachy area, swimming area and plenty of space to just chill. Alivia got used to jumping in a little bit, and Addison even surprised me by going down to the water by herself and playing. Shocker! Asher, who just got a new life jacket, was all excited to try it out. He worked on getting used to floating in it. I think he will get it sooner than later. After a picnic and a treat from Kim (popsickles!) we were on our way home.

This was a great introduction to more of the same to come. What a fun morning!

Read and post comments | Send to a friend

Play Date Recap

Today is Thursday and the kids have had 4 play dates already and have another one scheduled for today! We have been so busy that I have been too busy to even turn on my computer!

Tuesday morning we met the Vintons at Halleck Park in Papillion. It is the kids' favorite park. It got a little steamy before we came back to our house to play and eat. It was a fun morning. After a brief nap for Addison and Asher, we went back to Oak Heights Pool with the Allen's. It was an absolute perfect day to go. It was not too hot, no wind and it was not busy at the pool. We arrived at 3 and left at the 5 o'clock rest break...which was perfect.

After a quiet morning of shopping yesterday (okay...it was not quiet), Asher had his first playdate WITHOUT mommy along with his cousins Henry, Baby Ben and Lucas. Asher told me how much fun he had before he went to bed. It was so cute. I guess they played in the sprinklers and played with toys, according to Asher. :) He was ready for bed last night!

Now today...we are off to another play date. Isn't summer fun?

Read and post comments | Send to a friend

Happy 4th of July 2010!

Our Little Firecrackers 2010

Happy 4th of July! It is rainy...and we have no major plans. Chris did purchase a handful of fireworks. I do not like buying them because I think they are silly. Don't get me wrong, I love to watch them. But, I can sit in the backyard and watch them forever without ever spending any money. But, Chris wanted to get a few fun ones for the kids, so he did that.

After a day of rain, we went to Chris' parents for dinner. We think it is important that our kids get to see their cousins and grandparents as much as possible. We do not get to see everyone very often, so the kids really had fun playing.

Back at home, we shot off just a few fireworks and let the kiddos have sparklers. Asher got a 3rd degree burn, so perhaps we will skip those next year. All the kids really liked the fireworks this year, even Alivia! Shocker! The kids went right to sleep in spite of the noise.

In the afternoon as we watched a couple home videos from our previous address, Chris and I are thankful for our home in Papillion where the traffic is null, the people are kind, with a nice lake to run around, and where are neighbors are SO NICE!! Imagine that! At our previous address, we made everyone stay inside because we did not feel it was safe to be outside with the drunken neighbors shooting bottle rockets at one another from their mouths. Here...oh...it is so much better!! We love our new neighbors. Let's just say that we can now play in the driveway or in the backyard peacefully. Perhaps that made our move worth it.

Happy 4th of July! Until next year...

Read and post comments | Send to a friend

June in Review...finally

June was a great intro to summer. We had our family vacation to SD...what fun (no pictures here though), went to the circus, visited 4 local pools, played around our home, went on a great bug adventure, visited the Zoo, saw Clifford at the Omaha Children's Museum, walked the Bob Kerrey Bridge, Splashed at the Splash park, saw Toy Story 3, Alivia had a friend spend the night, read and got goodies from the Summer Reading Program, visited Grandma and Grandpa on the farm and so much more!
Chris and I continued our monthly updating of our money pit, aka our home, by landscaping around the house and mulching. What an exhausting job (& dirty one). Now...we are ready for a nice relaxing vacation!

Now...I best get back to enjoying summer (& some 4th of July rain!).

JUNE PICTURES

The Circus!

Read and post comments | Send to a friend

Shadow Lake 4th of July Parade 2010

Shadow Lake Parade 2010

This was our first year in our new neighborhood, Shadow Lake. This was the second annual 4th of July kiddie parade and potlock, and we were excited to be able to participate.

The fun began last night - the decorating of the wagon and Alivia's bike. What started as a fun thing to do as a family, ended with Chris finishing decorating everything. He, I'm sure, enjoyed it.

Today, we walked to the school at 10:30 and the parade started at 11 followed by the potlock. We did not meet as many new people as we had hoped since we were busy with the kids, but it was still a fun way to celebrate the 4th of July with our new neighbors!

Read and post comments | Send to a friend

Bye Bye Zooper

The Zooper...the precious Zooper Stroller...is now in another home. Waaa!!

The Zooper is one of the first baby things I purchased...for like $375!! As a runner, I wanted the best stroller I could find to run with but to run around with, too. I ordered it online and was so excited to get it in the mail. I still remember our first walk with our little baby Alivia. I so loved that stroller. I ran a lot of miles with that thing. I ran with all 3 kids at one point or another. I loved it. No, it did not have a swivel front wheel...but I did not mind. It worked great and was the Cadillac of all strollers in my opinion.

But, Chris wants me to start clearing out the garage. So, the Zooper was one thing we did not use and it needed to go. I listed it on Craigs list and sold it today. I was nearly in tears as the family walked away with it. I was so heart broken, that I drove away even before I saw them load it up. Seeing the baby things drive away is the hardest thing. These items hold many fond memories...and I hate to let go.

Now...Chris wants me to get rid of the crib that Asher is still sleeping in. I will be needing another box of Kleenex, thank you.

Read and post comments | Send to a friend

Dentist with Kids

I have now gotten naked and bled from my mouth in front of my children. Please...don't call CPS and let me explain.

I have gone to my OBGYN appointments many times with my kids. I always have told Chris that I would rather get my teeth pulled than to return. So...this year I skipped my appointment after going in for a sick check up instead. I feel healthy so that will have to be good enough for this year.

Then, the dentist called yesterday to remind me of an appointment I had today. I knew it was coming up...but today? UGH! My friend said she would watch the kids. But, I had someone come and pick up the Zooper Stroller that I sold (waaaa!! That is a whole other blog!) and they came late making it too late for me to get to my friend's house in time. So...the kids went with. I packed a snack, sat them down right in front of me on the floor, and got my teeth worked on. My gums were bleeding as the new dental assistant poked and prodded at me, hitting and scraping my gums more than teeth, causing me to bleed. She kept saying, "Whoops, let's rinse," giving me a clue that I was bleeding all over because she did not have a clue what she was doing. Meanwhile, Alivia, Addison and Asher were standing at this point, asking, "Mommy, why are you bleeding all over?" Like I could tell you while I have a mirror and a poker in my mouth!

The kids were good, but it was just another fun experience of this stay at home mom. Chris told me of someone that got a babysitter so she could go running. Seriously...I would not dare ask anyone to watch my kids while I run unless I was a pro marathoner or something.  But, I do need someone to watch them so I do not have to show my kids rated R things before their 3rd birthdays! 

This Mommy needs to keep dreaming...

Read and post comments | Send to a friend

Driving 101

Last night was my night of redemption from getting my speeding ticket...in the form of a driving class. Wahoo. The only good thing is that in Sarpy it is only 4 hours (versus 8 hours in Douglas County).

Our day was crazy. Alivia had a friend stay over, so the day began early when they woke up at 6:15. We biked her friend home around 9:30, then biked home. Then, we were off to the library. The kids are a part of the Summer Reading Program, so we try to hit the library once a week. After that, we had a picnic, played at the park, swam at Oak Heights, went to the store, and we arrived home with not too much time to spare. I got cleaned up and prepared a simple dinner. I was out the door by 5:30.

Chris' comments...

"Did you get your ticket on purpose so you could get away?" Seriously, really? I worked an extra night missing a night's sleep ON PURPOSE so I could go to driving school to remove my speeding ticket ON PURPOSE? What kind of moron would do that?

Then...as I left...Chris says to me, "Don't flirt?" What? Flirt? Come on!

I know, the only places a go alone are to Holy Hour, to work in a psych ward, drivers school, or to run in the middle of the night. I don't know...but none of those things are very relaxing  or fun(Running does help me with stress - but for anyone who runs in the middle of the night knows that it is more scary than relaxing. But, that is the only time I can do it).

Clearly I need to get out more.

Read and post comments | Send to a friend

Pool Day: Oak Heights

 

Today we were invited to a play date with the Gries' at Oak Heights. I believe we may have found our pool!

We arrived just before 11 to play at the park by the pool and have a picnic lunch after our visit to the library. The park is nice. It has big shade trees, a nice little trail from the parking lot, and the playground has soft beachy feeling sand. I could not get the kids to stop playing long enough to eat lunch.

We met up with Jill and her kids as the pool was about to open. The pool is nice. It has a great area for toddlers with a slide that they can just slide into the pool from. Alivia wanted me to go out further with her - but that is still really hard for me to do with Addison and Asher playing. So, Alivia got bored quickly. She does not have the confidence or skill to swim alone in the deeper waters but really that is all she wants to do. Addison FINALLY got into a pool!! Amazing! She went down the slide multiple times and walked once into the water a bit. She is extremely timid. Asher liked the slide and swam a bit. He needs more reassurance after his pool scares.I can not look away from Asher at all while he is in the pool.

We had a great experience at Oak Heights. It is not too busy, you can bring in food and coolers (no snack bar - yeah!), and it is very user friendly. We will definitely be returning. Thank you Jill, Gabriella and Grant for inviting us! We had fun!

Now...what day should we go swimming at a pool next week?

Read and post comments | Send to a friend

Summer Fun!

Chris and I decided that this year it just was not safe for us to have any kind of pool. Asher is just too scary. That is...until my mom reminded me of this blow up pool that I bought when Alivia was maybe 2 years old. I bought it at Tuesday Morning for $20. No big deal, right?

It is nothing major...just a big raft with a slide and some water in the bottom. But, it offers the kids hours of play! All three kids love it. You can have the spray part on or off, giving us a chance to change it up a bit. Today I filled it up at 6 am so that it was warmer after lunch when it was time to play. We empty it every night, giving the grass a drink in a different spot every evening. Ha!

So...do we have a pool? No, not really. But as long as the kids are happy with this one, we will take it! It beats $20 at the public pool for 5 minutes of play, too!

Read and post comments | Send to a friend

Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge

Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge Omaha

Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge

• 705 Riverfront Drive

 

Today we had a playdate at the Pedestrian Bridge downtown. I was a little nervous about going because of the CWS, but it was not bad at all. It was a beautiful day, sunny, in the 80s. We walked the bridge (and Alivia, Nyah and Keegan rode their bikes), played at the park on the Iowa side, walked back, played at the splash park area, picniced and took a small walk around the area. First off, the Iowa side is under major construction. The park is just a park that was there before the bridge. Nothing special. But, the kids like it. I am hoping they clean it up a bit and make it beautiful and fun.

The splash park is fun. But, with that said, it is beyond dirty. Cigarette butts and small pieces of trash littered the area. The smell was not that pleasant. There is a Lewis and Clark visitors center there that I had never been in before. But, they have restrooms! I am not sure if they really want people to come in there for using the restrooms, but they said it was okay for us...and we appreciated it!

What a fun morning! Until next time...

Read and post comments | Send to a friend