Just Your Average Day

Today was just an average day, another day we are trying to get into a summer groove. This summer it is more difficult. For starters, Daddy it is at home. So, I have to teach the girls that Daddy is home, but he really isn't. Do not ask Daddy for a piece of fruit, to play Frisbee, or to go on a bike ride with us. Daddy is at home, but he is at work. That is really hard for them to understand. Shoot, I am still trying to adjust to that. Just as we get adjusted, he is gone in Florida. It is a constant adjustment around here.

Anyway, today we started the day with a nice bike ride around the lake. The kids even had an added bonus of seeing their friends from Kids Club at Bell taking a walk to Shadow Lake. It was like they had not seen them in forever. It was nice, crisp, morning for a bike ride.

Once at home, it was time for Alivia's 8 year check up. Huh, she can't see. Chris and I are not sure this is a real issue or Alivia just wanting glasses (and really, from our point of view, who would want glasses?). But, we will go spend $$$ to find out as we are being sent to a specialist for her severely bad vision. (Again, really?). From a clinical point of view, the girl has no complaints of headaches and appears to see fine at home. The only thing that I had heard is that she asked to move up in the classroom at school so she could see better. Ugh...to be continued I guess. One more thing to put on my ever growing "to do" list, right? Anyway, she was otherwise healthy, so yeah and thank goodness.

We had a little treat for lunch following her appointment. Alivia and Chris wanted Subway and Addi and Asher wanted McD's and I clearly wanted to drive all over to get everyone's lunch to make everyone happy. Yeah for Mommy.

Then it was finally time for our trip to the forest, per Asher's request. As we arrived, we saw the Dinosaurs being unloaded for the upcoming DinoQuest 2. We even got a sneak peak of some of them. The last time we were there, Addison and Asher saw the dinosaurs in pieces as they were being loaded up to travel on, and I heard about that forever (Are they hurt? Where is their head? Why did they have to take them apart?). Luckily, the kids were old enough to understand this year. Whew.

The forest was so green, the air still crisp, but perfect for hiking and walking. It was a fun afternoon.

Slowly, we are adjusting to our summer days. I know next week will bring Catholic Education and more change. And soon, Chris will be gone again.

Oh wait, I think I see a date night coming soon...

With Great Determination

Is that a dino?

Little Monkeys

Picking up "sticks"

So sweet!

Break Time

Seat with a view

Asher at 4 1/2

Yesterday Asher celebrated his Half Birthday, 4 1/2! Wow!

We did the typical things as we start summer, visiting the Omaha Children's Museum, having a picnic at Gene Leahy Mall, followed by 40 minutes of going down the big slides before stopping to feed the geese and one big swan. It was a fun day, but I could tell they were all tired. And, they need to work on riding in the car quietly as we go places or we will just stay home...seriously! We ended the day going to get our pictures taken for the church directory, then playing outside.

After all the sweets for Alivia's birthday and for Memorial Day, we did not have a cake for Asher's half birthday. He did get some new bubbles to play with and yet another airplane shirt (never can have too many of those, right?)

Now for the big questions for Asher, at 4 1/2...

1. Favorite  color: Blue
2. Favorite Toy: Batman House
3. Favorite Fruit: Purple Grapes
4. Favorite TV show: caillou
5. Favorite thing to eat for lunch: Cinnamon Applesauce, broccoli, pizza
6. Favorite Outfit: airplane shirt or any shirt with a skull on it.
7. Favorite Game: Airplane game on the PS3
8. Favorite Snack: chocolate animal crackers
9. Favorite Animal: Elephant and giraffe
10. Favorite song:  Twinke Twinkle Little Star
11. Favorite Book: Airplane Book
12. Best Friend: Will, Cameron, Henry and Xander - I can't decide
13. Favorite Cereal: Chocolate mini wheats
14. Favorite thing to do outside: Ride my plasma car and the scooter and my bike.
15. Favorite drink: chocolate milk
16. Favorite Holiday: Christmas and Easter
17. What do you like to take to bed with you at night? Teddy Bear and PJs with soft tags
18. Favorite thing to eat for breakfast? Chocolate mini wheats
19. What do you want to eat for your birthday dinner? Hamburgers and Pizza and Hotdogs
20. What do you want to be when you grow up? A pilot

Tea with the princess at the OCM.

Memorial Day 2012

On Memorial Day, we have an annual tradition to go to my parents house for a picnic. It used to be that we went to Grandma Vera's in Shelby following the service at the cemetary. We would grill hotdogs and have a picnic with my Dad's side of the family.

Well, that has all changed since my Grandma passed away 3 years ago. Now, it is my parents and us. Pretty small group, but it is hardly quiet (aka Alivia, Asher and Addison - LOUD). But that's okay, I actually like it better this way.

The service was windy and chilly as usual. Alivia and Asher walked the flowers up to the tomb of the unknown soldier as Addison cuddled nearby. Addison, interesting enough, wanted to visit Grandpa George's grave site, my Grandpa who died when Addison was maybe 15 months old. Addison has a way of bringing up Grandpa George like she still talks to him. So sweet. We visited the other family members who have gone before us before heading out to my parents.

The kids played in what turned out to be a really nice day. We ate outside, which was wonderful. Alivia learned to drive the golf card, preparing to drive a real car (okay, she has 8 year, but she wants to learn now!). Asher and Addison rode with Grandpa around in the tractor. Asher could do this all day! He loved moving the loader up and down! There are so many fun things to do on the farm!

After all that fun, we were wiped. What a great way to thank our service men (and my dad) for their service and also celebrate the unofficial start of summer. Now, bring on the pool weather and let's go to the pool!

Let the service begin.

Cuddling up to stay warm, or something.

Flowers for the Unknown Soldier

Alivia & Asher placing flowers on the tomb of the unknown soldier. Grandpa Bill is saluting to the very left.

The kids think Grandpa (far right) is the Leader since he calls the shots - "Hip, Hip, Hip Hop Hip" is what they think he says. :)

Asher, standing by Wade's grave sight, seeing who he is named after by all his chopper items surrounding him, even in death.

Learning to drive, oh no!

Asher and Grandpa Bill (Addison is seated in there some place).

The airplane...coming along.

Chris hooking something up way into the belly of the airplane.