A day with dad at the Children's Museum

We love it when Luke skips work to hang out with us!  

The museum is one of our favorite places in Omaha but with THREE mobile kids now, it is a whole new ballgame.  I gladly welcomed the extra set off arms and eyes!

This was Luke's first time at the museum and the kids had so much fun showing off their favorite things to dad!

Hazel just happened to want to wear her princess dress that morning and there was a special princess tea party going on that day.  She was in pure heaven!

Smiling like a princess is hard work!

In love

Practicing with the pinky up!

This team work lasted for about 3 seconds

I don't know what this is but they liked it!

Of course Clay loves the ball area!

Giddy up

Team work

My loves

A date with my little man

So everyone knows I love babies.  As soon as Wyatt & Hazel were on the verge of becoming toddlers, we started working on adding another baby to the family!  

As we have finally slowed down in the baby department and Wyatt continues to turn into more of a little man everyday, I have to say I am really liking this new stage of parenthood.  

Wyatt is a wonderful best friend.  Not just the snuggles and he needs me kinda friend.  

We can talk, we can laugh, ask each other questions about our day, hold hands, and be 100% happy just spending time together.

We have a few friends who have a lot of kids - even more than us (gasp!).  They were kind enough to share with us how to have happy kids when you have a big family or kids so close together in age - one-on-one time.  This is so important not only for them, but for us as parents.  I don't have to pack an overflowing diaper bag, the double stroller, worry about sippy cups, high chairs, and nap times. Wyatt just takes my hand and we head out on our adventure.

Our latest adventure was checking out Junkstock - which was so awesome, it deserves it's own post.  Think all the Pinterest projects you have ever wanted to do, done by someone else and for sale for a reasonable amount of money.  

Wyatt was an excellent shopping companion and was not afraid to tell me, "I don't think daddy would like that, mom".  He also picked out a wonderful present for papa Jim for his birthday.

After our shopping adventure, we saw Shrek the Musical at the Elkhorn High School.  

Wyatt loved the singing and dancing and did great sitting through the 2.5 hour show.  Two. and. a. half. hours.  Isn't Shrek a KIDS show!?

I look forward to many more dates with my little man.

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Nashville

 Luke and I escaped to Nashville to celebrate our 5th anniversary (a few weeks late).  We have managed to escape somewhere every year for our anniversary.  This is a tradition I definitely hope to continue!

Why Nashville?  I don't really know!  We only had about 4 days so we wanted somewhere close enough that we wouldn't lose a whole day traveling and I had never been to Nashville.  Luke has apparently been there twice, but I learned this information AFTER I booked our trip and was under the impression he had never been there either.  That is another story.

We like music, we like beer, we like food - Nashville sounded perfect.

...and it was.  We stayed downtown and there was a great mix of bars, restaurants, and Nashville history all within walking distance from our hotel.  I even managed to get a nap in everyday!

One regret - I took like 5 pictures...and none of me & Luke together!?  Apparently, I need our littles as my photo subjects to bring out the paparazzi in me.

I was very excited for an excuse to wear the cowboy boots I bought at a flea market in New York, when I lived there!

The Grand Ole Opry Hotel was CRA-ZEE!

Enjoying the show at the Grand Ole Opry

Touring the Ryman Auditorium, the original Grand Ole Opry

Our trip home was LONG, due to lay overs and bad weather delays BUT thanks to the iPad bar at the Minneapolis airport we survived ;)

Aunt Molly & my mom stayed with the kids again this year - big thanks to both of them!!!  

This is what happened when Molly had to leave.

Dad's Day 2013

We had an awesome Father's Day.  

The whole family went fishing and even caught a few!  

Wyatt & Hazel squealed with delight when they felt a tug on their lines and Luke loved teaching them (and me) the tricks of the trade. 

The kids painted rocks for Luke for his special surprise present.  They did a great job keeping the secret!

We covered them with outdoor Modge Podge and so far the colors have held up in the rain!

....and of course Happy Father's Day to my first love, MY dad!!!

Happy 40th Wedding Anniversary!!!

June 8th was my parent's 40th wedding anniversary.

FORTY years - that is a LONG time!  I hope I am so lucky to some day celebrate this milestone with Luke.

Growing up in a house surrounded by love and family is something that I once took for granted.  I now know that it has played a huge role in my happiness with my own family.  I knew what to look for in a partner, I knew what kind of mom I wanted to be, and the kind of relationship I want my children to grow up with.  Thanks mom & dad for being such great role models!

It was a wonderful weekend with EVERYONE back in Sioux City.  That is right.  Molly & Pat, Nickie & Morgan, me & Luke, the kiddos, AND the dogs!

It wouldn't be a trip to Sioux City without eating and drinking WAY too much - and we did just that.

...but we did run stairs...and then ate donuts ;)

Cheers to 40 years!

The lovely ladies

It is a shock any of us survived the weekend!

Fun at Blessed Sacrament

Hazel staying busy with Play Doh

Our new pretties all the way from Morocco!  Thanks, Nickie & Morgan!

Clay was loving time with the boys and making the aunts VERY jealous!

Wy & Hazel playing at chase the squirrel at my elementary school playground

Swimming Lessons

Wyatt & Hazel started swimming lessons last week and I am very happy to report that it has been a success!

I was very nervous that they were going to be a disaster.

Wyatt fell in the deep end of the pool during his last round of swimming lessons at the Y.  A life guard jumped in and got him and he was too terrified to get into the water the rest of the session.

Living so close to water, being a good swimmer is a must at our house!

We decided to try a new place, Little Waves Swim School in Omaha.  The pool is warmer, the class sizes are smaller, and all the teachers are qualified adults.

I really didn't want to do the toddler/parent class with Hazel so I had to convince them that she would be able to follow instructions without me in the water with her.  Was I lying out of my ass when I assured them she could do this?  Absolutely!

Now you see why I was nervous....

Before our first class, I did lots of prep work - telling Wyatt how fun it was going to be, preaching to Hazel how important it is to follow the rules, and bribing them with ice cream afterwards if everything went smoothly.

Thank the Lord, they love it!  We got super lucky and they are each one on one with a teacher.  Hazel behaves herself and Wyatt is being pretty darn brave.  So proud of my littles ;)

Ice Cream after their first class!

Anxiously waiting their turn

Clay wants in on that action!

2nd Annual Buddy Run

Saturday was the 2nd Annual Buddy Run to raise money for Down syndrome awareness.  

I ran the 5k and Luke, Wyatt, Hazel, and Clay were on duty at a cheering station near the finish line.  

Hazel brought her pom-poms, Wyatt gave out a LOT of high fives, and Clay waved as promised!

I loved running for Clay and really pushed myself to a new personal record (7:50 miles!).  

Clay has worked so hard to meet all of his milestones and does it with such determination.  

I was lucky enough to be born with healthy muscles and I do not want to ever take that for granted.

I even got a medal for getting 1st place in my age group!  

This is what Hazel thinks of my achievement ;) 

Frog & Toad

Wyatt, Hazel, and I saw A Year with Frog & Toad at the Rose Children's Theater.  

This was our second time there and it is so much fun.  

The plays are great - funny, great sets and costumes, and just the right length for wiggly kids.  

Wyatt has just started getting into chapter books and loves the Frog & Toad books so this was right up his alley.  

Hazel liked it but...she was driving me CRAZY!  Taking a 2.5 year old, who is going through the "why???" phase, to her first play was maybe not my most genius move.  

"Why are the lights off?", "Why is she wearing that?", "Why is everyone laughing?"....and why and why and why????  Ah!!!!!

Luke got us season tickets so I might be sending him with the kiddos next time ;)