Playtime

When school started back up, I worried that I wouldn't have any play time left with the kids. Even though our schedules are busy (and getting busier), we somehow manage to squeeze in plenty of fun.

Here's Annika shopping in the newly remodeled supermarket section of our Children's Museum.

Fresh fruits and veggies--the real way to taste the rainbow.


Of course, in the science center you can make a rainbow of your own.

We had so much fun that we came back in the evening with the big kids, plus the grandparents.  This time, we took over the pizza parlor. 

Talia's getting ready for some cake baking.

 Jason and Eli naturally gravitated upstairs to the lego exhibit.

Of course, our girls are pretty great builders too.  At least most of them.  For the moment, Annika remains most adept at knocking things down.

This odd picture comes from a "Let it Bleed" blood drive where Annika tagged along.  I was expecting more of a Disney "Frozen" theme as opposed to heavy metal.  Let's just hope she doesn't get used to wearing so many chains.

One of the best parts of having Sunday morning church is that it leaves the afternoons open.  Here we all are on a family bike ride along the Wabash trace.

The kids thought they were going to die...but they didn't.

Besides, if they hadn't biked ten miles, they never would have gotten to hold the fuzzy little caterpillar.

Following our ride, we let them recover at Lake Manawa's Dream Park.  Here's the monkey!

Brooklyn, pausing for a cracker break.

Playing Hide-n-Go-Seek.

Annie in her pretty little dress.

On a different morning, Annika and I explored the botanical gardens. 

The gardens currently have a great display of wildlife sculptures by Dan Ostermilller.

Even better, there was a Lithuanian woodcarver sculpting this depiction of Egle, the mythical queen of serpents.  So much fun to learn about this folktale and think about the real-life Egle we know!

Annika loves the trains nearly as much as Eli.

Personally, I am most intrigued by the organic recreations of Omaha's cityscape.  This is the Rose theater, where we often see children's productions.

Gotta love how the trolley pauses right in front of Central!

They even have our neighborhood silos represented.

Lauritzen Gardens was such a success that Annika and I brought the whole extended family back shortly thereafter for a picnic and an evening concert. The kids thought the music was great, but the bubbles were even greater.

You can always tell when Jason's behind the camera lens.  Stunning!

Later that week we found ourselves at the downtown slides for Activity Days (a youth program through our church for girls aged 8-11).  Talia's in the front, followed by Eva and their leader, Jen Norlund.

Eli made fast friends with two adorable little boys.  They hung out like the three amigos, sliding side by side for the rest of the evening.

Pausing for a lesson on friendship and kindness.  Gotta love how Eli hopped right in like one of the gals.

Once everyone went home, we stayed a bit longer to enjoy the beautiful evening.  (True confession: I edited some trash out of this photo.  Why in the world do people litter?)

My little goslings.

Apparently playing with one ward congregation wasn't enough because we also crashed a "birthday party" for our former Eagle Run ward.  Here's Talia getting her face painted by the multi-talented Sasha.

Sure do love you, my Ugly Duckling.  (Just in case anyone needs clarification, that's a joke.)

I truly think we ought to stop it right there, because really, how much more does a family need?  But our family apparently lacks moderation because partied yet again at "Dundee Days."  The kids got all decked out at the photo booth...

...and graciously volunteered me for a pie eating contest. 

I lost.  The girl in the Birks was hardcore, and probably would have given even Watermelon Kate a run for her money.

Of course, the best fun is close to home.  Our neighborhood park...

...and a game of Cities and Knights.

Life is Good!

Camping at Two Rivers

It's a cardinal rule in my life that you should never be behind in blogging two campouts at once. We're scheduled to go Labor Day camping this evening, which means that the time to post these pictures is...now!  (Don't worry, there aren't too many.)

A couple of weeks ago, we decided to do a quick overnight campout at Two Rivers State park with the Kidd family, some friends from church.  Okay, okay.  Even if you're just staying overnight, there is nothing at all "quick" about a campout by the time you factor in the full day it takes to get ready beforehand and the two days it takes to clean up after.

Anyway, here's Kyle stoking the fire.  Kyle played football in college...

...while his wife Heather played volleyball.  Needless to say, our group had all ends of the height spectrum well covered!


From left to right we have Talia, E (11), W (3), and Brooklyn.


Meet Mr. M., their middle child who is Eli's age. 

Eli and M were great helpers setting up the tent.

This little tike looks like he's just about ready for bed!

Not before dinner, though!  As you can see, hot dog roasting is a fine art that requires extreme concentration (and apparently a furrowed brow.)

Saturday morning we had a great time playing in the flat Platte.  Here's Eli, getting ready to soak any unsuspecting passersby.

Annika spent most of her time playing closer to shore.

That's quite the growth you have on your knee, Jason!

Before we knew it, it was time to pack up and pose for one last picture.

Add in the Kidd's dog, Penney, and it was the perfect little campout.  Right?

Wrong!!!  Notice there's one little gal missing from this picture.  Annie was sleeping in the car, completely exhausted because she didn't go to sleep until way after midnight.  I'll spare you the horrific details, but let's just say that I'd be surprised if anyone in a quarter mile radius slept either.  I kind of blocked the whole ordeal from my memory until late yesterday night when it all came flooding back.  The inner dialogue: "Camping with Annie?  What are we thinking!"

 Pray for us.  We may need it.

New Beginnings: The First Day of School 2015

With last night being Open House at Crestridge Magnet for International Studies, it feels like the school year has officially started.  Time to share some photos from the first day of school!  Here are Talia, Eli, and Brooklyn posed in front of our own open house.

Can you tell they're excited?  Talia laid out her outfit (and matching nail polish) weeks ahead of time.

They might be a little bit scared, too.

Mostly they're just goofballs.

Brooklyn (5th grade!) is definitely a big kid at the school by all standards.  She's excited because this year she will get to play trumpet, cello, and sing in the choir.  Her class will be one of the last to spend 6th grade at Crestridge since they are switching to K-5.  She likes her Spanish teacher, Señora Cruz, but is most infatuated with the energetic Mr. Wiles and his incentive programs. 

Talia (3rd grade) moved out of the building and into the portables this year.  Both of her teachers, Mrs. Zulkolsky and Señora Jacome, are petite blonds, but Señora Jacome speaks Spanish like a native after teaching for eight years in Ecuador and marrying an Ecuadorian. 

Last but certainly not least, we have our kindergartner Eli.  This little guy was so excited to start school!  He's been counting down ever since kindergarten roundup last spring.  Already a familiar face at Crestridge after tagging along so many times, he's handling school like a pro.  Yesterday Ms. Prisbell, the librarian, told me how she and Ms. Seger, the art teacher, get together and chuckle over lunch at the latest Eli-isms.

Off to catch the bus.  Eli may not have been teary-eyed, but I was!  Okay, at least a little bit.  The rest of me was giggling about how his backpack dangles down to his knees.  Oh, I hope I never forget what it was like when they were little!

Eli was so excited to ride the bus that he never even remembered to turn around and give Mom a hug!  I guess I wouldn't have it any other way.  Besides, I know that Craig, the world's best bus driver, is watching out for his "blond bombers."

While Eli may have insisted on riding the bus on the first day, we went ahead and followed along behind to greet him at the school.  Here's Annika waiting for the bus to arrive.  (Good to at least acknowledge that we have one more child.)

Checking in with their PE teacher, Mr. Satterly.

At last, Eli is united with his kindergarten classroom.  This year his teachers are Ms. Yaro(limek) on the English side and Señora Hofsommer on the Spanish side.  Señora Hofsommer is out on maternity leave for another week, so Eli's gotten to know the substitute Señora Flores as well.  Señora Flores was Brooklyn's third grade teacher, but is now in charge of dual language at Crestridge.

Getting to know his classmates.  Apparently Eli greets nearly everyone with a hug.  (We won't talk about how he did or didn't kiss Natalie on the bus.  Uncle Justin, you may need to have a talk with him about this.)

At the end of the day, I drove back to school to give the crew a ride home and let them know how much we missed them.  Brooklyn and Talia were happy to pose for a picture but Eli had other things in mind.

He was desperate to call cousin Alesia. :)  So to Alesia, Callie, and any other teachers out there, thanks so much for making school special!