Summer Vacation - The 1st Adventure

A picture narrative (with some, maybe too many, words):

With bags packed and the car loaded, we were on our way out of town.

The checklist was completed.

Were were ready to roll.

*The smiles you see above were not there two hours later when we were back in our driveway getting ready to "start" our journey AGAIN! Why were we back? I forgot my purse. In it was the cash for our trip (easy to get more), my phone (as hard as it would have been, I could have gone without it), and the thing that really mattered was my driver's license (which I would need later in the trip to get on the airplane). So, we had to come back home and get it. That set us back by two hours. Brett eventually did forgive me, and it was pretty smooth sailing.

We drove to Lincoln, Nebraska, and spent the night in a hotel. There was a pool and a continental breakfast. We arrived too late in the p.m. to use the pool when we got there, and Brett was too excited to get on the road in the a.m., so we ate breakfast and left.

Before we really got on the road we had to get gas.

We put the children to work removing the bugs that had their lives cut short by our van.

We settled in for the drive. (I guess I wasn't entertaining enough for Brett.)

Caleb enjoyed reading.

Claire - just being silly, however I think we were all feeling this way to be in the van again.

Emily playing games.

Just plug this boy in, and he is happy - music, games, t.v., movies - if it is electronic, Eli is its friend.

We arrived at my aunt an uncle's house around dinner time. My aunt had a casserole ready to go in the oven, so we were fed and entertained. My cousin came over with his family. It was fun getting reacquainted with them and meeting their youngest.

The CHILDREN enjoyed playing the candy bar game. Even though there was some healthy competition and tempers, it was all good in the end.

On Sunday we went to church with my aunt and uncle, and then the family came over again. Not only did all of the little cousins come over again, but my other cousin and her husband came for dinner and they spent the night.

Sunday evening we went to a park called Garden of the Gods. The were rock formations and the trails were beautiful.

We came across this guy playing the didgeridoo.

One of the formations.

My family after the trek around part of the park.

The silly girls.

This little guy loved to put his fingers in his ears and listen to himself.

Kissing Camels under the moon.

... and the sleeping arrangements.

Claire

Emily

Caleb

Eli

On Monday we went to an indoor park. There was mini-golfing, go-carts, laser tag, a kid's room, bumper cars, and an arcade.

Here we are waiting to play laser tag.

A couple of my goof balls doing the go-carts.

After the indoor park, we went home and grilled burgers and hot dogs. We left the children and went to a late night movie, Inception, with my cousin and his wife.

We had a wonderful visit with my family. It was great to get reacquainted and build the family bonds. We love you guys and appreciate all that you do for us.

didgeridoo

Today we met a man who plays the didgeridoo. I was able to try it out. I didn'ty-doo very well.

Here he is playing it for us.

The Start to our "Freedom" weekend

On Saturday, 3 July, we started out on an adventure. We went to the airport here in town and had a pancake breakfast sponsored by the Austin Morning Lions. We met some friends there. We had pancakes, sausage, spam (remember we live in Spamtown USA), juice, & milk. Then we were able to go out and see the airplanes.

This is our group at the "fly-in" breakfast.

After breakfast, the children had to prepare for a performance. Brett & a friend went to a movie, and I took the children to the dance studio to do a run through of their dances (they haven't dance these since the end of May). After the run through, we went to the bandshell for the performance.

Emily tapping.

You will come "to this conclusion." Emily is really a ham up on stage. She is a lot of fun to watch.

Emily being a carriage - she danced to "Love & Marriage."

Eli & his partner getting ready to start. He danced to "Let's Hear if for the Boy," and he had to be a "bad-boy."

money on the mind

I think this is called a K-kick.

begging

The End!

Claire's class (only about 1/4 of the dancers were there).

My pretty posing princess.

We're off to see the Wizard

We started off our freedom celebration by having a dance performance on Friday, July 2. The three younger children were in a dance production of "The Wizard of Oz." They had a two week dance camp, and then at the end of the camp, they had a performance. It was about thirty minutes long, and it was fun to watch.

Claire was a mini-munchkin.

Emily was a munchkin and one of the emerald city people.

Eli was the wizard.

The children all did a great job. It was a ton of fun to watch. It was also fun to have friends come and watch. After the performance, we had some friends come over (they will be moving out of state soon - so it was the last time to see them before they go). We grilled and had pork ribs for dinner, however, the highlight of our time together Friday evening was roasting (and eating) the giant marshmallows. First we did s'mores and then Brett & our friend stuffed candy in the giant marshmallows, roasted them, and ate them. (Just a note - these marshmallows are = to 4 large mallows).

Our friend's giant s'more, and the first candy roasted mallow.

Our friends eating the treasures.

Brett eating his candy mallow.

Me & my giant s'more.

This was a great start to a fabulous week end. Thanks friends for playing with us.

Happy Father's Day

For Father's Day this year, Brett said that he didn't want us to go and get/buy him anything. The best gift he could have would be money in the bank. Well, that would not suffice for me. I needed to do something special for the father of my children. The children and I decided that we would make a seven course meal for him. We were already planning to have some friends over, so the preparations began.

The place settings

Course the First - Appetizer:

Bruschetta on Rye

Course the Second - Appetizer

Shrimp with Cocktail Sauce

Course the Third - Salad:

Fruit Skewers

Course the Fourth - Soup:

Cold Cucumber

Course the Fifth - Entree:

Baked Dill Salmon on Rice

Course the Sixth - Entree:

Cashew Steak

Course the Seventh - Dessert:

Individual Cheesecake with Raspberry Topping

Then after dinner we played some games. After our friends left, the children gave Brett a little massage.

Claire rubbing Brett's feet

Eli rubbing Brett's back.

It ended up being a really nice afternoon/evening, even though it started like this:

Spilled soup

Thanks Brett for being a wonderful father. We all love and appreciate you.

Caleb helped with the preparation, however, he was only able to partake of 5 courses because he had to leave early to go to scout camp. (We fed him before everyone else because we knew he would miss the whole dinner.)

Running and Funning

Last night we were able to go to a track meet that the Kiwanis puts on. They do two of these a summer, and my children enjoy going and participating.

They get to do the long jump and a softball throw. There are also races - 50, 100, 200, 400, and 800 meter run, and then a 4x100 meter relay. It is a lot of fun. We have been there during nearly 100 degree temperatures, in wrap up in blanket weather, in rainstorms, and last night it was perfect - mid seventies with a slight "tail wind."

Emily in action

Claire jumping

Claire running (this is the only race she ran). She was there for the social aspect of it - to eat the treats and play with her friends.

Emily serious about running (I think she got first).

Eli running

Emily and her relay team.

It was a great evening to be outside. It is priceless to see the little 3 and 4 year-old children running, especially when it comes to the 200 meter. It was just fun to be with friends and have the children socialize and achieve.

p.s. thanks to Renee for the pictures.

Shades of Grey

Caleb was able to compose a piece at his music camp. It is here. His is titled Shades of Grey. He was recorded playing it.

(the picture is from his holiday concert)

Missing My Boy

On Sunday was the start of an adventure.

Caleb reading the information about camp.

We signed Caleb up for a music camp. At this camp Caleb has the opportunity to play his cello and sing in a choir. He is very excited about it.

He finished packing, we went to church, and then we hit the road.

We drove for about two hours to get to the college where he will be for the week. We saw plenty of fields.

We got there and registered him and then we went to get him checked into his room.

We got him unpacked, made his bed, and then we headed back over to the music hall for his audition.

Caleb outside his dorm room.

My little man on campus.

We left his dorm, went to the car to get his cello, drove back over to the music hall, and got ready for his audition.

Caleb a little nervous as he waits for his audition.

Brett standing outside the audition door.

Brett listening to his audition.

Caleb in his "home" for the next week.

Caleb and his roommate.

Sad mom leaving her son.

After the audition, we had him walk back to the dorms so that he would get a sense of the campus and the paths he would need to follow. When we got back to the dorm, his roommate was there (he had a much earlier audition, so his parents had left and he was there by himself) and we left Caleb with his roommate.

I am excited for Caleb to have this experience, however, I do miss my boy.