Jr. Youth Group

Chad and I started a new journey tonight both as a couple and as a family.

Back in December, we began brainstorming and planning with one of the pastors to begin a junior youth group. The kids would be in 5th through 8th grade. We would provide them an opportunity to build relationships and create friendships with substance and religion as a building block.

Tonight, we finally got a chance to meet the other couple who will be our co-sponsors. They seem like a great couple. They were recently married (January) and are from Iowa!!! YEAH - We have a bond already!

Anyway - We are really excited to begin this new adventure. The boys will be able to participate as Chris is going into 5th grade (AHHHHH!!!! How scary is that?) and Shawn will be in 3rd - a little young but able to participate because he is our son!

Our first gathering is in July! We are going to World's of Fun - This will primarily be hosted by the Sr. Youth Group. Then in August, Chad and I are having the kids over to our home to swim, play video games, watch movies, have bible study, eat food and play outside. It should be a lot of fun!!!

Please keep us and the Jr. Youth in your prayers. This will be a great way to keep kids involved in church, which will only make their faith stronger.

Dog Days of Summer

Father's Day wasn't quite what we expected. The boys are not here with us so Chad was hoping for a phone call. Sadly most of the day came and went without hearing from them. Finally around 8:00 they called. Also - The kids were bummed because they sent cards, but they did not arrive on time.

With the kids not here, the dog has taken center stage. He was more than happy to wish is "Dad" a Happy Father's Day. All we really can say is that the dog is loved.




As the pictures progressed, Murphy got more lazy. He just melts into Chad and it just makes us laugh!

Needless to say, he loves his "mom" too! Chad was goofing around with him and tucked him into the side of my shirt. Murphy melted into my hand and just laid there. He had no desire to even try to move. He is definitely a part of the family!

We Got Annie!

Annie came to Omaha on Memorial Day to stay for 3 weeks. She has come to live with us during Summer School. She works with me as a special education para-professional. This year turned out better than last, although the weather was not so great.

We went shopping (bought the same shirt for Flag Day), ate great food, sang in the church choir together, and I even got to test her nursing skills (I almost broke my toe at New York and Company). Along with all that, she was my camping buddy during all the storms. We camped out under the staircase while Chad stayed outside in hopes of seeing a tornado. He is crazy sometimes, but thankfully, he was able to achieve his goal (he saw a funnel cloud) and not one single home in our area was touched!

Sadly, Annie had to go back to Clear Lake last night, but Chad and I will get to see her and the rest of the family soon. We go to CL for the 4th of July and then a week later, we get to go on our cruise to the Carribean!

Love Ya Sis!

Storms

Well - Many of you who know me and my husband know that we love pictures. We especially love outside/weather pictures. During the past week, we have had so many cool pictures that I thought we would post a few and share them.

This was right after a big rainstorm


These next 3 pictures were taken just before the storms tonight around 9:00. I took consecutive pictures just hoping to catch one of the amazing lightning bolts... and this is what I got...


We hope that all our family and friends stay safe with all this wicked weather around the country.

A bad case of the Grumpy's

Well - No pictures to add this time around. We all seem to have a bad case of the grumpies!

Annie (my sister) came to visit last week on Monday. She is working with me for summer school. Currently she is assigned to work with a kiddo who has Cerebral Palsy. He's a little sassy so I think she might enjoy the nursing home better. She is grumpy cuz she misses her boyfriend, Tristan.

The morning before Annie got to town, our boys left to go live with their mom for the summer. This always makes Chad and I a little grumpy. We don't like the kids being gone and the house just seems too quiet. We are also very tired which doesn't help the overall mood! Chad has been working 12 hour shifts and I started a new job (teaching, but at a new school).

On top of all that, the weather has been yucky! We have had to be indoors a lot and we would much prefer to be outside.

We need this next weekend .... bad! It is supposed to be 97 and sunny - A perfect day for the boat or the pool!!!

Well - hopefully we will get some pics to post soon, but in the meantime -

Saturday Continued

We also went to the circus. We were thinking it might be boring since we had gone last year. We were pleasantly surprised.

We saw dogs doing tricks with frisbees.


We were also able to see a guy get catapulted out of a cannon. This was the same guy who rode a motorcycle in a round cage last year. I think he's a little crazy!


When the day was done we went back to the campsite and made pie-iron pizzas, grilled reese's and of course... S'mores.


Our kids have done a great job enjoying the outdoors. It was very tough the first few trips because...well, there isn't electricity in a tent! That means no T.V., video games, movies or computers. Chad and I love the time with the kids and not worrying about the distractions. It is true family time!


After dinner and dessert, we just sat around the fire talking and enjoying our last night with the kids (they go to their mom's for the summer). We all had a great time.... some of us had a little too much fun and got tuckered out. (SEE BELOW)
Shawn pulled his sleeping bag and blanket out by the fire and within about 10 minutes fell asleep. It was so sweet, I had to take a picture. Seems he had at least a little bit of fun!

Memorial Weekend (Saturday)

Saturday morning was dreary... rainy and cold. We braved the weather though and the excitement was mounting. Shawn was nearly beside himself to see if he was tall enough to ride the Space Shot. Guess What... He Was Tall Enough!!!
Look at that grin!


From there we took Tony and Desiree on the Underground. This was their first trip to an amusement park. Then we headed to the Outlaw! (The boys are in the back car)


Chris couldn't wait to ride the Sidewinder. This is the final height requirement at Adventureland. Once you are tall enough to ride this.... you can ride any ride in the park.


We went camping and to Adventureland with our friends Jill and Tim, and their kids Sean, Desiree and Tony. Tony and Desiree are being officially adopted in 2 weeks!


See next posting....