What a Difference a Few Years Makes...

I LOVE getting new family pictures.  First of all, it is my own little secret torture device for the boys in my life.  They HATE to get their picture's taken-- even more than that, they hate that I make them "match" for pictures.  It isn't matching really...well sometimes it is, but mostly it is just about coordinating for the picture.  This year's family pictures were especially torturous because I made them take them not once but twice -- in the same week!  We had regular studio portraits done one day and the next day we meet with a local photographer to do an outside portrait shoot. 
Getting the pictures taken are fun but so is updating the family picture frame.  That is the time that I get to pull out all of the old family picture and reminisce. How fun it is to remember when they were so little.  For me I think about it in school years -- that one was taken before Coltin started kindergarten, this one was taken my first year of teaching.  Strange, I know.  But really, would you expect any less from me?
This year's pictures are especially poignant with Ben being 18 and headed out on his own.  Who knows in the upcoming years if he will be in town on family picture day?  And sometime in the (very distant) future he will be adding a daughter-in-law and grandchildren to our family picture. 
I have not yet received the proofs from our outside photo shoot, but I am posting some from our indoor shoot, as well as some previous year's pictures for your viewing pleasure.  Enjoy!

March 2006

December 2008

June 2009

November 2010

November 2010

No Ordinary Family...Our Secret Super Powers

Our family has recently started watching a new weekly television show called "No Ordinary Family".  It is about a family who is involved in a plane crash and then develops super powers.  So...I decided to blog about what super powers we would each pick if we got the chance.

Chad:  Wants to be able to control other people's minds...especially those of his three boys.
Ben:  Wants super strength .. all the better to pick up on the girls.
Dakota: Wants to be able to go back in time and "fix all of the stupid mistakes I made" 
Coltin:  Wants to be able to control metal so he can create himself a motorcycle.  I think that we might be in trouble when he gets old enough to drive. 

And for me, I just want to be able to be super fast .. because it seems like I never have enough time to accomplish all that I need and want to do. 

But alas, we do not have any super powers and we are just a plain-old ordinary family. We do have some incredible skills though. 
Chad:  can polish off a package of cookie dough without actually baking a cookie and has an award winning smirk.
Ben:  can empty a full fridge in under an hour and still be hungry
Dakota: can find a sarcastic comment for every occasion and is not afraid to say it
Coltin:  can hear and correct the grammar mistakes of anyone and everyone -- parents and teachers included

and me...well I can just bore you with blogs about nothing.  Gives me something to do since I have so much free time on my hands....  Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Halloween to all you ghouls and boys! It was a chilly night here in Nebraska land, but we sat outside and greeted our little neighborhood ghosts and goblins!  I wonder though, when did it become ok to not even bother with "Trick or Treat" and go straight to the "I'm going to hold my bag out and you need to put something in it"?  I don't mind spending $50 on candy and playdough to give away, but I'd at least like to hear the occasional "Trick or Treat" and "Thank You" for my money!! 
It was fun to sit outside with our homemade rootbeer bubbling away and visit with our friendly neighbors.  I do have to say that Nebraska has the best people!  I just wish it had been a little bit warmer.  Gloves, scarf, and heavy clothing is not my idea of the ideal Halloween weather.  Today's high was a balmy 50 degrees -- I miss my sunny Arizona more and more each day!

Here is a few pictures of our Halloween pirate and his loot. I have never seen so much candy come out of one trick or treat bag!  We are sending some to the teachers at Hickory Hill and Picotte, some to Ben in Georgia,  and some to our Kiewit friends.  Coltin was a little bummed out about the "sharing" but I think even he realizes that he can not possibly eat all of this candy -- although I am sure that he would like to give it a try!

Carving a Pumpkin..for the last time???

Ok, so I am a loser mom but I really DISLIKE carving pumpkins.  It does nothing for me.  I could live forever without doing it again and never miss it.  All those ooey gooey guts and seeds that NEVER get all the way out of the pumpkin, no matter what you do...and don't EVEN get me started on sillly little pumpkin carving knives that snap in half and have to be pried loose from their pumpkin graves.  But alas, the kiddos love it.  So, with a big sigh and a promise to myself that I can get a massage to reward my good behavior, off we go to carve a pumpkin.  But it occured to me this year as Colt was carving (or wait, that was me that was carving while Colt looked on) that perhaps this year will be the last in the long line of pumpkin carving torture.  This year is the last year we will have a child in elementary school.  Next year Colt will be in middle school (gulp) and Dakota a sophmore in high school, while Ben will likely still be serving in Afghanistan.  What if, along with outgrowning trick or treating and the jolly red elf that comes each winter, Colt also outgrows pumpkin carving?  Am I really ready for that?  This year Dakota refused to even pick out a pumpkin; he said he really didn't want to bother.  All of these little things that I have taken for granted the past 18 years, trick-or-treating, egg hunts at Easter, letters to Santa, they are all coming to an end.  My babies are growing up and I don't know if I am quite ready for that.  Will we be ok if we have NO jack'o'lanterns on our stoop next year?  I don't know--maybe I'll drop by my favorite Hobby Lobby and pick myself up a nice styrofoam jack'o'lantern that is pumpkin gut free!  Now that's the best idea I've had in a while. 

At least Coltin scooped most of the nasty pumpkin guts out himself!

Note:  This is the front side of the pumpkin.  There is only one pumpkin, Coltin designed and mom carved both sides.  It is the most interesting thing I have ever seen, but it makes him happy!

Back side of Coltin's 2-faced pumpkin. 

Happy Halloween everyone and enjoy those wonderful family moments, pumpkin guts and all!!

Georgia on My Mind...

One of the hardest things that I have ever had to do is to let my baby go.  How can he possibly be old enough to be out on his own and in the military?  Sadly, he can be.  We are so very proud of him and his decision to serve our country but aprehensive just the same.  I took a long weekend and went to visit our soldier boy at Fort Gordon in Georgia.  Georgia is a beautiful state but it pales in comparison to seeing my son's face in person!  It amazes me how much he has grown up over the past six months.  He is no longer my baby, but I love the man he has grown into.  Our relationship with him has strengthened and matured and isn't it amazing how SMART I have become in the past 6 months!  :)  Gotta love that!  Here are a few pictures of our amazing boy.  We love you Ben!

A Farily Chilly County Fair

One thing that we miss the most from Idaho (other than our friends of family of course!) is the Eastern Idaho State Fair. It is an experience unto no other. How I miss going to the fair with Grandma Heath -- parking our car at Uncle Leo's and wandering through all of the booths and barns to view the displays, animals, and of course to buy the latest 'new' thing. Grandma Heath always volunteered in the antiques building and we would have to stop and visit with her there if we happened to go without her. The boys always had to buy a surprise bag from TeePee Toys. The bags were full of junk, but junk that they loved! Concerts at the fair are memorable as well. Perhaps the most memorable one would be Kenny Chesney and Tim McGraw, LONG before the whole world knew who Kenny Chesney was! And what would the fair be without the fair food? Fresh ears of corn dipped in butter, elephant ears, polish sausages with grilled onions and peppers, but by and far the most yummy thing going was the scone nuggets with honey butter. My mouth waters even as I sit here thinking of them. And no matter how I try, I can never get mine to taste quite the same. There is just something in the air at the fair that makes them what they are....




But alas, it has been impossible for us to make it to the Eastern Idaho State Fair in a long time. So this year we decided to scope out the "somewhat" local county fair and see how it measured up. We chose the Clay County Fair in Spencer Iowa because Blake Shelton would be there in concert and because it made USA Today's top 10 County Fairs in the U.S. It was about a 3 hour trip each way, but well worth it in our opinion. It was a good time, but it might have been better with some seasonally appropriate temperatures. The high of 44 degrees the day we went was a little hard to swallow. But armed with our hoodies and heavy jackets, off we went! So much of the fair reminded by of Idaho. The Watkins booth, the framed names with their meanings, antiques, quilts, and more. The food was good -- but not quite the same. The deep friend potato flour cinnamon roll was delicious but the steak tips left a lot to be desired. I decided that Chinese food has no place at a county fair and that scone nuggets need to be a requirement.

The best part of the day was spending time with my family.  Whether we are in Idaho, Nebraska, Iowa, and New York City -- that close family relationship is what really matters.  And who knows?  Maybe next year we can make it to our own favorite County Fair.  Who wants to meet us there?

Our Prairie

Just across the the street and down the road from our house is a beautiful rolling prairie.  A little interesting to see in the middle of our suburban paradise, but we will take it!  We are able to ride our bikes across the creek and down the bike bath to the prairie.  One beautiful Sunday day we took the boys for a ride and stopped to take pictures.  It is hard to believe that the season of fall is rapidly approaching as you look at the beautiful wildflowers that are still blooming.  While moving so far away from our friends and family is difficult, there are simple pleasures and beauty surrounding us in our new home. 

Ben the Soldier

<>

Dress blues and BC's (also known as birth control glasses)

Chad arrived in Georgia on Tuesday night and was able to spend all day yesterday with Ben.  I am a tad bit (Ok a LOT) jealous of this!  It stinks that I have to work this week -- I can't wait until Friday when I will get to see him.  Two and a half months doesn't seem like that long of a time, but I have never gone that long without seeing Ben before.  It is really hard to be a mom when your kids are growing up.  As much as we fussed and fought he is still my baby.  I miss having him here everyday.  It is so hard for me to believe that the time has come for him to be out on his own.  I am terribly proud of him and the decisions that he is making.  His is a great kid who is developing into an awesome man.  Love you Ben!!

The Omaha Zoo

We love taking the boys to the zoo and wandering around the animals. It is a great way to get out and enjoy the sun and get a little exercise too. If you have ever been to the Omaha Zoo, you would know what I mean about the exercise -- that place is HUGE! Coltin especially wanted to go this weekend as they have a Madagascar Exhibit that has recently opened. The only downfall to the visit was that it was HUMID and HOT that day! We manged to live through it and had a great day as a family. I even conquered, or faced anyway, my fear of heights and rode the the Skyfari chair lift. The only low point of the day was missing Ben...

The New Dakota...

Say "Cheese" and show off those straight, white teeth!

Ready for the girls..Cool New Shades

Dakota has spent this summer creating a new him to go with his new role as a HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT!  It started with him getting his braces off in May and then in July he got contacts.  He looks like a totally different kid.. err...young man now.  But he will always be Mommy's little boy!

Our New Family Blog

Welcome to our new family blog.  Join us as we record our adventures hanging out on the Nebraska praire. 
Chad and Darcy and family...