Life These Days

I am continuing my streak as the worst blogger ever.  I always tell myself I need to get things documented as they happen, but that never happens!  I'm going to try my best to remember some of the things we've been up to lately.



We've spent a lot of time bowling this summer.  I stumbled across some program where kids get to bowl free all summer long at participating alleys.  One of those places just happens to be this nice, new center somewhat close to us!  With this program, Lainey can bowl two games for free EVERY DAY OF THE WEEK!  We also paid $25 for 4 adults to bowl two games every day...best deal ever!  Lainey's not very good, but neither are the rest of us, so it works out!

 We've also spent time attending birthday parties this summer. 

The girls and I went to my parents' a few weeks ago, and Lilly sat in a high chair in public for the first time.  She's been able to sit in a high chair forever, but we just have never put her in one yet.  Here's the sweet girl at the bowling alley in my parents' tiny town...it's like one of three places to eat in town! :)

Here's what this girl has been doing NONSTOP all summer!  She started pulling up about three weeks ago, and hasn't looked back!  She prefers to be standing up against something.  She still hasn't figured out how to cruise yet, and we're hoping that takes a little longer!  This was the best picture we could get of her in her chair because she refused to sit...she just wanted to stand!

I also got to enjoy a much needed night out with some of my friends.  My dear friend Randi (she's next to me) lives in a lovely apartment downtown.  She and her husband have lived there for two years, and they have no plans of leaving anytime soon, and I can't blame them!  They're on the top floor, have a great view, and are within walking distance to so many fun things!  Anyways!!!  We went to Randi's for dinner and drinks, and then headed to the Brad Paisley concert.  I have said for awhile that if Brad Paisley comes anywhere within like a 6 hour radius of me, I would be there!  So we went, and we had an absolute blast.  He definitely did not disappoint!

It's great that the iPhone lets you flip the camera around, but it still doesn't prevent awkward pictures like this one, ha!

 And here's me and Megan before my grandparents' 60th wedding anniversary celebration this past weekend.  It was great to see so many of my family members I don't get to see often, and of course was great to spend time with Jake & Megan before they move this weekend.  I really love my brother and sister-in-law, and we're REALLY going to miss having them so close!

And then since the summer is quickly coming to a close, I've also spent some time in my classroom this past week.  I'm that teacher that can't quite turn her brain off and has to get an early start so I don't stress in August.  Here's my Language Arts wall.  I'm in the process of looking for cute chairs and pillows for my reading center. 

Here's to hoping that I can better keep up with our lives once I get back in a routine in a couple weeks! 

4th of July Festivities

I LOVE THIS DAY!!!  I love it for what it means, I love it for the memories it brings back and creates, and I love it because who doesn't look good in red, white, and blue?! :)

We had a lot of fun celebrating America's birthday this year, and will continue to celebrate with our friends in our circle this weekend.  I have always loved this holiday, and when we moved to Omaha I think Jovan started to figure out why.  People here are just as crazy as am about the day!

I love decorating for the 4th and start right about Memorial Day weekend and will leave my patriotic decor up until it's time to decorate for football season.  This is the door sign I made this year, and I love how it turned out!


Our festivities began Sunday night at our church's annual Fireworks Bonanza.  It's really cool because we have a worship service, then there are food vendors and bouncy houses and other fun activities for the kiddos to play around on.  Everyone just comes and sets out their chairs, tents, and blankets and hangs out listening to a band or other music play until it's dark.  Then, of course, the real fun begins!  God has blessed us with a church home we really enjoy, and has answered our prayers about finding a small group.  We had a great time hanging out with our small group friends followed by some amazing fireworks!

Lainey wore the outfit Lilly is wearing for her first 4th of July.  I love when I get to put Lilly in Lainey's old clothes.  Brings back such fun memories!

Lainey getting ready to jump on one of those bungee trampoline things.  She had a blast!

Lilly had made a wardrobe change into her pjs for the fireworks.

The girls minus one

Lainey and her friend Ellie

 We're already looking forward to next year's Fireworks Bonanza!

On Tuesday night we went to the small town where my dad is from where they always have a street dance and a band.  We also went to check to make sure the blankets I had put down to secure a parade spot were still there.  It's crazy!  You are officially allowed to start "reserving" spots at 6 p.m. on the 2nd.  I went down at noon on the 3rd, and there was not much "prime space" left, but I did get us some shade with some curb spots also!  It never ceases to amaze me what a big deal this small town parade is!  Love me some Independence City!

Nana and our sweet girl

Lilly is thrilled, ha!

Waiting for the parade to start

The night of the 4th, we headed to watch fireworks.  We went up to my dad's elementary school and sat on top of a massive hill (the same hill we used to sled on as kids-so fun!).  It was really neat because we were able to see fireworks all over the city as well.  The girls wore their 4th pajamas, and everyone had a great time. 

Exhausted!

We had one of the most fun Fourths I remember in a long time!  Can't wait to do it again next year!

So we had one of the busiest days we have had in a long time after an already exhausting week. I got the chance to go to Memphis last week for a nice little visit, and I had a wonderful time! I had some very gracious hosts, and it was so good to see so many friends! I was ready to go home by the end of the week, but I am looking forward to our next trip back...with a husband and TWO girls (it's SOOOO weird for me to say that!).  While I was there I made my first "matchy matchy" thing for the girls.  We LOVE Sun San's, and we love the color red even more, so I thought these shoes would be appropriate.  Lainey wears her current pair at least twice a week, and I already have visions of 4th of July matching outfits in my head! :)

My poor girls are doomed to have huge feet like their mother, so I honestly bought these on the hopes that their feet won't be too big next summer!

Back to today...

We had a fun day at a local amusement/water park called Fun Plex with Jovan's work.  It was a beautiful day, and we had a great time hanging out with his colleagues and enjoying some family time together.  Lainey had an absolute blast playing in the kiddie pool area and especially enjoyed the wave pool.  After she spent the week at Nana and Papa's a few weeks ago, she has been a little fish!  I don't know what my mom's tricks are, but whatever she did worked.  Lainey has been going under the water like a champ, and we are no longer afraid to get in the water without her Puddle Jumper. 

That picture makes me kind of sad.  She is growing up SO fast, and I am reminded every day that these are her last times as it being only her.  I'm not sure what is going on lately, but she is really testing my patience and limits.  I feel I am constantly having to step back and take a breath and remember how lucky we are to have her.  I am trying to enjoy every moment with her and making sure she knows how special she is to us and how she will always be our baby.  I won't write much more, because I can cry at the drop of a hat these days! :)

After our long afternoon at Fun Plex, we headed to the Storm Chasers game with our neighbors.  I've mentioned before how blessed we are to have moved into such a great circle, and we had a great time hanging out with everybody.  Our ballpark is basically out in the middle of nowhere, giving it a completely different feel than the Redbirds.  Tailgating is the thing to do at these games, and naturally we took part.  I didn't get any pictures of that, but here are a few of our sweet girl. 

Mommy and Lainey being silly!

Lainey and her girlfriends from our Circle (that would be the Southern term for "cove")

This preggo is exhausted and is ready to go to bed after this long fun day!