our long lost relatives

You probably didn't notice when I posted my bathroom re-do the picture of our long lost relatives.  Let me show you them now.

Someone thought we had hung a picture of the Obama's up in our bathroom......ummm no.
(yes it is just the picture that came with the frame) Let me explain.  I had this vision of having family pictures up in these frames and I wanted to put a picture of just the kids in this last frame.  I have tried many many times to take pictures of my kids together and it just doesn't work.  Here are a couple examples of my efforts

 

 

As you can see, someone is always pulling a funny face, or not looking at the camera or just not in the mood.  Someday, I will get a great shot of ALL 3 kids and then the Obamas can leave our bathroom ;-)

Who wants to stop playing and pose for some dumb picture anyway?  If you can get this little goose to pause for a picture, it is a amazing. 

Oh look, here is about the only proof that it did rain (1 or 2 times) in Omaha this year.  I can't believe how DRY it is here and of course no one has sprinkling systems (because usually the rain takes care of that for them) so the grass is so dead now in this 100+ heat. 
 In this high heat, we have spent a lot more time indoors (and outside in the blow-up pool) but I have really tried to do a lot less TV and the kids have really hit a creative streak.  Addie goes through our recycling bin and is always making projects.  Here is her bird costume she made out of a cereal box and strawberry container.  She made wings out of a milk jug but I guess I didn't get a picture of the full costume

 

We have been spending a lot more time home recently because of a bout of sickness running through our house.  2 weeks ago, Ammon got strep....not fun.  Then Avonlea got hand, foot and mouth......really not fun and now Kimball is going on day 6 of a fever and horrible cough and the doctors don't know why.  It makes me really nervous and I will probably be taking him in again if his fever is not gone in the morning.  He doesn't complain of anything but just gets really tired and feels cold.  We have been quarantined ourselves and have found many things to keep us busy.  This morning, I set up a cooking table outside for the kids.




In out other spare time, we have been gardening.  We are LOVING gardening and the vegetables are doing really well here.  It is really a great stress relief to go work in the garden. This year we planted tomatoes, beans, cucumbers, eggplant, beats, corn, spinach, lettuce watermellon, pumpkins, strawberries, lots of herbs and lots of squash. Summer to me is fresh veggies out of the garden. YUMMM!

 

 

Our strawberry cage to keep out the critters

Dang, this next picture is sideways but so cute.  Of course gardening always leads to a lot of muddy babies. 

 

 Which of course leads to a lot of bath time

 

 All in all, it is a very fun, hot, sick summer and I am loving that my kids are really finding best friends in each other. If there is a blessing from sickness, that would be ours.

Yay! a visit from family

As I have mentioned before, it has been a wonderful summer and even though we are not able to make it home this summer, we have been able to see a lot of family and friends.  A couple days after Ammons parents left, we had my 2 brothers and their families some stay with us.  It was so WONDERFUL having them here.  We loved every minute of it.  I only wish it could have lasted longer.  They got here late Saturday evening after being in the car for 18 HOURS!!! uggg

The next day, we decided to go to the Mormon Trail Center and temple after church.  We took along a picnic and ate our lunch while we were eaten for lunch by a few bugs. 

This is my brother Denny and his wife Anne and my brother Kyle and his wife Lena.  I think this is the only picture I have of Denny while they were here in Omaha.  Poor guy was sick in bed the majority of the time in Omaha but luckily he started feeling better by Nauvoo.

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A few of my wonderful nieces and nephews

This was most of the gang.  There were 17 of us at our townhouse but it really wasn't bad at all...at least it wasn't for us.  I loved being able to spend time with everyone

for as many times as we have gone to the trail center, this was the first time I remembered to bring my camera.  I have some cute pioneer children :-)

My sis-in-law Lena and Myra, Livy and Collin

My beautiful niece Becca.  I can't believe how old she is.  I was younger than her when she was born so I guess that means she has traveled into the future because I know I haven't aged that much

Sunday evening we walked the Pedestrian Bridge and it was beautiful

Straddling the State line of Iowa and Nebraska  (keep your eyes out for Addies many poses.  She no longer takes a picture with out posing funny)

Addie and Olivia are such great friends.  I love these 2 girls so much

It was a beautiful sunset

On Monday, we went to the Zoo but I forgot to bring my camera...of course.  Tuesday we all left to go to Nauvoo...well everyone but Ammon :-(   I decided I would break up the post into different sections to make it easier.  These next couple pictures were actually after we came home and Kyle and Lena stayed with us again on their way home.  Avonlea really got attached to Kyle.  But who wouldn't?  He is amazing after all

The thing I love the very most about this last trip with my family was that now when Avonlea sees pictures of family, she can name them.  How deeply we are blessed with such amazing family