Pictures!

Okay, so these aren't all from the ones I've been promising, but they are pictures none-the-less. :)

Last weekend Ry & I with the Tankster headed to Nebraskie for a wedding.  A family friend of ours finally said "I do" after 10 years of dating!  (Which would be a REALLY long time if he was older, since he's not, it's just a long time).  We headed out on Thursday and stayed until Sunday.

I think I appreciate my trips to Nebraska more and more as I age.  It's so nice to be there and not have a care in the world...or so it seems.  It was nice to settle down and not worry about finding a house and dumb house stuff. 

The wedding was on Friday, so we got dressed up all pretty for that... 

My dad loves the camera...can you tell?  Here's the bride and groom...

 Ryan needed to pose with Tank before we left for the wedding.

On Saturday the Huskers played their first Big 10 game against TN.  They won.  Being home on a Husker game day was a great chance for Tank to model his new Husker fashion.  Mom made him a bandana in July so he sported it on Saturday.  Here I am with him. 

 When we go home Tank has to be on a leash when he's outside because we're afraid he'll chase a rabbit and we'll never see him again (okay, that's a stretch since there are like 100 people in Meadow Grove...)  Here he his posing in the grass.

Isn't he the most awesome dog you've ever met?  (or seen?)

Good news!  We have a place to stay once we give up possession of our house!  Two ladies from church who have a house in Arvada are going on a month long trip in October.  I asked them if they needed a house sitter and explained what was going on with Ry & I and today they told me that they would LOVE to have us house sit for them!  Yay for not being totally homeless!  Now if we could just get the bank to accept our offer...

Our Past Two Sundays

The past two Sundays Ryan and I have been at church/school from the time church starts until about 8 PM. (Okay, two weeks ago we were so late for church, we didn't go, shame on us...) But still we've been there a long time.

I'm pleased to announce though that because my husband is brilliant, our school now has a web filter. That's right, in his free time, the husband-extrodinare has been building us a filter so that the kiddies can't access any information they aren't supposed to access. Sweet huh? (He threatened to block Facebook which nearly sent me into cardiac arrest, {I only check it on my recess breaks, sometimes, and before and after school} but in the end he hasn't blocked it...yet)

Tonight was our back to school picnic. We had a lot of new faces there with our CDC program. I love parents of preschoolers! They are so cute and it's all so new to them to have a child in school that they are eager to help out. All through my presentation there were three moms smiling and nodding their heads with everything I said.

Tomorrow Ryan took the day off so we can spend my last day of summer together. Sweet, huh? Yeah, he's awesome like that. Here's what I would like to do tomorrow...

Here's probably what we'll actually do (especially since we don't live near a beach...)

Him working on the filter and me blogging, blog searching, pinteresting, or working school stuff. 

Thought we might go here...

We'll see.  I'll let you know.

Hanging with Maddie

Yesterday I got the privilege of hanging out with the coolest 6 year old I know.  I drove to Colorado Springs to pick Maddie up at noon.  Our mission:  Have a fun girls day and find her a baptismal birthday present.  Our plan...well I didn't have one, because I don't really know Colorado Springs.

I picked her up at noon and asked her what she wanted to for lunch.  She told me we should probably go somewhere close to her house and that there was a King Burger {Burger King} nearby, but she didn't know if she wanted to go there...  So we drove in the general direction of food.  As we were driving she was supposed to be watching and choose a place to eat.  She was quite talkative in the back seat and I kept having to ask her where we were going.  Then she decided on the Black Bear Diner.  I loved it!  It was a cute little diner that reminded me of my days working at The Cafe in Meadow Grove.  There were cute little black bears all around. 

 Once we left we were on our way to the Target Mall because they have a play area.  I didn't know where this mall was so I was trying to use my detective skills.  I asked if there was a JCPenney and Dillards at the Target Mall--yes, there was.  So I drove to where I had seen the JCP & Dillards only to be told that it was not the Target Mall.  So then I drove to Target, which was a stand alone store.  Then she remembered that the Target Mall was in Denver.  So we just went to Target.

We were probably in Target close to two and a half hours.  We made three trips to the fitting room. 

It was great.  I loved the pink shirt with the cupcake but it was "too hot" for her, even though I tried to explain that it was going to be winter soon.  The skirt she is wearing with the yellow shirt was HUGE, but it had these elastic pulls on it so we were able to make it fit, we decided that was a maybe because she could grow into it and wear it longer.  The leggings that came with it were super cute.  After many yes, no, and maybes we went to look at toys, then shoes, then clothes again.  Finally she settled on a super cute outfit {which I didn't get a picture of, Boo!}

We had to pause in between fitting room trips and toy aisle trips.  We laid out all the possibilities while still keeping in the parameters of spending I had set up.  So we went and got a push-up from the Target food court.

She got two pairs of leggings, one brown with white polka-dots and one pink.
The cutest pink skirt--think tutu only a bit longer.  (I tried to find a pic on Target.com, but couldn't)
The yellow shirt pictured above.
A white shirt with a rainbow on it.
...and the shoes.
She also got a Smurf because it was kind of killing her that she wasn't getting toys (Auntie Sarah was trying to carefully persuade her away from toys that would only be played with for a few days and then forgot about)

When we got back to her house she went and put on the brown & white leggings, the skirt, the white shirt with a rainbow, and the shoes.  SO CUTE!

I also regret that I didn't take a picture of the two of us.  It was super fun spoiling her.  I might have went $5 over the amount I set.  She NEEDED the Smurf. :)

I have the cutest god-daughter!

Today Ryan and I traveled over to Faith Lutheran in Denver (really close to Emmaus).  The reason we went over there was to celebrate Maddie's life.  Yesterday was her 6th birthday!  And this year she has been cancer free for 5 years!  Friday I met up with Mona, Katie, and Maddie and we all got pedicures.  Since it was her birthday, they gave both her and Katie cute flowers on their big toes.  When I got to Faith today, she told me that her flower didn't wash off in the bath.  I guess she was nervous about that.  I, being the horrible, but maybe great, god-mother that I am could not think of anything to get Maddie.  I usually give her baptism birthday gifts rather than birthday gifts so that the other three don't wonder why I don't bring them  gifts on their birthdays.  But today I wanted to do something as being cancer free for 5 years is a pretty big deal!  I remembered how Grama used to take us kids to lunch and then wherever we wanted to go.  So I pulled Maddie aside later and told her that I just couldn't decide what to get her so she was going to have to go shopping with me to pick something great out.  She was super excited about it.  She was even hoping that it could happen today or maybe tomorrow.  She told me that she wasn't going back to Colorado Springs until tomorrow afternoon.  But we have a silly voter's meeting tomorrow, so I told her that I would make plans with her mommy to come and get her sometime soon.  I can't wait to hang out with her for the day!

Here we are right before I left.

Love It!!

It's Over...

...The last movie of the Harry Potter series has been released.  A bitter sweet ending to an exceptional series. A series, I must admit, I was reluctant to read in the first place.  I remember finally picking up the first book my senior year of college.  Once I got through it I was hooked.  I couldn't wait to finish it and at the time J.K. Rowling had only written the first four books!

To celebrate this momentous occasion, Ryan and I had a Harry Potter Party.  We invited some friends over to watch Harry Potter, 7.1 (the last book was so thick that they broke it into two parts when making the movies).  We had some Harry Potter inspired good eats, watched 7.1 and then four of us headed to the movie theater to watch 7.2 . 

Below are some of the pictures that were taken at the party--Colleen was the photographer. 

Colleen & I enjoy some ButterBeer

Cyndi likes the magic wands made from pretzels.

Sisters!

Tank supervises the set up.

MMmmmm....cheeseball

"Wands"

Bulgers--Used in playing Quidditch (it's a wizard sport)

The Golden Snitch(es), also used in Quidditch.

Butterbeer--one shot of butterscotch schnapps, and cream soda.  Top with whip cream if you want.

US

Lyssa and Ryan

The Schredls

Somehow the Wilson's avoided the camera.  Oh well.  It was requested that I put the recipe to the cheeseball on here, so here it is:

2, 8 oz. packages of softened cream cheese
1 packet of dry ranch seasoning (for making dips)
Chopped Olives (I buy the smallest can and use about half of them)
Chopped Bacon (I like bacon, and so does Ryan, so we usually put 4-6 slices in it)
8 oz block of Shredded Cheese (I use colby jack.  I put most of it in the mix and then roll the ball in what's left)

Mix together and then form into a ball.  Refrigerate 2-4 hours, serve with Triscits. :)

There is no place like Nebraska...Madison & Pierce

On Friday Ryan & I headed to Aunt Donna & Uncle Den's for supper before heading to the Madison County Fair.  Kayla and Andrew were home for the weekend so after supper the four of us headed to Madison.  The Madison County Fair is "The Best Week in July" and inlcudes three nights of rodeo action and two nights of concerts.  Mom & Dad purchased the fun pack which included tickets for all these events.  They were kind enough to let us use their tickets on Friday and Saturday. 

I wish I could show amazing rodeo photos to you, but I didn't take my big camera to the rodeo.  I frequently do this...I think, oh, it's too bulky, then when I get home I wish I would have just taken the dumb thing with me.  The rodeo was fun, though not the best rodeo I've been too.  Many of the cowboys and cowgirls just couldn't get it together.  Many calves went unroped, bucking broncos & bulls unrode.  Sad day.

Saturday we put on our swimsuits and headed to Pierce with the A. Donna, U. Den, Kayla and Andrew.  We were off for a day of boating (tubing and skiing).  It was a fantastic time!  I did take my big camera for this experience.  There were so many great pictures that I decided to make a collage of them so it wouldn't take so long to load them on here.  You can click the picture and it will make it bigger.

None of these photos have been edited, just put into a collage.  Here are my two favorites of the day...

Saturday night ended in a Josh Turner concert.  I had never heard of him before the concert, but did enjoy his voice.  It was super deep most of the time.  I might have to download a few of his songs now. 

Today we drove back to Denver, it was a nice drive and Tank slept about 5 of the 8 hours and as I type this blog he's laying on the floor snoring...must be ruff.

There is no place like Nebraska...OMAHA

When one leaves Denver for a week in Nebraska the question that enters many people's minds is

"What are you going to do for a week in Nebraska?!" 

This was the question I asked myself on the second day we were here!  We made plans to go to the Madison County Fair at the end of the week, but what about the beginning?  Well, I jumped on Facebook and sent my cousin a message that said something to this effect:  we're going to be in NE for a WEEK.  We'll need something to do...we're thinking Omaha and visiting you!

My original thought for Omaha was the Henry Doorly Zoo!  If you find yourself in Nebraska for a week, make a trip to Omaha for this place!  The last time I was there was in 6th grade and it was pretty great then and I know they've made many changes since then!  They have an indoor rain forest!  Here's what Wikipedia has to say about the zoo:

Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo is nationally renowned for its leadership in animal conservation and research. Evolving from the public Riverview Park Zoo established in 1894, today the Zoo includes several notable exhibits. It features the largest cat complex in  "Kingdoms of the Night" is the world's largest nocturnal exhibit and indoor swamp; the Lied Jungle is one of the world's largest indoor rainforest, and the "Desert Dome" is the world's largest indoor desert,as well as the largest glazed geodesic dome in the world The Zoo is Nebraska’s number one paid attendance attraction and has welcomed more than 25 million visitors over the past 40 years.

Pretty cool, right?  Well here's what I didn't think about...in July, in Nebraska, during the day, it's HOT!  My husband, he does not really like being hot.  The fact was simply this:  If we go to the zoo, we're going to sweat and be hot and probably border on being miserable.  So the zoo didn't seem like the best idea.

So here's what we did.  We left my parents about noon (I thought it was earlier because my computer was (and is) still on MST).  We got to Omaha about 2 PM and still didn't have a plan.  I had suggested the SAC Museum--a place I had been on my senior class trip.  Ryan decided that the museum would be great.  Ryan got out his phone and checked Google Maps for directions.  It's actually located in Ashland, NE, a suburb outside of Omaha.  I want to say it's on the South, maybe Southwest side?  It's on I-80 between Lincoln & Omaha.

The SAC Museum focuses on USAF paraphernalia as well as educational information about the planes, missiles and spacecraft.  It includes two large hangars and a traveling display.  It has one of the top collections of strategic aircrafts.  Not a lot has changed since I was last there, ahem 11 years ago, but it was fun to see again.

Outside the SAC Museum (which I know has been renamed since I was there my Senior year, but Strategic Air and Space Museum doesn't have a cool acronym like Strategic Air Command Museum does...) there are three rockets.  Above is the largest of the three.  Upon entering you are greeted by this:

Ryan knew right away what it was--SR-71A built by Lockheed.  I thought it was an airplane.  Turns out it's really a spy plane.  The admission to get into the Museum was $12 per person.  We paid our fee and headed over to Hangar A.

Hangar A featured many plans that were flown during the WWII era.  There was a section of the hangar that discussed Nebraskans involvement in the Doolittle Raid (not sure what that is, watch Pearl Harbor, it's not 100% historically accurate, but they talk about the Doolittle Raid-- it was the first air raid by the US after the attack on Pearl Harbor.)  Below are some pictures of Ryan with various planes and parts of planes.

As you can see they had a few child friendly areas that you could sit in and push buttons and be cool.  Ryan took full advantage of that.  After Hangar A we headed to Hangar B.  Hangar B is where they have more of the space stuff.  They have a few more planes but also some rocket stuff and information about the various spaceships that have headed into outer space. 

*As a side note, I'm a little sad that the space exploration program is ending*

Ryan continued to wander and look much longer than I did.  We skipped the traveling exhibit--John Wayne.  Not sure that he really fits into Air and Space, but whatever.

After our time at the SAC Museum we headed to the Old Market--another place I went on my Senior Class Trip.  The Old Market is only a block and a half long.  We stumbled into a junk antique shop.  This shop had ANYTHING and EVERYTHING you could imagine.  My favorite part of the shop was the area with stuff from my childhood.  Remember when Pizza Hut used to give away glasses?  Well this shop had them all, including Popple AND Care Bear ones!  I wanted to get the Popple one that matches the Popple that I still have...

but I didn't get it.  Now I kind of wish I had.  Oh well, I least I have the real Popple!  They also had Care Bears, Strawberry Shortcake, Rainbow Bright, Ninja Turtles, and CALIFORNIA RAISINS!  They also had a section dedicated to toys you got in kids meals from various restaurants--you know, when the toys were good!

After a walk through the Old Market and Ryan being uncomfortable because he was hot (good thing we didn't go to the zoo), we headed to meet Kayla and Andrew for supper at Andrew's house.  They made grilled burgers, pasta salad, beans, and french fries.  Kayla even went all out and brought strawberries, sugar, and cookies for dessert. :-)  We sat around the table and chatted with them for about 3 hours before we packed it up and headed back to the big MG!

Tomorrow's Agenda:  Madison County Fair!

There is no place like Nebraska...

Saturday Ryan and I packed up El Tank-o and headed East.  Our destination: The ONE and ONLY, Meadow Grove, NE.  This was Tank's first long car ride with us and we weren't sure how he would do.  He was a rockstar!  We had put towels all over in the backseat in case travel didn't agree with him.  For the first four hours I drove and he alternated between the back seat and having his front paws up on the the counsel and back legs on the back seat.  From North Platte to Kearney he slept in my lap.  Then he was the co-pilot the rest of the way home. 

This trip has been about firsts...first time Tank meets the family and his "cousin" Fred (the horse! (Adam & Ashley's chocolate lab)), first time Ryan get's to buy and shoot off fireworks, first time Ryan rides a 4-wheeler, etc. 

Fred--He's HUGE!

Fred & Tank playing fetch.

Half the Fireworks...

Ryan with all the fireworks.

True story:  We went to the firework place (one of MANY) and we saw fireworks that had 340 shots.  The cost? $79.95  Estimated duration? 43 seconds.  One could LITERALLY blow $80 in less than a minute!  Needless to say we did not purchase that.  We did get a lot of "buy 1 get 3" deals.  We also got some pointless ones simply because I remember doing them when I was younger...

- Smoke Balls:  They don't even do anything cool...just leak colored smoke

- Parachutes:  Light it, a parachute pops out, catch it...over

- Tanks: waste of fifty cents...they light, the MIGHT move, then they spark, over.  We bought two so we could race them...

Mine won!  Ryan's didn't even move!  

See the blue smoke?  (Sorry Ryan's so blurry)

Yay! He caught the parachute.

Lighting a flower-spinner thing.

We lit the big boomers at Adam's.  I like how Adam looks like a ghost in this picture.

Some in Colorado asked Ryan if the corn was really "knee high".  Here's Ryan, on July 4th (note him holding up four fingers) in a corn field in which the corn is clearly taller than his knee (see how he's pointing at it).  So yes, for those who are wondering, the corn here really was "Knee high by the Fourth of July".

Adam owns a 4-wheeler, because he's a farmer...they need  them to check pivots.  So on Sunday he told Ryan and I we could ride it.  I was leery, it's been about 10 years since I've been on one.  I remember having to shift and everything and thought it might be too difficult.  Turns out 4-wheelers are nicer than they once were.  Put the brake on, push a button, go.  We took it from his house back to town--approximately 3 miles on gravel.  Then we took it to the shop (a big chunk of land with a shop on it that my parents own) and rode around there.  Then we took it out to the river and on gravel roads.  We tried to get down to the river, but everywhere we tried the bank was too high and we couldn't actually get to the water.  Then we took it to a sand pit, then back to the shop.  we had a good time with it.  We might go get it again.  :)

Ah, Nebraska......the GOOD LIFE!