Summer - Week 7

I'm still recovering from Starla's visit. We were up until 2 AM most nights....chatting. There was one moment when we were sitting on the side of the Y pool...not saying anything. I asked her if we ran out of things to talk about....she said "No...I'm just tired!!" That sums up how I'm feeling. We did get the house put back to gether the past todays. I also met with my friend and co-worker, Suzi. We are piloting a new reading series and decided to get together to make plans. After talking we ran to the teacher store....I found a load of popcorn things to decorate my room. Tomorrow I'm taking the kids to the cheap movies (Nim's Island)...it's just $2.50 and we get a free popcorn.

Jeff's mom is in the hospital this week. Her lungs had some fluid in them and she needs to be on antibiotic IV's. When I talked to her today she should really good. I think she caught this early.

We got some exciting news from my sorority sister - MJ. She and her hubby, Jamey are pregnant and are expecting TWINS!!!! She's due in January. I already have 2 friends who have twin daughters - so I tried to do some introductions for MJ. I'm sure they can be more helpful with what twins need than I could!

We're leaving Sunday for Wisconsin.....we can't wait. Tomorrow we will start packing!

Summer - Week 5 and 6

We've been busy the past two weeks. Jeff was home with us for the week of the 4th of July. We did some projects at home. The basement is clean and organized! It's been 2 years in the making....but we finally have it finished! It looks great and everyone loves to spend time down there. We got a new futon that the kids LOVE to always flip into the bed. Jeff's desk is down in the basement, so he can work in cool quiet.

The 4th of July in our neighborhood is always amazing! The city of Omaha doesn't allow for many fireworks...but we liVe out of the city limits...so it's like a combat zone. Many people run to the Missouri border to get "bigger and better" fireworks (M-80's and the like). It was a great night - kids had a 'blast' lighting off the few fireworks we got.

We were also excited to hear our neighbors had their baby. Matt and Sasha live right across the street and have 2 year old Jack. (Jack was born a few weeks after we first moved to Omaha). Now they have welcomed baby Savanna into the world. Matt and Sasha are so kind to our kids. They always ask the kids what's new....they really engage them in conversation. They are great parents and wonderful people. I think Joe wants to be a lawyer, now, because of Matt.

I went through the kids' closets and took the many clothes that were too small, we organized rooms, cleaned under the beds.....just in time to welcome the Dixen family for their yearly visit.

I always have so much fun when my friend (and sorority sister) Starla comes to visit with her two kiddos...Rayna and Dane. Rayna and Jenna are both 7 and love to play together. This year Dane is 4 and loved to play with both Joe and Jack. They mainly played with the GI Joe 'guys'....and the nerf guns. We did so much when they were here....movies, The Amazing Pizza Machine, YMCA swimming, bowling, shopping...we all had a great visit.

So, as we seem to wind down our summer (I'm back to school on August 1).....I still have a lot planned. A trip to Wisconsin (Janesville and Viroqua) out to Vegas with my sorority sitsters...welcome my friends Glenn and Linda back to Omaha (they have brought their camper out here the past two summers) and this year they are bringing my friend - Karen and daugheters (Olivia and Ella)....then I need to get my classroom together.

Wow.....what a summer!!!