A Decade Gone By...

Happy (very belated) Anniversary!!! Casey and I celebrated the big 1-0 this year on September 9!!! We canceled our weekend getaway plans when my Grandmother passed away, but we plan to reschedule for sometime this fall.

Ten years have flown by!!! Here is my attempt to recollect a significant event from each of the last ten amazing and crazy years with my generous, fun-loving, go-with-the-flow hubby!

2000: We did it, we tied the knot! September 9, 2000
2001: We had our first (and last?) pet...yellow lab, Jasper!
2002: We literally built our first home from the ground up! 1963 Timber Ridge Rd
2003: We welcomed our 1st baby, Kyndal Noelle, March 26!
2004: We settled into our new home in the country, 4301 West F!
2005: Our first baby boy was born! Corbin Dee, June 22
2006: We moved to another acreage, 4300 W. Peach St; Grandma Hudson moved to town!
2007: We were blessed with another baby girl, Kennedy Faith, March 28!
2008: SIL Erika + family moved to Lincoln!
2009: Casey was offered a position at the University of Nebraska!
2010: God is sooo good..celebrated the birth of last child, Chase Earl and 10 years of marriage!

From champagne to sno cones, celebrating 10 years family-style!

Adventureland

Last Saturday we woke up bright and early and loaded up from my Aunt's house in Missouri and drove the short 1.5 hours to Des Moines, IA to Adventureland. We had intended on going earlier in the summer but time got away from us.

The kids were a little hesitant at first, it was their first time at a theme park. And even though Casey's hopes of having 3 thrill seeking, roller-coaster riding, big ride begging kiddos didn't come true, they all warmed up to the action and had a blast on the kid rides. Chase slept pretty much all day and the weather was perfect.

Loving the Frog Hopper

Strike a pose Chase!

Corbin was so excited to ride the bumper cars all by himself until they started and he realized he couldn't reach the pedals! He sat there and cried as Casey kept bumping into him. Poor guy!

Kennedy riding the train

We LOVE Dippin Dots! They got to eat ice cream for lunch!!!

The carousel...K's favorite ride :o) She rode it over and over and over again.

We love Adventureland!

....still sleeping....

Loving our sno cones!

A Sad Farewell

I have been MIA again....Last week was a sad week, my Grandma Lowe passed away early Tuesday morning. I am thankful that my Grandma is no longer suffering, that she is now "dancing with Jesus" ....the words I used to help explain to my children.

My grandmother (Mom's Mother) suffered from lung cancer. She has endured so much pain the last few years especially but has held on for months longer than the doctor's originally predicted. She was a fighter. Along with the cancer she also had a blood clot in her lung, an aneuryism in her aorta, pneumonia and heart problems. Grandma was 78 years when she passed.

Though I was only able to visit Grandma once/year for most of my life, I have so many wonderful memories of her and the times I shared in her home. Here are just a few:

1. When we came to visit, they were always waiting on the porch, standing together, waving, eager for our arrival. As we tumbled out of the car, their arms were reaching, open wide, ready to give a big bear hug and kiss on the cheek.

2. When we left, we lined up for a picture with them and they again watched us take off again, waving until we were out of sight.

3. I'm not sure if there's any truth to it or not, but I like to believe that part of the reason my Grandpa chose their home in the tiny town of Cincinnati, IA, is because directly across the gravel street from their house is the town's park. We spent HOURS at that park, running back and forth to Grandma's house to "check in" and grab snacks. Grandma always warned us when we were younger "don't go to the big end!" We used to roll our eyes and joke about it, but it was her way of protecting us.

4. I remember spending a couple weeks of the summer a few different years with my grandparents, sans parents. One particular memory always stands out. Grandma Lowe took my sisters and I to the grocery store and said, "fill it up". We looked at her like she had two heads. She said again "Fill it up. If you don't start picking things out, you'll be awfully hungry!" We got to pick out all the groceries, that was so cool!

5. I walk around her home now and think how huge it seemed when I was growing up. The tempting banister leading up the stairs, how she had so many different bedrooms upstairs (3), and how all of us, aunts, uncles, grandkids, would fit around the dining room table. I will never forget those huge family meals.

My Grandma will be greatly missed, but I am blessed with so many memories and from having her in my life. Rest now, Grandma, I will meet you again one day in heaven!

These pictures were taken at our family reunion this summer in June:

Grandma Lowe

Mom, Grandma Lowe, me, Corbin, Kennedy, Kyndal

Mom and Grandma, sister Karon, me, sister Kara

Shout Out!!

Just want to give a shout out and a huge thank you to two of my favorite bloggy AND real life friends for the homemade meal (complete with dessert!) they made for our family Sunday evening! Not only did we enjoy the food on a normally hectic evening (Corbin had an afternoon soccer game and Casey plays sand volleyball Sunday evenings leaving me solo with the kiddos and the meal planning!) but I've been savoring the leftovers for my lunches while at home this week!

Thank you to Jodee and Kim for your thoughtfulness, we have loved every bite! Here is the special cake they made, including the famous cake picks that Jodee creates:


Too bad Chase can't enjoy the cake...I have had my fair share and his as well! And by the results of his last weigh-in, he doesn't need the extra calories :o) Have a great week!

Take Me Out to the Ball Game...

Last night was our annual "YMCA at the Salt Dogs game" night. Last week Casey announced that the Eagles were playing the Chiefs in KS City (my bro-in-law is a HUGE Eagles fan) and this was a once in a lifetime thing. What he didn't realize...it was the same night as the baseball game. Crazy, I know but I gave my blessing for him to go and I did some praying this week that I could handle my crew at the baseball game :o)

The Y provided a Subway sandwich dinner for us before the game. We settled in with our sandwiches and Chase was snatched up right away by some co-workers. The kids played lawn games while I caught up with co-workers I hadn't seen in several weeks.

Then we headed over to the stadium to catch a little of the game. This is the 4th year I believe that we've done this, and we've never made it past the 2nd inning! My kids just can't seem to sit that long! I was hoping to get one inning in, I knew that Chase would need to eat soon. We didn't make it up to our seats as I had the stroller with me so we did watch the 1st inning from the main level and then headed over to the playground area.

It was a zoo! I think my kids would have stayed there the rest of the night, but when Chase woke up I rounded up the crew and we headed home. That was predictably the most stressful part of the evening, mostly my fault because I wanted to make it home before feeding Chase and I was losing my patience. We actually made it 2 minutes from home before Chase had a meltdown. Overall, we survived and had a pretty good evening! I took just a few shots of the crew:Can't help but mention....GO BIG RED!!!! 1st volleyball game is this afternoon and I am looking forward to watching every second of it! Hope you have a great weekend!

Big Siblings

I made these shirts for all the kids a couple months ago and then added Chase's name shortly after he was born. We gave the kids their shirts along with gifts when they came to meet little brother! I finally rounded them all up last week for these pictures:They are all so proud to be a big sister/brother...all very good helpers with little Chay. So far no jealousy issues either. They fight over who gets to hold him and even who he is going to look at in the car. They don't quite understand that he really doesn't have control (let alone care) over who he is "looking" at. Pretty cute even though it's an endless sibling battle! I do get flustered at times, but I couldn't love my crew more!!! And I don't think they could love new "Baby C" more either!

Back to School

Where did the summer go??? I can't believe it's the beginning of another school year already. Corbin was so excited to start Kindergarten, he's been talking about it for months. And I've been praying about it for months! He often struggles with feeling comfortable in "new" situations and places when Casey or I aren't there so we were anxious about how the transition would go.

It was a blessing to find he has Mrs. Martin for a teacher, Kyndal's Kind. teacher....and Kyndal has done her share of pumping him up for months now!

We are ready to go!

Although we will miss Hopeland Preschool, I am relishing in the extra 30 minutes it is saving me in the morning! Chase and Kennedy will continue to go to our in-home daycare at Lora's and the other two go to Roper. Last year I left the house at 7 am and after dropping everyone off, arrived at work at 8 am. Now we leave at 7:30 am!

Kyndal's class is right next door to Corbin's! So coveniently, her class also meets in the gym in the mornings before the bell so she walks Corbin to his line....God is good! Here they are waiting the 1st day in the gym.

I also feel blessed that since I am on maternity leave I am able to also pick them up for the next couple weeks! It was so cute, after school they were walking down the sidewalk holding hands "because Corbin wanted to."

"We had a GREAT 1st day, Mom!" They chattered all the way home, yay!!!