Nonnie's Visit

 Nonnie came to Nebraska to visit in September.  Pershings drove to Arizona and drove Nonnie back to Nebraska.  We spent the afternoon at Pershings house in Hastings spending time with Nonnie. 

 Jack was THRILLED to see Nonnie and gave her a huge hug when we got there.  Sam...was not so outgoing.  I tried my hardest to get him to say Nonnie and he kind of gave in at the end, but whooo. 

Steph came over to say hi for just a minute, and we ended our visit with a trip to the Barrel Bar. (To all of my Hastings area family:  This is my favorite Hastings supper at a restaurant).  I loaded the boys into mom and dad's car and I headed back to Lincoln.   This was the beginning of a great week for the boys in Holdrege and for Jess and I on our cruise. 

Catching Up Again

I'm not going to lie, I'm not entirely committed to this blog anymore (as evidenced by my sporadic posts and this being the second "catch up" post in about 18 months).

I do enjoy looking back and having a narrative to my photos that helps me remember some of the things that I may have otherwise forgotten.  And, I know how much I enjoy it when a blogger I follow has a new post, so Mom (since I'm sure you're the only one still interested), I'm making sure you've seen the following posts.

I have posted several times over the spring/summer, but usually date them on or about the time of the events that I'm writing about and have moved one or two posts around so to recap, since March, I've posted the following posts:

Going Swimming

Fall Behind (I think I posted this out of order... but don't remember)

Birthdays X3 (I think I posted this out of order)

Happy Holidays

More Swimming

Mr. & Mrs. Osborn

Marchety March

Camping in March 

Spring Flung

June Bugs

The Strawberries Taste Like Strawberries

The Green Machine has Just Arrived!

Happy 4th of July!

Trinity Time!

She Works Hard for the Money

Weekend Together

Trinity Time!

I've mentioned these two things before: it was hot as Hades this summer, and we LOVE the boy's school!!  So on an incredibly Hot Sunday (that sure narrows it down) we decided that we still needed to play at a park.  We knew Trinity would be both shady and not busy. 

We were right, we had the whole place to ourselves and the shade that we expected.  It was lots of fun to get to see how both boys play on "their" playground.  I think they enjoyed having the relaxed rules that come about when there are only two kiddos on the playground. 

Thanks Trinity, WE LOVE YOU!

She work's hard for the money.

We had Jill take our pictures again (actually just the boys this time) and as the title of the post indicates, SHE IS ONE HECKOFA HARD WORKER!

It was HOT!  I don't know if you remember this summer, but in Lincoln we had about 1/4 in. of rain between the first of June and the end of August (not scientific, but if you look it up, I'm not far off).  So it was HOT, not like 88 degrees, more like 102 degrees the evening we were taking these pictures. 

And then there's Sam... who was very cute so long as his back was to the camera.  It took some major coaxing and tricking to get pictures of him smiling. 

Thankfully Jack had no shortage of smiles; unfortunately, when he smiles so big, I think it pinches something in his ears that makes him not be able to hear my directions. 

(There was a lot of this)

But she really was able to capture both boys as they really are.  Sam is either subdued or crazy; Jack is always sweet but sometimes ornery. 

She also really captured how Sam is trying to become a big boy... just like his brother.

It was a lot of fun working with Jill again, even if it was a million degrees.

As I was driving away (sweating) all I could think of was Agador Sparticus (Hank Azaria) singing "she works hard for the money" in the Birdcage admiring how hard Jill worked to get these shots!

http://www.facebook.com/pages/JSwim-Photography/106081292831900
http://jswimphoto.weebly.com
http://jswimphoto.blogspot.com

If you are unfortunate enough not to know the scene in the Birdcage, I've included it below...and if you love the movie as much as I do, you're welcome!

** The first 20 seconds is the "hard for the money" part, but I've included the longer Agador Sparticus montage becuase it is just too funny!  ***They do say the "f-word" as the clip goes on so be aware of that!! 

Happy 4th of July!!

No, really, I mean Happy 4th of July!

The boys had their Nebraska  4th of July parade at school the 3rd of July.  

As you can see above, Sam hated it!

Jack loved it and keeps calling it the Nebraska parade.

For the weekend after the 4th, we headed to the cabin. 

It was a super special time at the cabin because the Egger girls were there!!!

The guys did a huge fish fry since they'd just got back from Canada.

It was a pretty sweet weekend.

The Green Machine has Just Arrived!

 

 

Great shot right? 

 

Jack did a track club this year and they had a chant that ended with "the Green Machine has just arrived!"

Sam was a trooper and went along most weeks and had to patiently wait while big brother had fun. 

(Luckily, there was a concession stand)

 

A few different weeks they had "run for ribons" which was set up as a track meet where Jack had to do the 100 yard dash.  Luckily, he was not aware that he's not fast... he takes after his parents in the speed department!

 

His best/girlfriend was in his group and they usually ran around the track holding hands (despite her father's instructions that they shouldn't do that).

It was a fun six or so weeks and I think it was really good for Jack to be involved in a healty activity like that.  The downside is that it was every Tuesday through June which is also when Jazz in June is.  We did make it one week after track long enough to pick up some cotton candy!

June Bugs

Sam does this all the time... he just gets a little higher as he grows.  

(that makes Jess nervous)

ZOOBILEE ZOO

We took our first trip to the Zoo in June.  It is always fun to go at the start of the summer and see what's different from last year. 

One specific thing that is different are the Camel Rides!!

I think Jess may have had even more fun than Jack did!

We really enjoyed the train too.

 SWEEDISH DAYS

We headed to Holdrege for Sweedish Days this year and
discovered that Sam LOVES parades. 

It was the the 125th anniversary of Mom and Dad's church and the celebration was that week.   

Mom and Cori rode on the parade float and Steph walked alongside. 

Oh, did I mention that candy is the reason Sam loves parades?

I think he loved having two grandmas helping him unwrap candy the whole time. 

Then he figured out that he could stand there and pick some up himself. 

Sam and Cain enjoyed getting acquainted.  Cain looks like a human Cabbage Patch Doll... 

too bad he's not named "Ratford" or "Dixon Sidney"

We had a great time with Jessi and Drew at Rib-Fest...which was pretty much out of ribs, but we discovered that we really love coleslaw on pulled pork.  I'm pretty sure Scott has to enter next year because we know he can do better.  I'm working on a couple of sauces to contribute.

(Look at Cain, he's going to get that BBQ!)

JUNCTION DAYS

Because Sam loves parades so much, we went to Red Oak the next weekend. 

Mom and Cori were there because they had just seen off Steph and all the Butz/Barwick boys to Canada fishing. 

We really went to Red Oak to see Laura perform. 

They have a talent show at junction days and Laura was the third or so performer.  We left when she was done, but I have NO doubt that if they gave prizes she would have won. 

She sang "I can't do it alone" from Chicago.  It was amazing and she really had the moves down.  

Too bad for the group of girls who sang something else from Chicago,

she blew them out of the water!

The more important  reason we went to Red Oak was to see 'The Music Man'

Jack and I really enjoyed the show.  Laura had a prominent role; Caitie and Christie were the best towns-people and Natalie was excellent in the children's band. 

It was really like we were in River City!!  Jack didn't fully understand how theater worked, so when Laura would say things like "Ye Gods! Pappa!"  Jack would turn to me and say "We know that's not really Laura's papa"  He's so sweet!

BACK YARD FUN

Because it had been a zillion degrees out, Jess went and bought a pool and had it ready for us when we got home from Red Oak. 

The kids had a great time in it!

Because Dad and the Barwicks were fishing Mom and Cori were home alone for the week so they hung out for a day in Lincoln and they stayed with us.  Mom took Jack and Cori to the children's museum.

CHILDREN'S MUSEUM

I think they really enjoyed the new water feature. 

Cori, sweetie, I love you, but this is going to be a great picture to 

put up at your high school graduation!

DINOSAUR MUSEUM

We also made it to Morril Hall one Thursday night in June.  It was GREAT because it has been so hot so having something indoors to do was fantastic!!

Jess and the boys smelled all of the smells.

I think the boys would be happy to stay there all day and night.  

Unfortunately, they do make you leave at 8:00.