Wrigley Field

Our fist outing in Chicago was a tour of Wrigley Field. This was Bryan's idea and I have to give the guy credit it was a very good choice!

Here's one of the only available images of blue sky from our whole trip, so enjoy it while you can!

We were able to go inside the locker room, which leaves alot to be desired. It is a tiny little space, but the area our group was allowed to be in was even smaller. Talking about herding cattle, this is when we got friendly with everyone in our group! My favorite player was Matt Murton, but unfortunately the Cubs traded him last year, although I did get the chance to see him play for the Iowa Cubs. With Murton gone my next favorite is Fukudome, I think it his name, I love to hear Little Buddy saying it in his little 3 year old voice!

Here's my bench warmer thinking about all the butts who have graced that seat. Ok maybe that was me thinking of all those famous butts! Sorry I just can't help it.

I handed off my camera to the tour guide for a shot of the two of us because...

we discovered I'm not the best with self-portraits! You try holding up that behemoth camera and balancing it with one hand!!

Chi-town Day 1

Here's the view from our hotel room!!

I made the "mistake" of calling our hotel a few days before our trip to confirm the reservations, ask about the breakfast and request a room with a view. Well somewhere along the way, probably after the 3 or 4 person including the manager became very rude, I became very annoyed with the customer service of this hotel (Hotel Felix) and cancelled our reservation. I quickly called a friend who has been to Chicago quite a few times asking about recommendations for hotels, thanks Mike and Kari!! Our new hotel The Chicago Hyatt Regency was wonderful. I loved the view even if I spent most of the trip worrying Bryan would trip and break the window, falling the 23 stories to his death!! If you know Bryan you know this could possibly happen!
Here is the other view!!

The Navy Pier, Lake Michigan, and the Chicago River
Here we have Bryan pointing out some of the things we would be doing-
Double Decker bus tour

and a boat ride, although we stayed out on Lake Michigan

Here is the Chicago Theater in the theater district, where The Chatterbox will be seen performing in a few years!!

The gorgeous sunset that greeted us that first evening!
I don't know how many ways I can tell you about our great hotel, the beds were oh so comfy, the view was gorgeous, the breakfast was filling and when we got back from our first outing they had brought in a bucket of ice cold root beer and Garret popcorn. This Nebraska girl thought this was worthy of 5 stars for sure!!
Everyone was so nice, the homeless offer to give you directions and even the light poles were beckoning us to stay!!
Here's Bryan reading up on the next days plans.
We were even presented with fireworks out the hotel windows!!

With shaky hands and tears in my eyes

Badger Boy has been playing ball all this month, while he is at his dad's house. It has been fun watching him play. He really seems to be enjoying himself, but up until this past Saturday he had only hit a few foul balls. I decided I better get my camera out and actually take some shots this time around, he was the last player in the line up and this would be his only at bat this game.

He has already been hit a couple times this year by pitches, being a lefty, so it makes me nervous watching him get up to bat.

The sun was sure shining down on him....

and with shaky hands and tears in my eyes I was able to capture his first hit...

a double!!

The Rainy (Windy) City

Bryan and I had a great time in Chicago, despite the cold, rain, the fever Bryan ran on my birthday, and the aching feet, legs, and back!! We will definitely go back again, there is so much to see and do we didn't even scratch the surface.

The Cubs game was rained out in the 6th inning, so we didn't get to hear the famous 7th inning stretch. They also called the game, Cubs won 6-1, but we didn't get to hear the Go Cubs Go song. Unless you count the drunk fans that were singing it!!
One of the only things I wanted to do was take the Double Decker bus tour. Wouldn't you know it, it rained pretty much the whole tour (which was suppose to be 2 hours, but turned out to be almost 4). I didn't get to many chances to take the camera out, so here's one of Bryan taken while we were under a bridge.
Don't let this image or the first one fool you! The ground looks pretty dry at the moment, but soon after it rained !!

My post may sound a little depressing but I can assure you that we didn't let anything ruin our time alone. Whenever Bryan and I go on vacation we have a great time, this one was a smidge better without the kids in tow. I felt extremely guilty during some parts of the trip because I knew the kids would have loved quite a few of the activities we did, maybe next year! I have plenty more images to share of all the non-wet activities when I could get my camera out!

Back in the Saddle

I was finally able to get out and take some pictures, since it had been over a month I felt a little rusty. Bryan, Little Buddy and I went to Lincoln to get a few items for Bryan and my upcoming "honeymoon" trip and I needed to scope out a new location for an upcoming shoot. Little Buddy actually wanted to pose for a few so I took advantage of that offer!!

The flowers were also looking very tempting so I got a few shots of them as well!

I have seriously been a horrible slacking MWAC (mom with a camera), I missed The Chatterbox's zoo field trip & class party, Miss Brainy's 14 birthday came and went without 1 single image being shot, The Boss actually wanted me to take her out for a session and I couldn't find the creativity and energy to get out the camera. I am hoping that once I start to feel back to normal I can really dust off the camera and actually get some shots of my own kids.

MIA

I apologize for the lack of posting these last 2 months, life got busy, my back decided to go out on me, and life got busy! Business had just started to get back into the swing of things and I had just gotten into a workout schedule when my back decided to play a dirty trick on me. I have been spending most of my time laying around, not much is getting done on the home front. I have had an MRI and seen a neurosurgeon, who ordered a steroid epidural and physical therapy. I had the epidural done last Friday and I am now waiting to see if it is going to work. I am having much less pain but the numbness and weakness seem to persist.

The kids seem as busy as ever especially in these last few weeks of school. Unfortunately I have had to miss many of these events with my back problems. I actually missed the kids baptism, hence why there are no pictures. But thanks to Bryan's dad I do have it on video tape! Mackenzie was confirmed a couple weeks ago and I was able to attend but in no shape to get any pictures. I am hoping I can get some from one of the other parents. My lack of attendance and involvement has left me feeling like a terrible parent!

Little Buddy has been playing soccer on the YMCA Mighty Kickers spring league. He plays for the Rapids and is learning the rules and concept of the game. He seems to be having more fun as the weeks go on, but is still too hesitant to get in there and kick the ball. He does a great job following it and will kick it when no one is around, but his shyness keeps him from getting in there too much! This week is his last game and I will get some pictures to share, I promise!!

Badger Boy is playing his first year of baseball this summer. He is playing in Humboldt and his Aunt Teri is the coach. They have already started practices which he goes to on the weekends and the games start later this month. He has asked to play catcher, pitcher, and outfield and Teri says he is doing pretty good for his first year of real ball, but will be starting in the outfield. Teri is an awesome coach and will be working with him in the other positions. She also has her son and a couple of Badger Boy's cousins on the team so it will be very interesting to watch the games. He says that he is having fun and that is all that matters!

The Chatterbox is finishing up her last year of grade school and will be heading to Middle School this fall. For some reason I am feeling very hesitant to see her move on to that next stage, more so than with the older girls. She has plans to go out for the chilrens theater production of James and the Giant Peach this summer. She loves acting and will dive right in.

Miss Brainy is leaving middle school and will be a freshman next year. She has a full summer planned with the church mission trip, summer band, and lazy days spent with friends at the pool!

The Boss will be spending her summer babysitting her 4 boy cousins, ages 11, 9, 7, & 2. this will be her first job and a big responsibility. I have really been on the fence about this since she will be in Humboldt and not only have the boys to take care but also herself. Hopefully this will be a big step in the right direction!

Bryan and I are planning on taking our 4 year past due honeymoon trip in a couple weeks. We will be traveling to Chicago, to take in a Cubs game, tour Wrigley Field, and do some typical site seeing. We are both hoping that my back pain will be resolved by then, otherwise it may be a very interested trip!

Not much work has happened on the remodel. Bryan installed a new faucet and we will be installing new windows in a couple weeks, but the remainder of the work has been put on hold until I am on the mend. I am starting to be more like my husband than I like with at least 3 projects left unfinished! I couldn't wait to get outside, get my garden in shape and install the picket fence, but here it is middle of May and I haven't really done anything. The day my back started hurting I had planted and hung new hanging baskets and baskets on the front porch rails, but these flowers nearly died while I was on bed rest. They are slowly perking up and hopefully I will be too!

It's beginning to look a lot like

Spring!!

The weather has been beautiful, so I opened up the house today, my mood has been lifted just by the warm fresh air and the sound of the birds chirping. I have also been very productive today, painted the laundry room shelves and cabinetry, hope to get the walls primed tonight!

The shirt says it all

I have mentioned before that my youngest, Little Buddy, is allergic to peanuts. He had is first allergic reaction, which was very severe, the first time he ate a peanut butter sandwich. After that visit to the emergency room we took him to a allergist where they tested him, finding out that he was indeed allergic to peanuts and to cats. We currently carry an EpiPen Jr. and Benadryl for him, as well as have them available at Bryan's parents and at preschool. So far he has only once came in contact with something that resulted in a minor reaction, hives and minor rash, which was cleared up with a dose of Benadryl. We have been very lucky, but we are also very diligent in watching what he eats. We carry snacks for him in his bag so that he always has a substitute if he is offered a snack that we know he can't have or is questionable. The other kids even know to check before giving him anything to eat. We try to keep our home peanut free, but with snacks and treats coming home from school or parties it is hard to do. We are lucky that he has not had to go to daycare, Bryan's mom or sister watch him and they both are great about watching what he eats and they know how to administer the Benadryl and EpiPen. His preschool has done everything possible to keep him safe. They have me check every package of snacks they plan on serving the kids and have made their school as peanut free as possible. I sent half dozen cupcakes at the beginning of the year, Miss Carolyn has them at her home in the freezer, whenever one of his classmates bring birthday treats she goes home and gets one of his special cupcakes. That is what I would call going above and beyond!!

I found a link to these cool shirts- http://jeeto.com/allergycollection.html

I plan on getting him this one so that if he ever has a playdate or goes to Sunday school I can dress him in this so that there will be less of a chance for the adult to accidentally allow him to have peanuts.

Barn Star

I have a little bit of an addiction to these tin barn stars, I would have some in every room if I could. I bought this one at a local antique store for $11. It was just a simple tin star. I wanted to dress it up for the new Laundry/Bathroom so I gave it a couple coats of cream paint. Then I pulled out my huge stack of scrapbook paper and chose some that had both yellow and blues. I used Modge Podge to adhere the paper to the star. All that is needed is a clear coat of lacquer, but I will wait until it is warm outside so that I can use a spray can.

I can't wait to see this hanging in the laundry room!

Would you happen to have?

For the last week I have been working on the downstairs bathroom/laundry room. I needed to finish the drywall that Bryan had started, scrape the popcorn ceiling, paint the cabinet and window trim, fix the hardwood floor, paint the ceiling and walls, add some shelving and trim, add new lighting fixtures, and then the fun will begin-DECORATING!! So far I have the drywall almost complete, the ceiling has been scraped, and the window and cabinet has been painted.

I need to get things going because I bet Bryan that I would have my project finished before he could finish any of his half-done projects.

On to the reason behind the post, I am looking for a few items and I am unfortunately coming up empty handed. I would like to have 4-5 of these old Pool Baskets to hold some of the household supplies. I have tried ebay but I keep getting outbid in the last few minutes.

I am also looking for this cool Metal Laundry Soap Box, I have seen these online but only on Australian Stores websites. Someone posted online that they found one at T.J. Maxx, but I didn't have any luck in Lincoln, I went to a couple different houseware stores. If you have any of these items and wouldn't mind parting with them or know where I can buy them please please let me know!!

My new incentive photo

FIFTY pounds lighter! I was a size 10! I know that I will never be anything smaller than that, these hips have seen too many babies! I was actually in shape, working at the fire dept., I was happy and healthy! This image will soon take center stage on my refrigerator and I will hopefully gain incentive to stay away from snacking while working and get my butt to the YMCA. Anyone know of a personal trainer in the area?!!

Let there be light!

We have NEW light fixtures and a NEW potrack in the kitchen!!!
Can you feel the excitement!!!
images coming soon

Laughter Lives Tuesday- take 2

This post is part of "Laughter Lives! Tuesday" on the Riggs Family Blog. Check our their blog to read everyone else's "Laughter Lives!" posts.

This week is The Funny, Cute & Endearing Ways We Say 'I Love You'.
I'm not sure anything we do is really that funny, but here goes.

Bryan and I have always said the numbers 2-1-4 to each other, on the phone when it is not the best time to say 'i love you', at the end of little notes or letters, and he has even been known to write it on the steamy bathroom mirror. I won't go into detail what these numbers signify to use, I'll keep that our little secret.

Little Buddy is the most loving child, always telling us out of the blue that he loves us. The other day we were talking and he told me he loved me. I asked him who else he loves, he answered "Dude (daddy), Miss Brainy, The Chatterbox, Badger Boy, and The Boss." Then he paused and said "but I don't love her hole!" (he of course used their real names :)!!)
The Boss had surgery this past fall to place an ostomy (or hole) in her side to make cathing easier. Well she finds it hilarious to tease Little Buddy by showing him her "hole" and telling him that her "guts" are going to fall out. He is terrified by her "hole", but that is what brothers and sisters are for, terrorizing each other one minute and the next huddled up together plotting against the grown-ups!

Not Me Monday

I did not almost forget to post a "not me Monday" post. Well maybe I did "almost" forget but 8:48 p.m. is still Monday so it counts!!

I did not allow my 14 year old daughter to "dorkstamp" my 3 year old son. I also did not tell him that it said his name so that I could get these shots of him!

See that purple stuff on his nose and neck? I did not allow him to color on himself because it is washable marker, only to find out he was using his sisters markers that weren't washable. Only took 2 baths before it faded away.

I would never call my daughter Owen, when she comes home from a youth group lock-in at church, complaining that she may have broken her nose. She only slightly resembled Owen Wilson and you would never hear me tell her that his slightly deformed nose only adds character!

I definitely did not almost get up and walk out of Village Ick (oops I mean Inn) when the waiter brought me not 1 but 2 glasses of water that looked like he grabbed them from bussboys dirty dishes tray. The only thing that kept me there was my dear husband who refused to let us leave, good thing he has manners!

I did not buy a pumpkin cheesecake roll yesterday and then eat almost all of it in one day. I did not leave a small sliver for Bryan just so he couldn't claim I had eaten it all!

I did not go to Walmart to buy a tube of adhesive for Bryan because he was still in his pajamas at 3 in the afternoon and then buy the wrong thing. It couldn't have been because the item was in the wrong bin, in the area that my husband manages. My dear darling husband did not get mad at me for buying the wrong thing. I did not post on my Facebook "Courtney thinks her husband should go shopping himself if he is going to complain when I buy the "wrong" thing!!!!!!!!!!!!!" I did not find it extremely funny that one of Bryan's manager's read it and asked him if I was mad at him.

Head on over to Mckmamma's blog to see what she didn't do this past week.

http://www.mycharmingkids.net/

Happy Birthday Toby!

Today is my big brother's 35 birthday! I'm sure they will go out and do some insanely fun activity to celebrate! Happy Birthday Tobe!

Just a couple fun pictures of Toby (and Katie). Yes, that is a Christmas ornament dangling from his nose, he definitely knows how to get in the Christmas spirit.

They also know how to dress for Halloween. Yes, that is my brother in the fishnet stockings!

Laughter Lives Tuesday

This post is part of "Laughter Lives! Tuesday" on the Riggs Family Blog. Check our their blog to read everyone else's "Laughter Lives!" posts.

Ok so if you know Little Buddy you know how scrawny the little guy is, built just like his daddy. He has a difficult time keeping his pants above his non-existent behind. The other day he walked by me showing off his rather impressive "plummer's crack". I told him to pull his pants up I could see his butt. He turned around and very matter-of-factly said, "So why are you looking at my butt!"

That's what happens when 3 year old's spend too much time with thier 3 teen/preteen sisters!

On a separate note my step-brother Brad and his fiancee Bridget had their baby boys Sunday.

Brayson Scott

5lb. 13oz

Bransen Earl

5lb. 12 oz

They are in the NICU in K.C., doing well but needed a little extra care. If you are the praying kinda person please send a little prayer their way.

Boys...are just different

Yesterday, while Dude took all the girls to the K-state/Nebraska basketball game, Mom and I took the boys to the Children's Museum. It was a ton of fun but boys are just so different. When the girls were little and I took them there they played in the same area's but boy play is so different from girls. The girls would have been content to have their faces painted, play nicely in the water tables, or play in the dr. area. The boys had to crawl into every vehicle (not Little Buddy as he is afraid of those), get drenched at the water table, build in the block room, and play football and volleyball in the Nebraksa room (shhh don't tell Dude how much fun they had in there!) All the way home we heard the boys pretend play in the backseat. Little Buddy's new favorite game in playing Transformers, they make the noises, pretend to fight and shoot at each other. It is a different world riding in a car with only the boys. I'm sure Dude would have plenty to say about his ride with the girls (3 teenage and 1 preteen). I think I'm glad we had the boys instead!

Not me Monday!

I did not spend all of the morning in my pajamas at the computer today, while Bryan took the kids to school, ran medicine to The Boss at school, made me lunch and took the dog outside 4 times!

I definitely did not buy Christmas cards, order pictures of the kids, address the envelopes and even put stamps on them just to let them sit in the front room. Nope not me!

I most certainly didn't start my headboard project that I know my husband does not like this weekend. I also didn't end up making him do most of the work, I would never do that.

It wasn't me that let Little Buddy eat 2 poptarts for breakfast and a bag of carrots and Cheetos for lunch.

Hopefully this will be a start to "Not me Mondays" on my blog, if I can remember. This will be a great way to get off my chest the horrible things that I would never do, not even if I wanted to. Check out the other participants of "Not me Mondays" on Mckmommas blog- http://www.mycharmingkids.net/

2009 Resolutions

Courtney: Lose weight and become healthy
decorate our home

The Boss: Stay out of trouble

Miss Brainy: read for fun everyday

The Chatterbox: not to lose her nintendo ds again

Badger Boy: do good on his deer drive wii game

Little Buddy: to be potty trained

Bryan: Finish the house -he doesn't know that this is his, I haven't told him yet! :)

Marry me Marry Me....

I am sitting here laughing as I watch Little Buddy pretend to be in a boat. As he rows his boat he sings " Marry me, Marry me, Marry me, life is down the drain!" That is one depressing version of Row Row Row your boat!

All about Me!!

I saw this posted on someone else's blog and thought it was a neat idea. Of course anytime I get to write about me is a good idea, right?

50 Things You Possibly Didn't Know About Me

1. What is in the back seat of your car right now?
What isn’t, is a better question. Let’s see 1 car seat, a couple kids books, too many candy wrappers, apples to apples game, travel cooler, and probably a few items best left uncovered.

2. What's your favorite curse word?
Bryan doesn’t like me to curse, but it would probably be s**t.

3. Name 3 people who made you smile today?
Azariah, Allie, and Sawyer

4. What were you doing at 8 am this morning?
Taking a shower
5. What were you doing 30 minutes ago?
I was at the studio with a customer who was picking up their order.
6. What will you be doing 3 hours from now?
Probably laying in bed watching friends
7. Have you ever been to a strip club?
Does seeing the Chippendales count? If so then yes, one of the funnest nights of my life.
8. What is the last thing you said aloud?
“it‘s just a scratch”

9. What is the best ice cream flavor?
I really don’t like ice cream, but my favorite would be homemade vanilla.
10. What was the last thing you had to drink?
Cherry Diet Pepsi
11. What are you wearing right now?
Sweater and Jeans
12. What was the last thing you ate?
A gumdrop cookie

13. Have you bought any new clothing items this week?
no
14. When was the last time you ran?
When I worked at the fire dept., 4 years ago.

15. What's the last sporting event you watched?
K-state Basketball game

16. Who is the last person you emailed?
A cusotmer

17. Ever go camping?
Every weekend in the summer when I was growing up. Real camping, teepee and all.
18. Do you have a tan?
No, I am currently ghost white, as opposed to in the summer when I am off white.

19. Do you drink your soda from a straw?
In restaurants yes, at home no.
20 What did your last IM say?
I only use it on Facebook and it was probably to Chip Ebel, one of the few people who actually know it is a feature.

21. Are you someone's best friend?
I hope so

22. What are you doing tomorrow?
Partying it up like it’s almost 2009

23. Where is your mom right now?
I don’t know, she didn’t answer her phone when I called an hour ago.

24. Look to your left, what do you see?
My new corkboard that I made myself and just hung 2 days ago.
25. What color is your watch?
Silver

26. What do you think of when you think of Australia?
Kangaroos and Steve Erwin
27. Would you consider plastic surgery?
Yes, if I had the money and I wasn’t afraid of what a botched surgery would look like.

28. What is your birthstone?
Emerald
29. Do you go in at a fast food place or just hit the drive-thru?
If I don’t want to clean up the mess at home then we eat in, otherwise it’s the drive-thru.

30. How many kids do you want?
At the moment 5

31. Do you have a dog?
Miss Millie, a wirehaired terrior

32. Last person you talked to on the phone?
A customer

33. Have you met anyone famous?
Does Sandy Puc’ count?34. Any plans today?
Sleep
35. How many states have you lived in?
One, Nebraska

36. Ever go to college?
Just college courses

37. Where are you right now?
At my computer

38. Biggest annoyance in your life right now?
Having my kitchen torn up and wisdom tooth pain, I think they are about equal.
39. Last song listened to?
Maybe a new kids on the block song in the car with Azariah
40. Are you allergic to anything?
Nuts, strawberries, and valium
41. Favorite pair of shoes you wear all the time?
Brown slip-ons
42. Are you jealous of anyone?
Maybe
43. Is anyone jealous of you?
I don’t think so
44. What time is it?
7:33 p.m.
45. Do any of your friends have children?
Most of them
46. Do you eat healthy?
No but hopefully that will change with my 2009 resolution

47. What do you usually do during the day?
Work on the computer, laundry, play with Sawyer, pick kids up from school, repeat

48. Do you use the word 'hello' daily?
Of course

49. How did you get your scars?
2 c-sections, gallbladder and appendix surgery, smashed finger when I was really little
50. How old will you be turning on your next birthday?
32

Nine years ago

Nine years ago I was finally blessed with a little blue bundle, with chubby cheeks, green eyes, and a head full of black hair.

Today that little blue bundle weighs 62 pounds

he is the 3rd grade.

loves to be outside, hunting, shooting his bow, playing in the snow, riding his bike, or playing with the puppy.

Happy Birthday Badger Boy!