Long Weekend!

This past weekend we packed up and headed west to Omaha!  We arrived late Thursday night and would you believe that NOBODY slept the entire way out there?  On Friday we took in the Durham Museum and then lunch at, you guessed it, Spaghetti Works (YUM!!)  Then it was back to Terry and Maura's for some pool time.  Saturday we did a little shopping and went to the pool again.  With the temps in the high 90's it was the only place to be outside!  We throughly enjoyed our time with Terry and Maura, and thank them for their AWESOME hospitality!!!

At the train museum

At the train museum

The kids LOVED to play on the iPad

Sitting with Uncle Terry

Swinging in the hammock

Getting ready for fireworks

Family pic

Garden Update

Even though we desperately need rain, the garden continues to grow well.  It helps that we try to water it a few times a week too!  This past week we began to see the bounties of our work....so far 3 zuchhini, many cukes, onion, kolrabi, one tomato, and 3 (yes only 3) green beans!  Hoping to be able to make some pickles soon!

cucumbers

Randy and Eryn checking for tomatoes

Hooded Bandits

On the way home from Waterloo today, I looked back to check on the kids and this is what I saw...apparently they don't like the air conditioner and got a little chilly...  As you can see this pic was "pre-nap" for Nolan:)

A New Baby in the Sabelka Family!

Mike and Jodi welcomed baby Sullivan into the world on July 6th, he is so precious and perfect! 

4th of July!

Hope everyone had a safe and enjoyable 4th of July!  We had a great holiday with a grill out at my parents, parade in Festina, followed by some swimming....it's been SO hot!

I had Thursday and Friday off of work, so it was nice to relax and not have plans every day.  We did end up at the pool, and with the heat, was the perfect way to spend the afternoon!  We celebrated the holiday with not one, but 3 different fireworks displays!  The kids enjoyed all of them, and with each progressive one, Derek became more accustomed to the "booms" as he calls them!

Not a baby anymore!

It's official....Derek's not a baby anymore~ In the past week he's gotten a haircut, gotten rid of the pacifier, and started going potty!  He's growing up too fast for this mama!

Paddling Along...

When Eryn and I arrived back from Galena yesterday evening, the boys were having their own fun time out at our friend's pond.  The kids LOVE being outside, especially when there is water involved.  As you can see the boys have made a fashion statement with no shirts lately with the hot weather we have been having. The boys were dirty and sweaty (like boys should be, right?), but had a blast!  Eryn joined in on the fun too!  It was tough to pull them away at dark to get them home and cleaned up!  Thanks "Uncle" Scrub for the great time!!!!!

Galena Girl Trip!

For Mother's day, we gave mom a trip to Galena...girls only.  She invited her sisters, and in turn, some of our cousins came along as well.  Eryn and I met up with Ella and Lacy Friday afternoon and headed to Galena.  We arrived late afternoon and enjoyed supper at an Irish Pub, complete with Irish dancing!

Ella enjoying the dancers

Shirley and Roxy

Eryn and I

Tooth Fairy visit #3

Nolan lost a tooth on Thursday, finally!  I swear it's been dangling there for over a week!  Nolan doesn't want us to pull his teeth out, so he waits until they "naturally" fall out! 

Derek's first Haircut!

A "before" picture

Being so patient!

As Derek would say "TaDa" the finished haircut!

On Friday Derek had his first "official" haircut.  I have  trimmed his bangs many times but with the hot weather, we finally decided that he needed a haircut to be a little cooler this summer.  Here are some before an after photos.  He was a real trooper and did extremely well (the sucker helped) during the haircut.  It's sad how he looks so grown up now....he's not our baby anymore! 

On another note, it's amazing how his vocabulary has expanded.....that's probably in part to the "noi noi" taking an extended vacation (aka in the drawer, out of sight).  It's been a week now and so far so good!  Derek is talking clearer and adding words left and right (lawnmower, mommy, daddy, (versus momma, dadda)  french fries, etc.  I love this age!!!

Swimming lessons success!

Swimming lessons ended on Thursday, and both Eryn and Nolan passed their respective classes! Yipee!  They LOVE to swim any chance they can get....one good thing about this hot weather!