It's been a long time...

Well, it's been a long time since we posted here, so I'll try and get caught up. On Sunday, July 15, the girls and I were all loaded up to spend the week in Ellsworth so Olivia could attend musical camp at Salina Community Theatre. One of my favorite people, Sam Casey, stopped by. He was in town for the weekend and was leaving for Iraq on Tuesday. Without getting too political, I'll just let you know that Sunday was Sam's 19th birthday. That's right, he's not even "mature" enough or a good enough "decision-maker" to buy a beer but he can go to Iraq. Anyway, we love him and can't wait 'til he's back home again. On to other topics.... Olivia spent four hours a day at the Salina Community Theater getting ready for their mini-musical "The Lion King." I wasn't sure how she would do because she didn't know any of the other kids, but she was ready to go each morning. I figured she would get tired of the Ellsworth to Salina commute, but she never complained. She really loved that class, especially the dancing. They did a great performance and Olivia said her lines really loud and clear. She had them memorized, and she hadn't even told us she had lines. When the show was over, she just kept asking if she could do it again. That's the only bummer about theater - you work so hard and then it's just over.

On Saturday, we had Emery's birthday party for family and John's parents and Uncle Tony and Aunt Lupe joined us from Salina. Grammy made brisket and Aunt Kim made her famous baked beans. Daddy and I made cake and cupcakes for dessert and everyone had a great time. Emery got lots of nice gifts - blocks and dolls and Little People.

We returned home Sunday night to get ready for Emery's ear tubes surgery yesterday. We spent the night in Topeka on Monday evening since we had to be at the hospital early yesterday and she couldn't have anything to drink. By the way, if you're ever looking for a fun place to stay with kids in Topeka, try the Holiday Inn West. We got it for $40 on Priceline and it has the best water slide ever. Me, John, and Olivia (and every other kid and adult) had a lot of fun on it. Emery made the surgery experience really easy for all of us. She slept for the hour plus that they keep you waiting and was still sleeping on the nurse's shoulder when she carried her back for surgery. That made me cry. But it was over quickly, and when John and I were called back to recovery, she was rocking with a nurse, head on her shoulder. Of course, they were all just in love with her. Then I got to rock her, after a little prying away from the nurse, and soon Olivia got to come back and check on her baby sis. The surgery was at 8:15 and we were headed back to Osage City by 10 a.m. Today I'll just try to catch up on house cleaning and phone calls that have gone undone for a week and a half!

Photos: Olivia introducing herself to the audience following the play; Proud parents and happy girl after The Lion King; Olivia dancing to "I Just Can't Wait to be King" - she's the leopard on the far right, back row; Emery and Aunt Lupe coloring; and Emery enjoying a cupcake at her party.

Happy first birthday, Emery!

Today is Emery's first birthday. I can't believe she is one already. Before I was a parent, everyone told me that their kids grew up so quickly and it was hard for me to understand, but I get it now. Yesterday Emery started walking almost everywhere she went. It's like she somehow knew she was one and had better step it up a notch. :0)

Last night we had a small dinner with some good friends of Em's and ours to celebrate. Rick, Michelle, David, Jonathan, Katie, and Adam all came over to hang out with the birthday girl for awhile. They have been good friends to our girls and to us.

Here are some pics of the ceremonical cake-eating. Emery was very neat about it and she liked it a lot. She pretty much ate the whole piece. We'll have another party with family in a couple of weekends back at Grammy and Grampy's house. Emery is such an easy-going girl and puts up with the chaos that is life in our house so well. Daddy is hoping she'll be his athlete because she loves to play ball. Whatever you become, I'm glad your ours, Em!

Our 4th of July

Here are some photos from our evening at the lake. The weather was beautiful and it was really quiet there. And although the lake's fireworks aren't until Saturday, we could see two different shows from surrounding towns so we got our fireworks in. The only bummer was not being able to start a fire for Smores (after a long struggle on John's part) - it had rained pretty good for about 20 minutes in the afternoon and although the firewood was under tarp, it just wouldn't burn. So here's the sunset we watched from our picnic table, the inside of the yurt, and Olivia playing on the top bunk. And my favorite picture - of Daddy and his girls leaving the playground.

Happy 4th of July!

The 4th of July really does make me feel like I should partake in some all-American rituals. Last year, for example, my mom, Olivia, and I went to Fieldstone Orchard and picked blackberries until our fingers bled so that my mom could make some homemade blackberry ice cream. (Well, that and we were hoping the physical activity would send me into labor.) A few years ago, we tried an all-family camping trip out at Eisenhower State Park. It ended in disaster, but a very memorable 4th. Think wind-destroyed tents and a dead deer..... Anyway, I decided I had the camping bug again this year, and Eisenhower has installed these nifty yurts. Now I had never heard of a yurt before, but apparently this is what they look like. And they do provide significantly more sleeping shelter than a tent. And they cost less. And it won't be a waste of money when if it does get blown apart by wind. So we're packing up tomorrow and heading out to the yurt. I've got the groceries purchased so we can grill up some all-beef, fat-free hot dogs. I'm really looking forward to it - hopefully it will be a nice evening. If it does rain, it's supposed to quit by evening. I'm sure I'll have lots more photos to post after we return. Hopefully we're smiling in them!

An Update

Finally...I'm back home after ten days away, so it's time for an update. We spent a few days in Salina since John's niece, Angela, who lives in Michigan was there visiting. It was good to see her, and she loves all of her little cousins. Then the girls and I continued on to Ellsworth, where all of the grandkids went to Bible school. Olivia had a lot of fun at Bible school - especially the crafts and snacks - and loved being with her three cousins for a week. Last night was the big fireworks show in Ellsworth, and John and I took the girls out for a couple of hours in the evening to do the big inflatable rides and eat cotton candy. The fireworks weren't until 10 p.m. and we tried to watch at Grammy and Grampy's house but you couldn't see much over the big trees across the street. I really enjoyed spending some time with my nieces and nephew, but it was really nice to get back to my house after so long away.

Emery's birthday is just 8 days away, and I can't believe our baby will be one. She is doing a really good job of walking - she can cross a room without help - when she feels like it, of course. She is in the "clingy" stage where she cries when Mom walks out of the room which really bruises Dad's ego, but I know it will pass.

This has been the best summer I've had in a long time. I think that vacation right after school gets out really helped. I know we can't pull off a Disney trip every year, but I think we'll continue to do something. I just felt so content and ready for the summer with the girls, and I didn't have to spend my weeks pining away for some vacation time.

I hear fireworks popping all over town. Not to be a Scrooge, but I get so tired of listening to firecrackers. I swear the kids in our neighborhood must spend hundreds of dollars on fireworks because they go off all night and all day for a week. I guess if that's my biggest gripe, life is pretty good. :0) Happy 4th of July everyone!