Bad, Bad Blogger

This past week has been amazing...filled with fun events, time with friends and family and milestones. And because of all this, I have been very bad about keeping on top of all these events individually on our blog. So, as much as I hate to do it, here is our week in bullet points. I promise to visit all the 150 new posts on my google reader soon. Sheesh.

**Monday Tony had the day off for Memorial Day so we headed to the zoo. We saw a polar bear crush and eat an ENTIRE cantaloupe.

**After fighting poor Josh's allergies for over two months, we saw his pediatrician again this week and he got a little more aggressive in his medication treatment and Josh is back to himself. Both in the good and bad ways. We are so grateful. (Check out his shirt.)

**We visited the last sister on our visiting teaching route for the last time.

**Sam earned and received his Wolf Badge. And Friday was his last day of school.

**We had a rockin' garage sale on Friday and Saturday. Nothing like getting money for your junk.

**I got my darling homemade craft from the giveaway exchange I participated in from my friend Tonia. I can't wait to hang it in my new home!


**In a few moments of peace, I painted up and assembled the strawberry I ordered from a blog friend. It turned out so cute and she has lots of other fun crafty things...check out her blog here.

**And last but not least, our baby robins left the nest. We miss them already.

I can't wait to read about what you've been up to this past week!

Growing Up Birds & Boys

The kids have been keeping a diligent eye on the baby robins. And yesterday, I finally climbed up into the playhouse to take a photo of the growing baby robins and this is what I found. We can't believe how much they have grown in just a few short weeks. And, yes, I do think they are MUCH cuter now.

And last Friday, Sam was recognized at a school assembly for being selected as May Pride Student of the Month. The base had a down day so Tony was able to come with us and we both loved hearing all the wonderful things Sam's teacher, Mrs. Young, had to say about him. Although we knew all about them already.

We love you, big guy!

In Memorium

"Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same."
--Ronald Reagan

Thank you to all those who have and will give "the last full measure of devotion" in defense of liberty.

Anna's Preschool Graduation

Well, my friends, it is the beginning of the ends. The end of preschool. The end of the school year for Sam. The end of dance. The end of piano lessons. The end of our time in Nebraska. And although the ends are a bit sad, I AM SO EXCITED FOR SUMMER! I am so looking forward to having the kids home during the day, trips to the sprinkler park, visits to the zoo and hitting all our favorite spots before they drag us kicking and screaming on to our next assignment.

But back to the ending at hand. Last night was Anna's graduation from preschool, and what a fantastic year it was for her. We got her all dolled up and we headed over to the YMCA for the big program.


One of the main reasons for Anna's great year was this lady...Ms. Karin. She is the most amazing teacher with just the right mix of discipline and love. The kids adore her and because of her dedication to the kids, Anna is more than prepared for Kindergarten next year.

And because I couldn't let Ms. Karin forget the kids whose lives she touched this year, I put together a little scrapbook of the kids, including a picture, a place for them to write their name, and a little questionnaire filled out by the kids and their parents. It turned out so cute and Ms. Karin was thrilled.


Congratulations, Anna! Now on with the summertime fun!

Sold

Look Who Hatched!

As you can see in the picture in our header, we had a mommy robin lay 2 (and later another) eggs in a nest she built in the corner of our play set. Because they spend so much time playing on the play set when they are outside, we were concerned that the kids would bother the nest and that the mommy robin would abandon the eggs. So we gave the kids a stern talking to about the importance of leaving the nest alone. Apparently, they were obedient because on Saturday, Sam came running in to tell us that we have three little baby robin birds in our nest!

Don't tell mommy robin, but I hope they get a little cuter.

Something Wicked This Way Comes

After MUCH anticipation, last night a group of friends, Megan and I went to see Wicked at the Orpheum in downtown Omaha! I've read the book. I knew the story. I was familiar with the music. But nothing can really prepare you for the entire experience!

We all met and drove together (thank goodness for mini-vans, thanks Janene!) to dinner and then headed downtown for the show. It is always so fun to get together with girlfriends, and with some of us moving this summer, it really made me realize how much I love these girls and how much I will miss them.

Once we got downtown and parked, we snapped a picture of the ones in our group who wore red shoes in honor of the night (mine are at the bottom).

The Orpheum is absolutely beautiful! We had seats up in the balcony, but at such a great angle that we had no problem both seeing and hearing everything. The place was packed and I spent all intermission trying to figure out a way to talk Tony into bringing me back for another performance before the National Touring Company leaves at the end of the month...

If you ever get a chance to see Wicked, go. It is a wonderful story of friendship, the good and hard things about being different, and becoming a better person set to incredible music, fantastic costumes and filled with hilarity and moments of tears. Five stars from me!

Love Story Meets Viva La Vida

I saw this arrangement by John Schmidt and Steven Sharp Nelson today over at Chocolate on My Cranium and had to share it. Just take a moment and check it out. The story about the song is at the end.

The Great Family Shuffle

Last week was the much anticipated visit from my family. My dad and mom flew in last weekend and then on Tuesday Tony and my dad went on a successful turkey hunt in Iowa. My sister Paige flew in from Chicago on Thursday...it was the first time she has met Josh!

My kids LOVE my dad. He tickles them until they weep, and the still love him. This is a priceless moment I stumbled upon...my kids helping my dad do his daily crossword puzzle online.

When my sister Megan comes up from Lincoln, we cook. When mom comes, we create. These are some of the treasures from this weekend: I saw some of these birds covered in paper at a local scrapbook store and the lady was charging $7 for each. My mom and I happened upon the last package of the same chipboard birds at Michaels and made a set of 12 for less than $7. Nice.We were also on a cupcake kick...here are some baby girl gift tags using a Martha Stewart cupcake punch and a card that was inspired by this card by Kim Hughes.We also planted flowers, played outside, ate until we thought we would burst and harassed a poor IHOP server to the brink of insanity. What a wonderful week.

And now, they are beginning to scatter again. Dad left yesterday. Mom and Paige leave tomorrow and Megan heads back to Lincoln tonight. We so seldom get four of us ladies together that I had Tony snap some pictures. We are missing April.

Very much.

What The...?

I've given up trying to figure this girl out.

Lucky Thirteen

This past weekend, Tony and I celebrated our thirteenth wedding anniversary (YIKES! Has it really been a year since I posted this?) with a crazy Saturday of shopping, playing at the park with the kids, and enjoying time with my parents who are here visiting for the next week. But the evening was all ours and we took advantage of the free sitters to enjoy a grown-up dinner at The Cheesecake Factory.



Happy Anniversary, my love.

Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner!

And the winner of the lovely Tres Jolie earrings is...Kim!! Please shoot me an email with your address and we'll get your earrings on their way!

Thank you so much to all those who participated. For those of us who didn't win (sigh) make sure to visit Tres Jolie and take adveantage of the additional 10% off they are offering my readers. Just enter Amber10 in the discount box at checkout. Just in time for Mother's Day!!

It's May Day & Your Last Chance

Hope you all have a wonderful May Day! Mother Nature has given us a bit of a reprieve and it is actually a little sunny outside. Just in time to deliver our May day baskets. And pick up Grandpa from the airport...

**And it's your last chance. If you'd LOVE to win a beautiful set of earrings from Tres Jolie, enter here before tomorrow morning!!**