Saturday, August 23, 2008

Nebraska Experiences!

Every time I tell my mom about our experiences here in Nebraska she always remarks at how I have stepped back in time or how I am living "Little House on the Prairie." Well I can't help but agree, in the most complementry way to the people I am surrounded by and have been meeting and enjoying these experiences with. Jay and I longed for our children to have and experience these same experiences that enriched our lives and wondered if the same experiences we had as a child still existed in a place on this mordern earth, and I think we may have found it. Last night we attended a "barn" dance in Burwell, Nebraska. As I told mom about where we were headed she remarked that same old remark about stepping back in time. My mission Companion got married to our Branch 1st Counselor and they had a dance in their honor. As soon as I stepped foot in that old Legend Hall I felt like a little girl again in Hamer, back when Stan Neville and Jerry Williams were our bishops and we had many ward get-togethers; old western dances, bizarres, and dinner which consisted of Buffalo on the menu, distant but very happy childhood memories.

I thought those times were lost, never to be found as we have all "modernized," but there stood my Jayson, just as I did excited watching and wanting to dance with the "big people"... my little/big "Gap Cowboy"...and running with excitement and playing with the kids that attended with their parents. As I danced with Jay to Patsy Cline's Crazy, next to some high-stepping cowboys and cowgirls that could have given Patty and Lloyd Gasser a run for their money, I saw my little Jayson watching us and grinning, just like I did with my parents. I find it very refreshing to not have to worry about gangs and the fact that I can walk out in the dark to my car and a fresh off the ranch cowboy tips his hat and say howdy. If my biggest worry is that Jayson will grow up to be a bull rider we are doing pretty well!



Jayson and his very reluctant dance partner Tandy. This little girl is a feisty little cowgirl that could handle Jayson any day!





This is the Branch Primary President, Kathy, and Jayson just loves her!



This is Sandra and Russ, Russ is the 2nd Counselor in our Branch, and they are trying to teach kids line dancing.

These two pictures are of my little bug, since I didn't get any dance pictures of him I thought I would add these really cute pics of him taken a couple of days ago!


Friday, August 22, 2008

Gone are the Raiders...

Well all is back to normal today, no more Raiders dedication... I know some of you are probably thinking I should have kept it up but I like the Gerber Daisies and Pink better! Thanks for all your thoughtful comments and e-mails! Jay loved them! Phyllis your e-mail was very heartfelt and you didn't even mention the Broncos, unlike Jake, Mr. Go Broncos!
Remember to check our private blog I have posted the new action on the house!!!

Thursday, August 21, 2008

Today my blog is dedicated to my husband! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

OAKLAND RAIDERS! You may not know but my husband has been a fan for years. He has supported them through thick and thin. He has never been a "fair weather fan" and has taken many jabs from many people, especially since they have had quarterback trouble. So 4 years ago I spoiled him and sent him to the Coliseum in Oakland California for a game. Now that we have moved to Nebraska I have heard over and over again how close we are to Kansas City and how he would just "lllovvve" to go to a game again. Well Jay here you go...

Picture of the tickets...they are in the mail and should be here tomorrow!!

Arrowhead Stadium Seating



Here is the view from your seats! I hope you enjoy!!!


I know it is not in Oakland but I hope you have fun! I love you and wish you the greatest birthday! You have always made my dreams come true and I hope on your birthday we can make some of yours come true. You may be Oakland's #1 fan but the boys and I are your #1 fans! LOVE YOU and Happy Birthday!!!

Tuesday, August 19, 2008

Gap Cowboy

Above is Jayson's horse (yes, it is the arm of our love seat!)
OK so many of you who know me know that I take absolute pride in how my boys dress and that they look clean, cute and ready first thing in the morning. Well I believe I have met my match...Jayson has just informed us while on vacation in Hamer that he is going to be a "Bulllll Riderrrr." To which I replied, jokingly at first, "Over my dead body!" Since then he has become a little rascal getting himself dressed without me seeing so that he can wear the two cowboy shirts, one given to him from his "cowboy friends" and one I bought for the purposes of a parade costume, and gap jeans on along with his borrowed cowboy boots that Uncle Jake had as a kid. (Judging from the great condition of 1980's boots I am certain that Uncle Jake never wanted to be a cowboy). To my dismay as things have progressed that is all he wants to wear and if the shirts are dirty and I some how sneak them out to the laundry a very mad Jayson seeks them out, wet, dirty, smelly, fresh out of the dryer...whatever state they are in in the morning the cowboy shirt must be worn. Instead of fresh out of the tub and into his nice shorts and t-shirts, that match, and comfortable yet stylish sandals or crocs, it is right out of PJ's into those cowboy clothes and I can't change that stubborn mind at all. :(
Jay keeps telling me it is a fade with him and that all kids go through these things BUT every day as I deal with my cowboy... I worry in the back of my head. I don't want a Bull Rider in the family. I do enjoy rodeos especially the bulls but I see these poor cowboys beating themselves up day after day... this is something I do NOT want to encourage. However, at least I can still get him in his very stylish Gap jeans so there is some hope and I do take comfort that Ralph Lauren is a very stylish Cowboy!


Uncle Jake's Cowboy boots and Gap Jeans and Jayson's "Cowboy Shirt."

Wednesday, August 6, 2008

"Carsie Bug" and My Mission Comp

Carson is officially 8 months now! He is so sweet and he is both a mom's boy and a dad's boy. He has both of us wrapped around his little finger...who are we kidding both boys have us where they want us. Carson or "Carsie Bug" is sitting up and rolling everywhere. He absolutely loves to play and loves toys. One of his favorite games is peek-a-boo. He is hilarious and makes all of us laugh. He also loves to tease his older brother already. His favorite foods are sweet potatoes and vanilla custard, Gerber foods of course. He has two bottom teeth and is working on two top teeth now! As you can see in the picture below he is constantly slobbery.



He loves his piano walker. It is a DJ set up and he is quite good at pounding the ivories. He would make Great-Grandpa Sanders proud. He is our blond and blue eyed boy with a big grin!





He loves having his crib back and now loves to roll to his side to sleep. I thought it was so cute I couldn't resist to sneak in with the camera!



The above picture is my mission companion! Her name is Barb McCain and I am so blessed to have met her! She has already served two missions after her husband passed away and she has been the branch for the last so many years. We are having some amazing testimony building experiences. Tonight we had a meeting with our first investigator and it was wonderful. We have challenged her to give up drinking and read the Book of Mormon AND we even discussed baptism with her but she has to give up the bottle first. As our discussion went on her countenance changed and by the end she looked so happy and like a huge load has been taken off her. It is so amazing to see that happen to someone! I wish you could all meet Barb and the other great members of our Branch, they have all found a place in our hearts!

Tuesday, August 5, 2008

Looking a gift horse in the mouth...

I know many people who have moved themselves know that moving is exhausting and to pack all your house is a complete and utterly overwhelming project BUT when you see my photos and hear my stories maybe when you are packing your next boxes you can say to yourself at least I am in control of my stuff arriving to my new destination safely. I know, I know, you are all thinking that I am an evil, pampered, spoiled girl looking a gift horse in the mouth and the movers saved me. So for those of you who think that you can just skip this blog posting because my complaining is about to commence....


Finally!! Move in day to our temporary rental! Wahoooo our stuff is here...but where are our happy helper movers? Yes we got Darrell and Darrell who were not happy to be there at early morning in the humidity. Although they refused drinks when I offered them, I did notice they helped themselves to my food storage Gatorade as they were leaving. Jokes on them they were warm and G2 is gross warm!
After taking a couple rounds of boxes off the truck my happy helpers discovered honey covered boxes or "syrup" as the Darrell truck driver kept rudely saying over and over again. They had loaded the truck the night before and my brand new containers of honey blew up in the heat and melted down the side of everything. My brilliant driver just piled the boxes on the sidewalk and let them all melt more and more in the sun. To make matters worse the water was off at the house while a plumber fixed a broken line, so I could do nothing with the mess. So when I had to leave and pick up Jayson the brilliant truck driver decided to finally move the boxes while I was gone, including my picture tub into the garage. Since they sat in the sun and melted more the honey ran like a stream all the way to the garage. When I saw my picture tub covered in honey and the mess running along the side walk all the way into the garage I just wanted to cry but I had to just forget about it and keep moving so I didn't think about it.

So after our happy campers left I started unpacking a mound of misplaced boxes. Luckily Jayson was like a tornado in his room and had every box placed in his room ripped open and unpacked, so other than repacking his room, Jayson's unpacking was a cinch.

As I unpacked I was met with so many surprises and it has been a mess to find stuff. Nothing was packed together, bedding was placed in random boxes and yesterday, almost a week later, I have finally rounded the last of it up so I could finish making beds. Nice quilts that were made special for our wedding were used to wrap around a dusty computer monitor and scanner. When I finally cut the plastic wrap off our entertainment center it dramatically shifted left and it now like the "Leaning Tower of Pisa."


The most devastating blow was discovering my beautiful wedding bouquet that has been babied several moves ago, was squished into a box. When I opened that box I cried and then my blood boiled. My wedding day was such a treasured memory and I just loved my beautiful flowers. I have kept it nice all these years!

Below is the vase that has always held the vase, broken and not even wrapped in paper. You don't have to be a rocket scientist to know to wrap vases with that large stack of stuffing and wrapping paper they had.

So as I was frantically looking for our computer tower, which felt like a needle in a haystack, I noticed this sign on the boxes. Hmmm... kind of ironic. It felt like one of those "service with a smile" sign and at 11:30 pm it made me laugh because they won't be moving our family again!

Looking a gift horse in the mouth or pity party or whatever you want to call it, here is our novel on our moving experience. Hey but at least I have my scissors that have been in use since the first day back in my hands!

Friday, August 1, 2008

Oops!!!

I guess it would be very helpful to have the address to the new blog! Sorry!!
Got to:
http://nebraskapilgrims.blogspot.com/

Good luck!!