Picking up where I left off from my last update. We attended Tanner & Krista wedding on July 2nd in North Platte, NE, we then headed to my mom's house in Roscoe, so here is how we spent our days in Nebraska:
Sunday, July 3rd - We arrived at my mom's in time to eat lunch with my parents, and my sister and her family. We enjoyed all the good food I always miss out on living so far and not being able to attend many of our family functions, such as, macaroni salad and spaghetti salad, among lots of other delicious food! A little later in the afternoon we had a cousin get together (all the cousins made it except my brother and his family). Here are some pictures from that:
Bree and Rory (he is my cousin Tracy's son, the kids are only 1 week apart!)
My Grandpa Bud, Ethan (Tracy's husband) and my Aunt T
My cousin Ashton and her husband Dell (we share the same wedding anniversary!)
My Aunt Sara, cousin Tracy and Rory
My Grandma Cena, cousin Cade, Shane, Bree, Me, cousins Tyler, Tanner and Garrett
My Aunt Becky and Grandma Cena
Cousin picture
Pretty in Purple - My mom and Aunt Becky
Monday, July 4th - We spent the day relaxing at my mom's house. My sister Britni, BIL Brad, and nieces Zoe and Haley stayed at my mom's too. We enjoyed hanging out and playing outside.
Bree ready for some fun in the sun!
Emma, Zoe, Bree and Haley
Brother-in-law Brad, Zoe and Haley having fun on the splash bomb!
A picture of the splash bomb. I didn't get to partake in the
fun that this offered last year because I was pregnant with Bree, so I was looking forward to it! It was freezing (water straight from the hose!) but a lot of fun!
Shane, Bree and Emma chill'in the pool!
My beautiful sister, Britni 'enjoying' herself!
Mommy and Bree
After supper, we headed into my Aunt T's house to join family and friends for the big firework show! It was spectacular and we had the best seats in the town in my Aunt's backyard. My friend, Codi even drove over to join us! Bree nursed right before and slept through the entire show (even with the loud noise!)
Tuesday, July 5th - We said goodbye to my sister and her family in the morning.
Haley and Bree
Haley, Bree and Zoe
The girls enjoying homemade french toast (my mom's specialty!)
Nana and Papa with Zoe, Emma and Haley
After we said our goodbyes, I drove Shane and Emma to one of Shane's parents fields so they could spend the day at the farm. I then met my mom and the Tuesday lunch crew at the sandwich shoppe. In attendance was: Kris, my mom, Grandma Joyce, Grandma Cena, Grandpa Bud, Tracy, Ethan, Taya, Rory, Bree and me.
Kris and my mom
While we were eating, in pops my friend Codi with her baby, Allie and mom picking up food to go!
Baby Allie
Me, Bree, Rory and Tracy enjoying TBA sandwiches !
My grandpa Bud and Aunt T
My Aunt T and Grandma Cena
After lunch, I went up to my Aunt T's house for some extra visiting with my cousin Tracy. We don't get to see each other very often anymore with her in Ohio and me in Iowa, but we still keep in touch frequently through email!
Tracy and Rory, Me and Bree (and Tracy's dog Nima!)
We didn't get a picture with our oldest daughters that are only a month apart
Gotta love tutus!
Bree and Rory
Rory and Bree may only be a week apart in age, but Rory is one big boy and Bree is one petite little girl...here is the difference in their feet size!
Later in the evening, I went back out to get Shane and Emma. I took pizza and ate at Shane's parents house.
Wednesday, July 6th - We woke up bright and early and said our goodbyes to Shane as he headed back to Muscatine in my mom's suburban. Us girls stayed for an extra week!
My friend, Codi and her new daughter came out to spend some time with us.
Baby Allie (3.5 months in this picture) and Baby Bree (7 months)
Bree, Me, Codi and Allie
Ok...so I thought it was hilarious that Codi and I were wearing the same nursing shirt...it definitely describes they stage of life we are in right now!
Thursday, July 7th - We spent much of the day at my Aunt T's house, preparing for the annual garage sale (set for that coming Saturday). Then later that evening, my friend Tonya came out to see us and have supper with us! It has kinda become a tradition that she eats supper with us while I am home! I have been so blessed to not have let a trip home pass without seeing Codi or Tonya in the last several years!
Tonya and Bree - both so beautiful!
Me, Tonya and Bree
Friday, July 8th - So the plan was to head to my brother's new farm in Palisade (since I haven't been there yet), but our day started off with the discovery of a flat tire while trying to back out of the driveway! We drove up to my dad's shop and thankfully Al (guy that works for my dad) was there to air the tire up for us. We proceeded to drive into town to find a place to fix the tire, here is how that went:
Stop 1 - Super busy, not even taking anymore work for the day! (it was only like 10am!)
Stop 2 - Busy...earliest that they could get me in was 1pm. I said I would call them and take that appointment if I couldn't get it fixed anywhere else.
Stop 3 - Note on front door saying out on service call with # to call if needs assistance. I call and the guy tells me that 4pm would be the soonest he could fix it! This was our last place to go to (you only get like 3 choices in this small town!)
So I call Stop 2 back and take the 1pm appointment, then call my sister-in- law Missy to break the bad news. I tell her we won't be able to make it unless we pray for a miracle, then we drive up to my Aunt T's house to hang out until our 1pm appointment. Well, Missy did indeed pray for a miracle because less then 20 minutes later Stop 2 called and said he had a cancellation and to come right in. So thats what I did. He had it fixed in 15 minutes! So we grabbed lunch on our way out of town and headed south to Palisade (its about an hour and 15 minute drive).
I am so thankful God worked it out for us to go because we had an incredibly blessed time! Their old farm house is really neat, the farm is fun and everywhere you look you are surrounded by beauty!
Nana and the crew of grandkids!
Abby, Luke and Bree
Kenna and Emma
Abby and my sister-in-law, Missy! I told her she was lookin' like 'one hot mama' with how skinny and tan she is getting and good thing her tubes were tied!!! The farm life must agree with her!
Luke was really enjoying holding Bree! He is so good with babies...we all know that he is going to have a litter of kids himself someday!
Wrestling is a daily, no make that an hourly, thing at my brother's house!
Matthew riding the 'horse'. And yes, I tried it too, and yes, I immediately got nauseous!
Aunt Missy and Bree
She is giving us the tour of the farm.
Emma in her red rubber boots!
I got to bottle feed a calf! Here are 4 of my brother's calves...I don't recall all their names, but I think two of them were 'hamburger' and 'steak'
Emma and I thought the 'zebra' looking chicken was cool!
Emma checking out the chickens
Me and Bree
Me and Bree with my beautiful niece, Kenna! We love her and don't get to see her often enough!
The horses!
Emma wasn't too sure about the horses, she didn't want to ride one or even pet one!
But she did find something to ride! This was in the backyard!
She was having a blast!
Miss Kenna
Matthew caught a very tiny toad! He cried when I made him let it go...I am such a mean Auntie, but I was afraid it would get squished...sorry, Matthew!
Matthew, Emma, Missy, Bree and Kenna
It appears that Bree was picking her nose!
Tiny Toad
We stayed and ate supper then headed back to Roscoe. We ended up driving in a very strong thunderstorm! But God faithfully saw us home safely! We had such an incredible day! I thought Jared and Missy were crazy buying a farm and getting farm animals, etc....but I quickly learned that they totally have the right idea!
Saturday, July 9th - Annual Garage Sale Day! I was so excited to participate in the garage this year...I miss out on it every year (since I moved to Iowa)! I even brought a van load of stuff with me from Iowa to put out to sell! Our day started bright and early, we got ready and headed to town. We first picked up donuts before heading up to my Aunt T's house to help with the garage sale. My mother-in-law, Sharon, came and picked up Emma so she could spend the day with her at the farm.
We had quite the turnout of people. My aunts even made me call 'swap shop' on the radio to advertise the garage sale (it was always my job back when I lived at home). I made like $137! It was such a blessed day to spend with my family! Emma enjoyed her day too with Grandma Sharon, the highlights from her day included running in the sprinkler and petting a kitty!
Sunday, July 10th - We spent most of the day at my mom's house. I had laundry and packing to do. We played outside in the pool, and took at drive out by the lake and through town for a few groceries. My Aunt T stopped by for a little while. And my Grandma Joyce and Grandpa Dave stopped to say goodbye. It was a nice low-key day!
Monday, July 11th - We loaded up the Odyssey and started our journey home. My Grandma Cena and my mom rode home with us. We broke it up in 2 days. We didn't leave til after 11am and drove to Gretna, NE. That evening we ate at a Denny's for supper, and swam in the hotel pool before calling it a night.
Tuesday, July 12th - We hit the rode around 9am and made it home by 4pm. The girls did well both days traveling. I think Shane was happy to have us home, and so was Bella (I sent her home with Shane the week before).
Wednesday, July 13th - Mom and I enjoyed massages in the morning. Then we just hung out the rest of the day and enjoyed our last day together!
Emma and Grandma Cena
Nana, Bree and Emma
Thursday, July 14th - My mom and Grandma Cena headed back home. We were sad to see them go, but I am so thankful for the wonderful time God blessed us with! We won't be going home again until Christmas.
Nana and Bree
Grandma Cena and Bree
What a blessed time we had! Praising God for the time He gave us and trusting Him for more time together again soon!
Beautiful Bree
Always so smiley!
Her hair is starting to get thicker and it appears that it is going to be darker with some reddish in it.
I tried to get a tummy shot but she wouldn't stay down, she kept sitting herself up!
Thank you Jesus for Bree's life! What joy she has brought to our lives and we love her immensely!
