The tabs across the page here at the top are separate pages.
Finland-Sweden trip is a link to my journal blog I kept during my trip there. Farm sweet Farm is pictures of the house, ect that we spent 2 1/2 years in-our first taste of "country living" during our married years. (And are just leaving) This is a work in progress for my scrapbook.
House to Home page is the picture journal of making our "new" house in the West part of the state into our home (On-going current)





Sunday, July 13, 2008

Out of our ordinary days


Melissa (Jana's co-worker) and Jana
In the back yard at Juli & Paul's place in Wayne--North East Nebraska


This is the area of Nebraska that my Grandparents lived and my mom was born & grew up in. Beautiful country with rolling hills.
I've been thru this area before, but it was nice to get a little closer look at the area. I'd never actually been in Wayne before, and it is a beautiful small town....

pretty houses, old houses & buildings loads of trees, hilly streets and when it comes to entertainment/celebrations...true small town enthusiasm!
This weekend was the annual "chicken festival"!! We got in on a parade....

Our group of spectators, and the kids were delighted with the generous handfulls of candy tossed! (the girl on the end chair is Melissa's twin. She came up Sat. to spend the day with her.)




As you can see, this parade included everything from toddlers in wagons.......






To Semi's and the "chickendales"....!!!!


Some of the spectators were nearly as entertaining as the parade~


downtown sidewalk sales,


a chicken auction:............


Red hat, Mosaic & "A spring chicken" were among about 1 -1/2 doz featured, bringing anywhere from $75-$200.00 (wish I could remember the name of the bikini beauty...!!)

fireworks....

I have not learned to take fireworks pictures on my camera yet, and could not see the settings at all in the dark, so just started snapping away anyway. Even tho they're total flops as "fireworks" pictures, I thought the resulting images were kind of fun...the "tornado" especially!
Also there were Arts & Crafts, fun & food vendors in the park across the street from Paul & Juli's place (How handy was that!!) For breakfast all we had to do was walk across the street to the Omelet feed, & Saturday afternoon was free ice cream bars!

We did skip some of the events that were taking place, for instance: *The worlds largest Chicken dance--*Free entertainment performance of "She thinks my cluckin's sexy"--* Live Chicken flying--*Rubber chicken chuck--*Best chicken legs..(strut those bird legs!)--*Hard boiled egg eating contest--Among others :*>

I also enjoyed some impromptu shopping--an antique organ stool for me and Juli found a really awesome antique cupboard that is going to be just perfect for a place in her dining room under a set of unique windows! Unfortunately it was to heavy & large for us to just pick up and carry home like I did the stool!


We had a very nice time with Jana even if it was short. Thank you very much Juli, Paul & girls! We enjoyed our stay at your "new" place very much!
I loved their house, had a great time taking more flower pictures in her beautiful flower gardens, & was envious of the "garden shed" that Juli is turning into a darling little guest house!!



Wednesday, July 9, 2008

Happy 9th birthday Kara! (July 8)


With this big a family and extended family, A couple things seem to be the norm at birthday time. We seldom get to have a "party" on the actual day, (too many schedules to work around)
And, 0ften times we "have" to celebrate with a sibling or cousin (Kara and Kaela's birthdays are 1 week apart) and because of those two things, birthdays get stretched out longer. Not necessarily a bad thing!
Happy Birthday Kara! You got cake and ice cream & a present at Grandma's last night, presents from Gertrude & swimming with your friends today....I'm sure you'll get a party one of these days too!! Make it last, and enjoy the moments!



July 1999-1 week~~~~~~1 year 2000~~~~~~~~~2 Years 2001

3 yr~2002 Kaela 1 yr~4 years~2003~~5 years~2004-(Kaela 3 yrs)

6 years~2005~~~~~~~7 years~2006~~~~8 years~2007

Thank you Lynisha!

Monday, July 7, 2008

Relyssa's 3rd degree black belt testing & graduation

Friday evening and Saturday morning (June 27-28) for two & a half hours each, Relyssa did her final steps of testing for her 3rd degree black belt. Later Saturday morning was her Graduation.

I'll post a couple pictures of the highlights if you don't want to see the whole slide show. It's really a pretty fascinating process. Amazing talent! The taller guy (Aaron) in the pictures with her is a young man she's been in Karate with for most of her years, and they're good friends. There were just three students receiving their 3rd degree's.








Also, here's a link to an interview that Relyssa and Mr. Cahill did for NTV.
http://www.nebraska.tv/Global/story.asp?S=8583085&nav=menu605_6_2


Friday, July 4, 2008

The "funnest" birthdays last all week


At least if you're "this" old!
Thanks to all of you for all of your funny, sarcastic, humorous, rude, ribbing, lovely and kind messages to me!! After all, when you're as old as I am, you need all the help you can get!
Yesterday I went with my sister to take her kids to the airport to fly to see their dad for the summer, so we did some shopping in "the big city", and when I got home it was fun to be greeted with 2 birthday packages waiting for me.
Thank you Raimie!!! I honestly was SO SURPRISED (and you know how hard that is) when I opened the box to find the darling Longaberger star dishes I'd been drooling over!
and Thank you Diane!!! I LOVE the shirt. It's a perfect fit, and is "so me"
Sandi, I forgot to put the gift card on my other picture. Thank you again so much!!! I'm looking forward to a birthday meal out next week. (Stretch it out a little longer!)
So, here's the end of the birthday posts ( for me that is.)
Next coming up....Relyssa got her 3rd degree Black Belt!!
Oh yes, and HAPPY 4th OF JULY!! HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND WHEREVER YOU ARE, WHATEVER YOU'RE DOING!! (Thanks Jim!)