Nebraska Friends

Kate with the Hortons, Annamae and Abbie

 Having fun on the giant slides in downtown Omaha.

 Organizing the rocks.

 The girls downtown, not sure which camera they are supposed to look at.

 The Berge, Fritz, Rethwisch & Hoybook kids.  Remember this photo from last year?

 Some of my best girls--Mindy, Carla & Lisa

Keeping our schedules full

When we go back home to Nebraska, I always try to make the most of our time there.  B would say that I try to "kill us with the scheduling", but I don't care. While we sometimes need a vacation when we get home from our vacation, I love going here and there to visit our friends and family.

 One stop that I love to make is in Scribner to see my Grandma.  She is aging, as grandparents tend to do, but her smile can still light up the room and that twinkle in her eye when she looks at Kate is bright as day.

Oma & Opa's House

Forty Years

On September 2nd, back in 1972, two people tied the knot.

On September 8th, in 2012, we celebrated their 40th anniversary.

 The Olson kids decided that 40 years of marriage was a pretty big accomplishment, one that was definitely worth a party.  So, we threw one for my parents in Wayne a couple of weekends ago.  Mom and Dad were pretty reluctant to have a fuss made over them, but I think they managed to have a pretty good time.

Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad!

Reason #317

Why Portland is awesome, reason #317: Sunday Parkways.

Sunday Parkways is this way cool thing the City of Portland does on one Sunday per month in the summer.  They close off an 8 mile loop of city streets connecting city parks, each month in a different Portland neighborhood. People ride bikes without worrying about cars and the neighborhood folks play music from their porches and leave free watermelon out on a plate by the street.  It's pretty darn awesome.  I saddled up on B's bike and pulled Kate in her chariot for the first time and we had a blast.

Correction, I had a blast.  Kate took a nap.  

Me Time

In the newest edition of the IKEA catalog, the bathroom section is titled "Me-ing." This is the accompanying description:

 Buried beneath all the things we squeeze into our lives every day, there is something we shouldn't forget to take care of. Ourselves. The bathroom is probably the only place in the home where every one of us can be 100% alone. This small, wonderful and private place is where you can escape the outside world, even if only for a couple of minutes.

Hmmm, not so much in this house.

Kate goes to the beach

When I asked Kate what she wanted to do when with her Granny last week, she said, "Oh, Mother, I would just love to take Granny to the beach.  I think it would be most delightful!" (Actually, it was more like, "Oooh, blaahasplabababa, blah splbast dis."  I'm an excellent translator.)

Well, we couldn't disappoint her now could we.  Granny was here for a week and we snuck off on Tuesday and headed for Cannon Beach.  The weather was questionable, but that didn't seem to dampen our spirits or Kate's for that matter.  The girl played hard.  Someone needs a sandbox, ASAP.

One Year

What does a one year-old do on her birthday?  Hit up the spray park for some afternoon splashing.

Happy First Birthday to our sweet, funny, curious, energetic little girl.  We love you so.

#1

And just like that, Kate is one year old.

We had a small party for her with most of her favorite people in attendance--there were balloons, presents, girls in the pool and most importantly, cake.

Helping Granny organize the balloons.

 One candle for one year.

 Not sure about cake, but definitely thumbs up to frosting.

 Manny waits patiently for crumbs.

 Eden and Haley showing Kate her new blue cart.

New shoes and a ribbon windsock from Uncle Craig and Aunt Bridget.

Helping Uncle Craig build a tower with her new legos.

Ready to ride

Always learning

A little camera lesson after an impromptu photo session in the "studio".

Bookworm