An upgrade

So, last summer we got lucky. Kate was only two and was pretty content with the state of things in our backyard. The "state of things" being absolutely nothing to play with. We were good about always walking her to the park to play in the sand or heading to a splash park to get in some water play. However, this summer, we have already discovered that homegirl needs some fun stuff in her own yard too. In other words, Mom and Dad needed to step up a bit and make a few home/yard/fun improvements. Good thing we delivered.

Please welcome, the sandbox.

Sand in the City!

Next event on our very busy summer schedule? Sand in the City.

It really is just as it sounds--a bunch of sand in a parking lot in downtown Omaha. Teams get together to compete in a sand-sculpture contest, but the biggest attraction for our little someone was surprisingly, not the giant bounce house, but the giant pile of sand. (Of-course, the free activity is the best activity. Why do we buy them toys again?) Team Horton joined us for the evening and the girls had a great time.

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Yay for bikes!

Let's talk about cyclists for a minute.  B and I moved from the Cyclist's Republic of Portland so I guess you could say our standards and expectations are pretty high for our cycling community.  Wide bike lanes, tons of organized rides, courteous cyclists, etc. It has taken a bit of looking, but we are starting to find our kind of cycling community here in Omaha. Over the weekend, we joined about 150 other riders for Bike the Bluffs, a circumnavigation of Council Bluffs. Team Hoybook didn't complete the entire circle (the littlest Hoybook needs to work on her endurance), but we still got in about 16 miles on a gorgeous sunny June Sunday.

This photo was my attempt to capture one of the more precarious situations we've been in for a while. Nine miles out from the car, flat tire on the only bike that can pull the trailer, no patch kit, hole in the spare tube, almost out of water, no other passing cyclists for 20 minutes.

Bryan MacGyver'ed that tube like a boss and we were on our way, but it was just another reminder to keep our wits about us when planning excursions.  Did I remember coloring books and snacks for Kate?  Of-course.  Extra water and necessary emergency tools for Mommy and Daddy? Hmmm, not so much.  Aye karumba.

Next up on the #hoybooksummeroffun cycling schedule: the Papillion Twilight Criterium.  Yay for bikes!

#hoybooksummeroffun

The Hoybook Summer of Fun kicked off officially over the weekend with the first event of oh, let's say lots, this summer.  Last summer, I felt like we just didn't get it together.  We arrived in May, but then I was busy job searching, Bryan was busy shooting weddings on the weekends and I felt like we didn't really take advantage of everything Omaha has to offer during the summer.  Not so much this year.  This year, I am making it happen.  We're coming for you summer, watch out.

Our first event? La Vista Daze.  Kate and I paid a visit to the La Vista Daze carnival where she and her buddy Skyler lived it up.  Sno-cones and a carousel make for a very happy Kate.

(Let me just clarify that Kate takes a non-traditionalist approach to riding the carousel.  I believe her exact words were, "Ooo, mommy, I want to ride on that cute bench, those horses are scary."

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Farm Life

My aunt and uncle live on the Von Seggern family farm outside of Scribner and have recently been making some changes to the homestead.  They are adding on to the house also working on tearing down an old corn crib that isn't being used anymore. Everyone was still in town so it was only natural that we all ended up out at the farm again the day after Grandma's funeral.

Kate and I drove up for the day so we could get in on some farm antics with the cousins. Tearing down a corn crib with a chainsaw? Check. Going for a tractor ride with Uncle Don? Check. Giving  Claire and Sander a ride on the loader? Check. Yeehaw, farm life is a good time.

Family

The really funny thing about a loving one passing is that while it is a sad occasion, it often ends up becoming a joyful one because family comes together.  And I just love it when my family is together.

Hmm, apparently, no one told me about the family height requirement.

Completely Blessed

When B and I were trying to make the incredibly hard decision to move from Portland to Omaha, we made a pros and cons list. The biggest and #1 pro for Omaha was that we would be near family. Kate would be able to know and form relationships with her great aunts and uncles and cousins and most importantly, her Great Grandma.

This week, I am more thankful for that than anything as my sweet, wonderful Grandma passed away last Saturday evening.  She had been declining for the past couple of months and we last saw her when we made the Kate handoff to my parents for our Portland trip. As we said goodbye, she took my face in her hands and said she loved me and I think she knew it might be the last time.  I know that Kate won't really remember her Great Grandma, but Grandma will remember Kate and it gives me the most wonderful feeling of peace to know that she can tell Grandpa all about her.

Oh, how we will miss her! Her letters, her thoughtful gifts and crafts, her conversations about every topic under the sun, her cookies, cakes and quilts. Grandma, we love so.

(The photo above is from July 4, 2013 when Grandma was dozing in the chair and Kate just walked up, handed her a book and crawled into her lap. So glad I was able to capture it.)

Hoybooks

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