Summer Fun #3!!!

The next group of pictures are from the final days of Summer. The kids were sad to see the summer go....but Cam was VERY excited about starting Middle School, and MaKenna was VERY excited about starting Kindergarten!!

Dad likes to take the kids to see his horse Sparks...but he also likes to take the kids out on his boat. This particular day...I had a TON of stuff to do at home...as seems to always be the case...and so dad took EVERYONE and let me stay home and clean...or do whatever it was I had to do. It was a BEAUTIFUL day!! Here is dad...taking a self portrait....and then you all wonder where I get my quirkiness from...... Here is Cam...just like his dad...a silent fisherman.

Jake...the fisherman who gets bored REALLY easily...and USUALLY ends up getting in trouble one way or another.

MaKenna...the giddy fisherwoman....always so happy....

And finally, Major....also known to himself as Mator. He is known as the "What dat?" fisherman.

Dad was proud to say that he taught another grandchild how to use the pee can. Yes...that is right...Major was had the opportunity to use the pee can. Papa was so proud...now all the boys have used it. Such a proud moment for him. Whatever.....

Jake seems to be the only one in the family who likes baseball. Papa loves baseball...so when I won 8 tickets to a Royals game, I gave 6 away to friends and family, and saved two for Papa and Jake to go. I USED to love baseball...in fact, I have three ring binders FULL of baseball cards from the 80's and 90's. When the strike happened in 1994, it soured me on the whole sport. It was then that I turned to love football...and I never see myself going back. How could I leave my precious football??? It is the best sport ever known to mankind!! Thank you spoiled baseball players for having the strike, if it hadn't been for you, I might still be watching you and not so enamored with football! :-) Anyway...here is Jake at the Royals game with Papa. They had a great time, but it was one of THE hottest and muggiest days of the year!! Papa was SOAKED when they got home.

Here are my little angels, MaKenna and Hannah...

We couldn't end the summer without raiding the dress up box! We save EVERY costume we have in a dress up box. Not only is it fun to play with later...but it is great for Major because we don't ever have to buy him a costume...he has all those hand me downs! Here is Batman and Spiderman! With the evil pooch in the background.

And what little girl who owned a cat hasn't dressed up the cat and made them babies? Major used to put the kitty in the doll stroller when it was littler and stroll him around the house. Now Makenna dresses him up and lays him down for naps. Yes, he has a pillow, a blanket...and if you look closely you will see a panda being snuggled by the kitty. And the best part...the kitty lets her do it to him!!!

Oh the love of kitties and little girls!!!

The Sunday before school started I had a piano recital. I had only a few students during the summer, because people tend to take the summer off from just about everything. So, only three kids played at the recital. You can check out my piano blog too if you want...but I don't update it very often. It is www.pleasantlypiano.blogspot.com Here is Sam.

Here is Christian.

And finally, MaKenna.

We had a great, FULL, summer! The boys played LaCrosse....we did a lot of bowling, the zoo, trips to the library, the parks, the splashparks, the swimming pools, we played outside, we swam in our little pool in the backyard, we did sprinklers, we washed my truck, we went to the mall a few times, we went to Arizona, we rode horses, went fishing. went to baseball games (yes...we all went to one as a family...I may not like the sport anymore...but it IS America's favorite pasttime...we have to go at least once a year...and papa went with us to that one too!), we did A LOT...and we had TONS of fun!

We still have one more summer time trip planned...even though it is after school starts. It is the trip we do EVERY year since mom kicked it off a few years back. We go to Adventureland every September...so we will be doing that September 11th. The kids are looking forward to that trip!

Next post...first day of school! Don't miss it!!! Don't miss out on my giveaway blog posts too...lots of great stuff being given away! www.nebraskahockeymom.blogspot.com

More Summer Fun #2!

We had even more fun!!! On Membership Appreciation Day at the Zoo, I took all 7 kids...with Deana's help, to the zoo!! Because it was Membership Appreciation Day we got to do special things. We all rode the train for free...we got behind the scenes look at the Aquarium, the Giraffe Complex, and more. The kids really liked the Aquarium...because we got to go above the shark tank and watch them feed the sharks. Nehemiah, Deana's 2 year old, LOVES giraffes...so the Giraffe complex was a favorite for him. They also had lots of bouncies for the kids and other goodies! We had a great time...it was a bit of a warm day...but it could have been worse I suppose!!

Here is Deana, Nehemiah and Lydia on the train!!! We waited QUITE awhile to get on it...but the kids enjoyed it! Here is MaKenna, Brooke and Hannah. You can kinda see the top of Kayla's head in the back.

It is tradition for me to have all the kids sit on the giraffe for pictures and it worked out even more perfect since Nehemiah LOVES Giraffes! So here is Kayla.

Here is my Major.

Here is Gabriel.

Here is Jake!

Little Miss Hannah!

Brookie!

Lydia and Deana.

NEHEMIAH!!!!

MaKenna Lynn!

Shawn and Cam were "too big" to sit on the giraffe. Not really...they just wanted to be cool...and sitting on the giraffe was NOT cool! :-)

Here is a picture of 5 kids out of the 11 that we took!

Here is 9 out of the 11!!

MaKenna, Hannah and Nehemiah in front of Melman the Giraffe!

It was a fun day at the zoo!!!

As most of you know...I am pretty frugal and will look for deals wherever I can find them. Well...the zoo was free because we have a zoo pass....which is a lot at first, but when you split it throughout the year with all of our kids...we get a smokin' deal! We also got a bowling pass this year. Kids bowl free in the summer time...and for only $20 extra you can put 4 adults on their passes as well. I did me, my dad, Tini and Deana. $20 seems like a lot...but we went quite often so...again...smokin' deal! So...one day dad decided he would go with us. The kids LOVED having Papa there. Of course...Papa hasn't bowled since...oh, I don't know...since Reagan was president. He did pretty good though for not bowling in a long time!

Here is Shawn.

Here is Jake doing his spin. The kids actually got really good by the end of the summer!

Here is Cam and MaKenna. Now...MaKenna's bowl...though it did get faster by the end of the summer...you could still take the fingernail polish out and polish your nails while waiting for her ball to make it to the end.

Here's Papa!!

Kay-Kay...

Here is Brooke. Now, MaKenna, Major and Brooke always played with bumpers....but the older kids did not...and they still really did well. I always played with the younger group...the bumpers did help my score from time to time....

Here is MaKenna getting ready to throw the ball.

Here I am helping Major. They have little ramps for the kids...but he almost rathers do it the hard way!

More summer pictures to come!!!!!!!

Breast Cancer Awareness

GET THE FACTS...CLICK HERE!!!

As most of you know, I lost my mom to breast cancer only 18 months ago. Far too soon....she was just 61...far too young. Since she was diagnosed, it has been my personal mission to help others know about this disease and prevent it from happening. The first step is raising awareness. Do you know the facts? Do you know your body? What you know may save your life someday....

Susan G. Komen Update!

Hi all!!!! Just wanted to send a note to let you all know where Team Mama’s Family was in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure for Nebraska!!! First off…my sister is the number one earner in the state of Nebraska!!!! YIPPEE!!!!!!

Team Member

Rhonda Flanigan - $1,130.00
melody stark - $875.00
ConAgra Foods WLC - $675.00
Kristen Kelley - $536.20
kelley lanphier - $500.00

And our team is the number one team in the state of Nebraska!! WOOHOO!!! KEEP IT COMIN’!!! Thanks all of you for what you have done….signed up to race….donated….or prayer!!! You’re efforts have gotten us this far…I know we can go even further!!!!! THANKS FROM THE BOTTOM OF AN EVER GRATEFUL HEART!!!!!!

Top Teams by Division
Friends and Family

Mama's Family - $1,340.00
Jazzers for Julie - $675.00
KGBI/KCRO/Radio Luz - $561.20
Lanphier ladies - $500.00
Kellogg's For The Cure - $490.00

If you're interested in joining our team or donating, click here.

More summer fun!!

We had such fun! Almost every day we did something exciting and different. Or at least, I tried!! We did Laser Tag, the pool a couple different times, the park several times, the library a few times, the store a couple times...it just wore Major out!!!! Here he is with his big cousin Shawn. One day we went to SkateDaze! That is always fun!! I had to get in on the action too!!!

Shawn going through the tunnels.

I thought this was adorable. MaKenna, Major and Brooke! They looked out for Major in those tubes! It was so sweet!

Here is MaKenna doing what she loves to do most...ride horses...real or plastic! She don't care!

Race Car Driver Major!!

Coming off the bouncy, Brooke!

We did other things too!! I even got them hooked up at Boys Town to do research studies in their Audiology department. They were the control group...and they got paid $15 each time they went. I want to say each child got to go twice. So they made some money this summer too!!!

More to come.....

Some Summer Time Fun!

We had a ton of fun this summer. As many of you know I watched my sister's three kids as well all summer....so there were 7 kids at my house daily. They enjoyed the extra companionship...and I enjoyed that the kids always had playmates! Before the summer ended we did a few more fun things together. Like go to the pool with the Ramseys. Here is Major with his best bud Nehemiah! Here on the right end of the log is Shawn and Cam.

Here is another Major and Nehemiah.

Here is Kayla "teaching" the girls...Brooke, MaKenna and Hannah.

We also played outside A LOT! Many of you know I am a pretty good deal finder. I found this little firetruck for $2! It was a lot of fun for the kids!

I also found 3D art chalk! That kept ALL of them busy...INCLUDING Jeff for almost an entire day!!! I got that chalk kit for $1 each...I bought 3 of them!!

We also took an evening and took the Ramsey kiddos to the park with us while their mommy and daddy went out to dinner! Here is Lydia in the swing!!!

We had a great summer!! More to come!!!!!