My Three Favorite Kiddos

Last Sunday, my Bose cousins from Texas were coming to meet me and my sister for brunch in Lincoln.  I decided to travel to Lincoln on Saturday so that I could take three of the cutest kids ever to the Children's Museum.  I have not had much time with my niece and nephew since I moved, and it was so much fun to spend the day with them.  I think my brother-in-law was more than excited to have some free time too.  He has been Mr. Mom since they decided not to send the kids to daycare this summer.  My sister has been working a ton and on her only day off I confiscated her to go wedding dress shopping.  In all sincerity, Chad is one of the best dads I have ever known.

We arrived at the museum around 3:00 and the kids were more than ready to go hit the play zone!

 CHEESE!

Somehow, Isaac and Jentry talked Anna into playing their patient.

If this is what the medical industry is coming to, we should all be very very afraid.

After the museum, I called Chad and Kelly and told them to go out to dinner somewhere nice.  I asked the kids where they wanted to eat and after a long debate between McDonalds and Runza they finally came to a compromise with Burger King. 

I had so much fun with these little blessings.  I did my best to simply soak up the moment, because they won't stay little for long. 

Pool Rats

Jentry and I have spent a lot of time at the pool this summer.  Due to the ridiculously hot summer we have been having, we have occupied the water almost every evening for the past month!  I keep reminding Jentry that she is one, lucky, little girl to be able to go to the pool so often.  She is pretty much oblivious to the idea that going to the pool everyday is not the norm. 

I am so amazed at how much her swim skills have improved this summer.  After two days of me holding and catching her in the deeper water, she was tired of needing mom's help.  She wanted to be like the other kids and be able to just go by herself.  I purchased her a life jacket and that was the beginning of the end of needing mom.  I have to admit the life jacket has really forced her to learn to swim much faster than having me to rely upon.  I am very proud of how far she has come along, however it is also a bit crazy to think that I am already one of "those" moms who just sits on the side of pool catching a tan.  How did that happen? 

I regress.  Jentry's latest accomplishment was the diving board.  She was a bit hesitant at first, but once she finally jumped there was no stopping her.  She loved it!  I am so proud of my brave, little fish.

Sunday Fun Day

For once we didn't have any plans on Sunday!  It was so nice to be able relax with absolutely no agenda.  However, Nathan might argue that his Saturday "Honey Do List" well made up for the lack of chores on Sunday.

We started the day with cinnamon rolls and then cleaned up for church.  After church, Jentry and I made our very first homemade pizza for lunch.  She has been begging me to do this for a long time and I have to admit that I have been putting it off because I really didn't know how to make a pizza.  I did a little Google research and somehow we came up with this.

Our version of meat lovers, which turned out more like a sauce lovers.  Next time I think I will lay off the sauce a bit. Ha! Jentry had a blast adding all the toppings.  She wasn't sure if she was going to like the pepperoni.  "Is it spicy, mom?"  After I assured her that it was not too spicy, she had me get her a chaser of milk and finally tried one.  "Oh, it kinda tastes like a meat stick. Yum!"

After lunch, we headed to the golf course to meet up with the McKenzies.  Jentry brought along her own set of clubs and had a blast.  She knows much more about golf than I do now and she is probably better at it too.  So far she has me beat ,because I have never even swung a club.  Nathan might actually have a chance convincing her to play with him. 

It was a beautiful, restful, sabbath day just as He intended it to be.

A 4th To Remember

Yesterday was the 4th of July and a day I will forever remember.  It was the day that my Nathan, my best friend, asked me to marry him. 

The day began at 6:30 AM, on my only day off mind you, because Nathan had to scout some fields.  I have always thought it would be fun to ride along and actually see first hand what he does, however I really didn't have in mind a day when I actually had a chance to sleep in.  Because I love him and the fact that he guilted me into going, I got up, put some old clothes on, through my hair up and out the door we went.  It was actually still cool enough outside that it wasn't miserable at all and I had a lot of fun.  We basically did a lot of off-roading on the four wheeler and I asked a ton of annoying questions about corn and bugs. 

Nathan was nice enough to drop me off at home around 10:00 so that I could get my workout in before it got too hot.  When he got home for lunch, I was sweaty and exhausted and just wanted to sit in the air conditioning forever.  The poor guy even had to heat up leftovers for himself, because I was being so lazy.  Looking back this behavior was not exactly screaming marry me!  A good wife would have at least heated up the leftovers for him. 

After lunch we did a few things around the house, and then Nathan hung our new flag pole on the front porch.  We had been meaning to put it up for some time, and I demanded that it be done for the 4th of July.  As always, Nathan didn't complained.  He did just as I asked him to do.  I am very lucky to have him.

We had been invited to a friend's house for a barbecue that evening and I was responsible for bringing an appetizer.  I wanted to make something different, so I found a recipe for fruit salsa with homemade cinnamon chips.  Nathan asked me if I wanted his help and I said he didn't have to if he didn't want to, but after a few minutes of me in the kitchen he appeared and I was thankful that he did.  He prepared and baked the chips while I mixed up the salsa.  I remember thinking, we really do make a great team.

We cleaned up, hopped in the truck and headed west on highway six.  I had never been out to our friend's house before, so I really didn't know where we were supposed to be going.  When we got to highway 14, I asked Nathan where they lived and he said that he was going to stop out at his parents place first.  This was not unusual at all, so I thought nothing of it.  When he turned down the field road instead of the driveway, my mind started to wonder but still this was not totally uncommon behavior for Nathan.  Then when he kept driving farther and farther away from the house and the road I finally said, "Where are we going?"  He calmly responded that he had found something out in the field the other day and that he wanted to show me.  It was then that I was finally realizing this could be it!  The moment I have so patiently, and sometimes not so patiently, been waiting to transpire.  I knew right where he was taking me.  He was driving me out the pond. 

When Nathan and I first started dating, I came to Sutton and we spent the day riding four wheelers.  He took me out to a pond near his parents' house to show me a big fish he had been trying to catch.  He used corn and mulberries to bait the fish to the edge so that I could see it.  I remember that day very vividly.  I adored his golden curls sticking out from his hat in the sun and his tan skin.  I remember how quiet and patient he was and how at peace I felt in that moment.  I just knew that this relationship was different from all the others.  I was certain that something incredible was in the making.  Many months ago, I had told Nathan about that moment and how it stood out in my mind.  Well, he must have really been listening, because he wanted to take me back to that very place. 

When we got out of the truck, he helped me jump over a puddle of water and we walked up to the edge of the water.  I was really hoping that he was going to get down on one knee at that point.  If he had brought me all the way out there in the heat and my dress clothes to look at some stupid fish, I was going to be very disappointed.  Very disappointed to say the least! 

He was nervous and a bit shaky as he began a heartfelt speech about how much he loved me and Jentry and then got down on one knee.  I will never forget that moment.  When he opened the ring box I was taken away by how beautiful the ring was shining in the sun.  I said, "YES!  Absolutely YES!"

We spent the rest of the night sharing our exciting news with family and friends.  I, of course, called my mother right away.  She said congrats and to let her know when we had decided on a date so that she could plan her vacation.  Too funny... this is so my mother.  When I called my sister, she didn't answer!  What could have possibly been more important than me at that moment?  When I finally spoke with her, she said Isaac was really excited when he realized that it was Nathan I was going to marry.  I just love that kid.

As we drove back into town watching all the fireworks in the night sky and a beautiful orange moon coming up over the corn fields, I could not help but to take a moment and thank God for giving me a man who not only loves me but also loves my daughter with all his heart.  I have never been happier!

The Future Mrs. McKenzie

I chose a blue diamond because my father gave my mother one 37 years ago and they are still happily married.

Camping at Harlan

While Jentry was celebrating yet another birthday party with her dad, Nathan and I took the opportunity to take an adult camping trip at the Harlan County Lake.  It was very hot, but we had a great time.

Our friends Craig and Amy came along and braved the heat and wind in their tent. 

We spent three days fishing, floating and relaxing.  It was fabulous!  We also got to spend some quality time with my family, which was icing on the cake. You just can't beat a little time back in God's country. 



A Barbie Birthday Party

Jentry has been talking about a Barbie birthday party for six months, so I had no choice but to make it happen.  I decided that it would be best to invite a few girls from Sutton that are Jentry's age instead of making family travel during a busy summer to celebrate with Barbies.  I convinced Jentry that a girls only party would be fun and that boys were not allowed.  I think everyone thought the girls only Barbie party was a great idea.  Everyone except my nephew Isaac who had been waiting the entire month of June to celebrate Jentry's birthday. 

We started by sending out invitations to eight girls in town.  Jentry had so much fun putting a Barbie sticker on each card and carefully tucking them inside the pink envelope.  She then sealed each one with another Barbie sticker. 

Next we put together gift boxes for her friends to take home.  It took quite a bit of convincing to get Jentry to accept that she could not keep one. 

I decided to take a stab at making a Barbie cake and it actually turned out pretty good.  I still remember my doll cakes from Grandma Bose.  Every girl should have a doll cake at least once in her life.

I put up a few decorations to make it feel like a real party.

The morning of the party, I let Jentry open an early birthday present.  I had found a Barbie cheerleader dress with a matching dress for her Barbie.  I thought it would be perfect attire for her special day.

Jentry received many very cool gifts.  Her Barbie inventory increased drastically.

Thank goodness Jan was there to help me.  I don't know what I would have done without her!  Both she and my mother informed me of the age rule.  Apparently, you are only supposed to invite as many children as the age of the birthday child.  I doubled that number by inviting eight girls.  Where was their wonderful advice when I was sending out invitations?  Jan spent half of the party removing Barbies and pieces from boxes.  Why a doll must be sealed in a box like Fort Knox, I will never understand.

Even though the temperature was over 100 degrees that day, the girls did play on the porch for awhile.

I was so busy refereeing the girls, I almost didn't get a picture of the birthday girl blowing out her candles.  I was at least able to quickly snap this one.

It was an absolutely crazy evening, and I don't think I will do such a large party again.  At least not without more adult assistance, however Jentry had a great time and that made it all worthwhile.  She also got to have one of the girls stay for a sleepover.  They talked for a while but eventually went to sleep.  I just can not believe how big she is getting.  I am sure there will be many more parties and sleepovers, but I will forever remember my little Jentry's Barbie birthday party.  I wonder if she will too?