Sunken Gardens

I took Jentry to the Sunken Gardens for the first time this week.  The Sunken Gardens is 1.5 acres located in the middle of Lincoln and features an annual floral display that consists of over 30,000 individual annual plants which are redesigned to a different theme each year.  The theme for 2011 is "Somewhere Over the Rainbow." 

In my mind I thought Jentry and I would take a peaceful, evening stroll through the flowers and I would capture beautiful pictures of my little angel with a colorful backdrop.  In reality, Jentry spent most of her time running away from me like a crazy person, hiding in the foliage and throwing rocks!  I guess it was a little silly of me to think a three-year-old would pose elegantly in front of the flowers while her perfectionist mother took a gazillion photos of her.  However, I was able to snap a few shots that somewhat salvaged my idealistic view of our evening adventure.

See my gum!

Who needs walking paths?

Where is that little girl's mother? She is going to fall!

Hurry up mom!

Where is that lady's (statue's) clothes?

Family, Flights and Football

This past weekend was absolutely packed with all kinds of fun!

Friday:  Sports Day at Daycare

Jentry finally got to wear the Husker T-shirt Nathan bought her for Christmas last year. "I'm Little but I'm Proud Go Big Red"

Jentry practicing her cheering moves.

Saturday: Air Show at Lincoln's very own Air Park

Since last year, Papa has been promising that he would take airplane, fanatic Isaac to see the Blue Angels. Saturday was finally the day!  Papa, Grandma and the Hamilton fam went early Saturday morning for an entire day of aviation amusement.  Nathan, Jentry and I did not think we needed quite so many hours of neck straining entertainment, so we arrived after lunch.

Papa and Jentry watching the A-10 Thunderbolt (Warthog) perform.



After just a few hours, Jentry could not stand the excitement!  She fell asleep on Grandma's lap.

Anna, our little knee biter (according to Nathan), had fun running around and attempting to escape in the crowd.

Isaac sat in amazement on Grandma Hamilton's lap.

Saturday Evening: Game Time

Papa, Grandma, Nathan and I went to Memorial Stadium to watch the Huskers play while my very gracious sister and brother-in-law watched all of the kiddos at my house.  I don't think Chad was too excited about the scenario; however my cable package provides the Big Ten Network, which Chad does not have, so he unwillingly agreed.  All three children were bathed and out cold on the floor of my living room when we finally arrived home.  Nathan said it looked like a war zone, but I thought it looked wonderful!  There is just nothing better than quiet, sleeping children.

Sunday: Family Fun... minus a meltdown

For lunch we grilled at the Hamilton's and the cousins enjoyed another day of "hard at it" play. By the time my parents were ready to head home, Jentry was beyond tired and was beginning to be quite naughty.  Sure enough, she had a full blown meltdown for all to see.  After a screaming ride home and several minutes in "think time,"  Jentry finally gave in and quieted long enough to come out of her room.  I think she only saw the first five minutes of the TV show "Team Umizoomi" and she was out for a much needed nap. 

Sunday Evening: Picnic supper and a troll around Holmes Lake

Thanks to my sister for planting the wonderful idea in my head, Jentry and I spent the evening at the park beside Holmes Lake, here in Lincoln.  It is actually not that far from our house.  We grabbed some sandwiches for a quick and easy supper.  I explained to Jentry that we could just eat our supper outside by the lake.  Being the smart girl that she is, she quickly said "but we will have to find a table and chairs."  After supper on a picnic table,  Jentry played on the playground while I sat and watched.  Finally I was one of those mothers that I have been envying for three years.  You know, the one that gets to sit back and read a book while her child entertains herself for hours without getting hurt.

We had a wonderful time enjoying the beautiful September weather.  We also took a troll along the water at sunset.  Such an easy, free activity and Jentry had a blast.  I am not sure why I have not thought of going to the lake before now.  I guess it is truly the simple things in life.

Triumph in the Hamster Cage

Last night I went to get my hair cut, and I brought Jentry along.  I promised her that if she was a really good girl we could go out to eat afterwords and that she could pick the restaurant.  Of course, she wanted to go to "Old McDonald's."  After eating all of her kids meal, I allowed her to play in the kidz zone for a while.  She really wanted to go down the big, blue, twisting slide.  However, the only way to get to the top was to climb up these very tall, triangle steps.  The first step came all the way up to her chest and she said, "I can't do it mom!"  I encouraged her to at least try.  She wanted me to come help her, but it was too small for me to even attempt.  Never mind the fact that there was no way I was going to climb into that germ infested bacteria haven! 

Jentry climbed back out with a very disappointed look on her face.  Then a little girl, probably around five years of age, whisked right past us and climbed up the stairs like a monkey.  Jentry watched her every move in amazement.  When the girl come down the blue slide, Jentry couldn't take it anymore.  She had to give it another try.  The little girl very patiently showed Jentry how to climb each stair.  Jentry slowly pulled herself up with her arms, swung her leg up and rolled her body onto each step.  When they reached the top, Jentry looked down at me with the biggest smile and said, "I did it mom!"  Then they disappeared in to the tunnels.  Next thing I could see was Jentry coming out the slide.  I was so proud of her.  She had conquered what she originally thought could not be done.  All it took was a little encouragement and a little girl named Molly to show her the way.

Jentry making it to the third stair!

On the way home, our conversation went something like this:

Me: You climbed all the way to the top.  I am so proud of you Jentry Bug.
Jentry: I am not a bug!  Bugs are not Jentrys!
Me: (Trying not to laugh)  You are right, you are not a bug.
Jentry: It is not funny!
Me: (Now really trying not to laugh) I'm sorry you're right, it is not funny.   Mommy just likes to call you Jentry Bug sometimes, as a nickname.  It does not mean that you are really a bug.

Weekend at Grandma's

Last weekend Jentry got to stay at Grandma and Papa's house by herself for the very first time.  She was very excited and seemed to have no problem with the idea of mom being somewhere else.  I even read her the The Berenstain Bears and The Week at Grandma's to prepare, but I really don't think my little miss independent needed any encouragement.  She was more than ready to go and had her suitcase packed with her clothes, bathroom supplies, swimming suit, stuffed elephant, snugglie...you know, the big girl essentials.

Jentry's schedule of activities varied slightly from Brother and Sister Bear's.  First she got to ride along with Papa and helped chopped silage.  Then she got to drive the boat and go swimming at the lake.  Papa and Grandma said she was a little angel the entire time and went to sleep like such a big girl.  At first, I was slightly annoyed that she behaved so well for them, but then I realized that this truly was a good thing for me.  Now they may offer to take her again sometime! 

I spent the weekend in Sutton helping Nathan and his parents with Field Day.  Every August they host a customer appreciation lunch for their clients.  Jan prepared all of the food herself and did an amazing job.  They cooked 54 racks of baby back ribs that were fall off the bone fabulous.  Jan's ribs are famous throughout the entire county.  Altogether they severed around 75 people.   I was supposed to be there to help, but I really did not have to do much work at all.  The McKenzie's have established an extremely organized system that made the day flow amazingly well.  It was fun to chat with all of the farmers and meet some faces that go with the names I have heard so much about in the last year. 

Grandma and Papa brought Jentry back to me in Sutton.  Nathan gave them a tour of his house and then took them to see the sites in town.  After a quick ten minute roll through town, they had seen it all so we went out to John and Jan's for yet another amazing meal.  In summary, the weekend was a huge success for everyone.

Runner-Ups to Champions!

Everyone in Sutton knows that the first weekend in August is the Travis Carpenter Memorial Softball Tournament.  Travis Carpenter was the son of Neal and Terry Carpenter who live just a few miles down the road from Nathan's parents.  Travis was killed in a car accident on November 22, 2001 at the age of 26 years.  The co-ed softball tournament was organized in his memory.  This is a weekend of play that benefits local organizations and a scholarship fund given to local graduating students.

John and Jan have sponsored a team each year since the tournament originated in 2003.  Nathan, being an avid baseball player in high school, loved the idea of compiling a team of friends. The first few years of play, the team was named Team McKenzie.  However, after six years of earning the runner-up title, the team changed its name to The Runner-Ups. Finally, after nine years of participating, the team won the champion title. 

Neal Carpenter congratulating Nathan

Terry Carpenter giving the champion plaque to Nathan. 

(This picture was taken by The Clay County News.)

Nathan looking excited!

I had so much fun socializing with the Suttonites and watching a ton of softball.   John says I must be the good luck charm, however I ended up costing him some money because now he will have to get new shirts made.  Being able to witness the big win was a great ending to a fabulous weekend. 

Mom - 1 : Toddler - 0

During dinner last night Jentry was being a little too silly and thought that it was funny to spit at me.  I told her that it was not nice to spit and warned her that if she spit again she would have to sit in timeout.  Of course, she smiled her devilish smile and spit one more time.  She had to test whether or not mom would actually follow through, right? 

I sat her in the timeout chair and told her that she could get up when she was ready to tell me that she was sorry for spitting and that she would not do it again.  As I turned to walk away, she immediately started crying and stood up from the chair.  I did as supper nanny suggests and continued to silently place her back on the chair, but she screamed and followed me out of the room every time.  After several attempts and more screaming than crying, I decided that the tactic was simply not working with this "special" toddler.  Next, I warned Jentry that if she did not stay on the chair I would spank her.  She looked a little more fearful now, but needless to say the spanking didn't even phase her.  Finally, I pulled out the big guns and warned her that if she could not stay in the timeout chair then I would lock her in her room until she was ready to apologize.  This sent her into a full blow meltdown!

She cried and screamed for five minutes and then I went to check on her.  She had crawled underneath her bed and was throwing her self around.  I told her that when she was ready to act like a big girl she could come out and apologize.  This time I left the door open and walked away.  I kept myself busy in the kitchen while she continued to cry for forty more minutes.  Then there was absolute silence from her room.  I went to see what she was into this time and this is what I found.........

She had exhausted herself so much during her tantrum that she fell asleep, under her bed, on the hardwood floor.  It was definitely a battle of the wills, but in the end mom won!

Disclaimer: Jenry might possibly have inherited this stubborn ability from her mother, but nothing has been scientifically proven at this point.

Sutton

Last weekend I took Jentry to Sutton for a night.  When we arrived on Friday evening, Jentry thought it was great fun to run in circles through Nathan's very large, old house.  She loved to hear the pounding of her feet on the hardwood floor echoing throughout the house.  I showed Jentry the room were she would be sleeping and set up her fan, radio, nightlight, books, blanket, snugglie, practically anything that would help her sleep well.  I was really worried that she would not sleep in a room by herself in a strange place.  

Next we stopped by the Fox Hollow Golf Course (AKA Nathan's second home) to say hello to the McKenzies who had just finished a round of golf.  Jan took Jentry for a walk to see the beautiful fountain.  

We then headed to the Smith's house for supper.  Nathan's classmates, Blake and Monica Smith, have three children; Avery (3), Julie (2) and AJ (5 months).  Monica and I have been trying to arrange a time for the kids to get together for awhile and finally we made it happen.  We, actually Nathan and Monica, grilled wonderful food and the kids had a great time playing.  Jentry loved their "bouncy thing" which to everyone else is simply a trampoline.  By the time we made it back to Nathan's, Jentry was exhausted and went to bed better than she ever has at home.  She even slept in until 8:00 the next morning!  I guess her crazy mother didn't really need to pack her entire room in a suitcase.  Oh well!

Saturday morning we went to John and Jan's house.  Jan was canning pickles when we arrived, so Jentry got in on the fun and the secret to the best pickles in Clay County!  John let Jentry drive the forklift again while Jan prepared us a yummy lunch. 

After lunch Jentry and I headed to the pool.  Sutton has an amazing, fairly new, aquatic center. 

 Jentry had so much fun.  I even took her down the slide several times.  She could not get enough.  I was holding her on my lap until Jentry's new friends, Avery and Julie, arrived.  This was definitely not their first trip to the pool and their awesome mother let them go down by themselves!  Of course, Jentry then wanted to go by herself too.  I hesitantly let her walk up the extremely tall stairs with Avery and Julie.  They all seemed so little and looked like ants on the top of the soaring platform.  Monica assured me that the lifeguard at the top would let us know when they were coming down so that we could catch them.  Everything went great on the first two trips, but on the third trip down, Jentry somehow got turned around and was coming out head first on her tummy like a bullet.  I reached out to catch her, but she flew through my hands like a stick of butter!  She went flying several feet past me and did a somersault under the water.  When I frantically pulled her up out of the water, her eyes were the size of lemons and she said, "You were supposed to catch me!"  I thought for sure that would be the end of the slide, but to my surprise she followed her friends right back up the stairs for another go. 

After swimming we all enjoyed a dish of ice cream from the Sweet Treat which was conveniently located across the street from the pool.  After an afternoon of swimming and a belly full of ice cream, Jentry was asleep in her car seat before I was finished pumping gas into the car on our way out of town.  We had a wonderful day in Sutton and look forward to spending more time there in the future.