The Bachelorette

I celebrated the last days of my bachelorette lifestyle this weekend in Lincoln with wonderful friends and family.  This really seems quite silly to me because, I haven't felt like a bachelorette in years.  Well, approximately fives years to be exact because of the whole being a mother and all.

The weekend began with an adventure on the back roads of central Nebraska.  I dropped Jentry off with her dad in Heartwell and thought I would live a little on the wild side.  I risked it on some uncharted territory north to the interstate.  After listening to my phone give me some wild directions, a few winding dirt roads, and a brief stop on the side of the road to... actually I will spare you the details.... I eventually ended up at the Gibbon interchange of I80.  Whew!  It was exhilarating to feel reckless and free for a while, however it sure felt good to get back to some familiar sights. 

When I arrived in Lincoln, I met Nathan's mother and she took me out to a wonderful dinner at Shogun.  We had a great time eating sushi and drinking wine.  Saturday morning, I met up with two of my besties for brunch and did a little shopping.  For lunch I met my mom and sister and we did a little more shopping.  So far, this weekend was everything a girl could ask for in life.

Saturday afternoon, my sister, mother, bridesmaids and soon to be mother-in-law hosted a fabulous bridal shower.  It was so fun to see all my Lincoln friends and I was blessed with very generous gifts. 

After the shower, we all moved to The Green Gateau for outstanding cuisine and girl talk.  After many laughs, reminiscing and some roasting at my expense, we walked around the block to The Alley for a night cap.  There was a very fun band playing called Red Delicious.  It has been a while, but I have to admit that it felt good to dance the night away. 

It was the perfect weekend and I so enjoyed the time with everyone, however I was very happy to be able to come home to my fiance and baby girl.  A very small part of me was sad to think that the "single" portion of my life was over, however I am very thankful to have my daughter and soon to be husband in my life.  The bachelorette days were great days, but I would much rather share my days with those that I love. 

Doin' Things

We have been doing all kinds of things this past week.

Like....

Making Aunt Jemima, hat, creations out of blankets.  Jentry insisted on wearing her hat to the park, while pushing her "baby and kid" in the doll stroller.

Trying not to "step in the chocolate" on our evening walk.

Learning about Fire Safety with a trip to the fire station during preschool.  Jentry got her very own PINK fire helmet and wore it to bed that night.  OK, so not really, but I'm sure she would have if I had let her.  She did, however, wear it to the volleyball game that night.  It was Pink-Out Night for breast cancer awareness, so she fit right in with the crowd.

Cheering on the Fillies with Jentry's friends Isabella and Avery.  Take note of the Isabella and Jentry's shirt ties in the back.  Jentry asked me to tie her shirt with a hair tie before we left to the game.  Apparently, this is a new fad that this old mom knows nothing about, because Isabella had the same thing!  Jentry has also been wearing her pants rolled up above the knee. I had no idea the fashion trends would start at such a young age.

Carving pumpkins!  Jentry chose this lovely minx.  She gutted the pumpkin herself and carved it with just a little help from her mother.

Nathan, of course, chose this very tuff and scary, crossbones skull.

And loads of adorable laundry!



Combine Ride

Because Papa was much too efficient this harvest, Jentry had to find a fill-in Papa to take her for a combine ride.  Nathan actually came up with the idea and coordinated a ride for Jentry and me yesterday afternoon.  He asked one of his long time customers and family friend, Neal Carpenter, if he would be so kind to give Jentry a combine ride.  Being a grandpa of many, he immediately said, "Absolutely!"  We met up with Nathan, he took us out to the field and we climbed up into the cab.

It was a gorgeous, fall day.  I might have been just as excited as Jentry about the ride, because Papa's combine fills up quickly with his three grandchildren and I hardly ever get to go along anymore.  A few weeks ago, Jentry wrote a letter to my nephew, Isaac, and said that she was hoping to come ride with him in Papa's combine.  My sister said he that when she read him the letter he started crying.  I was thinking it was so sweet that he loved his cousin so much, however this was not at all why he was crying.  Apparently, he did not want to have to share the combine with Jentry.  "There is not room for both of us and I am NOT standing!"  What a stink!  Luckily, it was just Jentry and me on this special ride and she still wants to sit on mom's lap.

Jentry was a bit shy at first, but she quickly warmed up to Neal.  He gave her the job of pushing the yellow button to start the flow of corn into the grain wagon, which Jentry thought was way cool and she didn't even spill any on the ground.

In the field we saw a deer, a rabbit and a very plump raccoon.  Jentry thought this was all very interesting and even claims that the deer had a black tail!  When Nathan came back to pick us up, Jentry had to tell him all about our ride.  He wasn't sure what to believe..."A black, deer tail, really?"

I think Neal was happy to have someone to talk to for a change.  With all of the technology and auto-steer equipment, I think farmers are getting a bit bored.  I am not sure if my dad would admit to this or not, however he does often call me just to chat, while driving the combine.  I don't think this is just a coincidence.

Thank you Nathan and Neal for a very special afternoon in Corn Country!

Women and Children Only

The guys all headed east to Lincoln on Friday.  Nathan had an entire weekend of events planned to celebrate his last days of bachelorhood, and all the women and children were left in Orleans.  Most would find this somewhat unfair, however we had a wonderful time. 

First on the agenda...eat out! Friday evening, my mother, sister and her two chillins met Jentry and me at the Gourmet Grill in Holdrege for supper.  Surprisingly, the kiddos really like Chinese and I got my fix for a while. 

Anna loves to play with iPhones, so of course we had to have a brief photo shoot.  She is talking so much more than the last time I saw her.  Love, love little Anna Jean!

Saturday morning, we were up early to get ready for the Pork Days Parade in Stamford.  The kids collected entirely too much candy and we ate lunch on bustling, main street.  Well, it seemed bustling compared to the typical population of 183 people.  The parade lasted about an hour, which I thought was really impressive for such a small community.

Go Big Red!

Geesh people...can't you see that we need sunglasses.

Anna licking her lips after some amazing kettle corn!

After lunch, we headed home for naps and got to spend some time visiting with my Aunt Sonja and Uncle Bob.  We drove back to Stamford for supper, which was pork sandwiches....obviously for Pork Days.  The theme this year was "Remember When", so we also got to enjoy a very neat style show that featured four generations of wedding dresses from my family.

Saturday night, Nebraska played Wisconsin and during halftime of the game, we decided it best to give the little ones a good scubbin'. 

Isaac: "Anna it's my turn.  You need to get out now."

Two very silly fish.

Sunday afternoon, we went to the pumpkin patch for pumpkins, a hay rack ride and carmel corn. 

Isaac choose a lovely, medium size, orange pumpkin.

Anna choose two, small, wonderful, white pumpkins.

Jentry choose one large orange pumpkin, a medium orange pumpkin and one small white pumpkin.  The girl likes variety, or maybe she just is indecisive and wants it all. 

Last Sunday afternoon, Jentry and I headed back east and met Papa in Minden for an ice cream treat.  The drive was beautiful with all of the fall leaves.  We played "I spy" combines and counted seven all together.  

The ladies had a fantastic weekend without the men but are very much looking forward to a women only weekend very soon.

My Rapunzel

"Mom, when am I going to have long hair?" 

I get this question almost every other day and it is usually followed by "Some people think I'm a boy."  Jentry is absolutely obsessed with long hair.  She wants to have long hair like all of her friends and all of the princesses.  Unfortunately, with her genetic disorder, Ectodermal Dysplasia, she will most likely never have long hair.  One of the symptoms is thin, sparse hair, however it varies in each individual case.

I usually respond to her question with "Whenever God wants you to have long hair."  I know that my answer will only satisfy her for so long.  I know that teasing will take place and tears will be shed, but I also have faith that my little girl, with her HUGE personality, will embrace her differences and learn to love her short, funky hair.

Lately, she has been putting blankets on her head and "betending" to have long hair.  Last night she went for the really big blanket!  When seeing her I said, "Oh Jentry, you look beautiful!"  To which she very seriously replied, "I'm not Jentry, I'm Rapunzel."

She is and always will be my beautiful princess no matter what length her hair.

Is It Weird? Volume III

Is it weird that my four-year-old daughter....

Has to put on deodorant every morning?

Has sausage with syrup for breakfast everyday?

Does not like potatoes?

Has to rinse her mouth exactly four times when she brushes her teeth?

Uses her favorite word, "Booty" every chance she gets?

Doesn't like any of her clothes because she doesn't think they make her look like a mom?

Is obsessed with police men, cops and jail?

Gets mad when I don't wake her up early in the morning?

Loves to perform on stage (i.e. the fireplace hearth)?

Thinks we need more people at the dinner table because there is an extra chair?

Asks if God is the boss of her mom?

Has to give her mom a hug and a kiss every time she leaves her anywhere?  (Mom loves this!)

Thinks we need a garage so that birds will stop pooping on our car?

Only uses her favorite orange plate on "stay home days" (i.e. Saturday and Sunday)?

Sings the same song every time she takes a bath...."Dub dub dub, duba duba dub"?

Continuously puts her feet in Nathan's face and says, "Smell my feet."?

Has a checklist of all the things she will need on the wedding day?  Dress, check; shoes, check; eye shadow, check; lipstick, check; headband, check; flowers, check; ring, check.

Asks if someone her size can come play at her house almost every day?

Thinks that she can't be a princess for Halloween because she doesn't have long hair?

Can not wait until she can ride the bus to school?

Loves to go for a run with her mom in her "running shoes"? 

Wants her mom to sing her a song she has never heard before every night at bedtime?

Looks like she ready for sixth grade in her preschool picture?

OK, so maybe her mother is the only one who thinks she looks much too grown up.

Panty Painting

Wednesday, Jentry came home from daycare and said, "Mom, I want to paint."  Not wanting to be the mother that hinders her child's artistic desires because of the possibility of a mess, I said, "Sure!"  However, I did make her take off her clothes.

Jentry takes her art very seriously.

OK, so not really.

Well, Hello Kitty!