Pre-K - 2nd - 8th

Back to school, back to school, back...to...school...

Tucker - 3 - 1st Year Preschool - Mrs. Mau

Mason - 7 - 2nd Grade - Mr. Mazour

Jentry - 13 - 8th Grade 

City Girls and Lake Boys

Jentry spent the majority of her summer in Sarasota, so I was more than excited to pick her up in Omaha and spend some quality one-on-one time. I may or may not have cried when she walked through security...tears of love and joy of course!

Since her flight came in on Saturday evening, we stayed the night in Lincoln and visited some of our favorite places from the past. 

Nine years have past since the two of us girls lived at 711 N 58th Street and we were only there a short while, but the memories made in that small brick ranch mean the world to me.

The Sunken Gardens were stunning and made for a very spiritual Sunday morning stroll.

We were also able to attend church at Christ Lutheran. Pastor Schnake was even there for Jentry to meet. I reminded him that he baptized this young lady 13 years ago to which he replied, "Looks like I did a great job."

We ate well and shopped the rest of the day away. It was fabulous!

Meanwhile, Nathan and the boys were living it up at the lake with the Hamiltons. Nathan bravely loaded the boys up on Friday and stayed three nights! I am sure the rules were a bit different without mom but they were safe, fed, and well entertained.

Papa's in the Band

At the end of July we were fortunate enough to attend Shickley Nebraska's celebration dedicating the completion of their 50 Flags Veterans Memorial.

It was a hot summer night but the food was tasty, the company friendly, the memorial impactful and the music fantastic.  

Boo and the Boys put out some groovy tunes after a decade of retirement and I had not one, not two, but three handsome McKenzie boys to dance the night away.

Oh and did I mention we have a inside with the keyboardist and back-up vocalist? 

Around here he goes by Papa John.

Mullets and Missing Teeth

In one week's time Mason lost a front tooth and the mullet he had been growing all summer long. 

I told him the decision to cut or not cut the mullet was entirely up to him. He was going to rock it into 2nd grade but made a last minute decision to chop the hair as he sat down in the salon chair. I think he was tired of the heat and his mother combing out the tangles. 

Quite the transformation! 

Simple Things

We were planning to actually stay home one weekend this summer until one of my besties messaged on Friday and asked, "lake day?"

At first I was hesitant as I was really looking forward to staying put and catching up, however the forecast looked perfect it might be our only opportunity before school started again.

So YES to another fabulous weekend at North Cove! I have yet to have a bad experience there.

It required the sun to literally set before the boys were convinced that it was time to get out of the water.

When Lindsay messaged to thank us for the day she said, "I need to remember that the simplest things in life are often the best."

What a fabulous summer day with friends. I'm so glad we made it happen!

New Traditions

This year we gave up our tradition of an annual gathering at Medicine Creek Reservoir, however we continued the family gathering at the Harlan County Reservoir. 

Some things were different and we missed them...some things were new and we loved them!

Swimming at our "private" beach.

Glowstick campfire

Festive fruit pizza - #Annamadeit

Boxing gloves curtesy of Uncle Chad. 

Slip-n-slid Spectacular

Where did Papa go?

 

All eleven of us fit on Papa's Cobalt!

Dinner with a view!

Hot Tub Sunsets

What a crew!