Summer so Far...

WHERE has summer gone? 

I've been working less (hours were cut for the summer), but it SURE doesn't feel like it!  These kids (both my own  AND the Summer Work Experience) are keeping me plenty busy!

On a side note:  The Summer Work Experience program is awesome sauce! 

For those of you who shop and/or donate to Goodwill, no matter WHERE you are, THANK YOU! 
You are the ones helping fund wonderful programs that truly impact the lives of people!

I am feeling very grateful for my job and family this evening! 

The kids (I am working with), wanted to do the Harlem Shake.  I told them I would make it happen, ONCE each of them landed an interview.  (at which point, I quickly made sure it was okay with my boss and Goodwill marketing)  :)

THIS was the result!  
*love*gratitude*goodwill*


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-Jen

Blissful Day

 

Blissful.  That is what my Mother's Day was...blissful!

The kids spent the night at my brother and sister-in-laws house, so Rod and I could spend some time together, sleep in and basically get all the things done that we can't with Liam running around!  :)

 

The first was getting the pond up and running: CHECK

 

The second was helping Rod build two raised vegetable beds for our garden. (I use help loosely, since all I did was hold wood)  ha ha

 

 

I have all THESE guys waiting to plant...running out of space in the house.  Maybe there will be a greenhouse in my future for next year (it sure would be helpful).

 

 

We picked the kiddos up on Saturday, enjoyed the beautiful weather and family on Sunday (even though Rod was still finishing up the raised beds. 

I will post more pictures of the raised beds when the second one is complete.  I've since planted in the first one, and made the path between them (thick layer of cardboard, covered with straw and then mulch).  They. Are. A-Mazing!

 

Speaking of A-Mazing:

This was pretty much my Mother's Day.

Feeling loved, blessed and HAPPY!

:)

Be a Part of Something Big!

Be a part of something big!

Run Baby Run

The post title actually sounds great...almost as if I've been consistent with my running. That, however, is not the case. This weather, among other things, has me down! For those of you NOT in Nebraska, it snowed earlier this week and has just been plain COLD!  This weekend is suppose to be better.  Thank Goodness!  We could all use a lil sunshine!


Here are some pictures from the runs I did over the past month!

 

Totally Rad 80's 5K

(which ended up not being a full 5K, race organizer FAIL)

It was LOADS of fun though!

 

Leprechaun Chase 10K  Woo Hoo

(Hilly of road course... it was good in the ouch kind of way)

 

Then and Now...

This was THEN: Prom, May 1997.

and this is NOW :)

Life is Grand

Repeatedly, my shortcomings as a blogger are addressed here.  Alas, I have come to the conclusion that Life is Grand and we are one busy family, so this blog is a bit of an afterthought these days! 

SO many good things are happening.  I am switching roles at work, there is still a lot of uncertainty, as with all grant-funded, non-profit jobs, but I have never been so FULFILLED!  I am confident things will work out.  (I am crossing my fingers that my position will be full-time in the fall)

The kids are GROWING like weeds!  Baby is almost 18 months and will be transitioning from the Infant House to the Montessori Toddler House during the first week of May.
He fell asleep on his Papa's lap and just looked so big and un-babylike to me!

 

 

On the other hand, C has grown a good 3 inches in the past couple of months alone.  I am glad warmer weather is coming, because she is rockin' high waters (thank goodness for Uggz)!  We toured her middle school this month; she is VERY excited!  (In Omaha, middle school is grades 7 & 8 only)

 

 

We've been spending every day (above 45 degrees) in the yard, Nebraska weather is notoriously indecisive!  The tree house took a beating last summer after a couple of storms, but is well on it's way to a renovation!  Here are the girls hanging out!

Rod's been woodworking a lot lately, which I ADORE....we roped off the garden.  He will build the garden enclosures next weekend, to keep those cute but PESKY rabbits out of the garden this year!

More pictures to come!



Running n' Stuff

Running This

and This...

Working 40/ per week and CANNOT wait for the snow to melt so I can run with Liam, jogger n' all.

SHOULD blog more, but it seems with my degree finally finished, I have no reason to sit at the computer when I am at home!  :)

That's right, I graduated!  Master of Science in Management, exactly one year to-the-date that Liam was born! 

I still feel the whole thing is a bit anti-climatic, but things are moving along.

Here are the kids, being Oh-so-Sweet.  I love my kids. That's all!