Sugar Bugs

We have these friends that were able to get theirs boys into religiously brushing their teeth by telling them that if they didn't>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

SUGAR BUGS!!!!

They get in there and the EAT your teeth and they are

BAD!

We copied. Good oral hygiene is important.

The Dad got a winsdom tooth pulled. It was so gross yet fascinating at the same time. I should have been a dentist.

I will spare you the other side... yuck!

But as Starman showed it to Rowan, he looked at her and said "This is...

SUGAR BUGS!"

Her eyes got as big as saucers and we were both surprised she didn't run in and start brushing right then!

We are big believers in the "whatever works" theory on parenting.

A Deed of the Heart

As I am sure you have figured out by now, Scott is from Nebraska. And so are his parents. And so are their parents. And probably so are thiers. I don't know. SO I will start out right now with a big fat disclaimer... I do not profess to be an "expert". They know who they are...:) It's really for those people and our girls, who will never see it, that I write this. All I know is what I know.



When Scott took me to Nebraska for the first time, we drove by the farm. Slowly. And I looked at that place and really was listening with great intent about all the games of hide and seek that Starman had played, but what I was really thinking about... was life on the farm.




Back in the day, outside Petersburg, Nebraska. FOURTEEN crazy kids running all over place... and noise, lots of noise, I'm sure. Thanking God for health, a good garden crop and the windbreak. I can only speculate but I am sure the food was good, the fights were many and the work was hard. I know for a fact the love was strong.






Grandma and Grandpa moved to town years ago and I believe renters came and went until it just sat empty, except for the friendly ghosts of memories past. Grandpa passed and Grandma moved to Omaha to be closer to the family. A couple months ago I got a mass email to the fam (you can imagine the size of that list!) Scott's cousin, Gloria, had an update on the farm. It was coming down. The time had come. Everyone was invited to come celebrate life on the farm.








It must have been heartwrenching... my mother-in-law was there with as many of the siblings that could make it, and grandkids and great-grandkids. No doubt Farkle was there too, blue yummy in hand. And down it came. A big bonfire followed and this is what was left.





It all caused me to take pause and reflect on the value we put on physical places. Take this little cracker box on Settlers Drive, that is hardly worth what we owe thanks to the mortgage crises and foreclosure mess. But that's just on paper. What it means to us, and will long after we have said good-bye to it, is immeasurable and we will always have that. Just as the Lordemann's will always have "the farm". A deed of the heart.









And as a footnote and testament to the resiliency and innovation of this great country... guess what they might use the land for?









A wind farm. Our new energy economy will be fueled by the laughter of children, the toil of hard-working hands and thoughts of choke cherry jelly...floating on the breeeze.

Awwwwww...kinda.

So Rowan made me a Mother's Day gift at school. Now these are the things that really warm your heart. A cute hand painted terra cotta pot with a little mum in it. Get it? Mum?

But the best part was the little bag it came in... Specially decorated by the little hands of my first born child. She was so proud to show it to me and tell me in great detail all about what was on it.

"See these are balloons. And this is a house I drew (the two yellow circles with the green rectangles beneath). And these are stickers of stars, because we are Starman's.

And then we turn to the other side...awwww, I'm thinking the same thing you are as she begins her narrative.

"These are more balloons I drew and a heart and stickers of flowers because you like flowers."

"And me and Mrs. Hess."

I should have known...My hair isn't that big.

Big Girls Don't Cry

I've been thinking its high time I gave a little update on the girlies- The update is they are getting big. And I love it! Now I do occasionally wax nostalgic thinking about the "baby days". They were both pretty good babies and I do love me a baby. But I love each new age better than the last.

Rowan is four going on fourteen; I can hardly handle it sometimes. Her swimming lesson are going well although I hope she graduates guppies before high school. She is still very into school. She had her first field trip to a real farm (The Cozy Cow Dairy). Oh man, I LOVED being able to go. Nothing cuter than a bunch of pre-schoolers at a farm.

I think she liked the bus trip the best!

She keeps telling us she is ready to go camping and spends a lot of time planning her birthday party--at the end of August. As anyone who has been around a four year old would know, it isn't always fun and games. Talking back, not listening, and swallowing marbles...It could be a long summer. I sure do love her!

Tressin, our little lulu bean, is hilarious. Her verbal skills are slowly but surely coming along, with the help of pretty good speech language therapist. Screeching, screaming and "mummle" are no longer her only forms of communication. She's just so fun to have around!

(Don't forget to pause the playlist to watch the vid)




We had a very nice Easter. The girls had candy for breakfast and maybe lunch, but then they were pretty much over it. We made a yummy dinner (linner) and shared it with our friends. Derrick's wife and kids have made the move to CO and we were so happy to have them all here!

I need to get better at the ole blog. I've been slacking lately. And I am going to re-attempt the Avery/Kirsten Weight Loss Program by taking the girl dog on lots more walks. Whatever works. All of us are looking forward to spring/summer!

Sunday was the first time in six years our anniversary has fallen on Easter. We were wondering how many times that will happen... It was cool to think about us in our 70's celebrating our anniversary on Easter...again. I also thought a lot about the day we got married. Besides being a great day, I couldn't help thinking that while a lot has changed since that sunny day in Vegas...

A lot hasn't-- We still argue about stupid things, agree about important things, like ourselves and love each other. We are still very happy and extremely lucky.

Livin' the dream, baby. Livin' the dream.

Downplay

Greg McAuliffe

My dad

had a big birthday today...

Happy Birthday, Papa!

We love you but you know that...

We will let you get back to your computer. :)

After reviewing the tapes...

Here's a little movie I found when I was looking through the camera. Proof that Starman is a total flirt and that I find Trent very entertaining--yes, that cackle in the background is me.

Can't wait for next year!

Oh yeah... don't forget to pause the playlist to the right (hit the two vertical lines).

You Can't Enjoy Vacation Life Without Real Life

Every morning I stop at The Black Cup to get a coffee. Well not just any coffee. A double shot Americano with extra non-fat milk. This little drive thru coffee shop appeared across the street from my work a couple years ago after losing its lease in west Loveland. Soon after, my nice work opened an account and my double shot Americano with extra non fat milk is one benefit this part time worker, full time mother REALLY appreciates. They are super friendly, give out dog treats and lots of smiles. I've even seen them help a guy on a motorcycle secure his coffee in his saddle bag. They also decorate your lid with stickers and sayings and those cute plastic things that keep the hot drink from scalding you as you attempt the triple lane crossover maneuver.

This morning mine said "Low times make us appreciate high times."

Ain't it the truth.

High times:

Last Wednesday, we met our good friends, Trent and Steph, in Phoenix. A pool, hot tub, tee time reservations, and no kids. Yeah, all the makings of a lot of fun. And it was. I learned that all that time on the phone with Steph pays off. We start off right where we last ended. I learned that the four of us are pretty "travel compatible". Bodes well for future adventures. I also learned that partly cloudy in Phoenix means an occasional jet trail. Needless to say we had a great time. (I learned much, much more but for the sake of all involved, including myself, we will keep that "off-blog".)

The Starman's

He hit the pool somehow. Stone sober.

The Winn's

Girls Rule

Scott and Trent

Low times:

Sunday came and we had to come home. It went too fast, I don't have anything to look forward to anymore and I really miss my friend. Then Tressin got sick Monday night. And you know what I mean when I say "got" sick. Nothing serious but enough to worry a momma. I have missed a lot of work now, which sucks when you get paid by the hour. I am hopeful that the tide has turned and tomorrow will be a better day... and it doesn't hit Rowan until the weekend!

Sick Tress. She insisted on wearing the boots.

Next year we are going for a week.