Where Does He Come Up With This Stuff???

One thing I love about Dad is that he says crazy things. This morning was a perfect example, as he played a little game with the girls at breakfast. I have no clue what connection took place in his brain that would link blocking children with the USSR, but whatever. It was fun to watch!

Omahilarious Video

We took a trip to visit Uncle B. and Aunt J. in Omaha for the Fourth Of July weekend. I have tons of great photos for a highlight post, but in the meantime, I give you one of many fun videos we took over the weekend. Uncle B and Aunt J. have a sweet outdoor barbecue area and they made us some delicious dinner on it. This video is of Uncle B. attempting to chop some firewood for dinner...with what seems to be a very dull ax. We thoroughly enjoyed the episode ourselves. It was HILARIOUS! I would even call it Omahilarious, given our location. Never a dull moment with the fantastic Uncle B!

Near-Death Experience

Oopsy. Scroll to the bottom and read this post from the bottom up. This is a poor quality photo, but I wanted to show you the insanity of the fireworks. All of the light you see is the intense fireworks glow. Notice how Uncle B. and Dad are shielding their eyes. And I don't know if Aunt J. was laughing or crying...maybe both!

Here is Dad with a piece of the fireworks fallout that we kept. All during the fireworks display debris was falling on us...ash and chunks of fireworks casing, some still on fire. It was slightly alarming. Dad's face says it all.

We are visiting Uncle B. and Aunt J. for this Independence Day weekend, and we are in the midst of a GREAT time! We kicked the weekend off with fireworks at a park with live music and about 50,000 other people. It was crazy. Uncle B. told us the fireworks would be intense. That is an understatement. Let's just say that we were sitting so close and the fireworks were so face-melting, that I would say that we basically had a near-death experience!

Painting and Peppermint Meat

Our weeks have been busy with VBS, swimming lessons, Mom taking continuing ed classes and day-to-day living stuff, so I haven't taken many pictures lately. Some people (Dad and Grandma D) really like me to keep this blog updated though, so I thought I'd better take some pictures of something...ANYTHING...to give them new reading material. Funny that the two people who see the girls most often are the two who check the blog frequently. It's so nice that they just can't get enough, I guess! So Dad and Grandma, here you go. First we have a little artist getting ready for the junior art show that will be taking place at our local fair in July! This painting has taken her a week to create, as she has worked on it little bits at a time. I love it! Good work Ainsley!

And another random shot. Today we were at the grocery store and we passed a freezer full of seafood. Ainsley saw these shrimp and as you can see, they appear to be a bit striped-looking. She exclaimed, "Oh mom! Look! Peppermint meat!" I busted out laughing and she was not amused that I was so amused. I piped down my laughter and snapped a quick shot of the "peppermint meat." Can you even imagine how disgusting peppermint meat would be? Grody.

Hillbilly Ridiculousness

Living in the region that we do, often we happen upon things that just should not exist. They are so ramshackle and so hillbilly...you don't want to look and yet you cannot look away. I have decided to begin photo documenting these things for a coffee table book, yet to be named. Suggestions are welcome! And here is the first photo I have taken for the book... What the?! This is some type of homemade pontoon/bench/paddle boat...I think? Love the orange flames on the front. Stop and think about it. Someone actually took valuable time to construct this thing, to license it, and to paint flames on the front. I am shaking my head as I type. Hillbilly ridiculousness at its finest.

Tramp-o-look-out!!!!

What's cooler than a trampoline? A dad on the trampoline! We had a super time visiting friends up north over the weekend, and at D and S's house, the kids (big and little) did some jumping. Dads and kids on trampolines almost always equals injury, and in this video you will see a close call. D almost takes out his daughter (in the black shirt) as she narrowly escapes behind his legs mid-jump. Fun, fun, death-defying times! Thanks for having us, D and S!

What is Wrong With These Children!?

The other day, it was about 95 degrees out with a dewpoint of 74. Hot. Humid. Bennett and Ainsley decided it was perfect weather for... ...hats, jackets, socks, and sneakers. What is wrong with these children? Turns out they were playing "detectives" and one must dress the part. Girls, maybe you should save your detective play for October. You are making me sweat just looking at you!

Senior Pictures

While visiting Aunt L. a couple of weeks ago, Bennett decided she wanted to have her photo taken, senior picture style, while at the Bass Pro Shops. I had my camera with me, so why not?! Ah, just lovely.
Legs crossed, so lady-like, in the gravel. Beautious!

The ever popular, arms crossed while leaning pose. So mature!

This shot was taken later the same day as we walked back to our car from dinner. The recline on the rocks shot. Niiiice!

Here's a proof that her parents won't be ordering...the shot with the backdrop of something for sale for $23,995. Maybe that's the projected cost of her book fees by the time she enters college. Personally, I'm glad the days of real senior pictures are several years away!

Mini Putt...A Trip Down Memory Lane

This town we live in, which shall remain nameless, is kind of a drag to Dad and me. I don't think it's a bad town. I just think that since we both grew up here, moved away to a larger town with more entertainment, and then moved back here, we don't appreciate it like some others might. We are thankful to be near family though, and we are super glad for the local summer classic, MINI PUTT!!!!!!!!! We many not have much to do in this little community, but we have mini putt, so we're good to go! Here are the girls taking in their first round of the season. Ainsley looks kinds of sedated. Not sure what that's about.

A few holes in, Bennett found a four leaf clover in the hole as she retrieved her ball. Did this symbolize a night of good luck on the course????

Many of the obstacles on the course have been the same since Dad and I were kids. I think that's what we love about this mini putt. It's kind of a walk down memory lane. Here is a favorite...the swirly metal thingy. It took about 512 tries for the girls to get their balls through.

Dad tries to give a resistant Ainsley some golfing tips on another favorite hole, the up and down moving pillar things.

And another favorite, kind of. This light house hole is tricky and the girls were kind of cursing it by the time we finished. This hole used to have a little moving block that went up and down as you tried to get your ball through the tunnel, not to mention water and live goldfish in the pond around the lighthouse. Tough stuff, let me tell you! They've simplified it by removing the block and the water, but it remains a challenge. As we left mini putt, the sweet little teenager working the joint gave each girl a pass for a free round of golf the next time we come. Lucky us! (I'm sure it's because Bennett found that clover.) Looks like we'll be heading back to our local summer time gem sometime soon!

Veggie Tales...You Are Never Too Old (Apparently)

When Bennett was a baby/toddler, she was a Veggie Tales FREAK. Oh, my. I cannot even express how much she loved Veggie Tales. It was alarming. By age 4 or 5, she still liked Veggie Tales, but her obsession was tapering off. For the past few years she has not really wanted a whole lot to do with the show...until last week when we resurrected a Veggie Tales Silly Songs video tape that I had no idea we still had. She popped that sucker into the VCR and what you see in the above video is what we've been dealing with ever since. Incessant belting out of Veggie Tales songs from a child who we thought was through with them long ago. I guess you are never too old. "OOOOHHH, you and me, and our sports utility vehicles. Cruisin to 7-11 for a bag of Frito-Lays!"