September 2021

Rugby!  Kyle needs a sport.  He is just a team sport kind of guy.  He decided to give Rugby a shot, so he joined the UNO Rugby team.  Today is their first game.  

He looks like he means buisness.

This game was hotter than Hades!  In fact, the other team was dropping like flies.  Guys throwing up, passing out.  They finally just started giving water breaks between sets.  Kyle played a great game.  He scored a few times.  Once, he almost scored, but he dropped too soon, but he made up for it and scored at least two more times.  Halfway through the game we moved to some shade.  After the game Kyle was pretty bruised up, but he loved the game.  Unfortunately this was his only game.  He learned that for the season he wouldn't be able to wear his knee brace and he decided it wasn't worth getting injured for this sport when he really wants to try and play football at BYU.  So, this was his first and last rugby game.  But it was fun to watch.  He's on physical dude.  

Kyle's rugby game was hot, but Kory's football game's are cold!  Always love watching these boys play.  I even don't mind Kory's long hair.  I am a little jealous of how thick it is though!  Thanks for a fun night Kory.  Makai didn't want to go to the game, but when he saw his old friends from elementary school he cheered up.  They were happy to see him as well.  

The time has come to apply for residency!  Looking good Dad.  We'll see where our next adventure takes us.  Monty is applying to stay here, maybe go to Arizona, Lincoln, or even back to California.  We'll see what happens.  

 

August 2021

 We loved summer, but all good things must come to an end.  Another school year is about it begin.  

I didn't get any pictures of the boys first day of school because this year was a different year.  This year I started school.  But, Kory is starting his Jr. Year, Trey his freshman year, Makai his 6th grade year, Monty is starting his last year of medical school and Kyle is Starting his freshman year of college at UNO.  With everyone back in school everything is crazy busy!  But, all is well.  This year will be great.  

I did get a picture of Kory at his first scrimmage.  It was super hot and for the record he looks good in the picture, but man doe he smell!  I will say he looks good in his uniform! 

My classroom is coming together.  

One day after starting school I had a little breakdown.  I was feeling pretty overwhelmed by working and life.  I tend to melt.  Monty knew just what I needed-- an off day.  He recommended that we go to the zoo.  He was right.  A few hours at the zoo was helpful to the soul.  It reminded me why I am working and what life is really about.  Here the boys were petting sting rays and watching them laugh and enjoy themselves was relaxing.  I loved this day.  

These beauties are from our neighbors garden.  Summer is so nice when our neighbor keeps beautiful fresh veggies on our table.  

Yes, more football.  Once football starts, it keeps going.  He's enjoying his season.  We always go to support.  Love this kid.  

We've lived here for almost 7 years and never knew there was a museum of Natural History in Lincoln.  We also didn't know that if you are prior military you get in free in the month of August.  We decided to head down on afternoon and it was actually pretty amazing.  The boys loved the weapons exhibit.

Um...a pretty big Mammouth!

About how I am feeling about life right now.  

Tyler with Elder Baker.  His companion that was in Samoa before Covid.  They grew to really enjoy each other.  

One day I got home work, Monty was working a night shift and the boys were down stairs, so I made 12 pot stickers and ate them all for dinner!  I love these pot stickers.  During COVID they were not making them and I was so sad because these are my favorite ones.  They are not restocked and sometimes a girl just needs pick me up!  It isn't that I don't like my job, it's just hard to balance everything and there is so much to learn.  I always feel tired and still have a fear of failure.  I wonder if the whole first year will be better.  Sometimes food is a comfort.

July 2021

The boys do a good job keeping fit.  Often they go to the track to run and practice their sports.  If Trey doesn't get to play basketball he's a little cranky, Kyle just likes to move and we force Makai to go.  When Makai works out with Kyle he enjoys himself.  He just doesn't like to just run the track.  Kyle always makes it fun.  Kory doesn't usually go because he has football practice every morning.  I don't have pictures of that because he leaves early.  I'm glad the boys are active.  They are all great athelete sand it's fun to watch them use their perfect bodies.    

Trey and Kory at youth conference.  Youth conference was in Nebraska City this year.  They went to the same water park we went to early their summer.  I love that when they go to activities they prefer to hang out together.  This is a photo someone sent me.  And Kory still has some pretty white feet!

Remember when I mentioned that this is a favorite location for the boys to hang.  One day I went to go upstairs and found Makai sound asleep Thanks for keeping your shoes off the carpet buddy.  Well, at least half way.  I think he was missing his brothers while they were at youth conference.  

The Buick is giving us issues.  For the last little while it has gotten louder and louder.  We took it to three places and no one could diagnose it.  One person said transmission, one person said exhaust.  Well, Monty got under the car and noticed that the exhaust is completely severed.  We have no idea how it happened, but he's determined to fix it.  We found a part to fix it at the "You Pull It" location.  All I know is I've been under that car and I am not going to be any help.  

It's Kory's turn!  Another kid behind the wheel.  His first time behind the wheel was pretty rough, but since then he's done a pretty great job.  I think he's going to be just fine.  One thing I appreciate about him is he seems to understand the seriousness of driving.  He doesn't want to injure anyone and wants to obey the rules. He does struggle with with parking, but I admit parking is something you just have to practice doing.  

 

Monty signed Trey up for the Creighton Basketball camp this summer.  He seemed to have a good time.  This should be good prep for high school basketball.  It was fun to watch him play.  he's happy when he has a basketball.

I'm adding this picture because it is a good reminder of how we have been making money the past several months.  There is an app called 'Task Rabbit' where people will pay you to do things they don't want to do.  This is a picture of part of a property we were asked to pull weeds.  It was so hot and there were so many weeds.  It took so long!  This is just one section of the weeds.  We've done everything from assemble furniture, build shelves, hang pictures, pull weeds, move boxes, or even help people move houses.  The boys favorite is to move people.  They hate weeding.  It's been interesting to meet so many people.  We've gone back to some people several times.  Some people are so appreciative.  Most people really love the boys when they come to help.  It's been a good experience and a great way to bond as a family.  This apartment complex however is not one of favorites.  The guy who owned it didn't pay very well and we worked our butts off in the heat for way to many hours.  But, now when we drive by it everyone just booo's it, and we laugh.   

A fun zoo day.  These boys and their hair!  Makai's hair is getting really curly too!  We have fun at the zoo every time we go.  

Makai likes to sleep on the couch some nights when he says his room is too hot.  I took this picure because I thought he was in a funny position.  Not sure if he is praying or doing Yoga, but he is sound alseep.  

It has been several weeks, but money has been so busy with school he just hasn't had time to work on the car.  However, he just finished a rotation so he's seeing what he can do.  

Dad welding under the car.  I love that he has no shoes on.  We ended up driving it to a welding place after giving it our best shot.  Monty worked so hard to try and fix this, but in the end we had to call it.  

Monty bought this car at an auction several years ago.  He LOVES it, but it just hasn't been as reliable as we need it to be.  So, he is putting it up for sale.  We sold it to a mechanic.  This car looked so nice on the inside and if it would have been more reliable he would have kept it forever.  Hopefully, someone is now enjoying it.  

This is a picture of a Chilli Relleno Buritto.  This burrito is my favorite!  I eat these when I am celebrating or sometimes after a hard week.  They never get old.  I get them from Abelardo's Mexican Grill.  When we go, I don't even read the menu.  I know this is what I will be getting.  Some things are worth taking a picture of.   

It is SO HOT right now and Makai is constantly scratching his head. So, it is time for a haircut.  He wants to grow his out because Kory is growing his out, but Makai's is just so thick.  The many faces of Makai during his hair cuts.    

During on of our "Task Rabit Jobs" the owner had a cat.  Kyle and cats don't mix well. The first half of the move went great, but then on the way to the second house Kyle touched his eyes.  Suddenly he was a mess.  Red, swollen eyes.  This is after some Benadryl.  I will say that he fought through the pain.  This lady was so nice and felt of bad that he was swelling up.  But he worked until the end.  He did call of work that night thought.  Right now Kyle is working a Wal-Mart stocking the dairy section at night.  This would have been his third night.  But, he was saved by the cats.   

Tyler is enjoying North Carolina.  This a a picture of him with a man he really admires. This man used to be in a band.  His wife was taken one night and they found her body several days later.  She had been killed.  Hearing his story is heartbreaking, but listening to Tyler interact with him is neat.  Another fellow musician.

   

I am so glad we get to talk to him every week.  Thank you facetime for letting me see my boy every week.  I had a dream that Tyler had died.  It was the most real dream ever and I woke up in tears.  I cried for a long time as I realized how painful it would be to lose this man!  Seeing him on facetime warmed my heart.  He was perfect and happy and just hearing his voice and seeing his was so wonderful.  I miss him.  

When our neighbors leave they ask the boys to swim in their pool to keep it from growing algae.  I enjoy watching Makai in water.  He can play in this pool for hours.  He's a water boy--definitely part fish.

 

Trey went to the driving range with the teachers quourm.  Don't mess with Trey--he is a pretty good shot.  Not bad for his first time ever!  

While swimming next door Makai left for a while and came back with a bowl of ramen, an egg and spam.  I love that he brought chop sticks to eat it with.  Yep...this kid loves food.

After one particularly hard weeding job Kyle, Kory and I went to lunch.  They worked hard and then they eat harder.  Nothing like a good meal after a difficult weeding job.  This was another house that took WAY TOO LONG!!  

Our boys love to eat, and thankfully they also love to cook.  One morning after the gym, Trey and Kyle went to the store and got things for breakfast.  I love that they are not afraid of the kitchen and cook pretty darn well. Thanks guys.  

 

 

June 2021

Kyle with a few of his friends from Track.  The team went to State and the team won 1st place.  Great memories.  

In order to cut Trey's hair I have to straighten it.  Otherwise it's hard to tell what I am doing.  Trey said he doesn't like his hair straight.  I will say he does look very different with straight hair.  I love your curly hair buddy.  

Kimmel Orchard has always been a fun Orchard to visit.  This year we decided to go drive down and get a dozen apple cider donuts.  Kimmel makes the best ones.  They've added some sun structures.  

The growth chart is always fun.  I can't believe how much the boys have grown since we moved here. When we moved here Kory was just above the 5.  We also spent the day at a water park in Nebraska City.  We enjoyed our day swimming. The temperature is very hot and humid at the moment, so the pool was very refreshing! Notice Kory's sock line.  He spends a lot of time in the sun during football practice with socks on.  It always makes me laugh to see his tan line.   

This month I got a job.  Once I applied to the district I am in it didn't take long to get a job.  It is half an hour from the house, which I don't like, but the school has 6th grade.  I asked if Makai could come to the school with me and they agreed.  So, Makai and I will attend school together.  I really think the drive to and from school will be good for us.  Last year I didn't see Makai much and by the time I got home he was usually downstairs.  Now we'll have at least an hour in the car together everyday!  I look forward to the memories buddy.  Here is a picture of my classroom.  I'll be teaching Kindergarten.

Kyle loves to lift!  If he doesn't go to the gym he is frustrated.  I had to take this picture though because the red sign next to him says shoes and shirts required.  I love how he put his shoes just under the sign.  I really admire this guys dedication to working out.  

Kyle doing some shot put training on his own.  He's thinking of throwing in college.  

One morning as Kory went to football practice he says, "Hey Dad, a branch on the tree feel last night in the storm."  It is not uncommon for us to have storms and loose a small branch here or there.  We saw a small branch from the other tree and thought that was what he was talking about.  Later when we went out we saw that he was actually talking about a quarter of this tree!!  For the record Kory--I wouldn't call that a branch.  Our neighbors were so helpful.  Once we started cutting it apart, Mike was over with a tool to help and even Tom wheeled over a tool for us to use that was helpful.  Our neighbors are so kind.  We are thinking we might just cut this tree down at some point.  We'll see.