Hanging Out with the Kids

Lauritzen Gardens + Mom + Rachel + nephews

This exhibit goes through January 4.

 Can you spot the train in the photo below?

A Quilt that Reminds Me of Conner and Alex

~ by Sarah Maseth ~

My nephews are awesome!

Here’s some fun with nephews from April. 

Alex enjoys soccer:

Conner’s school had an invention fair.  The students were tasked to find solutions to real problems in their own lives.  They even had business cards.  I thought it was really cool.  Conner’s invention was for feeding and entertaining his cat when he was at school (Conner, not the cat).

 It was interesting to see what the kids considered to be their problems..... Most were about chores, but not all of them:

More Cute Little Kids

Here's one of my nephews:

Here's another one:

Happy Easter!

Alleluia!  He is risen!

For a sweet treat, here are some pics from Auntie M's Easter Cookie Decorating Party.

Weekly Round-Up

This week I....

.... went to see Othello for free at Shakespeare on the Green in Omaha with my sister Rachel and my Uncle Steve.  An enjoyable evening with great company!

... set out more oregano to dry.

.... Belovedest harvested some chives.  We had enough to freeze on a cookie sheet.  Normally we just cut 5-inch lengths and toss it in a small and sturdy tupperware, unwashed.  It freezes and we cut it with scissor when we want to use it, taking out as many pieces as we need and leaving the rest.

... enjoyed the 4th with family.

Have a great week!

How Is That for Handsome?

My nephews:

I really like the photo.

Retirement Trip Camping

My parents both retired the same week.  To celebrate, the parents and all four kids (along with families and significant others) went camping at Ponca State Park.  

Mom and Dad were in their new RV, Mark and Chrissy and Co. stayed in cabins, and Rachel (+ family) and I stayed in tents, all in the same park.  So a family camping trip doesn't have to been roughing it for everyone.

We all had a great time, despite the mosquitos, two tent failures, the torrential rain followed by flood warnings, and getting lost in the woods (silly trail map!).

Arwen and Maria (Mark's sweetie) had never been camping before.

Here are some photo highlights:

Setting up the tent for what turned out to be the last time.

Weekly Round-Up

A few quick things before I head off to graduation at the school where I teach. 

(I always think of Grandpa G. at graduation because Grandma G. graciously and generous gave me his doctoral robes.  It was such a kind gesture and I’ve always been grateful to feel that in some small way I’m carrying on the work he did in education.)

…. Belovedest had a 30-mile, 45+ minute detour on gravel roads Thursday in order to get to work.  Lots of flooding in our area.  I’m grateful that none of it is in our basement.

 

From the State Patrol Twitter Feed

… I finished grading!

… Thursday I did voice over work in Omaha, plus had lunch with my dear friend Anne M., PLUS surprised Conner at his President Wax Museum school project.  Remember the Abraham Lincoln tie I made?  I got to see it in action.

…. Dropped off some metal recycling.  I made $8.23, in part because of 45 pounds worth of office furniture that I intercepted from the trash.  It’s not a lot of money, but I also know whatever I bring is getting recycled instead of ending up in the landfill.

… We did LOTS of gardening stuff!  Here are some tomato seedlings that are coming up.   We’ll be posting soon on decorating rain barrels, doing soil tests, and making tomato cages.

Weekly Round Up

I am looking for summer temp work, so I had my first job interview in a decade with the state temp agency.  I'm optimistic that they'll find something for me.

Today gardening is getting restricted by rain..... Maybe we'll get the soil tests done--we already gathered the soil and it has been busy drying.

Last week I posed nice photos from Alex's First Communion.

 

HOWEVER, the party afterward was somewhat unruly, thanks to Uncle Magician.....

Sewing for Abe Lincoln

My nephew is going to be Abe Lincoln for a school project.  Things like this make me glad I can sew....

I even made three different sizes, and somewhat to my surprise it was the longest one that worked.

The white shirt hadn't been bough yet, but you can see the whole thing is coming together.  

Here's a better look at the hat, which is worth looking at:

The event is sort of like a science fair, only with presidents.  It's May 7, and I'm hoping to surprise him and go since I'll be in Omaha doing voice acting stuff.

The New Greenhouse at the Lauritzen Gardens, Omaha, NE

These photos were from a while ago, but the greenhouse is open year-round, so if you are curious, check it out!