A Happy Halloween Night

Happy Halloween 31 October 2009

This was a reunion of sorts for our Halloween tradition! When Tyler lived in Omaha five years ago they would come over to our house for chili and cinnamon rolls. We would trick-or-treat at the neighbors across the street, it was always decked to the nines, with scary creatures roaming the corner and scary images strewn across the lawn. We would have to carry Sarah to the door and take quick photo's of her scared for the night!

One year we hooked up the trailer to the Sorensen's 4-wheeler and went for a 'hay-rack ride' through the neighborhood, stopping at each house and unloading our goblins!

This year was very tough for me, having NO kids at home and still wishing for a night filled with kids, candy and doorbells, I was feeling sad! So, Scott and I headed to Lincoln to my brother Tyler's house where Lindsay and her family showed up and Uncle Michael came with us to walk the streets begging for sugar! Grant started out running from door to door...but as the night wore on he ended up on his Daddy's shoulders. I helped Kaylee with her makeup! And so sweet that Sarah is still hangin with the kids, put on an adorable costume and gathered enough candy to last till Easter!

I'm thankful to have family around at this season in my life. I know my nest is empty but my wings are still full...my nieces and nephews mean so much to me. I'm so blessed to have the best two children in the world and love to have my extended family to 'fill in' when I'm needing a hug!

An Awesome Halloween Party

Happy Halloween at the Patterson's home 30 October 2009

We had so much fun at the Patterson's home for a costume party the night before Halloween! I was so excited to go looking for a costume and wanted to be a witch-hmmm!

I looked on line at costumes and found this witches costume and loved it, then my BFF told me there was a great Halloween store in town and we should check it out. That is where I found the exact same costume I had found online...love the green witch costume!

We took a cheese ball/pumpkin with crackers for appetizer! There was GREAT food, desserts and more appetizers!

The Oakey's and Ray's won best and most original costumes for their psychedelic 60's look and elderly couple respectively!

We played the funniest game of 'Do you love your neighbor'! The following are some of the best responses: Yes, I love my neighbor but...

I do not love...anyone with not real breast- yep, Jeff Anderson and TJ Fenton switched for that one, and Bruce said many more would have moved if the economy wouldn't have been so bad this year!

I do not love...anyone with back hair-sadly my dear friend Mary Poppins ended up in the middle without a chair, I asked her 'why would you admit in having back hair', she said 'oh, I thought they said black hair'!!

I do not love...anyone who is a witch-after the three of us dressed in black hats switched it up, Jeff said, 'there should have been a lot more movement on that one'!

The last one of the night

I do not love...anyone who's been to a nude beach-I can't even tell you how many costumes moved on that one!!!

Thanks Pattersons

Vala's a Tradition in Omaha

Berry family, Sheely boys and Aunt Jill at Vala's pumpkin patch! 26 October 2009

We have loved going to Vala's Pumpkin Patch since our kids were little...

When we first started going to Vala's back in 1990 it was free to get in and you paid $1.00 for each haunted house, which was only two. You could take a ride on the trailers, pulled by little tractors, out to the acre or so of pumpkins, pick one then pay a dollar or two more, having had an amazingly cheap afternoon.

Now it is like going to Kansas City to World of Fun! It's expensive but still offers a lifetime of memories with whichever kids you can find to take! $12.00 to get in and much more for food, treats, pumpkins etc.

We had such a great day as family!

It Was a Beautiful Night

After dropping Trevor off at school, we hurried home for this...
Nicole Bailey's beautiful wedding receptions on September 12, 2009 was such a lovely night.
The weather was perfect and the Baileys transformed their enormous backyard into an intimate evening for friends and family.
Nicole and Chris Gardner were married in California where they had a reception hosted by the Garder family, then came back to Nebraska for a reception hosted by Nicole's family.
I had fun helping Tammy in small ways...looking at flowers, shopping for a dress (for the mother of the bride) going to the rental shops but mostly showing my BFF supportsmanship!
The Gardners both new and senior, and the Bailey couples played the Newlywed game! I came up with some nutty questions like...
"What will your wife say her car is: 4 wheel drive, front wheel or rear wheel drive?" or
"What did you notice about your spouse...on first site?" Brad Bailey said,
"My wife's pockets"! Needless to say, the Baileys won!!
It really was a beautiful night....for all the families and friends.
Thanks Baileys!

The Adventure Home...seen thru a few tears!

After leaving Idaho Falls we drove east...we had no plans, no itinerary, no son (with us). So poor Scott took on the task of making a little vacation out of his poor wife's pain, and I must admit it was fun!
When I wiped away the mascara and tears from my eyes, I found we were in Jackson Hole Wyoming. Since I was not up to the usual Super 8 hotel...we got a room at the beautiful Wyoming Inn. We spent the day shopping in downtown then decided to go for a drive, and drive we did. Right into Yellowstone National Park!
The traffic and construction made for a slow trip, but we loved the sights at our destination, Old Faithful (which erupts every 90 minutes). We took a 4 mile hike from Old Faithful up the mountain and through the geysers. We saw a coyote that was looking over the Old Faithful lodge, he was planning his next meal.
We headed back to Jackson Hole that night, went out to dinner then set our sites on the next adventure...tomorrow!

When we checked out of the hotel the next morning the hotel employee asked us where we were headed, we said,

"We're not sure, any suggestions"?

She pulled out a map and we headed to Teton Village! It was beautiful!

We booked tram tickets for a ride of a lifetime.

We climbed 4,139 feet to summit Rendezvous Mountain.
We headed down Corbets Trail a 2 mile hike. The view was incredible, we were surprised we could text our kids from the top of this mountain...but we did, we sent pictures to them!

It was a new adventure and a new life Scott and I were headed on...no kids, the dynamics of our family had changed. I was feeling so overwhelmed with the thought of an empty nest, but on this trip Scott showed me that our nest was not empty, it just had more room for growth, for new adventures and someday we would need more nest room for two more kids...in-laws, of the younger kind. I started to feel a little sorry for whoever that son and daughter in-law might be...hope they'll know I'm the adventurous kind!

My Sonshine goes to College

Ohhh I had been dreading/looking forward to this day his whole life!! On 9Sept 2009 we took the 15 hour drive to Ricks/BYU-I college to drop our youngest son off! I had gone to Ricks College in 1987...but only for 6 weeks! I hated/loved this college! I was unprepared for how small, cold, isolated, lonely Rexburg Idaho was. But I told Trevor..."this is the place/second place"! So Trevor packed his guitars, winter clothes, and a hidden portrait of his mother (cuz I packed it) in tubs and we drove his car and ours west.

We stopped at Davenport Apts. my old haunt and took a picture with my 6 ft tall son by my side...and the memories of college flashed past my glassy eyes!

Trevor is pretty lucky to have a piece of home staying in Rexburg too. Keirsten Bruun packed her winter coat and moved down the road from Trevor. They went to High School together and now can say they are college co-eds together as well.We had planned to stay in Rexburg for two days but after moving Trevor in, complaining about the cleanliness of the apartment, unpacking him, getting his class schedule, buying books and checking out the campus, Trevor said goodbye! I held it together as loonng as I could...we took a picture together and then Scott and I watched as our youngest son rode off into the sunset on his skateboard, never turning back! Well, till he called 20 minutes later to tell us he had forgotten $160's worth of books in our back seat!

We drove back, gave a few more hugs then headed for Idaho Falls where we were staying.

I bawled all the way back to that lonely hotel...the one we had just stayed in with the funniest teenager I knew! As Scott and I stared at each other till I felt the tears coming again! I buried my head in my pillow and WAILED!

When I finally rolled over, I looked out the window of our hotel and saw the Idaho Falls Temple lit by hope! I KNEW Trevor was where he was suppose to be and I had done my job, delivering him into Hands that we, Trevor and I both, had faith in.

The view that saved my soul...

Mindy Visits Tyler Moves In!

4 September 2009

Our family loves to gather for Nebraska Football! We love the game, food, crowds, tailgating...all the Cornhuskers have to offer each season, we take in! This year Mindy came for the NU vs Florida Atlantic (Home opener) game.

Scott, Trevor and I were already packed and ready to go to BYU-I that weekend and were unable to go to this football game. But we were sure glad to get together as a family to celebrate the ushering in of the football season anyway!

Tyler and Valerie had been living in Tulsa Oklahoma for a couple of years, they had been wanting to return to the seen of the crimes (Nebraska) for quite sometime. It just so happened that a job became available and offered to Tyler in Beatrice (about 40 minutes from Lincoln) Nebraska. We were SO happy that Tyler and Valerie took the time to pray and ponder this move, ultimately deciding to pack up their sweet family and come home!

While we dinned at our favorite Valentino's Buffet word came in that Tyler and Valerie were the proud owners of a beautiful new home they had placed an offer on, in Lincoln, that day!

We knew Tyler's prayers, as well as ours, had been answered and that their family was to have a place for Mindy and her family to stay each time they come for the big GAME!

Welcome Home Berry Family!

Dinner with Gramma Sue July 2009

We LOVE to go to dinner with Gramma Sue! She occasionally takes us to the 360 Club for an amazing dinner...on her! My most favorite dessert in the entire world is the carrot cake at the 360 Club! The carrot cake is wrapped in white chocolate and so moist!
Gramma Sue is Christina's best friend, and we are so thankful she has loved the grand kids so dearly. They have loved spending time with Gramma when they were little just as much as they love spending time with her while they are older!
We ALL love Gramma Sue!

4th of July at Sorensens

Each year for the 4th of July we have celebrated at our good friends the Sorensens! This year was no exception...except, that I was on call at the hospital and it was about 45 degrees out!!
We still had fun and are always thankful to the Sorensens for their hospitality!!
So fun to have all our family together for the barbecue and fireworks!