Thank you for the thoughts and prayers

I just wanted to say a quick thank you for the thoughts and prayers that so many of you have extended to our family. We feel very blessed to have such a wonderful support system of family and friends = )

Not being Catholic, I was unaware that the day Gpa was buried was Assumption Day. Or, as I have learned, the day Mary was assumed into heaven. (Hope this is correct, if not, please correct me). So, Gpa was buried in Assumption Church, which fittingly, is located in Assumption, Nebraska on Assumption road. The town consisted of 5 houses. (This is not an official count =).

Is it morbid that I brought my camera along. Hope not! I took a few pics of the church as well as the kids playing with their cousins.

Not much planned for the weekend! Mark and I may go shopping in Omaha with the kids. We'll see.

I just want to say, I LOVE repeat customers. Why you ask? Because I can watch there kiddos grow! It's so cool to go back and compare. Here is Anna last year. And below is the little sweetie now = )

I like this one. I call it "I lick you"!!!

The good Lord called Mark's grandpa home just before midnight on Saturday. Mark was able to spend some time with him and the rest of the family Friday and Saturday. He even spent the night in the hospital with him on Friday and got to see him open his eyes. Funeral will be held on Wednesday in Hastings and the rosary will be tomorrow night.

Schuyler is old enough to understand what is going on so we have been answering many questions regarding death (to the best of our abilities). "What is a funeral? When will I get to say good-bye? Are they digging the hole?..."

On another note, there is a lot of teeth going on at the Riese household. I failed to mention Eli got his frist tooth back on July 29th. It is the middle-right bottom one. The other one is taking it's time coming through and is causing issues for poor Eli. Meanwhile, we found out on last Wednesday (Aug 8th) that Schuyler has her first "wiggly" tooth as she calls it. It's the bottom middle-left. The other middle one is ever so slightly loose. She is very excited. Heck, I'm excited too!

We had a busy weekend. I made it through the wedding just fine. Then, Saturday and Sunday the kids' had pool bday parties to attend. One was Mackie's best friend from school. (Remember Katie?) The other was the little neighbor boy who just turned one. Can't wait for him and Eli to be running around next year (or maybe even this fall).

I will be out of town the next few days. Any emails, phone calls, etc... will be returned on Thursday. Here are a few pictures to leave you with...

Jumping in the house of God!

Okay, strange title I know. But the kids finished up vacation bible school last week and they were always dancing/jumping to this song. It's kind of Christian rap like! Mack changes up the words to "Jumping in the house with God!" There goal for was 350 kids and they surpassed with 358! You should have heard the worship area when they announced it. It was louder than a high school basketball game! On the final day, they sang all their songs and we watched a video of all the activities. Sunday, they got up on the risers in the worship area and performed. Both girls did fantastic! It was Mackie's first year and I think she was overwhelmed at times. She took Tuesday off to stay home and recoupe. This year's theme was Avalanche Ranch. Sunday was a bittersweet moment as we said goodbye to our Director of Children's ministry. Our children's program is so successful, due in part to her committment and dedication. Oh the bright side, God has answered our calling and has found a fabulous replacement!

Schuyler had her kindergartne appointment last Mon. She is 90% for height and 80% for weight. Can't remember what this corresponds to in inches and pounds? She is tough as nails. The girl didn't even flinch when she had 3 shots and hemoglobin check! Maybe I should take a lesson from her! Her hearing will have to be recheched as she was hearing 10 decibels less in one ear. Dr. thought it may be due to a large chunk of ear wax.

Mark had a golf tourney this weekend so we didn't see much of him. The kids and I had a good time. We went swimming in Gma's pool, even Eli! I even managed to get some much needed cleaning in!

I have a wedding to shoot this Friday for the couple below. Send positive thoughts my way = )

july is almost over?

Can it really be that July is almost over? Schuyler's first day of Kindergarten is Sept 4th and approaching quickly. She has her kindergarten Dr. appt on Monday. The other day, she made us a little book of words she can spell. Lamp, gift, pig, ring, and one other I can't read = ) It's so neat. But, what is truly great is watching her become a caring human being. This year she and the other kindergartner's assume leadership roles. During the summer, she is in the toddler room helping out, serving lunch, helping with walks, helping put on shoes, etc... I witnessed firsthand how well she does the other day at pick up time. A toddler was throwing a huge tantrum on the floor. She looked at John, went over and offered her hand and said "your mom is waiting for you". Off he went = )

Swimming lessons concluded last night and both girls moved to the next class. Next time we resume, Schuyler will be in level 3 and Mack will be in level Aqua Kids (it's like level 1 1/2. For those swimmers who are ready for level 2 but not tall enough). This weekend when we were in Hastings at the waterpark, it was very apparent what great strides both made this year in swimming. Hastings was fun! The kids were busy non-stop. Schuyler enjoyed her first baseball games with Grandpa!

Eli is going non-stop. We are trying desperately to got our house in order. He's in the bathroom, girls' room, etc... There is no containing him. He goes from sit to crawl back to sit! He is pulling himself up on everything. I walk in to get him after nap and he's in his bed standing. Sheesh. That happened fast. He is enjoying all foods! Rice cereal is still his favorite!

Vacation bible school starts next week! Kids will be tired!

feeling under the weather

I'm recouping from some nasty bug! I ended up staying home yesterday because I felt so rotten. It PAINS me to use my very valuable PTO for me being sick but I guess sometimes you have to do just that. My body ached all over and I spent the day in sweat pants, sweat shirt, and socks and could not get warm! And, why does this always happen when hubby is out of town. It's a good thing my MIL was in town with my niece to get the girls to swim lessons, help with dinner, etc... Gma took the girls back to Hastings (we're heading there tonight) and then dad came over in the evening to help with Eli. (Yes I was THAT sick)!

Congrats to my cousin and her husband on the birth of their first child. Jaxon Carter Volkmer entered the world on 7/16/07 at 7:51 p.m. He was 8 lbs 5 oz and 21 in long. (Disclaimer: stats may not be exact). He is a beautiful baby and you can bet I'll share pics (eventually)=)

Here is just one of Mr. Eli at 6 months! Can you believe he pulled himself up yesterday. Goodness gracious. He is really concentrating on those large motor skills!

I'm here!

I’m still here! Just didn’t get around to blogging last week. But I’m back, with lots of tidbits, as usual.

We had a nice 4th. Seems like a long time ago! We enjoyed some swimming at our neighbor’s, Eli and myself included. His first time ever and he had fun! Fireworks were a different story. Schuyler still loves them, especially the yellow “smokies” (translation: smoke bombs). Mack calls them smoke balls and it might be the ONLY firework she enjoys. She held her hands over her ears the whole time. She wouldn’t even take them off for homemade ice cream. I had to feed her the ice cream. We tried some pretty pink earplugs but she kept pulling them out. Eli was not a fan either! They would go off and his little face would scrunch up, the lip would come out and down came the tears. He went to bed around 8:00. I kept Mack out until 10:00 or so but it just wasn’t worth it! I brought her in and she went to bed!

That weekend, the girls went to Hastings to see Mark’s parents. This was a first for them and they kept BUSY. Eli got to be an only child for the weekend!

Last week we resumed swimming lessons. Schuyler is in a class of 4; at least this time there is one other girl! Mack basically enjoyed private lessons on Tuesday b/c there is one other boy and he would not get in the water. He was a little more receptive on Tuesday but it’s just the 2. Eli began veggies on Monday. He’s now had peas, green beans, and carrots and appears to like them all. His favorite is still the rice cereal. He bounces up and down in his high chair. Also, the world is changing for us all as Eli is crawling and becoming very mobile =)

Mack and Eli had Dr. Appts last week, 3 year and 6 month respectively. Eli is 95% for height and 85% for weight. Mack is 50% for both. Can you believe Mack weighs only 10 pounds more than her brother! Both were quite the little show offs. When Dr. asked if he could tripod, I put him down and he sat and then went to his crawl position and off he went! Mack was asked to draw a person among other things. Not only did she draw it, she drew it backwards so it was facing him. LOL! Then, she played little miss shy. She hid behind me when asked to recite the ABC’s, but when he briefly left the room, she was belting them out. He actually heard her 3 doors down. Isn’t she funny =) But, most importantly, they are healthy!

We went to the Farmer’s Market this weekend as a family. It was a warm one but very fun! We got brats, cinnamon rolls, smoothies, kettle corn and homemade root beer. It’s seriously the best!! Unfortunately, they were out of the farm fresh chickens = ( You have to hit that stand early!

Things to come… Eli’s 6-month pics and, hopefully, pics of my bro and SIL puppies. Ernie, the cockapoo, and Sophie, the Weimeranar. In the interim, here’s a beautiful teen from a month or so ago. She is beautiful and it was good practice for seniors!

I am keeping my promise!

As promised, I am including LOTS of recent family pics! But first, thank you to all who gave me input as to which logo to use. The blue came out on top but it was fairly even. Either way, I couldn't have made a wrong choice.

A few tidbits before the pictures (or just scroll down=) Last Thursday concluded the first session of swim lessons. Both girls made significant progress. Schuyler will repeat level 2 again and, much to my surprise, Mack will repeat level 1. She had only one category with a no pass, acutally she marked it in the middle of pass and no pass. That was balance! All the important stuff like floating and holding her breath, she passed. (Okay, I might be a bitter party of one on that subject).


The weekend was fabulous!! Mark and I enjoyed an 18 hole round of golf with our friends and the kids were absolutely spoiled (but in a good way)!!! Mark and I are so blessed to have such awesome family!! I'm enjoying some days at home this week as none of the kids have daycare. We're having fun! I hope everybody has a fun and safe 4th.

One more thing. On a more serious note, my brother's MIL has uterine cancer. Please keep her in your prayers. She is one fantastic woman!

And, at last, pics...

The before and during of the first rice cereal...


The "haircut" incident. I have no clue why our carpet looks so disgusting!!!

The "friend" bday party...

The girl with more spunk than McKenzie, Katie!
Her other friend Shaine, better known as Shainie... (She is blowing her toes dry. How cute!)
The "family" party with, yes, another Lightning McQueen cake. (Or, in Mackie language "Lightning The Queen".!