While the big cheese was away

I mentioned in an earlier post that last week Mark {aka the big cheese} left for a 3 day mini-sabbatical. He got back Wednesday, we had our wahoo Wednesday, he worked Thursday then left early Friday morning for a Promise Keeper event in Denver. He got back early Sunday morning (12:30am), slept till 5am then got up for church. He had a busy week so we decided to try and have one too. Ya know, to pass the time.

So this is a random post about some of the things we did and experienced last week, mostly while Mark was gone.

First my sister sent me a few shots of my kids and one shot of the big black clouds I was talking about in an earlier post, that she took in Omaha. I played with Instagram and had fun changing the look of the pictures.

Love that sass! {most of the time...} Yup. Time out on vacation.Do you SEE how big and black that is?!?!?!? THAT would be why we were driving away fast with sirens blaring....It was dusk. Not midnight I promise!Anywho....We had lunch with some friends on Tuesday - when we went to the river in Bayfield- then I had book club at my house Tuesday night.

Thursday I had lunch with another friend at a park. Our kids played wonderfully together while we talked and talked and talked. Unfortunately this is the only picture I got. 4 of us never made it in front of the camera.After the park we went to her house to continue with our chatting - we seriously talked forever! While we were out on her back deck and a wasp flew up my shorts/capris. At first I thought it was a stray hair or thread or something and tried to brush it away. Nope. It started stinging and wouldn't stop!

I think I got stung 4 times. We immediately put ice on it and I took Benedryl. Everything seemed fine. No real big swelling and the pain went away. Whew.

Until the next day. When I woke up after Mark left on Friday, my knee and thigh were red, swollen and itching like crazy! I tried putting stuff on it but we left in the morning to visit another friend and spent the afternoon at her house up in the mountains. I wasn't able to ice it (or broccoli it - frozen bags of veggies work wonderfully too!) till later that night during our small group at our house.Saturday my friend Kim gave me a bag of different things she's used on her family for stuff like this. The spray on Benedryl helped a lot. Now it's just really weirdly bruised and that didn't happen till Sunday...Who knew it was a gift that keeps on giving?
And yes I did really take pictures of my own leg. I'm weird, I know, but I was very fascinated!
Saturday we had a huge gust of wind that did this....
I kept staring at it wondering how in the world that happened!

Then I visited our garden. Many things don't look so hot. We believe it's because some of the straw had hay seeds in it that are competing. So a couple of the bales are growing some beautiful hay but the others are growing some awesome lettuce and peppers and hopefully tomatoes.On the way to church on Sunday - and the kids' first time seeing Mark - Kate drew him a picture of his family in case he forgot what we looked like...and in case you're having a hard time telling who's who, it goes from left to right: Kate, Jack, Kale, Mark and Me. I look like I have huge boobs but I'm pretty sure they are puffy sleeves on my queen dress...And that's what happened while the big cheese was away :)

Omaha - part 5

This is my final Omaha post. I was disappointed to discover that I didn't take very many pictures of the adults present. I'm sure others have them but I haven't obtained any. And in the interest of trying to finish up this segment I'm just gonna post what I got!

Tuesday we headed to the Henry Doorly Zoo. It's really a fun and beautiful zoo. Lots to see. Much too much to do in a short visit but we certainly made the rounds!

These pictures were taken in the jungle exhibit. You walk through the canopy of the jungle! You can also walk on the ground floor but we opted out of that muddy excursion.

We went with my cousin Jenni and two of her kidsThe penguin exhibit was fun. They are just so funny all waiting there to be fed.You can get right up to the glass and watch them swim up to you.The aquarium was amazing. You walk through a tunnel and sharks swim right over you! The kids were going crazy.This is in the desert dome. Below the dessert is the swamp where you walk on a bridge over crocodile exhibits. So cool.Everyone else had to leave after that. Some went to the baseball game, some went home, but we decided to ride the train around the rest of the zoo and see the most animals as quick as possible :)That night Kale went with Mark, my dad and Bob the Great to a CWS game. There was a major rain delay at the beginning but once the rain cleared they had fun.The rest of us watched the game from the comfort of the apartment...
Kate, Jack, Cooper and EmersonWednesday was our last day here. Mark and I took the kids to the park in the morning to blow off some energy. That night Mark, Meghan and I took Lilah and Kate to the last game we were able to see.She really enjoyed her first CWS game. She even got on the giant screen because she had taken my iPhone and was playing angry birds during a pitching change. The camera man caught her and laughed. She was embarrassed at first but now she's pretty excited about it.

She loved her huge pizza dinner and dippin dots for dessert. She actually finished the whole giant piece of pizza.Love her.We went back to Denver on Thursday and then Mark took the kids home to Durango on Friday. I stayed in Denver with some friends. We had a bridesmaids weekend. Picking up dresses and shopping! I can't post the picture of the dress but here are the gals I was with having a bit of fun at the bridal store.

Jen, me, Ashley and Jinny (the bride)Usually after a 10-day trip I'm exhausted and ready to get back into my normal life. This time, however, I was a bit sad that it was over. I really had such a fun time with family. I really enjoyed our time with my aunt and uncle and cousins and all my family. Such a sweet trip.

Omaha - part 4

Monday we headed to a little water park. It's not a Water World type of water park but a park that has water. We don't have these in Durango so that's why I seem like I have no idea what I'm talking about...The girls have matching swimsuits thanks to aunt/mama Meghan.I couldn't get enough of this sweet face!Wedgie!

Jack and Logan
It was like going to the beach!After the park we headed to Cabellas. I don't think we've ever been inside one. Mark, yes, but not the rest of us. We didn't buy anything but had fun looking!
Then ate at their cafe.That night, Kelly, Meghan, Lilah, my cousin Amy (and I) headed to another CWS gameThe sisters (minus Katie who lives in NY and couldn't come - by the way it's her birthday today -- shout out to Katie in NY!!!)
Me and my favorite niece (because I only have one so far, I can say that)This was the night that during about the 7th inning or so, big, black clouds started moving over the stadium. We decided it was a good idea to head home so we didn't get caught in pouring rain with the baby. On our way to the exit, the sirens started blaring. These Colorado mountain girlies started hoofing it!!! We don't have big, black, scary clouds and sirens where we live in CO. Thank goodness!

There wasn't a tornado but the sirens were for high wind warnings. Lots of pouring rain but no immediate danger. Just a bit of extra excitement to add to our night!

Made it home safe with a dramatic story to tell :)

Omaha - part 3

Saturday Mark, Kelly, her boyfriend - Carson, and I went to the opening game of the CWS. It was fun, hot, humid, sticky, entertaining, fun and hot.

During the Star Spangled BannerThen we saw George W. throw out the first pitch. Pretty sure he was on the field less than a minute! I put on facebook that I don't care who you voted for, it's just cool to see a former president...and it was!
That's him in the green jacket shaking hands with the coach.On Sunday we went over to my cousin Jenni's house to celebrate 2 of her kids' birthdays.
Lilah and Kate dressed up for the party.They have a gorgeous, lush, green backyard.We took pictures of the great grandkids with my grandpa - we call him Bob the Great.
back row: Emerson, Ethan, Bob the Great, Kale, Cooper
front row: Emilia, Kate, Lilah, Jon, Jack and Logan (who is 2 days older than Jack and almost a head taller!)Everyone blew bubblesEmilia posed for a pictureAnd another one with the 3 girl great-grandkidsTried on the Clone Trooper mask
(Jack)(Mark)(Aunt Kelly)Just a couple more days and then we're done!