Tuesday, March 31, 2015

Bye Bye March!

Wow -- did March just zip by for you too?
Even though it was a long month with 
31 long days, it seems to have 
marched by rather quickly!

The Oscar Mayer Wienermobile rolled into town --
their license plate  - "Big Bun"

I've had a bit of blogger's block this month.
Just got busy with lots of
little work things -- office-work, housework, yardwork and . . . 
homework!
And am afraid I didn't get as much accomplished as I hoped
due to a recurring whopper headache! :(

So happy spring break starts soon and hoping
for a break from the homework -- especially math!
Is it just me or did math get really hard
in the last few years??

Photo from May 2014 - - aren't they adorable!
Looking forward to watching
these 3 little ones on Wednesday night this week
and spending time with them again at
Easter Sunday brunch!
Yum!


Tuesday, March 24, 2015

Hello Spring!

I am a little bit late welcoming spring 
because I've been busy
raking and bagging leaves
and assorted gunk from the yard!

A little pretty among the the layers and layers of dirty old leaves!
And now that we've had a bit of rain,
everything is turning green and budding
right before my very eyes!

In celebration of spring and all that jazz,
Mr. Tennis decided to get a 
new ride!



Last weekend was sunny and up to 70
so a convertible made perfect sense!


Isn't he just too much sometimes!?! 
He loves it and says that with a little practice
(it's a stick shift), I can drive it too! 
So happy that Lincoln is very flat!
Last time I drove a stick shift - I had to be sure and make 
a plan ahead of time
to avoid hills!

Now that I'm a more experienced driver
and it's a lot flatter here, I really am not 
worried at all.
My biggest concern is . . . 
my hair!!

Seriously, we've just entered into the season
of bad hair days!  
You know:   rain + humidity = frizz and big hair!!
Add a convertible to that -- I'm a little afraid! 
Make that very afraid!
I noticed some robins eyeing my hair last weekend 
when it (my hair) was only slightly out of control!
Bring on the hot rollers and flat irons!

Only 2 years from a learner's permit!!!

Tuesday, March 17, 2015

An Update

Hello Friends!

Modeling a dress she got for the choir concert in May.
Thought I would do a quick mid-week update to let
you know that prayers were answered and 
Mr. Tennis is feeling so much better!
Out of the hospital last Friday and
even though the docs, nurses and staffers
are fabulous, we're going to try to avoid that place!

In other news, it was 90 degrees here yesterday
in Nebraska!
Holy cow -- it's still winter!
That was hot.

Today, we're back to a balmy 34 in the AM with later-day
highs in the 50s.  Perfect!

And flowers are popping up and thinking about
getting ready to bloom!

Ours are not quite to this stage just yet!
I am so ready for the trees to get some buds and green up already,
aren't you!

And that's about all the news I have -
some times . . . 
no news is good news!


Thursday, March 12, 2015

Ups and Downs and Bits of Randomness

Hello Friends!
I've had a few posts percolating in my brain
for the last week, but none have actually
been completed.
Soooo, I'm going to combine a bunch of randomness and call it good.


Mads and I were starting to go a little stir crazy earlier this month
during a cold spell
so we went off to the "I Love My Dog" expo!
The highlight was seeing the
Salt Dog mascot from our local baseball team!

And then the jeep was sliding a lot on the way home
 due to the freezing rain/snow,
so we stayed home.
I baked some cookies and napped - the smell of home-baked cookies
put me right to sleep.
That was a fun day -- for me anyway! 


Since then we've been blessed with incredible warm and sunny weather!
Loving it!
I've spent a lot of time doing yard cleanup - which in 60+ temps after a long winter feels like heaven.  And I know the budding plants under the layers and layers of leaves, ice and gunk
appreciate my efforts.

Last weekend, we actually took a little roadtrip to a nearby
outlet mall!  The Under Armour store was
calling some one's name! :)


Who could resist a little hole in the wall eatery
called Voodoo Taco?
Pretty yummy!


In other news, Mr. Tennis has been in the hospital again.
Poor guy -- he rather suddenly became really ill earlier this week.
It appears all related to the nasty ulcerative Crohn's disease
he was diagnosed with in January.
Hoping he is home today or tomorrow!
He's keeping in good spirits and feeling much better.
If you could say a prayer or two for him, we'd appreciate it.


Wednesday, March 4, 2015

12 Years Ago

"A daughter is a miracle that never ceases to be miraculous...
full of beauty and forever beautiful...
loving and caring and truly amazing."
Dianna Beisser

March is one of my favorite months!  
Besides the fact that March ushers in spring,
 daylight hangs around longer, birds are chirping
and the grass is greening up finally,
there is another reason I love March.



12 years ago today in a conference room in the faraway city 
of Guangdong in the Peoples Republic of China, 
we met our daughter, sweet Maddy, from the town of Wuchuan, 
 for the very first time.


Two months before, we received some photos of her 
looking very serious with those beautiful
piercing dark eyes, sweet little nose and rosebud lips.
And that hair -- that gorgeous black hair!
It was love at first sight!

She's an amazing, sweet, vibrant, thoughtful, loving, 
funny and fun-loving 
13 year old now.
How did we ever get so lucky?!


We are blessed beyond measure to be able to raise her
and call her our daughter!


A daughter is the happy memories of the past, the joyful moments of the present,
 and the hope and promise of the future." 

-- Author Unknown

Sunday, March 1, 2015

So Long February - Hello March

Hello Friends!
Are you ready for the month of March?
I'm thinking praying that it will be better
weather-wise than February!
Come on Mother Nature - play nice and
bring us some warm weather please!

February ended with my son, Philip's, birthday!
He turned 30 years old!
Holy cow -- how can he be 30?!
He loved that Sesame Street riding toy!

He was born on a record-high warm day -- 68 degrees!
So lovely!
I recall Mr. Tennis hitting every single pothole on the
way to the hospital!
Ouch!  :(
Philip was a healthy 9 pounder!
Such an adorable baby!
And he's been a joy ever since!

Philip at 7 years old and Connor at 5.

This past year he finished his pediatric residency and
moved with his family to Lincoln!


We are so delighted to have them here and
 celebrated at a dinner out last week.

Philip with his 2 boys, Walt and Harry
Such a great time and celebration!
Happy Birthday Philip!