Morning. It's quiet here in Omaha.
Yup. The missing Asher and needing to kiss his sweet head got too much for Katie and me.
We decided at ten and were in the car by twelve.

Melinda is very gracious to say, 'of course...come'

We drove straight to a baseball field were they had tickets for a Triple A ball game.
It was hot and sweaty. We perspired and Asher's brown hair was a mass of curls.

We got home late so everyone is still asleep except me and Matthew. Matthew is working this morning...and I'm doing this.

Melinda arrived at the game last. When Asher saw her he lit up, wiggling his hands and feet,and when she held him...he gave her a big baby kiss on the mouth. His mouth wide open. Sweetest thing.

Asher 's grandparents were at the game too. It's nice to see how much they love him and he loves them back!
It doesn't make me jelly....it makes me happy for Asher and Matthew and Melinda to have so much love and support in their lives.

I am thankful that we are only 6 1/2 hours away and can make the trip pretty easily.
I'm thankful to be here in this quiet house in Nebraska....waiting for everyone to wake up.

Thank you also for the nice comments and compliments on yesterday's blog.
Hearing from you is lovely and appreciated. More than you know.

With love,
Donna

On the phone yesterday, Emma asked me what I was doing. I think she wanted to eat her Subway sandwich.

And I couldn't think of anything....

But I remember now.




I have been winding yarn.







It was just sooooo hard and took so long.

We both had to bear it bravely.





And I took pictures of Katie when she popped in the room with her brilliantly colored tutu on.












The end.

Movies I make my kids watch.

These movies are part of our family history. They bond us a little.

My father made me watch two movies that I can remember; Fiddler on the Roof and King of Kings.
I remember them both vividly.
Fiddler gave me insight to my Dad. This movie about family and struggle and love touched him and he took us to the opening in downtown Chicago.
King of Kings touched my soul.
My dad did that and it is a wonderful memory I cherish.

It was only natural that I would gather round the kids and share with them my favorites.


1. Monty Python and the Holy Grail
2. Fiddler on the Roof
3. To Kill a Mockingbird
4. The Princess Bride
5. Singing in the Rain
6. The Jerk
7. Parenthood
8. Schindler's List
9. On Golden Pond


We have watched and enjoyed many more movies...but these are my intentional picks.
Emma and I have a super long list of beloved Jane Austen movies and romantic comedies that we hold dear.
But I can not say that the boys have seen all of those. Or any.

I'd like to add Gone with the Wind and The Bad Seed to the list but I am not sure we are 4/4.


That's what we watched around here. Those are our movies.

What movies do you love so well that you make sure your children sit down to watch them with you?


******







Patrick called Katie and I outside to see the odd clouds last night.
Aren't they pretty?

Happy Thursday.
If it's not rained out, tonight is Katie's final softball game.
August is right around the corner.

My! Things come and go so quickly here...

Encourage one another,
Donna

In which I reveal the movies I have never seen...nor care to see...

These movies have become part of the popular culture and
they are my demise on Jeopardy.


For someone who loves movies you will find it shocking...

here goes nothing...


1. Harry Potter 1-7
2. The Lord of the Rings 1-3
3. Twilight
4. Spiderman, Ironman, Transformers, recent Batmans. (Michael Keaton still plays Batman, right?)
4. Chicago, Dreamgirls, Nine, Mama Mia, and that one with Nicole Kidman and that English bloke.
5. The Pirate movies with Johnny Depp.
6. Avatar, Titanic, Star Wars.


This means, I have not seen 23 of the top 30 grossing movies of all time.

The movies I have seen on the 'top' list are animated movies. You can thank Katie for that.
Independence Day and Jurassic Park are on that list too...and I have seen and liked those.
In fact, I love Independence Day.

"Welcome to earth."




Once upon a time, John Travolta ruled the top ten box office list.
Grease and Urban Cowboy and Saturday Night Fever.

Tom Cruise and Steven Spielberg too.

Ah well...things change...

But I'm not buying...
and you can't make me.


I am not saying that the movies I've listed are not good. They are probably wonderful and exciting and great but to me...it would be like eating lima beans.



Here is a clip from a Steven Spielberg movie called Empire of the Sun. I have shared it three times on this blog.
I don't spot it on lists and no one but me talks about it. But it is beautiful in all sorts of ways...


Jim is separated from his parents and is in a camp in China/Japan during WWII. He has been industrious and wily in order to survive. His great love as a little boy has always been airplanes and before the war he sang in the choir.






That's Christian Bale...he is the new Batman.
I used this movie as part of my WWII high school curriculum.
This movie is based on a book of the same name by J.G. Ballard and it is a true story.
It is a perfect scene.


And here is one last thing....


I could not watch Mama Mia for more than 15 minutes because I thought it was absolutely the worst thing I ever saw and I can't watch more than 30 minutes of Napoleon Dymanite...something about that movie makes me sad.


Has anyone seen all of the movies I have not seen? Most of them?
I'll bet my kids have seen most of them....


I have gone from being totally 'in the know' to being officially out of it....

And it doesn't bother me one little bit.

Donna

Marysa and Kurt gave a bottle of wine as a gift to all of the
families who came to the rehearsal dinner.

Imagine my delight when I saw the label....




and that's all for now....
pick up at camp this morning.


ttfn,
donna


Hi! I'm back.

The girls had so much fun! What did they do at camp? mostly, sing and swim and play wild group games.
Katie is tired and her ear feels great.


I have a dinner idea to pass on to you. It is the easiest thing to make and it is a perfect summer dinner.

Grilled lemon pepper chicken and corn on the cob.







All I did was rub butter on the chicken, generously sprinkle lemon pepper on the chicken and place it on the hot grill.
For an average piece of chicken I cook for 7 min a side. When I turn the chicken over I put more butter and lemon pepper on the chicken. Chicken must be cooked well and I usually have to slice it open to see if I have waited long enough.

I don't put anything in my water when I boil my corn. Just boil. Turn the heat down and fish it out when you are ready.
Corn just needs to be heated thru. Then I use butter and salt.

For me, this is all I need.

My husband had cottage cheese with his meat and corn. I had cottage cheese and tomatoes for lunch so I skipped it at dinner.

We both thought this was a perfect meal. (Patrick's chicken only had butter and salt...lemon pepper is not his thing)
You don't have to knock yourself out to knock a meal out of the ballpark.

If I was really clever I would cook a few extra chicken breasts so I could use them in a salad.
One of these days I will get it all together but
don't hold your breath...I'm a late bloomer.


Happy summer eating!

Donna

bizarre floating mask face with eyelashes






It is too quiet here without you Katie Gracie.
Come home soon.




One year ago my dear sister in laws gave Melinda a baby shower.
We made onesies.



Asher wears them ALL the time now.






Poor baby has been sick almost all of July.
He has seen his doctor once and will go again today.

Please pray for wisdom for the doctor and some sort of diagnosis and treatment for Asher.
You know how hard this is on young parents...and little baby boys.

Thank you!

Love
Donna

Hello Mudder.
Hello Fadder.

Here I am at.
Camp Granada.







The second shot...Emma's idea.

The girls have air conditioning in their cabins.
Emma says Katie is already having lots of fun...she is too.






Our dad liked this song...I seem to remember seeing this on Ed Sullivan.
I was very little but it made an impression...


Encourage one another
Donna

Thank you for your wonderful advice about swimmers ear and how to take a pill.

Katie practiced with M & M's yesterday (since we didn't have any tic tacs in the house).
I tried to get her to take a pill with some bread and that ended with gagging. So she has to endure the pain.

We will keep trying. You have given me a great method and we are gonna succeed. I just know it.

The Dr. gave her ear drops and Amoxicilin.

This afternoon I will be driving Katie to camp near the Illinois border. Emma was invited to this camp by a woman at church in Chicago. It is a Salvation Army camp and it was started to bless the children from the city. Emma is going as a helper and Katie is coming along for some FUN! It really should be a fun time...how nice to have the girls going together...I never imagined that they would go to camp together :o)

I hope Emma can help Katie with her medicine.
This is Katie's first medicine in her life. The pharmacy didn't have a record of her. How about that!


*****

A small gathering of photos from the last week...









sweet senior!!





hotel light....




me and janet...








Adorable mommy and precious boy!




Great idea Sarah!


My camera and I have had a busy week :o)


I will share more of Laina's shoot and darling M. on the blog soon!


*****


Better go get Katie packed....she has been packing for herself..and well...you know that does not always work out quite right...

Happy weekending!!

Encourage one another,
Donna

On Jan. 21st I took a picture of Katie outside on a hill.
It was the coldest day of the year.
You know, a high of zero kind of day.





Yesterday when the thermometer hit 100
I thought it was only fitting to take a hottest day of the year picture.





She had just finished volleyball camp and had beads of sweat on her nose.

She actually looks fine, doesn't she? Well. I wasn't going to try to make her LOOK hotter.




I did however, tell her to do something with her hands.


***

Katie has a terrible case of swimmers ear. It hurts very much this morning.
It hurt yesterday too but I hoped it would go away so waited.

I am planning a trip to the Dr. this afternoon if I can get in.
Will the Dr. be able to help?

Katie is leaving for camp on Friday.

Of course.

Any home remedies will be appreciated.

p.s. the child can't take pills. She doesn't mind shots but the thought of swallowing a tiny pill sends her over the edge.



Thanks in advance!

Encourage one another,
Donna

I live a life of joy and fellowship and fun and beauty and health....








Many people do not have even the smallest bit of it.

a sad tale of death in uptown

God Bless those who care for the poor.

"Jesus is the one we take care of, visit, clothe, feed, and comfort every time we do this to the poorest of the poor, to the sick, to the dying, to the lepers, and to the ones who suffer from AIDS."
~Mother Teresa


Encourage one another and love,
Donna

We interupt this program for a special announcement....


These girls are so funny I couldn't wait to show you their pictures.
Amy brought Carrie over for the day and Katie couldn't have been happier.
The girls played dress up in Emma's clothes. It was prom dresses and sun dresses yesterday.
And sunglasses.











There was music and a fashion show....







and..and...


how do they know about this???




I am ever thankful that God gave us a child when I was older....

Children are so....


Lively!

Thank you for the lovely toasts you left in the comments. I thought they were wonderful.


Dawn K said what I would have said...if I was so eloquent.


May God bless you two in your life together.
Laugh often. Listen carefully. Forgive constantly.





I was able to get Marysa and Kurt to come out for a few shots as the sun was setting.
It was so hot out, but they didn't feel it! They were excited and full of joy!
They are both so dear. They adore one another, love to have fun, love their families and are amazing students.
(Both still in graduate school.) Their parents should be very very proud of them and I know they are.


Keith hosted a lovely party. Inviting so many people!
Things have changed as far as rehearsal dinners go. Used to be just the bridal party....
Now many people have big gatherings. I'm actually glad...so I get to go :o)

Keith chose a gorgeous spot with delicious food.
The bar had Mr. Pibb. :o)

On the tables were Chianti bottles with candles and vines. Did I tell you it is a winery?
Keith made the decorations himself!!! He is kind of remarkable.





Jeffery is Kurt's younger brother. Jeff just graduated from school. He is a digital computer artist. If you know anyone at Pixar, let me know! :o) Really.
Wes is Kurt's twin. Wes is married to Stephanie. They got married in Florida two summers ago.
They are happily living, working and going to school in Michigan.

I did not get pictures of everyone, that is for sure.
Only the people who ventured out to look at the river.





















Kiss every day.


more to come....
love
donna

We are headed to Missouri for a wedding.
Sue and Keith's son, Kurt is getting married to his sweetie Marysa.




It is going to be fabulous!


See ya Monday!

You can follow my bizarre tweets on Twitter.

Miz Boo on Twitter

and Facebook, of course.

I'll be rocking my Instagram app on my phone....
If I can figure it out.

Love you.
Mean it.

Donna


How about leaving your best 'toast' for Kurt and Marysa in the comments!
Thanks! That would be nice :o)

"Self-consciousness is the enemy of fun."

~Jayne Williams via bdaiss


Oh! That is so true, true, true.




We totally went for it in the freezing rain and tons of fun and made one great memory!




This girl lives to dress up. She doesn't have an ounce of self consciousness and loves to be the center of attention.

Katie saw a Jewish wedding ceremony on television. You know the part where they lift the bride and groom up on chairs?

Katie looked at me and said, "I want to do that at my wedding!"

I giggled and told her, fine with me!


****


Did you ever fly a kite in bed?
Did you ever walk with ten cats on your head?

Did you ever milk this kind of cow?
Well, we can do it. We know how.

If you never did, you should.
These things are fun and fun is good

Dr. Seuss





















Love,
Donna


BTW,
The comments yesterday...amazing, full of love and understanding...
best comments in the world!