The rest of June

The rest of what our family did in June....

 Had to capture Mike cutting down the large branch that fell from the tree when we were on vacation:)

Jammie time<3

Having a career that allows time off to spend with my kids is one part of my life that I am most thankful for!!  I know I would never be a great stay at home mom-working makes me a better mom and I believe that the kids have definitely benefited from interacting with other kids and adults.  With that being said we spend the rest of June doing fun outings with mommy.  We frequently visited the free wading pools in town:)  As the pictures show these 2 both have their individual crazy/fun personalities and I LOVE it! (Joden 4yr3mon, Reeve 2yr2mon)

We always try to do something for Mike for father's day so this year we made peanut butter cookies.  I had way more help than needed, but I always remind myself that it is for a good reason:)  The kids truly have an amazing father-we love him so much!

Every summer when I am off we also try to take a trip out west to see our family.  So the next set of pictures are our trip out west.

  It was actually chilly this day so Owen made sure he was dressed right-this picture cracks me up! 

 The Schumacher girls minus Kati.  We sure have a great time together-I couldn't ask for better 'sisters':)

 After visiting Sidney we headed to Lake Mac where my parents live.

 My dad with my kids.  I often sat with my dad growing up just like Reeve is:)

 I wore them smack dab out.

Mike and I celebrate our anniversary every year on June 16.  We have been married 6 years, but together 13 years total.  This first picture is the very first picture we ever took together-Mike was 17 and I was 15:)  

This year we celebrated with a drink at the Chocolate Bar!

  Joden and I went to the Grand and saw a 3D kid movie-sadly I cannot even remember what it was called.  

 Mike, Kati and I went on a party bus with some friends of ours:)

 Joden was in a cooking class at Peace Lutheran this summer for one week-he loved it!

The cousins on my side came down to visit.  We hit up Island Oasis and ended the day with dinner at Olive Garden.  They were all great:)

Reeve just loves her cousin Anslee:)

Our last June activity was Seussical the Musical in Kearney at Yaney Park.  It was awesome and it was free!  We went with several good friends-Keaslings and Kastens.  The only complaint is the lack of bathrooms-there was only one and the line was REALLY long:(

 

South Carolina Vacation 2013

Day 1:  May 30th, 2013

Our day started off way too early!  Our initial plan was to leave the night before and stay at a friends in Omaha, but due to tornado alley, we could not get there.  So, we got up at 2am and swooped the kids in the car at 3am in order to catch our 7am flight!  Not sure how, but the kids were AMAZING the whole day:)  We were very thankful for this!  

 On our first flight!

Reeve of course fell asleep at the end of the flight:)

 Our condo that my awesome dad helped us get at Edisto Beach!

Even though we were exhausted Joden really wanted to go swim.  So, we hit up the beach for about 1 hour.  The kids fell in love immediately!  

                                                

                                                

                                   

Joden did not like the taste of the salt water, so he kept spitting it out, which resulted in a sand mustache:)  As for Reeve, I just love baby wedgies.  It may sound weird, but something about it is really cute!

The day finished with dinner with my Uncle Mark (my dad's brother) and my Aunt Patsy!

Day 2:  May 31st, 2013

The day started off with a run on the beach-so peaceful!  Then we showered up so we could head out to visit my dad's mom at the nursing home and then head to Orangeburg, SC to visit my mom's side of the family.  In Orangeburg we saw my moms Aunt and Uncle and her cousin.  Then we had a southern style bbq dinner with my moms sister, husband, and there three kids!  It was wonderful to see everyone!

Here is one picture from our day-we did not take many this day due to driving.  The kids crashed in the car.  

One thought of this day was visiting my grandmother.  It was really hard for me.  First of all she is in the nursing home due to having two strokes this year.  When we got there we caught her at the end of her lunch.  She was in the cafeteria with many other patients in the nursing home.  It was really hard for me to soak in!  I found myself trying to hold back the tears the whole time I was in there.  I just felt so sad for them all and felt sad for my grandmother that she spends everyday there:(  It is not that the facility is bad, it is just that it is such a somber feeling and her room was very small.  I just cannot imagine what she does all day long.  When we got in the car afterwards I just could not hold the tears in any longer.  They came streaming out and I told Mike I was not sure whether to pray for her to be happy or for God to let her rejoice in heaven.  I LOVE this lady a lot and just want to make sure she is happy!  She seemed great and her mind is there-I just have never seen her this way.  Her hair was not done and she did not have her makeup on as she always did:)  I have to remind myself though what is most important is that I got to see her again and spend some time with her.  I love you Gran!  

Day 3: June 1st, 2013

This was our first day of no driving anywhere:)  We started our day by heading over to see some other cousins at their beach house.  We have not seen them for about 6 years so it was great to catch up!  Then we met my Uncle Steven and his two children Will and Sarah for lunch at Sea Cow.

Joden with my first cousin Will.  I thought they sort of looked alike:)

After lunch my dads other brother (he has 3) Dale came down with his wife Rachel to join us at the beach. 

I did not take many pictures this day either, but here is one to show how tired Reeve was from playing at the beach!  

Due to being worn out dinner was pizza that Mike and Uncle Steven picked up.  It was delicious:)

Day 4:  June 2nd, 2013

This morning started off with playdough at the kitchen table.

                         

                            

                       

Once the playdough was done we packed up and got ready to head to the beach for most of the day!  Here is the beach fun-today was a big picture day!

                               

                              

                          

                                          They found a horseshoe crab that lost it's tail:( 

    Wave jumping!

Reeve passed out during the storm and we carried her all the way back to the beach house:)

 Riding out the storm

Uncle Steven with my cousin Sarah

Just drinking some milk

The one and only time Reeve would let him hold her:(

After the beach we all showered up for dinner.  We ate at Dockside I believe.  This was my least favorite meal, but still not too bad.

Here is Hulk

Our fun day was finished off with some ice cream!  What a wonderful day with our family:)

Day 5:  June 3rd, 2013

This was our final day to be in South Carolina.  The plan was for us to all go to the nursing home to eat a delicious meal with my grandmother.  So we got up, got ready, and drove to see her for lunch.  It was my Uncle Steven, Will, Sarah, Uncle Dale, Aunt Rachel, my dads Aunt Lavoda, a cousin of my dads Durena, and of course us 4.  Lunch included fried chicken and macaroni and cheese.  That is a special meal that my grandmother has always made for us:)  Here are some pictures of our lunch:

  

                                                     

                                                        

                                       
This is my dads mom who has always been near and dear to my heart!  I am so thankful we got the opportunity to go and see her:)  


                                        

Not sure that I look exactly like her, but I do resemble my dads side more:)

As we were leaving we got to see a helicopter land right in front of us!

Rockin the awesome blue shades that my dad got him:)

Once we got back to Edisto Beach we went to the Serpentarium.  We got to see lots of alligators, crocodiles, snakes, and turtles!

We were so thankful for the opportunity to go on this trip!  It was great to see family and enjoy time together:)  Another memory in the books!