Happy Father's Day

Happy Father's Day to my daddy.

xoxo

Lissa

June 14th

Happy Flag Day!

June 14th is Flag Day and commemorates the adoption of Old Glory, but it's not an official federal holiday.

I was taught to love the flag pretty early in life by my Papa. It flew every single day in front of his golf course. He was a WW2 vet and it was very important to him. He taught us that it didn't touch the ground. That it had to come in before it got dark, or had a light on it. And how to fold it just right.

Grandpa's teach you the best things don't they?

xoxo

Lissa

Diana a Celebration~ Kansas City Union Station

How about 1 more little road trip? Oh come on, it's just 300 miles or so! 

Friday Adam & I hopped in the truck and headed back out to KC to meet up with Danee, Jamie & Myla, and see

Diana a Celebration

I was pretty optimistic that it would work on this, our 3rd attempt. The fates had worked against us the last 2 tries, so this time just HAD to work.

You see, I'm one of THOSE people. A Royal watcher yes, but pretty much all things English, Scottish or Irish fascinate me. My freshman year of high school when I had a British pen pal (yes, real letters) started my borderline obsession. Even on of my very favorite author Rosamunde Pilcher is British.

 So I watched, along with the rest of the world, as Diana Spencer married Prince Charles the summer between my freshman & sophomore years of high school. And  a few years later I did the same with Prince Andrew & Sarah Ferguson. And, of course, again with Prince William & Kate Middleton. Not to mention watching the funeral of Princess Di in the wee hours of the morning. 

Danee & I were so lucky to visit London when she was in High School. Sometimes after dreaming about doing something for so long it can be disappointing, not quite living up to super high expectations. Not this time.

 I LOVE London.  

Those cheeks KILL me! She'll remember her Princess Di visit don't you think?

There were guest books to sign & leave your thoughts on the exhibit or share a memory of Diana

No photography was allowed inside the exhibit so watch this  or look at these to get an idea of what the exhibit is like.

High points for me?  From childhood- school uniform, diary, letter to her parents, ballet slippers. Personal bits- her passport, various correspondence, a prayer book from Mother Theresa. Her dad was an amateur photographer ( a good one too!) so there is a personal photo album of wedding celebration photos. A copy of the score for Candle in the Wind with Elton John's notes on it. Her brother Charles' eulogy.  THE WEDDING DRESS. I'll admit it, I went thinking this would be the holy grail. A collection of her dresses through the years. From the early 80's to the very last of her dresses- it's fun to see how much fashion has changed over time. And then there was a room that was a complete surprise to me. When you walk in you see 2, very large, glassed in book shelves with HUNDREDS of books. "Books, I love books"- is what I was thinking. But then you start to read the placard, and you realize that they are all Books of Condolence from around the world. They didn't call her the "People's Princess" for nothing.

xoxo

Lissa

Operation "Save the Shed"

So I showed you the fun part of last weekend's road trip to Arkansas. But there was something else that took us that way. A few weeks ago Adam got an email from Chad. One of their big, pretty trees had been growing INTO the shed and it was time to do something about it. The bid to take the tree out was crazy high & they wanted to save the tree anyway. The question- Did Adam think there was a way to save both the tree & the shed. 

First, as we said many times last weekend, this isn't a "shed" it's a barn. It's bigger than some apartments & has a loft. Replacing it would have even more that cutting the tree down. So, it was the engineering brain, Builder Bob to the rescue. I had no doubts (ok maybe 1) that he could rock this challenge.

It was so hot last weekend. The guys went through a case of bottled water, a 6 pack of Gatorade & a 12 pack of beer. 

For 2 hard days of work Adam earned himself a weekend pass to the Bridger's very exclusive Cabin Club at the Lake! Woo! Not sure which lake though. Hmmm.... think he'll take me?? 

Here's where we started

Before they could demo, the new walls had to go up

New wall going up

Framing, walls, flashing & weather proofing. DONE

How do you cool off & celebrate? Margaritas of course!

xoxo

Lissa

Emerson Kate is great!

So, I'll just get this out there. I suck as a friend. No really. Emerson Kate is 4 months old & until this weekend I had yet to make the 5 hour drive to visit this very anticipated baby . Yeah, yeah. Life gets in the way, I'm busy, all true, still takes me out of the running for aunt of the year.

So, here she is. A-DOR-A-BLE!

FYI- Kelly took most of these pics. :o)

This weekend was even more special because 1 year ago on Saturday was the day we found out that the little elf was on her way.

Kelly's mama Suzanne & Maggie the protector.

Aunt Lissa & Aunt Lisa. I love just hanging out with friends & catching up.

I did put her down sometimes, I swear

Maggie takes her job of protector very seriously

Annie had a great weekend too

Our little elf. So freakin' cute.

Aunt Darla came on Sunday to hang out for a while too. 

Baby bath time is awesome!

If mamma gets this wet when she is 4 months  old, can you just imagine what it's going to be like when she's 2!?

Annie is just a tiny bit jealous

 This was a work weekend as well. Very impressive work in fact. You'll have to see Adam's storage miracle.

xoxo

Lissa

Baby #5

HE'S HERE!  

I told you about baby #5 in this post. Well, somehow we made it from February to May & I would love for you to meet

Mikah Jarome. He was born Sunday May 29, 2011 @ 2:52 pm. He was 8 pounds & 20 inches long. And he is absolutely perfect in every way.

Since they were pregnant together the girls have been joking for months that Myla & Mikah will be getting married. Makes me smile to think about anyway. 

  

Danee is so good to me. Sends me pictures right away

Daddy Nate is a happy guy

There is actually one more baby coming into my family. My brother & sister in law will be having a little girl in August. So many babies! I'm not going to drink the water, that's for sure!

xoxo

Lissa

Good weekend

We've had a really good weekend. 

Friday we had a wonderful dinner with great friends. I had hoped for a patio night, but the weather didn't cooperate with that plan. That's fine. I mean what's better than a great meal with people you really care about? 

Saturday we hopped in the truck & headed west. Danee, her friend Jamie, Myla & I had a date to see the Princess Di exhibit. First try didn't work out so we were off to try again. (2nd attempt was a fail too) Adam had a date with a crib & some tools. :o)

Oh, and Danee gave me the Mother's Day gift the kids all did. Cam, of course was late getting his picture, but that made it such a great surprise! 

We had an evening wedding so off we went. More of that this week.

My thoughts have been with Courtney all weekend. 

This picture was posted on the USAF Basic Military Training page. Getting this glimpse of her as she was processed in is a gift. I will ALWAYS remember that the military person is not the only one to sacrifice. It's the whole family. I'm grateful & very humbled by all of their sacrifices.

Happy Memorial Day!

They gave up their today so we would have tomorrow

xoxo

Lissa