Last Day of Tour of Missouri

Our last day in Missour at the Tour was in Chillocothe, for the start of a stage of the tour. This day was more exciting for the kids, as Chillocothe knew how to entertain people! There was an expo again for local and state businesses, where the kids got more cow bells, foam fingers, and balloons! The kids would have been just fine with that, but they also had a little carnival put on by one of the churches in town. There was a couple bouncey houses and a rock climbing wall, cotton candy & popcorn, and face painting! Samantha went in one of the bouncey houses and got her face painted. We told the girl that we wanted an "N" for "Nebraska" in red and white. She obviously didn't understand, because she kept saying "I'm going to make it a fancy "N" ". So, I watched her do a letter that kind of looked like an "N", but then she kept decorating it until it was unrecognizable! :) But, Samantha thought she looked just like a Husker cheerleader with a painted face! :) It was a very hot day, so we took a break in the shade a few times while Doug went and looked at bikes and riders. He got some close up views of David Zabrinski (yellow jersey & blue shorts) who won the tour and yellow jersey and he also got to see George Hincappie (red, white, blue top and bottom) ride right by him. He realized how easy it was and how nice the riders were at stopping to take pictures and autographs, so next year I'm thinking he will be more forceful with his plan to get autographs! We got to see the start of the race while the riders did a few laps around town before heading out on the road course, so that was neat! They went by really fast and it was fun to see all the good riders together! After the riders were out of town, we headed for home and Alden was zonked out before we even got through the McDonalds drive through for lunch! It was a fun couple of days!

Tour of Missouri

We drove to Sedalia, MO last Friday morning to see the Tour of Missouri Pro Cycling Race. We stopped at our favorite McDonald's in Odessa, MO - it has a toddler playground. Then on to Sedalia to watch the Tour of Missouri Individual Time Trial. We arived early (Michelle claims I was speeding) and we were able to see the team buses set up bikes and trainers for riders to warm up on. We got to see Lance Armstrong's bike (Yellow Trek bike) because the team he was on this summer - Astana - was there. We also walked around the expo area and Sam and Alden recived the loudest cow bells on earth! It was hot, so we found a place to watch with a bench and shade away from the big crowds. It also was the steepest hill of the day. Sam and Alden rang their bells for the riders as they went past one by one. Some of the riders, Sam knows by name from the Tour de France. After a long day of cheering we loaded up and drove to Columbia to Meet Charlotte. We got to spend the evening with Dusty, Goldie, and Little Charlotte. Then we headed north to Macon, MO (the middle of nowhere) and went straight to the pool! The pool was freezing cold, so we weren't there too long. The kids were out as soon as their heads hit the pillows! Alden & Sam slept together again, but this time, Alden fell out of bed. :) (Written by Doug)

Zoo Trip with Mandy & Caden

Last Wednesday, we took a trip to the zoo with my friend Mandy and her son Caden. Samantha & Alden had a blast with Caden. We let them play on the Lion Statues right as you come in the gate to the zoo and Alden thought it was pretty cool to ride on a baby lion statue. :) Next, we did the butterfly pavilion and I tried not to look at the bugs and spiders in the next room. The giraffes were all outside that day and really close to us. We stood there for a long time watching one of them try to get a leaf off of its tongue! The Zebras were next and then we walked over the bridge with the spider monkeys on the island next to it, so of course the kids had to feed the fish some food before we could move it. The baby sea lion "Coco Pup" was out, so we stood there for along time watching it play on the slimy floor of exhibit and then it climbed up to it's mom on the rocks. We saw the gorillas and got to see the newest baby gorilla born at the zoo. I teased Alden that the gorilla came out of mommy's tummy and that was going to be his new sister! He didn't think too much of that! The baby gorilla was just as tiny as newborn baby! Then, Caden wanted to take us into the "Kingdom of the Night" with all the night living animals. That was kind of creepy and smelly, so we walked through it quickly. Samantha & Alden didn't care too much for it either! Then, we took a short break on a bench and watch Caden chase the peacocks. After that we drove to Fazoli's for lunch. It was a great play date for Samantha & Alden!

Labor Day Weekend

Doug & the kids went to his parents house on the Sunday of Labor Day Weekend. I went to a movie with a girlfriend of mine and then went out to their house. The kids had a fun afternoon because their cousin Shaely was there with a friend. The water in the lake was already cold, so Doug took the kids on a paddle boat ride, which they thought was so much fun! They had supper and cleaned up and then played inside for the rest of the evening.

On Monday, Doug & I took the kids to Mahoney State Park to play on their huge outdoor playground. First we climbed the lookout tower. The kids thought that was fun, although Samantha was pretty scared when the tower started moving in the wind. Alden loved to look at the trains from above and liked breeze blowing through his hair. After my 81 steps to my seat at the Husker game, the steps up the tower were pretty exhausting for me! But, I made it! After the tower, we drove to the playground and the kids had a good time playing on all the stuff. Samantha decided to be brave and went down the big slides over and over. Alden followed her up the steps, but then decided he wasn't brave enough when he got to the top. There were quite a few pieces of equipment perfect for Alden, so he mainly stuck to those. After they were exhausted from playing, we drove to Gretna for lunch at McDonalds.

Husker Opener

Saturday, September 5th - GAME DAY! After nearly 9 months of waiting for Husker football, the day finally arrived. Samantha & Alden got new Husker gear after outgrowing last year's models. Samantha was very proud of her Husker Cheerleading Jumper and Alden showed off his Husker Football Jersey in the same manner. I searched for many days to find a Husker maternity shirt or even just red - but resorted to wearing my old "Future Husker" shirt that Doug had made me when I was pregnant with Samantha. Doug opted to wear his "old school" University of Nebraska shirt instead of getting a new football shirt this year. Once we were all outfitted in out Husker gear, we drove to Nebraska City to drop Alden off at my parent's cabinet shop. My dad got Alden a red balloon to entertain him while we were gone, he also got to ride lot of coin-0operated rides in the mall. :) We took Samantha with us back to Plattsmouth, where we caught a ride from Doug's dad, Aunt Jodi & friend Nancy to Lincoln. Samantha went to the Jr. Blackshirts (daycare program at the campus rec center while the parents are at the football game). She had talked for almost a year about going back to Jr. Blackshirts again - so we gave in and signed her up. I was tickled to get to go to the game because I usually don't get to go to Husker football games when I'm pregnant. (When I was pregnant with Samantha I almost passed out from heat exhaustion and claustrophobia during a game and we had to leave in the 1st quarter!) Because I had been working out so hard during this pregnancy and due to the forecasted high temperature of 79 degrees - Doug allowed me to go. Climbing the 81 stairs to our seats was not the most delightful being 8+ months pregnant, but I made it. And, I only went down 1 time to use the restroom - a huge accomplishment! The game was a lot of fun, even though I was very sore the next morning (actually I still am sore now - 3 days later). Samantha had a great time with the other kids at Jr. Blackshirts and Alden had a wonderful time with my parents.

Money in the Bank-

Last Wednesday, the four of us took a trip to the bank to open Alden a savings account. Almost 2 years after he was born - he now has a regular savings account. Our goal was to get it accomplished before the new baby arrives next month, so we did accomplish that. (He has had a College Savings Account since the day he was born.) We emptied both his piggy banks, which were quite full after almost 2 years of saving! Samantha also emptied her piggy bank into her savings account (which we opened for her a long time ago). Alden was not too fond of the bank taking his money and not giving it back. He kept saying "money - bank?" like maybe they would give it back. It was very cute, but I don't think he quite trusted the bank. :)