BEGIN AGAIN AGAIN

Daily posts it is. I love being able to interact with you daily. And tell you the small things - that are often the big things - about a day in the life of.

This was a long, heartbreaking, really good, difficult week. It ended with Joy being obsessed with ice (or my sangria - I only gave her the ice, I promise), so it ended on a high note.

It threw me off quite a bit - through no fault of Pete's - to be at odds with my boss, even a little. Being (mostly) on the same page again - no, not even that...We can disagree about everything, but if we are getting along, I do so much better. That is MY issue, not his, and I should have not gotten tripped up here!

How appropriate I suppose to begin again again on the day we stop saving used syringes to reuse for injections FOREVER! I have been celebrating for weeks! I haven't been told yet though so don't say anything :)

Happy July you guys. I've got a lot of cute pictures and a handful of awesome guest posts, so it was time for me to quit slacking!

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Post from one year ago today...

July 1, 2016

HUH

AUNT JANEEN ANDERSON

My Great Aunt Janeen Anderson passed away recently.

Janeen was my Mom's Mom's (my Grandma's) sister. Their last surviving sibling is my Great Aunt Pat.

Aunt Janeen and her family lived in Omaha when I was growing up, She and Uncle Frank moved to Bella Vista Arkansas thirty years ago, and have loved it. Uncle Frank was the first mayor of Bella Vista, so we called Aunt Janeen the first First Lady.

This is the ceramic Santa Janeen painted for Russ and me for our wedding gift. It is one of my favorite Christmas decorations, and sometimes I leave it out all year.

Aunt Janeen had many wise things to say, but the one thing that has impacted me the most was her description of depression, which she also lived with. She said that depression is the dark night of the soul. That is a beautiful description for such an awful condition. I love it so much.

Depression is the dark night of the soul.

It is poetic when depression is anything but.

It is hopeful when depression makes things seem hopeless.

It compares depression to night which implies morning is coming.

Thank you for  your loving fingerprints on my life Aunt Janeen. We will all miss you very much.

Janeen Kay Anderson of Bella Vista, Arkansas | 1937 - 2017 | Obituary

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Post from one year ago today...

May 24, 2016

RADIO STATIC

MOTHER'S DAY AT THE LAKE

We went to the lake to spend Mother's Day with Karen and Phill. We had a wonderful day!

Happy Mother's Day Karen!

You are the best Mom-in-Law I could ever have, and I love you so much!!

I left these last pictures in color - how beautiful is this fruit pizza?? Abby and Amanda made it for me. I may have been obsessing over how awesome the fruit pizzas Kelly and I have been getting are! :)

Happy Mother's Day too to my two beautiful children. You made this a very fun Mother's Day, and you make me the luckiest Mom in the world by being you. I love you so much!

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Post from one year ago today...

May 16, 2016

FALLING IN LOVE WITH A BREED

ROB AND MIKE

Happy wedding weekend to two of my favorite people in the world!

We wish we were there with you. We hope you have a wonderful wedding, and we wish you a long, happy marriage. You are perfect for each other, and we love you both.

With love from your favorite cousin and cousin-in-law :)

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Post from one year ago today...

May 12, 2016

LOSING DOG

BEGIN AGAIN

Again with getting behind. 

This time it's the depression.

I would be kinder to myself if this were not supposed to be a daily blog. But also part of the reason for the blog is to feed my spirit. So maybe I should lay off myself a bit. Or be harder on myself. I dunno.

Anyways, the thing I feel worst about is that if I catch up and you get my emails, you will get an avalanche of emails before I am back to the daily posts. I am sorry about that.

Begin again <3

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Post from one year ago today...

May 11, 2016

A TOAD DRIVING A TRACTOR

ROAD TRIP FOR RUSS'S BIRTHDAY

We went to Kansas City for the weekend of Russ's birthday.

We brought both dogs. They actually did very well!

We had a very fun weekend. We mostly shopped at the Plaza and watched Marvel movies in the hotel room.

Abby shared the pictures she got...

Joy and Luna love road trip adventures!

Luna resting with Amanda...she is not always good at things that come naturally to other dogs!

Luna figures out resting in the car...

Joy at the Plaza. She does not love clothes as much as Luna does.

Being told you look fabulous in your dress all day is nice but exhausting.

Joy found her chair in the hotel room.

There's not really room for more people on this chair...

I mean there would be room if I did not need to pose!

Abby and Luna perfect their selfie game.

Good night Luna!

Sleep tight <3

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Post from one year ago today...

May 9, 2016

LAURITZEN GARDENS

HAPPY BIRTHDAY RUSS

Happy birthday Finch! We love you so much! Hope this one (birthday...year) is the best yet.

HY-VEE MARKET GRILLE

We went to the new Hy-Vee Market Grille inside the Hy-Vee at 50th and Center Street in Omaha on the night it opened.

It was so good you guys!

The serving team was super nice, but maybe it was part of the Hy-Vee team we already knew was super nice? We were not sure.

The food was great, and it was a good way to start our weekly shopping.

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Post from one year ago today...

April 28, 2016

FAVORITE QUOTES FROM DR. OGILVIE

SAVE THE BEES!

Guest Post from Abby Finch!

Bees are important. They pollinate our plants and help our food grow, and they provide us with honey. However, they are disappearing, so I wanted to do something to help. I made an assemblage for an art class assignment about the disappearance of bees.

Here is how you can help save the bees:

• Eat more organic foods. The pesticides used on non-organic crops can be very harmful to bees, and is one of the main contributors to their endangerment
• Plant bee-friendly plants in your garden. These will give the bees a good source of pollen and nectar.
• Avoid using pesticides in your garden. The chemicals can leak into the pollen and hurt the bees.
• DON'T KILL BEES. Bees don't want to hurt you, they just want to get their job done.
• Spread the word. The more people know about it, the more people can prevent it.

Here's my project: 

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Post from one year ago today...

April 24, 2016

"DANIEL AND THE LIONS' DEN" IS SO OLD TESTAMENT

AMANDA'S SUCCULENT DESSERT

Amanda made these candy succulent plants. How cute are they?? They were super good too...like worm and dirt cups for grown ups : )

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Post from one year ago today...

April 18, 2016

WAS THAT WRONG?

HAPPY EASTER!

We celebrated Easter and Mom and Dad's house. Here are some pictures from the day...

Abby in her Easter dress!

Amanda in her Easter dress!

Mom got Abby and Amanda dollar Origami books :)

Mom's beautiful Easter decorations!

Sara and Arthur

Robert and the basket of jelly beans

Olive and Robert

Abby taking pictures of Olive and Robert

Phill and Felix

Abby and Dave and Arthur

Oscar

Robert and Arthur - Spoiler! Arthur decided against eating the sand :D

Robert

Arthur also did not eat the helicopters.

Olive, Robert and Dad

Robert and Olive

Busted! Dad blowing bubbles with NO kids in sight :)

Way to go Arthur!

The baby polar bear steps into the sun.

Travis and Arthur were so cute together!

Dad and Karen

Amanda and Abby and Arthur

Sara and Mom and Felix. I will never ever get tired of seeing Mom so healthy!

Arthur

Bill and Becky and Russ, Abby and Oscar

Travis and Felix

I hope you and your family had a wonderful Easter!

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Post from one year ago today...

April 17, 2016

I WISH WE'D ALL BEEN READY

HAPPY EASTER, HAPPY SPRING

Daffodils in front of our house <3

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Post from one year ago today...

April 16, 2016

ON MEETING THE MEMBERS OF THE BAND GEOFF MOORE AND THE DISTANCE

PORTABLE HAPPINESS

Abby got this for me as a gift when we were in Nebraska City, and it is my favorite thing right now!

How cute is this??

Do you want to see what happens when you untie it and unroll it??

It gets way bigger! 

Do you want to see what is inside?

ALL the colors of Sharpies that I own. In order. I am so happy.

THANK YOU ABBY JANE!! I LOVE YOU SO MUCH! :)

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Post from one year ago today...

April 4, 2016

NOODLE THE JERK

NOPE

Ice formed on the umbrella stand of a table at Blazing Pianos near the west Gentle Doctor location during recent precipitation-y weather. I thought it was so pretty!

We were excited that THIS bar moving into the strip mall was a dueling piano bar - how fun! It was the first of the string of many bars in this bay that we visited. We went because Gentle Doctor's Christmas party was here.

We did have a fun time until one of the piano players sang a song making fun of Dr. Bashara. Russ and I left and have not been back.

It's okay. We don't love bars anyways. But it was such a fun concept, and we try to support the businesses around all three Gentle Doctor locations.

I still walk past there on the way to meetings at Gentle Doctor and will say hi to the Blazing Pianos team if they are out on the patio. They seem like a good group overall, but one bad judgement call can cause me to wander off and not return.

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Post from one year ago today...

March 30, 2016

GROSS, MOM

THE DECK THAT RUSS AND JEFF BUILT AND OTHER FUN STORIES

My husband Russ is a carpenter. Our friend Jeff is as well. Lately they have been doing a lot of joint projects, and they are super pretty. Yes, as a veterinarian, that is all I can tell you about them. Also, when there are animals around, they send me pictures of them.

Here are some pictures from some of their projects this past year...

The descriptions are from Russ!

Beaver Lake - We tore down the old and worn out deck and dock to make something much better.

We got the beautiful glass panels from our friends at City Glass.

We added 200 square feet to the deck and changed everything to composite decking and trim.

The railing is powder coated aluminum with tempered glass.

This house overlooks the lake - bald eagles all over.

We replaced a worn out cedar deck with a new composite deck with aluminum railings.

This is a large two level deck on a new home that ties the back of the house to the sliding door on the side in the basement.

This gorgeous dog is Pepper who escaped his yard and came to visit us.

Read more about Pepper here - PEPPER VISITS THE JOB SITE

Post from one year ago today...

MARCH 24, 2016

HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS ARE OVERRATED

THE SECOND NEW COUCH

Abby's old bedroom upstairs has been a family room for a while, but we had three (awesome!) tiny second hand couches that were falling apart and the paint we let Abby pick out as a two year old.

Joy and Luna offered to help paint. Repeatedly.

The room was a combination of Thinking Chair Pink and Potty Train Purple. I love those names so much. *sigh* Now it is tan, but still beautiful.

The ceiling had been covered in glow in the dark stars from Uncle Bill - a gift when the girls were tiny. Most of the stars were gone - I suspect removed during bedtime boredom. A few were still there though, and still glowed. I noticed when the room was done, Russ had left one star in the corner. I love it so much.

Russ and Amanda painting

Abby painting

Post from one year ago today...

March 22, 2016

GOOD TRY SHONDA!

THE FIRST NEW COUCH

We recently added a couch to our main level. Joy and Luna graciously helped set everything up, approximately doubling Russ's work time. Good job dogs!

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Post from one year ago today...

March 21, 2016

EASTER EGG TIP

MOM AND DAD'S ANNIVERSARY DINNER

Our family went to La Casa to celebrate Mom and Dad's 50th anniversary.

Here are some pictures from the night.

Bill and Dave set up a slide show before the evening.

Amanda <3 We came early to help, but it looked like THIS when we got there!

Dave had a life size cutout of Mom and Dad on their wedding day made :)

Dave and Sara's friend decorated as a gift to Mom and Dad - it was so beautiful!

Dad, Mom and Amanda

Dad and Mom

Dave and Bill - Don't tell them I said so but they are absolutely the best brothers anyone could have.

Dave, Bill and Dad

Sharon, Penny and Scott

Abby and Arthur

Hank, Abby, Arthur and Charlie (X2 :))

Abby and Robert

Amanda and Arthur

Olive <3

Everyone...

Arthur loves cheese as much as I do!

Abby <3

Dad and Mom :)

Bill Nelson giving one of the two best toasts I've ever heard.

Dave Nelson giving the other best toast I've ever heard.

The cake!

Henry, Charlie and Robert. This was one of my least blurry pictures of the boys - weird!

Dad and Mom <3

Henry getting a second wind :)

If you want seconds of cake, always ask your Aunt. Yes, always yes :)

Mom and Penny, Bill, Scott and Cara

Arthur and his books

Sara, Dave and Olive

Dave, Sharon and Dad

Henry

Robert and Charlie :)

Dave adjusting the speaker and Dan judging him :D

For the GREAT pictures, talk to this awesome lady!

Liz and Dad

Jada, Christie and Mom

Noah, Mom and Jada

Wine glasses handmade by Christie! <3

I love this plate so much! It is from Schroeders and Morrisons <3

Happy anniversary Mom and Dad! We love you so much!

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Post from one year ago today...

March 20, 2016

PALM SUNDAY