Lincoln, Omaha and a Birthday Celebration-Oh My!

We decided to take a few days off and head to Nebraska over a long Easter weekend.


Yes. It was by choice. Yes. Nebraska.


I'm from Kansas, so really, Nebraska is almost like going home. Well, all except the part where they are Huskers and should be Jayhawks. And yes, that's kind of a big deal.


The best part of this trip was that my parents and Sister and her family were all going to be able to join us in Omaha to celebrate McClellan's first birthday and Easter.



Matt, McClellan and I headed to Lincoln for a couple of days first. We wanted to check out where Matt's company is headquartered. If there was ever an opportunity at that office we wanted to know if Lincoln was somewhere we'd want to live and more importantly, raise McClellan.


We made it to Lincoln on Wednesday and as always, McClellan was an amazing traveler! It was an 8 hour drive and McClellan didn't make a peep. We are so incredibly lucky!


While in Omaha McClellan got to experience swimming for the first time and to say that she loved it would be a HUGE understatement! She "jumped" right in and wanted nothing to do with being held, she wanted to "swim", had no problem going under water and was less than impressed when it was time to leave.






"Let's do it again Mommy!"

"Look Aunt Amy, I'm swimming!!"

We stayed in the Haymarket district in Lincoln - I'd describe it as the Lincoln version of Lodo, but much, much smaller.

There were art installations and sculpture pieces all over.

Somebody loves her Daddy ... make that two somebody's.

We liked Lincoln. It wasn't what I expected but we liked it. I definitely liked the slower pace; you could feel it almost immediately. We were able to have lunch with some of my friends one day and talk to them about the schools and family life in Lincoln-impressive. One night we had dinner with one of Matt's friends and were able to pick their brains about the housing market and job opportunities-also impressive.

On Friday we headed to Omaha to meet up with my family. We'd be celebrating McClellan's birthday, my birthday and Easter. We had a lot to do in a very short amount of time!

Maegan, Derek & Keeton starting out zoo adventure off a little on the wild side!

"Lions and Tigers and Bears, OH MY!"

McClellan's favorite animal this time around were the monkey's ... she was fascinated!

I love this picture. I love that we do so much together as a family. I love that Matt is so involved in McClellan's life and enjoys these events as much as she and I do!

It may have been Easter weekend but it was pretty darn chilly in Omaha!

By far, McClellan enjoyed he carousel more than anything else. She was squealing and waiving the entire time!!

MiMi and Papa with their pride and joy.

McClellan had no problem playing the part of being eaten by the hippo.

The aquarium was amazing - sharks, sting rays, sea turtles swimming around over your head.

This is my personal favorite photo from the aquarium.

Then it was time to party. The first of McClellan's birthday parties.

McClellan loved being the center of attention.

The birthday girl with her Mimi and Papa. She is such a lucky little girl to have them as Grandparents!

McClellan and her personal stylist, Aunt Maegan. Her entire birthday ensemble was designed and created by her Aunt. Again, what a lucky little girl!!

For the birthday girl's cake we found the oldest bakery in Omaha, Pettit's Pastry. It was delish! http://www.pettitspastry.com/

We couldn't love our girl anymore...celebrating her birthday, although early, was so fun!

McClellan loves being sung to. She "sang" right along with us as we serenaded her with "Happy Birthday."

"Mmmmm...pure sugar."

Her birthday party was a HUGE success! Everyone spoiled McClellan and she definitely put on a show for everyone eating her cake and opening her presents. After the "party" we all headed to the pool and worked off some of the sugar.

The next morning was Easter and the Easter bunny found us in Omaha! As you can see, McClellan was super excited about it.

Easter brunch was how we wrapped up the trip. It was sad that our perfect weekend had come to an end already.

One last picture of McClellan and Keeton with Mimi and Papa...and then it was time to say "Goodbye."

The time in Nebraska was perfect and just what we needed. It was nice to have a few days for just Matt, McClellan and I in Lincoln before heading to Omaha to meet up with my family. The time we had with my family was perfect. My only wish was that these special times could happen more often.

Long time no post, 'eh?

Wow. It's been sooo long since I've updated this blog! I've thought about it. I've considered sitting down to do it. I've been way too busy though.

I know other people update their blogs weekly, sometimes multiple times in a week, sometimes daily.

My questions is where is the world do you find the time? What am I doing that they aren't? What are they doing that I'm not?

I get up at 4:30am. I'm out the door shortly after that and get back home 12 1/2 hours later. From 5:00 on, when I get home with McClellan it's all about her up until she goes to bed. I don't clean, I don't cook, I am not on the computer or my phone...I'm spending the little time I get each day completely and fully with her. We take walks, we play, we check on our garden, ride her 4-wheeler, go to the park and I soak up every second.

After McClellan goes to bed and I get back downstairs it's about 8:00pm. Matt and I try to spend as much time together as we can but there isn't much time at the end of the day. We figure out dinner, throw a load of laundry in, maybe stay awake long enough to throw it in the dryer, pack my lunch and bags for the next day, and I'm in bed around 9:30 or 10:00.

So how in the world am I supposed to blog on a regular basis??

I have so much to say. So much has gone on and has been going through my mind the past couple of months. I'll try to find the time ...

Birthday Party #2

May 1st we celebrated McClellan's birthday at our house with some good friends, good food and lots of fun.

I made some quick decorations; making a banner out of her monthly photos and a "ONE" sign in a photo frame above that. Everyone loved looking at all of the pictures and recapping the 12 months with us. For me, it was emotional. Seeing the first picture from minutes after McClellan was born, next to her one month photo...and then looking at her now, tears were flowing.

It's insane that an entire year has past already.

McClellan had no problem eating her cake ... we'd just gotten back from the Omaha zoo where she watched the lions and tigers eat. Needless to say, she decided to take their lead.

YUM - tons of yummy food!

Logan helped McClellan open her cards and presents.

You can see in the background another banner - I made one with all of her professional photos for the mantle.

Rubber ducks from her Aunt Amy who will be giving her some swim lessons. McClellan can't wait to impress her with her love of the water!

Aunt Amy and Aunt Valarie helping McClellan and Logan get the toys out of their packages ... I swear they make it almost impossible to get the toys out at all!

Logan was doing a great job of showing McClellan how to use all of her new toys!

Amy & Justin

Jay, Val & Logan

Mike, Amy & Hannah

Believe it or not, McClellan you were that small once...not that long ago. It goes by way too fast.

Thanks for helping us celebrate our girl!! She's the happiest 1 year old I've ever met with luckiest parents in the world.

11 months old

11 months old and a post dedicated completely to today!! Matt was skiing with the boys today so McClellan and I had a perfect chance to get in a Mother-Daughter day. Here's is this month's shot ... wanna guess how many "out takes" there are this month? Needless to say McClellan is just as stubborn as I am so taking direction isn't really one of her favorite things. She decided that she would grab a book and read to Charlie. Even though this really didn't fit into my "perfect monthly photo" plan, it actually turned out perfect! This is one of her favorite books so it was only fitting that she grab this one and "read" it to Charlie. She loves pointing out the ladybugs and "counting" them on each page. And sometimes, in the midst of McClellan not following directions, really amazing things happen...like this. I got all choked up when I saw this one in the back of the camera and then again when I downloaded it.

For her "birthday breakfast" I made her a breakfast quesadilla inspired by one of my favorite websites http://weelicious.com/2010/11/29/mexican-egg-cheese-quesadilla/

McClellan took a close look...

and then chowed down. Eating 3/4 of the thing!! It was a soft taco size but pretty full and she went to town! I love that she is such a healthy eater and I love that she has, so far, not turned her nose up to anything.

Afterwards while I was cleaning the kitchen McClellan put on a little concert for me-singing and drumming her way around the kitchen.

And then singing turned into squealing.

Eventually the sunny day turned into a snowy day. McClellan decided to get a closer look at the patio door. She tried to catch snowflakes on her tongue through the glass...and I got no cleaning done because watching her and experiencing the world through her eyes was so much more fun.

How could I clean and miss this?

Looking up trying to watch the snowflakes fall...

Eventually all the fun had to stop and we had to head to my office for awhile. I was sick, seriously sick on Friday with a horrible 24-hour flu, so I had to run in and get an idea of where things stood before walking in there tomorrow. Not my idea of a fun way to spend the day, but when McClellan's around there's always fun to be had!

While I was on the phone with one of the Sergeant's who is testifying for us this week McClellan decided that the buttons on the phone looked like they'd be fun to push...so she did. She found every pen, every piece of paper, every paper clip, every.single.thing. on my desk and "played" with it. So about every other word of my conversation with this Sergeant was interrupted with something like "No. No thank you. Please give that to me..." It was funny, at least to me!

I love how in this picture she looks so serious and so all about business. Maybe I should put her in charge of some of my more difficult cases? With that look maybe she could get witnesses to return their waiver cards and defendants to plead straight up? HA!

After we got home McClellan was ready to crash after delaying her nap for quite a while...so she took a 2 + hour nap while I did some cleaning and cooking.

For dinner McClellan decided to play the "I Spy" game..."I spy asparagus on McClellan's head"...can you find it?

The perfect day with my girl is exactly what it was. I don't get enough of these days so when I do, I soak up every single second.

Happy 11 month birthday McClellan - Thank You for an amazing day!!

*~10 Months Old*~

Note: This is now a month over due...whoops! I had it started, worked on it and never finished it...so here it is, complete or not, in it's "original, unedited format." Our girl is 10 months old today!! I'm not even going to go on with the obligatory "where does the time go, can't believe how fast..." spiel. That's a given. This past month was full of more fun times and more firsts. Here's a peak at some of them... February 13th - McClellan took a look at the stairs and decided they were for climbing! There was no practicing, no trying to figure it out, she just "ran" right up them! Needless to say, those gates are more important than ever now! February 14 - McClellan celebrated her first Valentine's Day and her "school" had a little party-how cute! All the kids passed out little valentines and everyone brought in treats to share. Of course McClellan really couldn't have any of the treats but it was still fun. I had these grand plans to make "Love Bug" cupcakes that were going to be adorable. That was the June Cleaver in me planning though. The real life, working mom however, ended up making these. Very simple. Quick. Easy. Maybe one day I'll be able to pull off those "Love Bug" cupcakes. "Happy Valentine's Day!!" McClellan posing for an early morning shot with she and Daddy's Valentine's Day loot!

February 17 - MiMi came to visit us!! When MiMi comes to visit it means two things. An entire piece of luggage dedicated to just the goodies she brings out for McClellan and that we'll be shopping so that same piece of luggage doesn't go home empty! This trip was no different!

While MiMi was in town we headed to Champs to cheer on the Jayhawks and grab a yummy bite to eat. McClellan loved Rock Chalking with Mimi!

We hit up Snooze for the first, and if I have anything to say about it, LAST time. The wait was ridiculous, the service just "ok" and the food was "whatever"...McClellan however, loved sharing blueberry pancakes with her MiMi.

The weather was gorgeous so we headed to Wash Park for a day in the sun-we did the 4+ mile loop and McClellan got in some good "swing time", it was just what we all needed!

March 2 - We headed up to Estes Park for a weekend getaway. We were in desperate need of some R & R and this was exactly what we needed. We did some shopping in town, some site seeing, some elk watching and most exciting...we took McClellan on her first snowshoe trip! She loved it! The only thing she didn't like was when we would stop to check on her-she just wanted to keep moving!