Look at what I found in our paper's online version...

That's my boy making the tackle; love the determination on his face! This was the Bulldogs first game of the season versus Omaha Central @ Central.   It was a tough, hard fought game, but the Bulldogs came out on top 14-7.  Yay Bulldogs!!  I am so tickled with this picture, I don't even mind that our last name is misspelled.  :)

Lazy Sunday

The title says it all... lazy.  That word comes up a lot in my life doesn't it.  I mean, I am not lazy all the time... I know what work needs to be done and get to it.  But it is so nice to have a day {or days in my case sometimes} to just be.  I love it when I have nothing pressing to do, other than cooking dinner. I spent most of today, before dinner, catching up on my reading, soaking in the tub and watching mindless television.  Oh yeah, and not taking a picture of anything.  {Guess I'm way off on my one photo at a time goal.}  Oh well!  Must get back to being lazy. Off to pop in a movie from Netflix.  {yes, I still subscribe to Netflix} Hope you all are having a lazy Sunday of your own.

Senior photo shoot

I have opted to take Danny's senior pictures this year due to cost and his lack of enthusiasm for getting his picture taken.  Why spend all that money when he doesn't really want to do it.  Plus, have you seen what they charge for Senior portraits?!  It's crazy.  Sitting fees plus the cost of photos.  The cheapest package we found was $750.  I have a camera and I know how to use it.  Here is one picture from our first photo shoot.  He plays football and we live in Nebraska, so I thought it would be funny to take his picture coming out of a cornfield.  Being home to the Huskers, it just seemed right. I wanted a good serious, football stare. I think I got it, don't you?  

No first day nerves here.

It was the first day of school today for myself and Emily. {Danny starts his senior year tomorrow} I wasn't concerned for myself, since our little kiddos don't start till Thursday, but I was a little nervous for Emily.  I mean, that is my baby and today was her first day of high school.  That's right, she's a freshman or fresh meat as Danny says.  The one nice thing about today is that our school district gives freshman a head start, so to speak. It was a freshman only day. Basically, they have the school to themselves to find their way and get the feel for the layout of the school.  Piece of cake! As you can see, she wasn't nervous at all.  Now tomorrow will be another story when the whole student body will be there... and Danny drives her.

But for now, she likes high school.  {Still can't believe she is a freshman!}

Come here cupcake

I have been craving something very chocolately. Spent one whole day searching the internet for something that would fit the bill.  Cupcakes sounded good, filled cupcakes sounded even better and cupcakes covered in ganache put me over the edge!  I combined a few recipes and came up with my own version of "hostess cupcakes"  That is the chocolately treat I have been craving.  The ones in the front look pretty good, almost just like the real thing.  Let me tell you they were very tasty.  The only complaint is that I didn't fill them with enough cream.  Guess I have to make them again... darn.  {that's why I go to Jazzercise}

In a pickle

Look what I have turned my cucumber bounty into....

Sweet bread and butter pickles..... Yum!

A hot hike

Dan and I went on a two day get-a-way last week.  We decided to not go far because I was worried about leaving the kids alone... they are 17 & 14 and who knows what shenanigans they can get themselves into.  {I am a huge worrier}  We love to spend time outdoors so we decided to stay 45 minutes away, close to a few state parks AND close enough to quickly be home if we were needed.  We left early Monday morning and hit the trails. Living in the heartland, our terrain isn't what we love to hike in, like say Colorado or southern Missouri but we did find nice scenic trails along the Platte River. The picture below is on a trail that followed a stream and had a little waterfall just behind us. What you don't see in the picture is the temperature. Neither of us really paid too much attention to the weather forecast and figured it wouldn't be so bad.  WRONG!!  I mean really, it's summer and we are pretty used to the upper 90's. When we made it back to our hotel, the weather channel informed us that, with the heat index, it was 115 outside.  115!!  We are so lucky we didn't have heat stroke.  Needless to say we hung out at the hotel for the rest of the day.

Danny's new ride

While the girls were away shopping in Chicago, the boys did their own shopping and found a car for Danny.  It's a great used car and has a few dings, dents and rust spots (all on the side you can't see). He doesn't care... it's a car and it runs.  :)   

Finally back in the groove!

So I went on a little hiatus to Chicago with the girls for a week and then left for a nice little getaway with my husband.  I am back, rested and ready to enjoy my last week of freedom before school begins. {still hoping for that lotto win} I promised to share some photos of my trip(s) so today I will begin with one from Chicago.

Emily's first trip with us girls to Chicago was a hit.  She loved it.... a true diva in training! So far her favorite stores are: Bloomingdale's, Coach and Juicy Couture.  I think I have created a monster.  :)