Artwork By Molly

Artwork By Molly strikes again...this time in our van! She likes to play in the van when we get home and pretend like she's driving. I don't pay too much attention to what she's doing because I don't have the keys in the van and she mainly just sits in the driver's seat and pretends to drive.

I should have paid a little more attention a few days ago because she got a hold of a pen I have in the console and decorated the dashboard on the passenger side of the van. I didn't realize this until a day or two later when I saw it. Molly............ :) 

Omaha, Nebraska

Both of my parents were born and raised in Omaha, Nebraska. They lived about 5 miles from each other and met in 9th grade when my Mom played the piano for a group that my Dad sang in. They both went to Benson High School and were basically high school sweethearts. They got married in 1970 and moved to Springfield, MO, maybe in 1976 or so. They moved to Ash Grove, MO, to the house that I grew up in, in 1985 and have been there ever since.

Growing up, we went on vacation to Omaha during the summer to visit family. My Dad had to work, so it was usually just my Mom, sister, and I who made the long trek up north. At that time, it took about eight hours to get to Omaha. Today, Ross and I can make it in six hours, sans kids. We would stay at my Gramma and Grampa Peterson's house for a few days, my sister and I would spend a few nights at Gramma and Grampa Ward's house, and we would visit my Aunt Linda (my Mom's sister) and Uncle Buz during the week we were in Omaha.

We always did fun things when we were up there. I remember Gramma and Grampa Ward would take us to a pizza place called Pefferoni's Pizza. We loved this place because when your pizza came out, it also came with a card telling you who made your pizza. And, we thought it was pretty neat that Gramma and Grampa would eat pizza and even drink Dr. Pepper!

Things have since changed over the years. We still go to Omaha, but it's maybe every other summer and for just a weekend, not a week. We visit Gramma and Grampa Ward and Aunt Linda and Uncle Dale now. Uncle Buz passed away in 1997; Grampa Peterson in 1991; and Gramma Peterson in 2008. Gramma and Grampa Ward are both still living, but Grampa recently moved into a nursing home and will not return to his house. He has dementia and at 89 years old, it's too hard for Gramma to take care of him alone at home. This past visit was a little different, not having Grampa at home. And quite honestly, a little sad going to a nursing home to see him. Nursing homes are just such a sad, sad place to me....

But, while we were there my Mom, sister, and I drove past Gramma and Grampa Peterson's house. Grampa built this house and it's where Mom grew up and where we spent our visits with them when we were little. It's always fun to me to drive by it and it's funny how my memories don't quite match up with the reality of what it looks like today! As my sister said, she doesn't remember the house being so close to the road. I thought the same thing, too! Grampa kept the yard in pristine condition and it's not quite there today, which is a little sad. Here's a video from driving by their house.

The house where Gramma Ward lives is where my Dad grew up. They actually lived in the small basement of the house first and then added on the upstairs sometime when he was growing up. Nothing has changed in their house from when we were kids. They have the same 50+ year old couch, same decorations, same glasses, plates, pretty much everything is the same. It's kind of comforting in a way.

It will be weird some day to not plan a trip to Omaha each summer to see family, but rather plan a trip just to see the city because we won't have anyone left to visit. I have fond memories of Omaha and hope I can make many, many, many more years of memories there before they end.

Gramma and Grampa Ward's house.

Gramma and Grampa Peterson's House

Our New "Tree"

One day we noticed a new "tree" in our backyard, right next to an existing tree. After looking at it closer, we found that it was actually a tree branch that had fallen out of the tree, and had landed perfectly in the ground to stand up as if it was a tree we had planted. We thought it was so funny!

4th Of July Fun!

We had a nice 4th of July this year. We had planned to go to my parent's for the day to swim, but the weather didn't cooperate, so we just relaxed and watched TV instead of swimming. We bought some small fireworks and shot them off, too. Lucy loved throwing the poppers down and Molly really liked "making fog" with the smoke bombs! She also wanted to help Ross light all of the fireworks. All in all it was a nice day!

Looking Like That Again

We were in Omaha last weekend visiting my grandparents and were looking at all of the pictures in their house. One of them in particular struck my nephew, Cody's, eye. After looking at this picture:

Cody, who will be 13 in a few weeks, asked my Mom (Gumma), "Gumma, do you wish you looked like that again?" We had the best laugh over this and it still makes makes me laugh today thinking about it! This picture was taken in 1984 and I was 5 1/2 and my Mom was 33. 

Cody is such a sweet boy! I love him and I love how he loves to play with Lucy and Molly, too!

The Ward Family

This past week we went to Omaha, Nebraska, to visit my grandparents for my Gramma's 89th birthday. We hadn't been up there since November of 2014, when I was pregnant with Molly, so Gramma and Grampa had not met Molly yet. This is my Dad's side (Ward side) of the family and almost everyone was there at some point over the weekend. This family consists of my grandparents, Betty and LaVern Ward, my Aunt Cheryl (who lives in New Mexico and wasn't there), my Dad, my Uncle Skip (who lives next door to my grandparents), and my Aunt Janice (who lives in Blair, NE, about 30 minutes away from Omaha) and her two daughters, Gina and Yana, and Gina's daughter, Taylee.

It was nice to see everyone and visit, but was a little different. My grampa was recently moved to a nursing home and will more than likely not return home. He will by 90 this November and has dementia. It has slowly gotten worse over the last few years. It has gotten too hard for Gramma to take care of him at home and this is just the best option for now. Sunday we visited him in the nursing home and had a very nice time. I don't know if he really knew who I was, but he really seemed to like watching Molly suck her thumb.:) We were able to get a family picture with everyone who was there at the time.

All of the Ward great-grandchildren. Trevor (15), Cody (12), Taylee (11) Molly (2), and Lucy (4).

Ward grandchildren and great-grandchildren, minus Taylee. Back row: Yana, Lucy, Stephanie, Molly, Libby, Gina. Front row: Gramma Ward, Grampa Ward, Treovr, Cody.

Gramma and Grampa Ward

Grampa Ward and my dad, Terry.

Grampa Ward and Me.

Stephanie, Grampa Ward, Me

Me and Gramma Ward

Almost all of the Ward family.
Back row: Trevor, Stephanie, Nathan, Wanda, Ross, Lucy, Molly, Libby, Yana, Gina.
Front row: Cody, Gramma, Grampa, Terry, Janice.

Happy Father's Day To You...

The girls really enjoy singing the "Happy Birthday" song and even sang it to Ross on Father's Day, but changed it to Happy Father's Day. Ross wanted a cake for Father's Day, so we got one at the grocery store, put a candle in it, and the girls sang to him. :) You can watch a video if us singing Happy Father's Day here!

Is This A Surprise For Me?

The picture below was taken at a local grocery store that we frequent. These bins were right by the check-out lines and contain mini bottles of alcohol. One day when we walked by them Lucy said, "Is this a surprise for me?" I thought it was so funny. No, Lucy! It's definitely not a surprise for you!