Willa is 4. F.O.U.R. Seriously.

I'm not going to lie, I turned into a weepy, blubbering mess at the end of this long birthday weekend.  And all because my little monster is 4 now and is turning into such a pretty, grown-up, monster.  I've said it before, but how on earth is she so pretty?  I ask her that about every other day.  And she just says "Moooo-ooom."  (Imagine that is a voice just like a whiny teenager.  Because that is what she sounds like all the time now.)  One day a few weeks ago, we were sitting on the couch together and she crawled in my lap for a little lovin.  I asked her what I was going to do when she was too big for me to hold her like that anymore and she said, "I will still sit by you and hold your hand."  I fought back tears that day, too.  What a great 4 years it has been, getting to know Willa.  If you are curious, she is really into singing these days, the movie Pitch Perfect is just about her favorite thing, she is awesome at puzzles, she knows her right from her left (thanks to Uncle Chris), she can quote movie lines like nobody's business, she likes hamburgers but not cheeseburgers, and she would love for us to get a big dog.  Oh, and she usually farts first thing when she wakes up in the morning, then giggles and tells me that she is just farting out the rest of her sleep.  Just when I start to wonder whose kid she really might be, she proves that we are, in fact, related.

And now, some pictures from all the fun...

Prepping for the outdoor movie

Brad figured out a fancy-schmancy way to play a movie outside on a screen that he constructed.  So, we had a gaggle of Willa's friends over...late...and fed them a bunch of candy and pop and gave them face paint and silly string and glow sticks and then had them watch Wreck-It-Ralph and then sent them home...late...with their parents.  Your welcome, parents.  It was fun.

On Sunday, the day of the actual birthday, we gave Willa a trampoline and some tiny cupcakes.  I consider buying a giant trampoline a mark of my adulthood.  I wanted one for our yard SO BAD so I made the executive decision that Willa would get one for her birthday.  It was either that, or a big dog, and I'm not quite ready for another pet.  I...I mean, WE, are in love with the trampoline.  And don't worry, we put the safety netting up after these pictures were taken.  Willa just kept telling us "safety first, guys."  She is a much more confident bouncer with the net up.

The Monday following the birthday, we slept in, and then took a trip to Grand Island to visit Grandma Van Boening, Great Grandma Christensen, and Island Oasis Waterpark.  I figured it was about time to introduce Willa to the place that shaped her mother's young adult years.  We had a great time at the water park.  And I am proud to say that in the absence of the '95-'02 crew, the I.O. still seemed to be running smoothly and very well maintained.  And, all the lifeguards appeared to be no older than 13.  

That was Willa's 4th birthday, in a nutshell.  She has yet to receive a pet snake.  She is ok with that.  Her Uncle Chris promised to buy her a snake for her birthday.  It drove her nuts when he would talk about it.  One day, he asked her what she was going to name her pet snake and her response was, "Knife.  Because that is what I'm going to kill it with."  Hmmmmmm.   

Fourth Favorites

We hope that everyone enjoyed the fantastic 4th of July holiday!  We did!

Because, wine.

I'm not exactly sure what the theme was for Summer, 2012 but I have decided that 2013 is all about the vineyards.  Wine is gluten free.  Vineyards are beautiful.  Yes, I realize we live in Nebraska but I'll take what I can get.  And the place we visited on Friday evening was the bee's knees.  Glacial Till is near Bennett, Ne which is a decent drive from our house, but totally worth it.  The Chambourcin was red and dry and I had the whole bottle to myself.  The music was fun.  I danced with Willa.  They had a visiting brewery, which made the gentleman happy.  You know where to find me every other Friday night from now until the end of summer.

And...if you don't get the title of this post then you have not been following my directions all along.  Shame on you.

Brad's 32nd Birthday weekend

Its Brad and Josh the Handyman.  And several shots of tequila.

Willa got a new stuffed dog.  I named him Bacon.  She named him Donut.  We compromised and call him Bacon Flavored Donut.  Its probably a real thing.

Might I recommend the bloody mary? And the brussels sprouts?  And the truffle fries?  And will someone take me back here again so I can try the mushroom pizza?

Brad turned 32 a few weeks back and it was a great weekend.  We had dinner in York with his family on the evening of his birthday, and then had some drinks with friends downtown in Lincoln  Then on Sunday, we went to Omaha and stayed at the hotel that is home to CoCo Keys waterpark.  We had waaay more fun there than I had planned on!  What a fun place!  I think what made it the most fun was that Willa was totally game to try everything, even the really big waterslides.  For the first time around water, we saw her have no fear and completely let go and have a blast.  We left the waterpark totally exhausted!  That night, we had dinner at Pitch, which was so good, and then we got ice cream and ate it in bed in the hotel room while we took advantage of the cable tv:)  On Monday, we bummed around in the Old Market, had lunch at Blue, and did a little shopping.  How does anyone who lives in Omaha get anything done ever, besides eating and drinking?!?  I wouldn't!  So far, Brad is wearing 32 well.  I love this period where, for 4 months, we are the same age and I don't feel like such a cradle robber.

So long, 2012

Just a few pictures from New Year's Eve.  It is a little bit troubling how much of a party animal Willa is already...she definitely would have stayed up way later than me, had I given her a choice!  Thanks a million to Tosha and Jared for letting us have cocktails and snacks, and play with their new puppy, and have a slumber party at their house.

I can still watch Elf even though Christmas is over, right??

What a fantastic Christmas we had!  What?  You didn't receive my Christmas card and letter?!?  That's weird.  I swear I sent them out.  Just in case the mailperson lost yours, I will throw some pictures and a recap of our holiday fun up here on the 'ole blog.  And, don't withhold your mailperson's Christmas gift over my silly little card.

To start off the holiday season, Brad and I had a night of Christmas shopping and sushi eating.  I think this is quickly becoming a tradition for Willa's birthday and Christmas time.  Guaranteed date night, shopping and great food twice a year.  I like it.  Then, the weekend before Christmas, we had a night out with some good friends that involved a surprise limo ride to drink champagne and look at Christmas lights.  Again, not a bad idea.

The next day, 5 of my favorite friends from high school came over and we spent all day and most of the night baking, drinking and playing games.  Amy even traveled all the way from Kansas to be with us and to teach us all a new game that was just about the funniest thing ever.

On the Sunday just before Christmas Eve, we decided it was high time we finish our shopping.  We are such procrastinators.  I SWEAR, I am going to do better next year.  But I'm pretty sure I say that every year.  No matter, it was a very fun day out and about with Brad and Willa.  Ending with dinner at Bison Witches, which just happens to be a favorite of our family.  I can't even hear those words without having an intense craving for their queso dip.

Christmas Eve was a very nice day.  Since it happened to fall on a Monday, Brad and I both had the day off.  So we cleaned up the house, finished wrapping gifts, Willa and I ate lots of pancakes, we all built a gingerbread house together, and then we went to my mom's house for dinner, Christmas carols, egg nog, gifts, and dessert. We took a little break from all of that kind of fun to attend the candlelight service at Southpointe Christian church, where Brad plays drums for the church band.  Christmas Eve church has always been my most favorite thing all year.  Not even my favorite church thing, but just plain my favorite thing.

Christmas morning started off with a visit from Santa Claus, and a chance to give gifts to one another.  Santa brought Willa a Lite Bright, and she also scored some board games, movies, legos, and lots of gear for coloring and drawing.  Brad finally got a new wallet.  Had any of you seen the old one?  It was in sad shape. I got some great running accessories, like earbuds that actually stay in my ears and an adorable Lululemon stocking hat.  After gifts were opened, we made a nice, big brunch and my parents and brother came over.  Later on in the day, we made the trip to Grand Island to visit my grandparents and Brad's family.  It was such a relaxing, family-filled holiday time.  I was very sad to see it over.  I think this was the first year that Willa started to understand, although her focus was pretty "toy-centered".  Something to work on for next year, I guess:)  I hope that you all had really good family time as well and ended the year on a positive note.  Much as I hate to see Christmas time end, I always get really excited for the New Year and all that "new" implies.  Resolutions, changes, fresh starts, refocusing, reflecting...So much to look forward to!

All kinds of stuff and things

A quick look at things, through pictures.  Early October at Martin's Apple Orchard.  Great place to take the family in the fall and we got a bag of the BEST apples I have ever tasted.

And then I put a picture on Instagram and Anderson Cooper liked it.  And I got all excited.  I mean, its ANDERSON COOPER.  I'm sure he operates his show's Instagram all by himself, right?!?

 

Then there were pumpkin flavored things.  Like pancakes.

And scones.

Then Willa and I spent an afternoon shopping with Tosha.  And enjoying Happy Hour.  I'm sure that Happy Hour is not a proper noun but I feel it is important enough to capitalize, ok?

Then there were presidential and vice-presidential debates to be enjoyed with warm, spiced apple cider drinks and family. 

Then we pulled off a fun surprise for a good friend.  And this was the night that prompted the new 2 Drink Maximum Rule that I have in place for myself.  And it also taught me not to take shots of vodka and then play tag.

Then there was the pumpkin patch.  JK's to be exact.  

Brad and I had a few nights out.  The Yelawolf concert at the Bourbon Theater

And the Hers Launch Party at Voda

Willa, Borne, and Wash at the Hoffman's Halloween party

And Halloween!  We love trick or treating in the Highlands.

Fort building.

My first movie with Willa - Wreck It, Ralph!

Aaaaand...Voting!  I was going to do a whole post about the election, but Facebook got me so flustered about the whole thing that all I will say is, its never a good idea to call me (or imply that I might be) lazy or dependent on the government.  

In a big 'ole nutshell, that's what we have been up to the past several weeks, aside from being busy busy at our jobs.  And Willa has been busy just getting bigger and smarter.  It is so much fun to watch her learn and also to observe her making friends.  She has got counting and abc's down, really is starting to grasp days of the week and shapes, is trying to actually draw things and color in the lines rather than just making big blobs of color, remembers the words to songs they sing in school, can compare and contrast the Michael C. Hall of Dexter with the one of 6 Feet Under, knew the names and faces of both presidential candidates, and is super excited to get big so she can go hunting with Grandpa with her very own gun!