Grapes, anyone?

July 9, 2008
Seriously...Day one on the road to Grandma's house in Omaha, NE. I washed the grapes at home a couple days before leaving. We put them into a ziploc baggy and took them in our cooler for a snack on the road. Kaitlyn was munching on them in the hotel room when she alerted me to a lady bug. I htought she was nuts...as this hardy guy had to have spent 3-4 days in a fridge or on ice! No, kidding, here's her snack buddy?!?!?

After releasing him, we washed teh grapes again and continued to eat them...we figured they were tasting fine to begin with and God only knows how long the ladybug had been hanging out in there!

Robby's 1st Riding Lesson....

And below are some pictures of Kimberlyn and Kaitlyn riding too...

Robby asked to take lessons a week or so ago. He had a great idea to take a few lessons so he'd learn more about horses and be comfortable. The hope is we'll find a home that allows a horse when we move.


He had taken a lesson or two a few years back, and was much more comfortable in the saddle this time for sure. He enjoyed himself!

Kimberlyn on Sweetie!

Kaitlyn enjoyed leading her around while Robby had his lesson. I sure enjoy "teaching" her, even though she's not too into it. She has a short attention span and gets easily distracted by the kittens and other critters at the farm :) We are so blessed to have Miss DeeDee, she's so generous and allows Kimberlyn and I to play with the horses and ride Sweetie. If you look closely you can see she's sporting braids in her mane and tail! Kaitlyn had fun with that!

Kaitlyn JUMPING!!


Kaitlyn has been jumping now for about a month or so. She LOVES it!! I like the second picture as you can see Dad looking on (just above Jordan's hindquarters) while watching Trouble T!

Good 'ole Barn Fun!
Here we have a cute picture of Robby after his lesson. Somethng about climbing hay bales!!


Another cute picture of "Monkey See, Monkey DO," I mean Kimberlyn!


Here are a couple of the shots Larry took of Tommy playing with a kitten. I can tell you exactly what was in Tommy's head on that last picture..."a piece for you, a piece for me ~ a piece for me , a piece for you" Seriously, the boy eats anything and even after begging (more like having a temper fit) for horse pellets, he asked for MORE a few weeks back! He's been into cat, dog and bird food for months!

Meet Teddy....

I know, I know...we really just want to keep our friends and family on their toes....WHAT IN THE WORLD DO THE NANCE'S NEED ANOTHER PET FOR???

Seriously, the "deal" (so I thought) was for us to get a bunny for Robby IF when we move all works out for Kaitlyn to get a horse....

Some lazy day conversation started yesterday before the kids riding lessons (Kimberlyn rides w/ me and Robby had his 1st lesson to get him comfortable on/with horses). DeeDee has lots of critters, rightfully so she lives on a "farm." SHe's had a few baby bunnies and I reassured the kids' that she'd have more closer to our move. ----Anyhow, back to the lazy day conversation....somehow somethng came up about Dad not understanding why the kids had to wait until closer to the move to get a bunny?!?!?!? SO I said, let's see if she has any unclaimed bunnies needing a new home.

Wouldn't you know, she sold the last ones the day before! She did have a grown Holland Lop that she wanted to find a new home for.

Meet Teddy-





...the NEW "deal" is to "babysit" Teddy until another litter of bunnies arrives. You and I know the kids aren't going to be able to trade-in Teddy. So, welcome home Teddy!

While we're on the subject of meeting....I don't think I shared pictures of Butters (Buttercup) when she came home last month. She is on Robby's lap in above picture. She is our handicap hamster :) She was raised by two 4th grade classes and suffered a minor injury to her leg as a baby. It hasn't slowed her down in life. She's happy as can be! Last year was the last year that class pets were allowed in our school system here in Beavercreek...how silly is that?! What a sad deal....

Butters and Teddy hangin' in the grass.


Emma wondering what is so great about the fuzz ball....

This is WHY...

nothing gets done during Trouble T's awake hours....

I do something productive and then respond to a funny coke-can sound and FIND THIS!!



OR.....something like THIS! Paying some bills???



Or...this, saving electricity...I think NOT....how 'bout turning the lights on and off until Mom catches me!!


Since he's so cute we've chosen to keep him....

Although from the looks of it~ it seems he's thinking up a plan to put himself up for adoption in this picture... He's not so into the Nance family water fights :)

"and they think this is fun?!?!?"

Added pictures below

See Tommy's 18 month check up post :)

Delaware Pictorial Review

June 17, 2008 Our 13th Anniversary
Rehoboth Beach, DE -one of my favorite beaches.

Tommy enjoying some Kohr Bros frozen custard, melted custard I might add.


Tommy having a temper fit, and boy was that sand a funny feelingfor having a fit in!


Kimberlyn and Tommy waiting on Dad to bring the van up to get us. Finally, I found a way to contain the over-tired pistol, Tommy I'm speaking of!


We had a relatively nice time. If you're wondering why there's no actual "kids playing in the water" shots...oh, it was TOO COLD! The older kids did play a bit, but FROZE! And to make it worse the beach was full of shells and rocks....so as you are TRYING to handle the fridged water, your feet are in pain due to the rocky bottom. I'm sure we'll be back for the beach fries and frozen custard....YUM...and lets not forget the Grotto's pizza! The boardwalk is still wonderful...

Tommy obviously didn't think Mom needed to be alone while bathing....he no kidding just climbed in my bath full dressed, shoes and all?!?!?!?!



June 18th
Brecknock Park, Dover, DE -our old stoppin' grounds!

Tommy investigating a pretty flower with Dad.


A cool picture of Tommy through the wooden slats at the park, I love how you can see Robby in it too.


Brotherly love!


My, how times have changed...Robby was just 2 yrs old when we first found this park- now (8yrs later) he's the monkey climbing on the top of monkey bars!


Kimberlyn just hangin' out!


A cute shot of Robby and Kaitlyn, I'd love to tell you I didn't have to threaten them to sit cute ;) What stinkers! They can sure pose on demand well!



Later that day for a cookout with our old neighbors, the Keysers.


Nothing surprising here....Tommy never fills up and is stuffing himself with watermelon.


The birds aren't used to being handled and Larry decided to catch them so we could play with them...after being held a while they all calmed down and watched TV with the kids.

Tommy's 18 month check-up...

Forgot to mention this...but as I was looking at beach pictures I chuckled, at his well baby appointment last week Tommy's doctor was checking his ears. He said his tubes are in place and look nice and clear with the exception on some sand ;) Seems as if Tommy brought home a souvenir from our beach trip!

The important part...he's well and thriving, not a big drinker, but the boy can eat! He now weighs 22 1/2 pounds and is 32"- for fun I went into the older kids' baby books to compare. He is just 1/2 pound and 1/2 inch smaller than Robby was and like 4lbs and 1 3/4 inches smaller than Kaitlyn...poor Kimberlyn's last weight/height entry was at 10 months old...OOPS!! Now that I think of it...I haven't entered in many stats in Tommy's book either...BAD MOM! At least each kid has a few letters from Mom in their books. I wish so much my mom wrote to me in my baby book, I suppose I should wish I even HAD a baby book....life being the third child :)

When we opted out of Early Intervention this past Spring the doctor told me he'd evaluate his speech at his 18 month appt. I honestly hoped it'd wouldn't come up or I could postpone it until Tommy turns 2. No such luck! He is very adamant on Tommy going in for a speech evaluation. He's at risk due to being a 28-weeker AND from his ear infections/tubes. Thing is, he's my 4th kid and a little replica of his older brother, whom didn't speak much or well until 2 1/2 years or older! He's a thriving boy headed into 5th grade now. I personally have a lot to learn as I don't think speech therapy is necessary at 18 months of age, or even 20 months of age (what he'll be at his eval appt)- I think/thought waiting until he turned two, we moved and settled in at Scoot AFB this coming Spring would be just FINE. The doctor disagreed and since we've been totally pleased with our pediatrician here and it's NOTHING out of our pockets and the speech therapist here at Children's are supposedly fantastic....we are going to investigate. Since Tommy says like 6 words and only 2 of which on a daily basis...I KNOW he'll qualify for therapy....that's a no-brainer!



This turned LONG....more to come....promised Delaware pictures and now we have some fun pictures from our Nebraska visit on the lake.