Hello again...

Wow it has been some time since I posted here. Where to begin...

A quick back track...the last year was filled!

Kaitlyn had many horseshows, finished off the year as Champion in her division for one show organization and reserve champion in another over in St. Louis.

We lost our beloved Emma Ann (our Bull Mastiff) Sept 2010, she became ill and started having many seizures and within a week we had to put her down. HORRIBLE.


Because I promised the kids a more energetic dog when Emma passed, they were begging with in a week. It was a hard thing to deal with as Emma was a puppy from my mom's breedings.

In October, we welcomed a very special, adorable Spaniel mix pound puppy. Rosie is currently being adored by Larry's mom in Omaha.

I was browsing the Humane Society online and came across "Jaz"....her picture was a face shot and she looked just like our precious Chrissy whom passed away in 2003 at the age of 6 due to cancer. Chrissy was an amazing, child friendly dog....we really missed her. I went to visit Jaz and it was a done deal, she came home with me!! The kids were pleased, and had already decided on a name of Rosie. Jaz was only her name for 2 wks as she was a "run away" and had no history, she also told us she preferred Rosie ;)

We added two cats to the collection too....just in time to learn we were moving to HAwaii!! I'll explain in another post when two of the cats join us soon. They are riding out their quarantine in Omaha.

Our trip to Disney July 2010 was a blast!

The kids finished school in St. Jacob a week early so we could move to Hawaii....after being told two other assignments. For a short time we thought we were headed to Turkey, then Del Rio, TX was a pretty serious deal right up until March 9th, 2011 when we were told we were actually headed to Hickam AFB, Hawaii. The next day we were told we were headed there real quick....we arrived in Honolulu on May 23, 2011 greeted with some gorgeous leis from some amazing Air Force friends. Just a day after some seriously teary-eyed goodbyes to some amazing friends in Illinois.
Can't seem to locate the family picture of us at the airport...this will have to to do.




June 21, 2011 ~ 735 AMS Change of Command ceremony




We did a few touristy things before Larry took command....many more touristy things to come.


August 1, 2011 First Day of school!!

Robby ~ 8th Grade


Girls headed to school....


Kimberlyn and her teacher ~ 3rd grade


Kaitlyn and her teacher ~ 6th grade



And let's not forget Tommy!!! Headed to his first day of KINDERGARTEN!!!! August 4, 2011 ~ 4 1/2 yrs old


He ALWAYS stops to pick up a flower off the ground for me to wear in my hair!!! LOVE HIM SO MUCH!

NOTICE!!! NO TRAINING WHEELS!!! He ditched them last month!

Slightly excited, waiting for the classroom door to open!!




Waving bye-bye!


The bikes...when T saw this HUGE bike parking area he said something like "holy whilickers" and I about wet my pants, he is so funny!!

packing up...

So yesterday was a horse show by day, dinner with my brother Robb and his family by night and now PACKING today. I'll be back with fabulous pictures soon! To get you by....here's Tommy all packed up at 8:30am.
Florida bound! Family, friends, beaches and Disney here we come!

Oh....Kaitlyn did great yesterday. She got reserve champion in two divisions. It was HOT and dusty. Pictures later ;)

Fun video clip

Since I've figured out how to get Facebook video posted here....enjoy this from back in April.

Morning with friends....

Kaitlyn has been wanting to go to our babysitter's house to ride with her and swim and play.....

It gets confusing, our babysitter is Katie, and one of her horses that Kaitlyn rode- is named Katie...lucky for you, I don't refer to Kaitlyn as Katie in writing ;) Usually.....

I brought the whole clan over to her house...we left at 7:40am. It's a whole long five minute drive. :)

Naturally Sweetie wanted to go along too, well her owner wanted to bring her along anyhow. Speaking of, Kimberlyn actually rode her for about two laps around the arena. Kimberlyn loves her pony, but she's just not into riding per se. Sweetie sure isn't a fan of being left behind, I'm certain she enjoyed her morning away.

Enjoy the pictures!

The girls riding....so sweet!

Sweetie showing off that she's still "got it" ~ in another month or so I think Kaitlyn's feet might knock over that 8" high jump ;)

Here's Kaitlyn riding Katie the horse.

Sad but true...only picture of Kaitlyn and Katie riding...and it was while Robby was "shooting" chickens.

Then he moved on to making a baby toad ride Sweetie and photographing the event. Keep in mind Sweetie is itty bitty and this toad was the just size of a quarter.


Playing in the chicken coop....




Is this some new species??




Pool Time!!


Tommy SLIDING!!!





Was all fun and games until he slipped off the ladder and went boom :( He finally went down again...and I got it video taped.

Kaitlyn's First June Show....

June 5, 2010 ~ Ridgefield Charity Show, Wildwood, MO
I forgot the camera.....argh....but I did purchase a sweet photo of Kaitlyn taken in her Equitation over fences class (meaning the judge was judging the rider) that she placed 1st in.



The second picture was found after we left the show. Another show mom saw it and purchased it for us. Man, if I have never told you before, we show with a fabulous group and I feel very blessed to know another show mom thought of us knowing we'd love the picture. It's just a precious shot of Kaitlyn and her pony. The shot was taken while she and Romeo were hanging out in the shade watching another rider on our team compete while Mom was actually sifting through the photos on the photographer's viewing computer.



The last picture is of Kaitlyn, her loot and her instructor. Kaitlyn won Reserve Champion in her Short Stirrup division. The brush she is hold has a name plate on it saying Reserve Champion...she was so excited on that one. The spray bottle was an "extra" prize awarded along with her first place ribbon.


Enjoy!

So it's official...

Effective today, he's called Lt Col Nance!

Kimberlyn had the job of taking the old rank off...

Larry screamed "ouch" just a moment before this shot...

Tommy loved "his" flowers. I tried explaining that they were mine, and flowers are for girls...all that accomplished was a few laughs from behind us and a very vocally upset 3yr old. So he calls them his still!

What a busy month!

May is almost over....let me recap it for you. A graduation, a funeral, last days of school for the kiddos, an ER visit, a pin on and a horse show.

I had planned to go home for my brother Rudy's MBA graduation...just days before I was to leave my Uncle James passed away. So, I left short notice a few days early. Went home for a funeral and a graduation... I'm flat out done going to FLA for sad occassions. I'm anxious for our trip home in a month. Disney, beach, friends and family...no emergencies or bad surprises PLEASE!

Rudy's graduation was great. Was super happy I was able to get down there. It was great seeing family and sharing his special day with him.


While home I met a long lost cousin...she's actually my dad's cousin's daughter. We recall family events from our childhood, but don't recall each other. It was a great time. Sad it was a funeral that brought us back together. Funny how that happens!

My brother Bill, his wife Jen, my Dad, my Aunt Judy (dad's sis) and myself

Then Grandma Andersen came out to visit and catch Robby and Kimberlyn's last soccer games and Kaitlyn's horse show. It rained all weekend and everything ended up being canceled. That Friday night while I was running dinner to Kaitlyn at the barn (she was show prepping for the show that ended up being rained out) Larry called saying he was heading to the ER...um, what? NO, I'll be back in 5 min and take you. He was checking the jack stand under the van, and BOOM the van fell on his thumb. OUCH! No idea what went wrong, he was being careful, just a freak thing. He must have gone into shock as he said it didn't hurt until AFTER he jacked up the van to get his thumb OUT. At which time he saw his "guts" smushed out the side. EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEWIE- no pics folks. Thankfully a few stitches and a fracture is all he got- nothing compared to what COULD HAVE HAPPENED.

The kids are out of school now!!! Not even been a full week yet, feels like months....good thing...really. We stay busy and enjoy our days. I missed Kimberlyn's awards ceremony....she got this baseball figurine thing for winning the 1st grade (2 classes) essay contest. How darn cool is THAT!


I saw Kaitlyn's ceremony, she got a few awards herself. Not sure if Robby had one or not....guessing not, never heard of one. Middle School is so ~ different.


In case you are wondering...we still have no control over this cute boy. Riding his trike (which is an outside toy) in my kitchen...

Napping in his biggest sister's bed, which YES, it is a HIGH LOFT bed....

and being absolutely adorable eating lunch with his big bro!



So later this month we had a pin-on ceremony...more to come on this later...


Grandpa Nance came out for the pin-on and caught a horseshow too.

It was the first "home" show of the season. Home, meaning at the farm she trains at each week. Kaitlyn and her pony Romeo did amazing. They both have come so far and are doing well together.

Waiting...check out these BOWS!


She did an in hand class called Model Hunter, it basically judges the pony....for a first try they did well. Her pony wasn't standing square though! Oops



More waiting...show day has MUCH waiting, just a normal part of the day.


In between jump rounds....our babysitter and her riding mentor on her left. Her riding instructor on her right. Cute!


Over a jump...




Ribbons from her flat classes....at this time she had no idea how she placed in her jump rounds. She placed 6th in the flat class judging the pony at the walk/trot/canter....silly pony got scared (or not) and bolted. She's a new rider now (she has made significant improvement in riding lessons this past winter) and beat his tush and continued on in the class. Stayed onboard the whole time. Next flat class she placed 1st. It was judging the rider. Both rider and pony did a nice job.


So Kaitlyn was beat, it was HOT and had been a long day. Again, typical show day scenario...she was back in the barn untacking, and preparing to strip out of her show clothes and cool ou ther pony when a barn friend, Emily came in and totally caught us all off guard handing Kaitlyn her Short-Stirrup CHAMPION ribbon!!! This was Kaitlyn's first time to ride in a division that gets Champion and Reserve Champion ribbons. We obviously missed the announcement. She had gotten a 1st and two 2nd place ribbons for her jump rounds....along with division champion. Made for quite a special day for this girl!