The Places We Will Go...

Who knew where we would be 10 years today...it is Joe's and I's wedding anniversary. I still cannot believe it has been 10 years. I am so lucky to have such a wonderful husband, father (of my babies) and best friend. I don't know all the Places we will go the next 10 years but I look forward to every moment with my boys!!

Today we decided to do something that the boys would enjoy and spend the day as a family. We went to North Platte to see the Golden Spike and look at the Train Yard where Joe works. The boys love trains and are always interested in what their daddy does for his job. this is the tower overlooking the train yard where Joey works

Union Pacific's Bailey Yard-The World's Largest Train Yard

North Platte, Nebraska

6900 Contninetal

Riley, Chandler & Maxx
on the Challenger (built in 1913)

the fire box for the Challenger

a rail bike

the mail car

this is mail boxes for Lexington and Callaway NE

we never could find one for Cozad

Ry, Chandler & Maxx standing in front of

a wheel from the Challenger

We tried to get the boys to relax and close their eyes when we

started for home but they just couldn't...then 2 miles till home, they fell asleep :)

A Very Happy Birthday!

June 28th is my boys birthdays. Joe & Chandler share their birthdays with one another. We had a little celebration tonight. Gran & Grandpa took us out for supper and then we came home for cake and ice cream. I made a 'Banjo' cake (white for daddy and chocolate for Chandler).

Banjo Cake

Birthday Boys

Joe's birthday present

he has been wanting a Banjo for a while now

so the boys and I bought it for him. we really

surprised him, he thought he was getting a Banjo cake.

Chandler sleeping with his new truck he got

for his birthday.

The Wedding

My little brother was married on Sat. June 26, 2010 to Lisa Bundy. It was a simple and very beautiful wedding. They were married in Broken Bow, Nebraska in the square park. I am so happy for the two of them and for Emma. I hope them all the best and a very happy life.

Mr. & Mrs. Benjamin Patrick Chandler

How Cute is This!!

Ok real quick...those of you who have girls and those of us that just are girly have got to check out Take a Bow on facebook. My dear friend and her girlfriend have the most adorable bows and tutus. You will fall in love!!

Ben & Lisa's Rehearsal

Though there is so much to do for a wedding we have had a wonderful time with family. Almost everyone got in last night. Aunt Laurie and Uncle Dennis had us all out to their cabin on Sherman Lake for a BBQ. It is so fun to get all TOGETHER!!

Today the rehersal is no different...a little business (the boys are the ringbearers) getting the wedding party together for a short run through and then off to Anselmo for the rehersal dinner. We had BBQ Chicken, Hamburgers, Hot Dogs, Salads & Brownies.

(I made the chicken, 2 salads and brownies)

It was so fun to have all the family together we had the Gascho's, Chandler's and Bundy Families all there!!!

Lisa and Dale

Ry and Chandler

The Book's
(wind was blowing my hair...cannot see my cute flower)


Ry & Chandler having a Nose War...
the first one to stick their finger in their opponents nose WINS!!


my sweet babies

Chandler & Alyssa
So Sweet!!

Today is my sweet friend Julie Geiger's birthday.
She is an amazing women and a dear friend of mine. She owns a quilt store here in Cozad and is
a wonderful quilt designer. She is truly inspiring!
We enjoy so much of the same things and it is a little scary but we think alike so often. I am so blessed to have her in my life.

"Life's truest happiness is found in the friendships we make along the way".

Thank you Julile for the great memories this far...looking forward to the years to come.

A passion of Joe's is hunting and shooting trap. Joe has shared this hobby with both his dad and grandfather...and has enjoyed sharing this with both of our boys. Riley earned a large gift card last year for popcorn sales for Cub Scouts and we would not let him just blow it. So he bought a shotgun with it. This is his first gun that he bought all on his own and will have for his whole life time. This summer is the first time he has shot with it. Riley is a great shot and really has a talent like his father. I hope for years they are able to share this passion, enjoy life and one another.

Are We There Yet??

We have been so bisy this summer and was hoping to go on a little vacation this week but it didn't happen. Joe was called back to the Rail Road (which we are very happy about) and so that made the trip a no go.

So we decided to go on a little day trip. We slept in enjoyed our morning and then at 10:30 am told the boys to get dressed and jump in the van. We would not tell them anything..."where are we going"? "what are we doing"? "what town are we going to"? "are we about there"?...all the questions were asked but they still couldn't break us.

Our first stop was Kearney and we took the boys to the movies.

Chandler and Daddy went and watched Shrek the Final Chapter


Mommy and Riley went to see The Karate Kid

This is the first time we have taken the boys to different movies. It was fun letting the boys

pick which movie they wanted to see. Chandler said to daddy: "we have never been at a movie

just the two of us before"...thinking about it, he is right.

So back in the van and on the road again, the questions are flying.

The boys know we are not

heading the direction of home. Riley is quit sure we are going to the Zoo...

we are going east

but not that far. We went to Island Oasis in Grand Island.

We had a fun day all around! It was fun keeping the plan from the boys and letting them

guess and be surprised. We are still hoping for our road trip before this summer is over

but for now our little day trip was great for us.

This is my little book worm...Ry loves to read and has a book with him most of the time. His favorite books are Caption Underpants and Diary of a Wimpy Kid, he keeps reading these series over and over. He is reading right now "The Heroic Misadventures of Hiccup the Viking" it is the first book in the How to Train Your Dragon series. I am so very proud of him and his reading. I love to walk down the hall and listen to Riley helping Chandler read a book. When I was his age reading was not something I enjoyed at all and was not encouraged. Joe has always been a huge reader from a young age and I think the boys seeing him have a book and reading every single day helps the boys want to read. I have always said that a good book is something I would probably not say no to buying.

To Infinity and Beyond...

Toy Story 3
Oma (Ava & Dylan's grandma) took us to Toy Story 3 today. She loves the boys as if they were her own. We loaded in the van, got Burger King and we were off to the movies. I wanted to go see Toy Story 3 the first time I saw the trailer and saw the toys went to a Daycare. What a wonderful day with my kiddos. Thanks Oma we love you!!

Chandler, Ava & Riley

Oma & Dylan

Yo-Ho Matey

Today was a great day!! We had a small but very fun Birthday Party for

Chandler and Joe at Yanney Park in Kearney.

The Pirates were mad they didn't get invited so they stole all Chandler's presents and made him go on a search for his treasure. We had a Pinata (this is all that Chandler asked for this year). Nana, Papa, John, Gran, Auntie Mandie, Uncle Pat, Erin, Micah, Brad, Jacob, Ellie, and Josh came to celebrate the day!!

Treasure Birthday Cake and Pirate Ship Pinata

Gran and Chandler

Jacob (14) & Ellie (11) Stallbaumer

these are two of my first daycare babies, they are

not babies any longer. It was so great getting to

spend time with them today!!

My little Pirates

Chandler in his Pirate Gear

Chandler and his loot!!

He got a How To Train your Dragon

Bed Set, Swim Shorts, Shirts, and Stuffed Dragon.

A Kung Zhu Battle Hamster, Turtle Pillow Pet and

Four New Tires for his John Deere Gator.

Thank you for all those that came to help celebrate!!

Riley and Chandler

How Kool are you?

Walmart had a huge sale on Kool-Aid 5 for 25 cents (regularly 1 for 20 cents). I had 5 coupons buy 10 get 2 free. Ok so I may have gone over board on this one but I bought 170 packs of Kool-Aid for $8 so I saved $24...so silly. Savings makes me giddy. I would think this should last us through the summer even with all the popsicles we make.

Oh and chocolate syrup was big time on sale so we bought a case. Joe said his dad is coming out in him :) I think that is a wonderful thing.