Tree House In The Hills ( where else?).

Our trip to the hills was wonderful. Seeing Mom and Dad and family was just what we needed! And as you can tell from the first number of pictures...fishing...especially with Michael - was - dare I say - the highlight of my trip. There is an open invitation to all my grandkids - call grandpa when you want to go fishing and I will come running and take you fishing in the hills! 

 

Here is the picture blog of our trip with a few pictures mixed in with "Old Man Willow" coming down in our back yard...since my blogging has been a little lacking of late.

 

 

 

 

The baiting of the hook.

 

 Waiting for the big bite!

Still waiting with grandpa.

 

 

Mighty fisherman.

 

 



Here comes the big fish!

 

 

 

A proud Dad and Grandpa!

 

 

The big catch!

 



 James and one of his 1000 expressions!

 

Grandpa and boys.

Tired John Paul and James and tongue.

 

 Makes me ready for bed.

 

 

The Teeth! 

What is a tree house without popcorn? 

Nice James.

 

 

 I have car keys and a cell phone. Now I'm happy!

 

I said...am I cute! 

Tree house...in Mom and Dad's back yard. 

 We went on a hike around a place a gentleman has created on his property. With no religious affiliation that I know of - it is a wonderful place you can get away from the business of life - if that's not an oxymoron when you are in the Hills.  



 Here is "Old Man Willow" - actually a River Birch . It was being eaten by bugs and was the main source of branches and leaves in my yard. There was a trunk that I was concerned about that was gong to come down without notice.  I was happy to see it go . Cindy was a little reluctant. I won this one...since I pick up all the sticks and leaves.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 The company we hired  had all the "Big Boy Toys" to do the job.

Grinding the stump.

Gone.

New view from our deck. I like it. Cindy is getting use to it.

 There was some forest fires in the Northwest and Canada that was creating a bit of haze through out the Hills. I thought it looked like the Smokey Mountains. It was quit stunning. I also thought our Lord was reminding us that even though our lives seem to be in-shadowed  in haze -  He is still in control. Now that is a Tree House indeed!

 

10 Things I Learned Over the Weekend

 

 

#10 I haven't blogged for a long while - because it has been raining and my job has kept me busy and I've been perfecting my barbequing and I've been video chatting with grand-boys and thinking about making bird houses!

 

#9 Mom, Dad and Sherry came down for the long weekend and I wanted all my plants to be at their peak while they were here. You can't make deals with mother nature - she has a timing of her own.

 

 

 This plant bloomed 3 weeks before.

 

 

 These bloomed 3 days after they left.

 

 

 

#8 You can't cook too much on the grill. Ribs and chicken - life is good!

 

 

#7 It was a little rainy and cool but who can stop hard core birders?

 

 

 

 My back yard is the place to bird...it's not bragging if it's true...right?

 

 

Watch out for birding neck strain.

 

#6 My Dad is my role model for patience. We went birding in a park and Dad walked...sat...looked...and dare I say...enjoyed himself as we birded.

If Mom is enjoying herself...Dad is too! He is my role model!

 

#5 Don't believe everything you see. Is it a yellow breasted bird? Does the black extend down it's breast?...stay with me here...chased this bird all around the park...twice! Is it a Scott's Oriel?  Took a picture...zoomed in...yellow? Orange? Just another Baltimore Oriel? These are things that true birders want to get to the bottom of.

 

 

I don't know...you tell me!

 

#4 Cindy wanted to see a Purple Martian last year for the Big Year. We didn't get one. So Mom, Dad, Sherry and I went birding Monday at Pioneers Park...and what did we see? A Purple Martian? Cindy stayed home to work on her homework. When we told her we saw a Purple Martian...she was both skeptical and disappointed. So being the good husband I am, and Sherry - the outstanding birder she is - we went back out to the park. And Wo-la...Purple Martin.

 They actually posed for Cindy. She shared the picture with her birding friend at work.

 

#3 Sherry - actually has a threshold of birding! We met it by going out a second time to get the Purple Martin. Didn't know we could wear Sherry out!

 

 

#2  I made some soup for a celebration and I pride myself on my soup making abilities...Mom stepped in and sautéed some veggies and the soup was fantastic.


#1 Life is a great adventure...when you share it with the ones you love!  

A Boy and His Balloon

I thought the balloon Cindy bought me after my 2nd surgery was either indestructible or was just waiting for me to go back to work before it lost all its air. Neither was true. The balloon was just waiting for James to come. They played well together.

                                            

                                                James got the last "fun" out of this balloon.

Hopefully Grandma and Grandpa are better than a balloon.

 

Until next time James.

Let's Make a Deal.

Cindy bought me this balloon after my second hip surgery. Apparently...if you have a second surgery the gifts/presents are a little laid back from the first time around. I'm not complaining...I'm just saying. Anyway I made a deal with this balloon and Cindy - I would go back to work once this balloon lost all it's helium and was no longer floating. Well the balloon has out-lasted me. I had been off work long enough and got the doctors OK to return to work. The balloon is still soaring strong and I have finally returned to work but in a new position. My company picked up a contract with the City/County of Omaha for a large number machines that we manage under "print management" and I moved into this position.

It is in our home office in Omaha so I am now commuting each day and trying out a desk job instead of the service-side. After a whole week of work it seems like a good fit. I have to say changing jobs after so many years (and dare I say my age) it is a learning curve. I felt like a kid on the first day of school. Who is going to be my teacher...am I going to meet new friends...who am I going to sit with at lunch?

Now the question is...do I keep the same blog title or am I now "Print Man". That doesn't sound very Super Hero-ish.

I will let you know...when my balloon finally gives it up.

 

Oh NoOOo

  I'm thinking since we just sent off our "New Years Letter" it is not to late to blog about our trip to the Hills for Christmas and our trip to Denver which was a little more recent. My medical time off  from work has been "a blessing and a curse"...movie line ( Ok...TV series) anyone? Mostly a blessing which enabled Cindy and I to go to the Hills for an extended period of time over Christmas. Spending time with you, Mom and Dad, was truly a gift that I still treasure and is my "tree house" thought. Cindy and I always feel like we are at the center of one big party at all the family gatherings. Oh wait...we are!

It snowed two feet the evening Cindy and I arrived. Kept us home bound for awhile. Which meant staying put, drinking coffee and visiting! Oh NoOOo.

It didn't stop all the wild life from coming out.

 

Including  Cody who climbed and skied down the hill a couple times. I'm talking wild life here! 

 

 

 

 

 

Speaking of wild life...this family knows how to put on a party. 

 

The weather finally allowed us to make it down to Dave and Deana's to visit more family. Here is Henry dancing to "frosty" who is singing in the back ground. I think Zara should get this on line for a You Tube hit for sure! 

A happy Grandpa and grandson.

 

 

 

Cindy and I were able to head to Denver this past week to see Ashley and Alex. Another blessing with my time off. Alex sponsored a group of kids to Washington DC for the March for Life so Gods timing allowed us to help Ashley with the boys while Alex was gone. This is another one of our "tree houses" which we hold so dear. Liam is talking up a storm which is mostly understandable and Michael jumps in -now and then- to help interpret. Liam... "Hello gama"..."O-hey"..."I'm Ok!" (when he crashes into a wall or misses a corner as he goes careening after his big brother) and my new favorite is "Oh NoOOo" (used anytime. I mean anytime! Anytime you have too many scrambled eggs to eat...or not enough...or a plane flies over...or Liam hears the garbage truck come...a very versatile expression...I love it.)

 

 

 

Michael celebrated his 4th birthday while we were there. Cousins, aunts, uncles and grandparents all made for a festive time. Ashley bought "glow sticks" for all the kids which was a huge hit!

Ashley also made these ice cream cakes all from scratch which I thought was way better than glow sticks!

Michael liked the final touches of "Mike the Knight" toppings.

This is where Cindy lived a large part of the time...including reading "Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site" a number of times...everyday. This was Liam's favorite book...oh NoOOo. I think it has become one of Cindy's favorites also (we will anxiously await the book report).

 

Super Hero time...need a little help with the cape though.

 

 Michael is showing his Super Hero speed.

 

The weather was quite nice for January and allowed us to take a trip into the mountains to a little town which reminded us of Keystone with a lot of shops.  Had great pizza!

 

And of coarse not to leave out Mr Happy 99% of the time John Paul! He is trying out his new quilt  Cindy made.

 

 

Next we get to see Dene' in March while Tyler is traveling for work. But will get to see all the kids here over Easter! Oh NoOOo...that's a good thing!

 



 

Thanksgiving

We were blessed to have both families home for Thanksgiving. It was picture perfect.

Waiting for James to smile.

No we did not turn off the heat...Liam is waiting for Michael to get dressed to play outside.

Bundled and ready to play.

Me too.

You may stand with grandpas help.

John Paul with his ever constant happy face.

Even James is getting into story time.

Tyler and Alex raked 36 bags of leaves for me! Michael and Liam enjoyed that almost as much as I did.



Michael and James are easily entertained.
 

 

James holding his own with his cousin.



 

 

Not sure who is having more fun here.

Liam's creation...with a little help from dad. 

Call it a ginger bread house or a graham cracker hut it is still delicious.

Dene' gives Michael the stocking she made.

Four happy boys.



Family is what we are thankful for.

James is the happiest of all.

Here is a picture puzzle Tyler and Dene' gave us.

Grandpa time (and no I'm not changing a diaper).

John Paul and his squeaky toy (when Liam isn't jumping on it to make it squeak). 

Are you ignoring grandpa?

That's better.

 

John Paul is a mommas boy (and grandmas boy too). 

 

John Paul seems to be the only grand-boy enjoying this picture session.



May your Christmas and New Year be filled with
Thanks Giving!