One Vacation to the Next

Sunday we left for Omaha, NE.  We got there around 5pm.  Lily slept a whole 40 minutes the way there so she was pretty tierd.  We didn't do much Sunday night but run errands to the local walmart and then got dinner.  We put her to bed and then watched TV.

Monday we woke and went to the Omaha Zoo.  We arrived there at about 9:45am.  Lily had so much fun and did SOOOOOOOOO well on no nap all day long.  We saw lions, tigers, and bears...oh my!  (I had to) as well as elephants, giraffes, monkeys, gorillas, all kinds of birds, butterflies, etc.  She really enjoyed the lions and the fish at the aquarium.  I am so proud of her and how well she did.  She finally conked out at 5pm when we were getting ready to leave the zoo.  We bought her a stuffed lion that she immediately became attached to and is now one of the animals she sleeps with.  

Tuesday we spent the day walking around downtown Omaha.  We walked across this neat pedestrian bridge over the missouri river.  We then ate lunch at the spaghetti factory.  After lunch we went and got ice cream at this hole in the wall homemade ice cream shop called Ted & Wally's it was pretty good.  I got White Chocolate Cappuccino Ice Cream and Ryan got Root beer ice cream.  His tasted like a root beer float.  Both were excellent.  Lily enjoyed them as well.   Tuesday evening we went to an Omaha Royals game but Lily was tired so we had to leave early in the 6th inning.  It was about 8:30pm anyways.

Wednesday Morning we woke up and ate breakfast then headed home.  Lily slept a little on the way home then just sat there like a perfect little angel the whole way home.  We got home and she napped for over 2 hours!  Much needed after the last couple days she had.

Today we left for the airport before 10am and flew to Denver for Bekah's wedding.  This was Lily's first plane ride and she really enjoyed it.  She liked the take-off but as soon as we were in the air she fell asleep and slept until we landed.  So she was awake for the exciting parts of the flight.  We got to the hotel after waiting FOREVER to get our rental car and we put her down for a much needed nap which she decided playing in her bed was more important and finally fell asleep after an hour or so.  Then we had to wake her up cause we had to be at dinner at 6:30pm.  Course this is all an hour "earlier" with the time change so dinner was starting at what would be Lily's bedtime.  She did pretty good during dinner.  She had a blast running around the room at the restaurant.  She got some kind of second wind and got all this energy all of a sudden right before we left.  She never ceases to amaze me.

Tomorrow is the big day (or today since its past midnight back home).  We get our hair done at 11:30am then I go with Bek to help with pictures at 3:30pm then the wedding is at 6pm.  Ryan and his parents are taking Lily to the Denver Zoo during this time.  Which is great for her and for me so I can spend this time with Bekah helping her do whatever she needs me to do to make her day less stressful!  So be praying that everything goes well and that Bekah isn't stressed out.

Walking Everywhere!

I didn't realize how long it has been since I have written.  I guess I have been pretty busy chasing Lily around.  She seemed to pick up on walking pretty quickly.  After taking some real good steps Sunday, April 26th she has been unstoppable.  She still needs to master being able to stand back up after falling.  Right now she crawls to something she can pull up on then starts walking again.  I know she can do it but she's only done it twice.  Now all we need to work on is making sure she can make it down the aisle at my sister's wedding.  We most likely will have to use an incentive at the other end like puffs or mommy's keys.  I don't know what her fascination is with my keys but she knows where to find them and if you try to take them away from her she gets very upset.  Sometimes I give them to her just cause I know it will make her happy for the time being.

This week we switched her carseat around to face forward.  I think she's happier now in the car because she can see what's going on better.  This week we also changed sleeping schedules.  Lily used to wake up about 8am drink some milk then go right back to bed til about 10am.  No such luck anymore.  Now we wake up at 7:15am and stay up til about 9:30am and nap til about 11am.  This pushed back her afternoon nap til about 2  or 3pm.  Either way she's still getting the same amount of sleep just at different intervals.  It also means that mommy can't go back to sleep in the mornings like I had been doing.  But thats good cause now I can get stuff done around the house while she is taking her morning nap.  Like right now I am blogging which I have not done in 2 months.  

Things are going well for us otherwise.  Ryan has been working on a wooden swingset for Lily but lately has not had much time to finish it.  Once it is done it will be great because Lily loves being outside and it will give us something else to do outside together.

Photography has been kinda slow for me this year which is good and bad.  Good cause it gives me more freetime and bad because I am not making a lot of money.  I have been trying to come up with ways to generate more print sales after portrait sessions have past.  So if you are a former customer of mine stay tuned for discounted prints if you still have some you'd like to order that you couldn't quite afford at the time.

This summer is jam packed for us starting with this weekend:

Saturday, May 23rd- Going to Lincoln for a family BBQ at Ryan's Cousin's house

Memorial Day- Royals game with Ryan's family

Sunday, May31st- June 3rd- Going to Omaha as a family to visit the Zoo and maybe an Omaha Royals game.

Thursday, June 4-6th- Going to Colorado for Bekah's wedding.  I am the Matron of Honor, Lily is the flower girl and Ryan will be an usher.

July 3rd- Royals game

July 4th- Annual Biery family dinner and shooting off fireworks in Topeka, KS

Friday, July 10- Bekah's in-town wedding reception.

Saturday, July 25th- Andrew & Abbie's wedding in Fort Scott, KS

That's about all I can think of for now.  I am sure other events will pop up.

Love of Spring

Ah Spring... I know it isn't "technically" here yet but it feels like it now. While Fall is my favorite season...Spring is a close 2nd. For several reasons:

1. There's nothing like that first time you get to wear flip flops after its been cold and snowy.

2. March holds my birthday. Which in the past I got excited about but now have come to dread because I know it means I am getting older and closer to 30.

3. Flowers start to poke out of the ground and I get to see what color Lilies I will have for the Summer. I also get to plant new annual flowers.

4. I love having the windows open (until bad allergy season kicks in for Ryan's sake).

5. I can take Lily and Maverick on walks so I can enjoy my day and not feel trapped in the house all day.

6. The days seem longer as it stays lighter out and we can enjoy dinner outside on our deck.

7. Baseball season starts. I love going to Royals games and getting a free T-Shirt or $1 hot dog.

That's all I can think of for now off the top of my head. Now for some updates on us and what's to come this Spring and Summer.

Ryan- Is now working on the plaza at the St. Luke's Hospital there. He doesn't really have a set task their yet but is thankful to have work right now. This job is supposed to last from 3-6 months. So we'll see where he ends up after this. I know the guys at Lawrence would love to have him back there. I will be happy as long as it is in the KC area. We are trusting God with that one.

Joanna- Not much new with me other than I got a new iMac recently and love it! It has made both my business and my job at the church so much easier and more efficient. I thank God and the gov't (can't believe it) for providing the funds for it. I am preparing for 2 weddings in the family this summer. My sister's first which I am the Matron of Honor for. I have started preparing my speech for that as I want it to be as good if not better than the one she delivered for me at my wedding 4 years ago. Then my brother's will follow a month or so later. Both weddings are out of town so it will be like going on 2 mini vacations this summer. I pray that Lily is walking by then.

Lily- She is getting around pretty fast now. She pulls up to everything and has started walking around furniture and scaling walls. Lily recently learned to clap as well. Its pretty precious! She is trying more and more to repeat what we say when we tell her to say things. I am sure her first word will be any day now. Course she says the "mama" and "dada" and has for sometime but we aren't really counting that as words at this point. Lily also will wave goodbye to you if you are leaving and wave at her. Lily also interacts with other babies with a huge smile and laugh! She just lights up when she sees another baby and often giggles to herself. I am sure she will make a wonderful big sister someday!

Maverick- Can't believe it will be 3 years this summer since we got Mav. He will be 3 years old on May 10 this year. He has really mellowed out this past year and does super great around Lily. We couldn't ask for anything better!