Quotes of the Week

"We cannot direct the wind, but we can adjust our sails."
--Author Unknown

"The really great man is the man who makes everyone feel great"
--G. K. Chersterton

"The best manager may not make the best leader, and the best leader may not make the best manager.  They rely heavy on one another for success.  A great vision cannot be reached without action.  Action cannot happen when a goal is not in place."
--Kevin Bitton

Ultrasound Reveals...

Jacob and Laurie are expecting baby #5 right before Thanksgiving.

They were anxious to find out the gender of the unborn child and scheduled the ultrasound for the day after they got back home to Omaha.

Natalie and Emma were hoping for a little sister. They are very good at holding babies and will surely be a very big help when the new baby joins their family.

Natalie took such good care of Spencer, even knowing how to soothe him when he was sick. She is looking forward to when she is old enough to babysit other people's children. A new baby will give her that much more practice.

Jacob invited the whole family in on a conference call so they could make their big gender reveal announcement to everyone at the same time.

Turns out Natalie and Emma are very happy because...it's a GIRL!!!!!

Quotes of the Week

"You can get everything in life you want, if you will help enough other people get what they want."
--Author Unknown

"By learning you will teach, by teaching you will learn."
--Latin Proverb

"Great people are those who make others feel that they too, can become great."
--Mark Twain

Two Parks In One Day

The last full day Jacob's family was here with us was a great park day for the kids. First park we visited had a walking trail where the kids were looking for things in nature.

 They found flowers and berries and a slimy snail climbing up a concrete wall.

The kids had fun playing on the amphitheater at the park. They think it would be fun to put on a show there for the whole family next time they come to town.

The playground at the end of the trail was a big hit with the kids.

The cousins came to play for the afternoon so Rebecca could get some more stuff done at the new house.

After dinner, Jacob and Laurie wanted to see what had been done on Dallas and Rebecca's house since their previous visit.

Rebecca was happy to get a new refrigerator and new stove. She still wishes she could have gotten a new microwave. Things are looking really nice in their new home and it's a very roomy, lovely place for them to live. All that work for all those weeks is now paying off for them.

Here are a couple of pictures at the very beginning of the home transformation.

And here they are standing in front of the new and improved version of the same house. The freshly painted red door and shutters and the potted plants on the front porch are so beautiful.

Home sweet home!!

After the home tour, everyone was off to the splash pad. It was hilarious watching how fearless Spencer was walking through the spraying water.

Near the splash pad was a very fun playground.

 
 

Natalie has always been a great poser for pictures. Brooke was so surprising when she actually started posing for pictures. I love these shots of her.

What a fun day with the grandchildren at the two different parks.

It was a sad moment the following day when Jacob and Laurie packed up their suitcases, loaded their car and drove off down the street taking those four precious children with them. They have been greatly missed around here!!!