Wrestling

Well, while we were in Kentucky we did as Kentuckians, so while we were in Nebraska we did as Nebraskans... which in this family is wrestling!

Tristan getting some lessons from Chase and Chad

Getting "schooled" by Erik

Tristan learning to pin

Meanwhile, the girls were fixated on the "Princess and the Frog"

Giving Chad an education

Friday night we went to Chase and Chad's wrestling meet.

Erik looks like he's ready!

Again, the girls have their own idea of fun

Uncle David and Dad looking on

I love the intensity on everyone's faces in this one

We had a really nice visit with everyone and will sure miss seeing them for the next 3 years! We love you guys!

Cousins

We had a great time visiting with all of our family in Nebraska, but the kids especially enjoyed getting to hang out with their cousins.

Couldn't resist posting this cute little guy in his pink hat!

6 kids + 4 cameras = good luck getting a decent picture!

Thursday we went to Grand Island to meet with more cousins. We were so thankful Rachael was willing to come from Omaha with her three little cuties. She drove 3 hours and then cooked us a delicious supper to boot!

Emma, Tristan, Grace, and Macy starting a race

Looks like Grace won this round

Ring around the Rosie...

...we all fall down!

Playing with big boy toys

Thanks Josh for being so willing to share!

On The Farm

We arrived in Nebraska on Sunday after having even more travelling difficulty... thankfully this difficulty didn't cost us a penny, just a few hours! They found a problem with the plane that we had already boarded, and told us that it would take about an hour to fix, and a mechanic was on his way. Thank goodness we were prepared with laptops and movies! The kids didn't care a bit! After waiting an hour and a half, they finally decided that we really just needed to go get on another plane... So, we were about 2 hours late in leaving, but we made it, and got to Palmer just in time to go over to Aunt Donna's for supper with the Samuelson side of the family.

Monday afternoon we headed out to the farm place (the house that David and Grace were brought home to after they were born) where Dana and Joanie live. After all the kids got home from school we shipped them outside to run and enjoy the beautiful day!

Apparently Tristan was afraid of the chickens so he had to hold his sister's hand. (That's okay, we remedied that later, and it made for a great picture)

Chase had some ducklings in the basement

I took several of them all together - the kids' bathroom is done in ducks and I thought they'd be a good addition to the decor.

These two were inseparable - Grace even went to school with Emily one day.

Chad was great with these two - always kept them entertained.

Chase and Grandma Judi

Chase was busy doing chores while the other kids were playing, but I don't think he seemed to mind - I think he's perfectly content on the farm working with animals.

Chase made the mistake of telling the kids it was okay to chase the chickens - I don't know if they laid any eggs that night, but they sure got their exercise!

As I said, Tristan was initially afraid of the chickens, but after I took him by the hand and chased one, he decided that they weren't too scary after all. He joined in on the chicken chasing fun without a second thought.

Tristan and Erik had a good time together

This is Willy - a lamb that they bottle fed because his mom refused him after they had worked him. He graciously allowed the kids to pose on him.

Tristan looks a bit bewildered as he had already fallen off Willy and didn't want to get back on. I guess mutton bustin' isn't for him just yet!

Willy following Chase as he does his chores. I really got a kick out of this lamb - he comes when you call him and was just so darned cute and lovable.

The kids had a great time hanging out with their cousins and learning a little about the farm. And they especially liked the chasing chickens part!

Kentucky

Knowing it would be my last visit to Kentucky for a while, I decided I needed to get some classic Kentucky pictures. I'm really pleased with the way some of these turned out.

This one we had printed 3 different ways - David wants them hung together somewhere in the house. I don't know why, but tobacco barns have always intrigued me.

Some of these were taken between the slats of fences as I didn't want to climb the 200+ year old stone walls that were in front of me to get to higher ground to shoot over the fences. But I guess it adds a cool element to them.

Mighty glad it was springtime and the mares were foaling!

Newport Aquarium

Last Saturday we headed up to Newport, KY (it's just across the river from Cincinnati), to visit their aquarium. I know I've been there once before, but it sure was different! Note: due to the vast amounts of really cool and unique fish, this post is bursting at the seams with pictures!

It's too late for these 3!

mmm... dinner!

A giant snail

This shark appeared to be looking right at us!

It's Dory!

(for those of you who have seen Finding Nemo - after I saw this darned fish I kept singing "just keep swimming, just keep swimming...(only sometimes in my head, for I couldn't be the only one annoyed by this mantra going through my brain!))

That's a fish! It almost looked like it was made of corduroy.

I loved how this gator was just resting his head on the turtle


Star Wars fans - does this remind you of anyone?

Feeding the larakeets again - unfortunately there were more people than birds so the birds had already had their fill. All but this little one that kept getting chased off.

They had some really cool jellyfish there

Believe it or not, these are jellyfish too!

They're called upside down jellyfish.

I imagine they pack a pretty powerful punch - I'd want to get a closer look at them if I were out snorkeling because they're so pretty.

This is not the time-release effects of my camera - the tentacles on these things really were that long!

The kids playing with jellyfish - they would scatter when they got close to your shadow, so of course the kids would get close and then try to whack one of them.

Watching the penguins with Grandma

We really enjoyed seeing all the different animals and fish at the aquarium. We could have spent hours more there just sitting and staring at a tank at a time.