The Graduate!

Maddie's cousin graduated from UNL (University of Nebraska - Lincoln) last month! As with so many things, there was a lot of uncertainty about graduation in the pandemic age! But, it worked out well - Yay!

The graduation was outside; the graduates walked and picked up their diplomas and it was a happy occasion - even though it was a bit chilly that weekend. I'm sure Grace got used to the crazy Midwest weather though I think the minus 30 degree winter and excessive snowfall may have convinced her that Nebraska, while nice and all, does not have the best year-round weather!

Before she graduated, she got together with Maddie so Maddie could take some photos on campus! Grace and David both graduated. Grace's boyfriend, Clayton, has one more semester and will graduate in December.

The blooming trees on UNL campus were gorgeous for graduation photos!

And those columns you see in some photos - are called The Kissing Columns (not sure why) were removed the day after graduation so that the football training area can be expanded. Of course - football! So happy to have these photos before they got moved!

We had loads of fun celebrating Grace's graduation! She's back in Florida now working at Ernst & Young. Those 4 years went by so fast!! Congrats Grace! We'll miss you!

Catching Up?

Summer seemed to have sped by at warp speed

and somehow I've gotten way, way behind on blogging.  

Sometimes, I have a bit of blogger's block

and simply cannot put together a sentence or

two and thus I get behind.

I'm going to try and catch up a bit here

and there.  Sorry if stuff is out of order,

but that's life -- it often seems out of order, doesn't it.

Me, Philip, Maddie, Connor and the Littles

In mid-August, my sweet niece returned to town for her

second year of college!

How she can possibly be in her second year already is

simply beyond me!

Grace, Todd, Amy and Philip's little kids

Amy (my little sister) and Todd brought Grace back to town from Florida!

We don't get to see them as much as we'd like, so

we nabbed the opportunity to go out to eat with them

in the always fun Haymarket area.

We had such a beastly hot summer and it was sweltering that day,

but being from Florida -- they didn't seem to mind!

They got Grace all  moved back into the dorm and she's

back into the college-coed groove!

I'm sure Grace is looking forward to temps cooling

off  . . . soon I hope!

Being a Florida girl, winter was her favorite time of year here

in Nebraska last year!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving!
 

Getting ready!

 This year we had our feast a few days early!
It was so fun and mostly yummy -- the turkey turned
out very, very dry!  Yikes!
Oh well -- the sides were delish - so who cares
about turkey anyway!

Maddy, Grace and Grace's roomie - Nevaeh!

Bonus -- this year, my sweet and adorable

niece, Grace, is at the University here.

Grace and one of her roommates also joined us and

it was great to have them with us!

I mentioned a couple of family favorite foods. . . 

strawberry jello with strawberries and cool whip marshmallow fruit salad

(both very healthy options) that we always had as kids.

Shock -- my sister has not kept up that tradition at 

her house, but she will now that Grace has 

tasted those wonderful traditional

Thanksgiving foods.

Baby Dorothy - 1-1/2 years old!

The big kids (Philip & Catherine and Connor) also joined us
with the littles!  So much fun with those 4! 
Somehow, we missed getting the oldest Jane in a photo -- sorry sweetheart!

3 of 4 of the grandkids!  Such cuties!

Maddy and I are now devising our shopping plans!
Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!

xoxo

Sister/Cousin Fun

Even if it wasn't 't officially Sister/Cousin day last Sunday, it was for us!  

My little sister, her husband and daughter were in town for a quick visit from Florida.

Besides seeing her in-laws  too, they were looking at the university.

Amy, me, Maddy, Granddaughter Jane

How can it even be possible that the sweet baby girl I met with Amy in 2000

will be headed to college next year!

Maddy & Grace

Grace is absolutely one of Maddy's favorite cousins!  We really wished

we had more time with them, but were happy to have one evening together. 

We had a wonderful family pizza dinner at Philip's so Amy and family could meet

Harry (now 3) and baby Dorothy!

Just before they headed out, we made a quick request for a few photos! 

It was such a scramble that we missed getting others in the photos too!

Next time!

It was so good to see them all and spend some time together!  Now, cross your fingers that our University is her favorite and she picks the Big Red!

Wishing We Were There Again!

Maddy's cheer coaches and their competition teams

are at Disney now for a competition!

We keep seeing photos from

the happiest place on earth, 

and . . . 

are just a teensy bit jealous that

we're not there too --

especially after a bit of snow last night

and below freezing temps!

Mother Nature -- please bring spring back!

We were there a few years ago

with my sister and her most adorable daughter!

What a fun time!

Happy Easter!

Cousin Fun and More to Come!

These two are the youngest cousins! 

Maddy was only 18 months old  in the photo above and Grace was 4.

  Aren't they so cute! 

Ok,  I admit it, I forced them to dress alike for this photo. 

Poor Maddy was terrified of the photographer!!

We went on a Disney cruise together to celebrate our Aunt's birthday when

Maddy was 5 and Grace was 7 

We had a blast and the girls loved pirate night!

Fun in Chicago 2 years ago

[Maddy 8 and Grace 11]

Last summer -- Hilton Head!

More cousin fun to come soon!!! :)