The day after the rodeo Mom and Dad took James and Anna home to Nebraska with them for a few days. 

They sewed pillowcases with Grandma, Anna learned how to embroider, they had water gun fights, ate yummy food, and enjoyed some grandparent time without the parents around.  We’re so thankful for this annual tradition.  

While they were away, Kenny and I had our first stay-cation and it was wonderful!  We’ve never stayed in our home without the kids before and it was both bizarre and glorious all at once.  Typically every year we head somewhere for a few days together but since we weren’t traveling to deliver the kids this year, we decided staying home sounded nice.  We usually celebrate our anniversary every summer during this time while the kids are away.  This fall will be our 15th anniversary and instead of celebrating big by going somewhere, staying home felt right.  Maybe we’re just getting old.  We slept in, Kenny worked on a few things around the house, I read, and read some more, we saw a movie, went out to dinner, took naps, and so enjoyed a break from our day to day.  I only took two pictures during those days – at one of our favorite restaurants, The Wobbly Olive.  I noticed this sign above our table – one of my favorite verses we have on our dining room wall.  And, we had to take pictures for the kids of the stuffed mushrooms we ate.  They were divine.  The kids highly dislike mushrooms so when we’re out alone we usually order them if we can.  Maybe one day the kids will like mushrooms and look back and laugh at this.  

After a few days we headed to NE and spent several days there relaxing, eating more delicious food, and going to Lake McConaughy.  We rented a pontoon boat which was nice.  Mom and Dad came out for a few hours with us and then we spent the rest of the day there.  Time in Nebraska is one of our favorite things about summer.