life in Lincoln

I saw one of my friends who moved to a new place do something like this so I thought it would be fun to remember what's been happening since we moved a little over three months ago, and a few of the new little things.

-The weather has been great so far. Summer was super hot and now it's perfect. We did hit a few days where it was 50 degrees. Everyone here said it felt great and I was ready for long johns and a parka! I'm extremely nervous about actual winter.

-One of the first things I noticed when we drove into Nebraska was that the traffic lights are horizontal on the bar not vertical. I don't know why but it was so different to see it that way.

-The green trees were great when we moved but now that's it's fall and the leaves are changing it really is so beautiful here. I need to take some pictures soon. I'm sure the kids are going to love jumping in the leaves.

-We had to switch cell phone service as soon as we got here. They don't even have a T-Mobile and we were getting almost no service.

-I still really miss Costco!... and Cafe Rio, Home Goods, Ross, and H&M. Love that there is a Hobby Lobby though.

-There are alot of one-way streets downtown. That was hard to get used to. I don't know what I would do with out the GPS!

-We live only 5 minutes from our church. That is so nice. Less than 5 minutes from our YMCA and Library.

-I got a calling as Relief Society Secretary. It's been really fun so far.

-Eric got called as Sunday School teacher for the Laurels and Priests.

-We have a great neighborhood and area close to stores and restaurants.

-We have only driven on a freeway one time since we've been here and that was to take my mom to the airport in Omaha. It's just to small a town to need one.

-Dresden and I eat lunch at least once a week at Eric's school. We eat with our friends the Roberts and Nehrings. They have a big grassy area the kids love playing on. There are so many squirrels here. It's fun to visit and hang out since Eric gets home a little later now.

-Ava is loving school. We really have been spoiled too. The bus comes right to our house and they feed her a snack and lunch! It's kinda weird but kinda nice. She loves asking what she will be eating and at least I know it's always heathy! She also goes every day. Although most months she has at least three days off. We just had parent teacher conference and her teacher said she is doing great. She is so smart and did awesome on all the testing they did. She isn't under an IEP at the moment and her speech is wonderful. We are still working on her listening skills though!

-I love my time with just me and Dresden. He loves to sit on my lap and play computer games. I can't believe how big and smart he is getting. He says the funniest things too! I am a little sad that he is slowing down with the naps. He only takes about 2 or 3 a week. And Ava had the great idea to teach him how to get out of his crib! BOO! So now I put him down and a few minutes later he walks out with a big smile on his face! It's a good thing he's cute! I guess it's time for a big boy bed anyway.

I'm just going to throw in some random pictures from the last month!

This is lunch at Eric's school. The girls are at school so it's just boys! They love finding big sticks and chasing each other. William, Dresden, Talmadge, and Wesley

And one of Eric just cause he's cute!

The other day we checked on Ava and found her like this. She fights sleep til the very last minute! Pencil still upright in her hand!

Dresden loves his trains! He likes when I take pictures of him and always gives he weird poses.

When we can't see or hear Dresden this is usually where we find him. He just climbs up and starting looking through books. Recently I found him in his crib reading books!

He was in need of a serious haircut!

My handsome boy!!!

Eric's new mode of transportation

So I have been seriously losing the blogging motivation but I need to get updated. So I guess I'll start here. About a month ago Eric decided to get a bike so he could ride to school. It's nothing fancy and he already wants to upgrade but he really enjoys riding it to school, and it's great exercise. Now he leaves at 6:30 and doesn't get home til about 6. (I am really missing regular dental school days and the occasional early out day he used to get). It's an 18 mile ride there and back. Lincoln is all about bikes. There are alot of bike trails that lead almost anywhere. One day we will all have one and be able to go on bike rides as a family.

Here are a few pictures I grabbed one day when he got home.

I love his helmet :) his brother even gave him some biking shoes. He just took it off but he also has to ride with his backpack on. He is pretty sweaty when he gets home. Ha!

Lincoln Air Show

A couple weeks ago we went to the Lincoln Air Show with our friends the Nehrings and the Roberts. (Both in our ward doing the Periodontal residency). We have never been to one and it was so much fun. The kids loved seeing all the old planes and even got to get inside one. It was an extremely hot day but we still had a blast watching the show. And lucky for us the Roberts brought their huge umbrella so the kids could stay cool. They really do amazing things with those planes and we will definitely be back. Eric brought our big noise canceling ear muffs and Ava actually wore it almost the whole time. She is pretty sensitive to noise. Dresden was of course loving it. The planes come so close.

It went til 5 but unfortunately our kids didn't make it. With all the heat Ava was asleep by 4 and Dresden fell asleep walking out to the car. They were exhausted to say the least! But we are so glad we went it was alot of fun!

Just thought these two looked cute walking next to each other!

This was by far the coolest! It dropped a bomb and you could feel all the heat coming from it!

We were all enjoying the frozen strawberry lemonade, but Dresden was especially enjoying it! :)


The Blue Angles were so fun to watch.

Dance class

Ava started dance class last week at True Dance. She is doing Ballet and Tap. We went back and forth over the summer, one day she wanted dance and the other she wanted gymnastics. She really loved the idea of tap shoes and getting on stage for a recital at the end so we went with dance for now. We'll see how long it lasts. :) She has been pretty shy so far but says she likes it. She also get to do it with her friend Isabelle.

I got her a book about Ballet at the library and it has really made her excited. In the book they talk about stretching and the five positions. She loves to read it at night and have me watch her do all the positions.

The first day they talked at the beginning so they only had time for ballet. But the next day she got to do some tap.

Silly girl!

While Ava dances these two run around like crazies. Dresden and Talmadge picking the berries and squishing them with their fingers or feet! They are actually really cute together. They are only a few weeks apart. Dresden talks about Talmadge every day and is excited to go to any event where he will be.

Children's museum

I just found these pictures on my card. They are from about a month ago. We bought a pass to the Lincoln Children's museum. The kids love it and it will be nice to have something to do in the winter. We have been a few times but this time I brought my camera. We went with our friends the Nehrings. Our kids always have fun together. We even brought a lunch and ate out on the roof of the museum.


Dresden was so cute with the dogs. He LOVES dogs and carried this huge dog over to the Dr area and started "checking it out".

They have a cute station with paint that the kids can use to paint their own faces. Dresden wanted Batman and spider man. I am not so good but I did my best! Haha!

I'm not sure what this is I was just doing what Ava asked for!

Isabelle and Ava

Dresden in the dress up's. He was so funny and loved wearing the capes.

Lilly, Ava, Isabelle, Dresden and Talmadge

Pre-school

Ava had her first day of pre school Aug 22nd! She was so excited. She has always loved school. I'm very excited about her pre school this year. We have already had a orientation, a home visit and lots of information about what they do. Which is ALOT more than I received from her teachers in the past. It was fun to see her classroom and visit with other families.

My camera has been a pain so I sent it in to be fixed. It was torture but I didn't have it for about two weeks! Way to long. Ava wasn't too into getting pictures and I really missed a fast shutter so we only have a couple. It wasn't quite how I pictured her first day but I got a few with my cell phone. Lame. I will be going out soon to get some good ones though.

Ava is so smart and I know she will do great. I feel like she has been in pre school forever and is almost getting bored with it. Dresden was pretty sad when she left. They have been home together for about two months. He will miss his big sister alot. He talks about going to "my school" all the time. I can't blame him though when both his daddy and sister get to go to school.

Dresden crying because he can't go. Poor guy!

Waiting for the bus

New toy

Eric got a new toy a while ago and pretty much everyone has been obsessed with his iphone. Although it is pretty fun to play with! He downloaded some games for the kids and they LOVE playing. First it was just Ava and she loved the cupcake game, rio angry birds, and the coloring. She also discovered the camera. Eric looked on his phone one time and there were 200 pictures. They were fun to look through though, Dresden smiled way more for her than he does for me! She would also wake up first thing in the morning and instead of whispering to Eric "daddy, can I watch a show" she was saying "daddy, can I play a game on your phone"!

But then Dresden decided he needed to play too. It's amazing how fast they can pick up on things. He loves the cupcake game, a motorcycle game, and the toy story matching game. It's been pretty nice to have during shopping trips. Dresden was playing while I had my camera out so I took a few of him for fun. I loved his facial expressions.



apparently it was a tough game.

concentrating

the winning proud face!