Vacation Becomes Staycation

Today was supposed to be the day we traveled to Colorado Springs to visit the Neuteboom clan. However, Bella has been fighting a fever and yesterday started having other symptoms, we went to the Dr. at 6:00pm to finally discover (we were at the Dr. Tuesday as well) that Bella had a viral thing that takes 7-10 days to recover from. We knew we would be miserable taking a sick baby on a road trip. So here we are today at the start of our Staycation. This morning started off well since it was the first morning in several days that Bella has not awakened with a fever. In fact, she has been fever free ALL DAY!!!! we think she has turned the corner as most of her symptoms are starting to wane. We are still facing a few, and a grumpy baby but we did have some fun today. To start off we enjoyed breakfast and played taking it really low key. In the afternoon Eric set up Bella's new pool on the patio and we took a few hours to warm it up. Bella had her first watermelon slices today and LOVED them. She also enjoyed the pool. Now we are lounging around the house and preparing lamb chops, three ways. Very Top Chef. So here are pics from Staycation 2010 Day 1.

Bella vs. Sock




















































Bella's first Watermelon

















































































Our Top Chef lamb feast

Hello Summer!!!

I made it! It's finally here and many more posts and pictures will be created to capture all of our summer adventures. So Cheers to you all, enjoy your summer time. We'll be kicking off ours with Keegan and Tracy at breakfast.

Memorable Monday

The Countdown Begins..... 5...

I love my job. Teaching is a true joy and I wouldn't trade it in for the world. Throughout the year I can list several things about my job that could be considered my favorite, In August, it's meeting a whole new group of young adults, eager and excited to learn. In December, it's watching the first semester of kids finish up a class and reflect on the things they've enjoyed learning with me. In January it's the start of a new semester with new students and new goals for myself... and in May.........It's THANK GOD FOR SUMMER!!!!! I'm so ready to be a stay at home mom for a few months and just kick back and enjoy one of the perks of being a teacher. So the countdown has begun. My last day of School is this upcoming Wednesday. Summer here I come!!!!

Memorable Monday

Happy Birthday Trish!

Well, at least the celebration was on time...

We had a magnificent night out on Saturday, thanks to Ric and Jeanne for watching Bella for us. Trish and I dined at Angler's for the first time, and we loved it! We shared oysters on the half shell and calamari for an appetizer. Trish had the cioppino for a main course and I the salmon oscar. Delicious! We were astonished that we'd never been there before, but have plans to go back soon.

After dinner we went to the Red Lyon where we met up with friends Tracy and Richie. We had a few drinks and some great conversation before calling it a night around midnight. All in all it was a perfect night with the woman that I love like no other. Happy birthday love, I can't wait to celebrate many, many more with you!

Memorable Monday

Memorable Monday

Take Me Out to the Ballgame

We had whirlwind of a weekend in early April with the Neutebooms. The opening picture is Bella chillin out in Grandpa Boom's BMW. Can't beat that! The weekend kicked off with my spring production of two Hamlet One Acts and ended with a day at the Ballpark. We saw theater, went to the Farmer's Market, and enjoyed the Lawrence Arts Center Annual Art Auction. Sunday was Isabella's second ballgame and she loved it even more than the first.

This time she could really enjoy the kids area. They had a fountain she could play in,

A Carousel with Slugger instead of horses,

And Mimi bought her a super cute pink Greinke T-Shirt.

We were there with both sets of Grandparents and happened to run into our close friends Loren, Margaret and Roady, they all got to enjoy some time with Bella and towards the end of the game Eric and I got to leave Bella with the Grandparents and watch the game with our buddies. Here we are along the back part of the park.

Like any comedic movie or T.V. show, sometimes the best part are the outtakes. Here are our digital outtakes of Bella refusing to take pictures at the ball park. Is it possible to hit the terrible two's early????

~Trish

St Patrick's Day

Okay, so we're a couple of months off. What can I say, life happens. We have so many great pictures from that day that I had to go ahead and post even if it was delayed. So here goes.

We had the BEST St. Patrick's Day I can remember ( and there have been some spectacular ones) That morning Eric had to get some work done so Bella and I headed over the Averill's to hang out with Poppie. Nana was driving back from Ohio and planned to meet us for dinner. At Poppie's we played, napped and danced with our toys ( an example here of Bella's hands behind her hips dance and some chill time with Poppie) I also want to give a shout out to this adorable St. Patrick's Day outfit, I love cheesing it up for any holiday, no matter how big or how small!

We also had the foresight to park Poppie's truck downtown the night before and feed the meters a couple of times so we would have rock star seats for the Parade. This is one of the best ideas we've had in a long time, it made going to the parade significantly easier and we were able to sit and relax as we watched it go by. We were joined in our truck by The Rood Brood, Ceri and Perrin, Nici and anyone else who popped by. It was a great party.

mmm....cookie

Some of our Favorite Floats, The Sandbar always takes the cake.

After the parade we headed home for another short nap and to cook. I made my traditional Irish feast for my folks, and the Lampe's. We had Spinach/Artichoke dip (this recipe is becoming a huge hit at any get together .) Corned Beef with Cabbage, potatoes and carrots. Irish Beer Bread and Guinness Black and White Mousse. It was delicious, I was so glad Mom made it back in time to join us. I chalk this up to a truly GREAT St. Patty's Day.

~Trish

Bella's Fairy Tree

When I was about 8 years old my Mother announced she was pregnant again. Will and I were pretty excited about having a sibling but sadly she miscarried the baby in the late 1st or early 2nd trimester, I was too young to truly understand or remember how hard it must have been. But what is beautiful about this is when they lost the baby my parents decided to plant a tree in memory of their child. It is a weeping willow that is planted in the backyard. Recently they have added something magnificent to this already sentimental tree, they have created a beautiful playhouse for their granddaughter and named it her Fairy tree. Within the drooping leaves Dad has cut out a door and set up two little chairs and a table. The roof of her playhouse consists of hanging branches dotted with beautiful windchimes. Three light wicker balls live in a basin attatched to the trunk of the tree and Bella gleefully places them in and out of their stationary basket. As I watch my beautiful daughter play I can only think that she's eagerly watched over by my brother Luke who was not quite ready to come into this world. It's a truly magical place that will grow with her and I can't wait to see the stories, and adventures that take place in her own little fairy world. Thank you Mom and Dad for sharing something so special with us.

~Trish

Memorable Mondays

I'm stealing this idea from Heidi's Elser 411 blog. She posts a picture every Wednesday titled Wordless Wednesday and they are always fantastic pictures. I think it's a brilliant way to keep posting even when busy. So Eric and I are starting Memorable Monday. Here's the first edition. Enjoy!

Incognito...

Quite the busy times here around the Neuteboom house lately. We had a very busy weekend that really started on Wednesday with Trish's show. Then, my folks came in on Thursday, we had an art auction, softball practice, the start of the farmer's market, and a Royals game. More on all that to come! For now, here's a cute photo of Bella trying to go incognito in Easter a weekend or two back? When was Easter? (geeze, I need some ginseng or something). Anyway, hope you all had a good weekend, but I'm sure it wasn't as nice as ours was...

Southwest Spring Play

Last night we had a fantastic Opening night for my Spring Production. The kids are really doing a fantastic job and the scripts are very clever. The production consists of two One Act's "There's Something Rotten in the State of Denmark" and "A Danish Soap" both adaptations of Shakespeare's Hamlet. The piece explores two different styles both Melodrama and Soap Opera. In addition we filmed "A Danish Soap" so you see live theater and film all in one. Really it's two shows for the price of one! I'm very proud of this production and hope everyone can make it. The next show is Tomorrow (Friday 4/9) at 7:00pm in the Southwest Junior High Auditorium. Tickets are $3 at the door. Plus concessions for 50cents or donation during intermission. Hope y'all can make it!

~Trish

Is there anything cuter than a baby girl in an Easter Dress?

We had one of the best Easter's I can remember this year. Not only was the weather beautiful but we got a chance do our annual trip to Topeka. In my family it's a tradition to go to my Granny Sook's house (my mom's mom) Last year we didn't get to do much on Easter since my Grandpa Rice was still in the hospital and Bella was too young to get much out of it. However, we are fortunate enough to have my Grandpa Rice back home and my Granny offered to host again this year. In addition, my Cousin Gigi is back in Topeka and I haven't had a chance to see her in so long that she hadn't even met Eric yet. It was wonderful, we also got to see my Uncle Randy, Aunt Becky, and my Cousins Missy( the brilliant photographer) Rachel ( who's is my age and was like a sister growing up) Scotti and all their beautiful families.

Music is a big part of my family and my folks brought their instruments so we could sing and play for Grandpa. Mom played Grandpa's favorite songs and Bella and I danced.

































In addition, we brought along the sidewalk chalk and Bella loved decorating the walkways and her dress.






































Bella also had her First Ever Easter Egg hunt. So without further ado, Here are some amazing photos of my darling girl hunting eggs. She was so good at picking them up and putting them in her basket.































































She even found the egg hidden on Poppy.






















The only problem with the day was that Bella didn't find the $5 egg, that went to Lauren Ann, much to my dismay ( not because she's not adorable as well, but it is a personal vendetta that myself and my family find that damn egg!) Oh well, there is always next year.

It was a beautiful day with my beautiful family.

















Bella and Granny Sook






















Me and my Granny Sook and Pappy,

















Bella and Nana lounging on the swing.






















So Happy Easter everyone, I hope you had as wonderful a Sunday as we did. And Happy Birthday to Keegan!!!!

~Trish