A Day Off…

Today was a weird day.  Started out as a typical Thursday.  My alarm going off and me hitting snooze.  Then,  just before 7 my phone rang showing the school’s number.  When I answered it was a recording saying that due to a power outage, school was cancelled for the day.  I jumped out of bed quicker than any alarm could ever get me up and quickly discovered that we also did not have power.  Guess that meant it was back to bed with nothing else to do.

Thankfully the power came back on a little after 8.  That meant taking a whole day off of school was probably a little unnecessary, but nice.  Mental health day!  I now had the whole day to do what I please.  My snow day policy is that if they cancel school for weather that I don’t go anywhere, but on a beautiful September day, my options were wide open.

So it included a little cleaning, a little crafting, a little reading, a little jogging and a volleyball game.

Tomorrow it’s back to the real world.  Thankfully it just happens to be Friday.  And pajama day in Room 111 for our star party!  Could I be any luckier?  Then it’s the weekend...so yes!

{The Launes}

Food, Football and a Birthday….

Another busy weekend is in the books.  It started with a relaxing Friday night including Valentino’s buffet with Trent.  I know, I know, Valentino’s twice in one week for me.  Don’t judge.  I practiced a little self control and made it my goal to not walk out of the restaurant miserable...mission accomplished.

After cheering on the Huskers it was time to head to Seward for Trent’s game.  Saturday was the first home game for Trent.  I was excited because it was the first game I have been able to go to this season.  It was a night game and the weather was a little less than perfect.  Let’s just say it drizzled the whole time.  Luckily, I’ve been around the block a few times and came prepared...in layers.  How many you ask?  Let’s just say my heavy fleece, winter coat and rain coat all made the trip to Seward with me plus a poncho.  I looked like I was dressed for winter and very thankful.  Even better the Bulldogs had their first win of the season and the defense had a shut-out.  Way to go coach!

Then Sunday it was time to celebrate Trent’s Grandpa Dean’s birthday.  76 candles on the birthday cake!  We all headed out to Platte River State Park (one of Trent’s top 5 restaurant choices) for their lunch buffet.  Then it was on to his grandparent’s for red velvet birthday cake and ice-cream and a little family time.

My goal this week is to go to bed early.  I cannot wake up in the mornings for the life of me.  My alarm goes off at 6:30 and I hit my snooze at least five times.  I am not a morning person and probably never will be.  However, maybe if I make a little more or an effort to go to bed early, I will be better able to rise and shine!

{The Launes}

Big Brother Finale…

Another reason I am a huge dork is that I am obsessed with Big Brother.  If you haven’t seen it, you should.  However, now you will have to wait almost an entire year because the finale was on last night.  Big Brother 14 premiering in July 2012.  Mark your calendars. 

Finale night meant finale party with Jamie.  I rushed into Omaha after FCA last night so we could go for a little pre gluttonous run.  Then the Valentino’s pizza and breadsticks arrived!  Delicious.  The amazing invention of DVR let us start a little late so we could fast forward right through the commercials...a luxury I do not enjoy at home.  So we snuggled up on the couch, ate our pizza and cheered on Rachel.  In preparation for finale night I even made signs...don’t judge.

Previously on Big Brother, it was a nail biting season full of upsets and big moves.  In the most important HoH of the season, Rachel and Porsche faced off in an intense round of questions where Rachel was eventually awarded HoH...although it appeared as if she had just been crowned Miss America. 

Chuck also cheered on Rachel.

And for the grand finale...chocolate malts!  And in case you were wondering...by a vote of 4-3, Rachel was awarded the winner of Big Brother 13.  Way. To. Go.

Until next season Big Brother, I will miss you.

{The Launes}

Mr. and Mrs. Baker

This weekend the Papke side of the family headed out in full force to celebrate my cousin’s wedding.  We headed to Valley for the ceremony and then onto Yutan for the reception.  It was an absolutely beautiful September day.  The top 10 days we’ve been having lately are absolutely amazing.  I could get use to this.  This is the kind of fall weather I love. 

The wedding was lots of fun.  We laughed, we ate, we danced, we took pictures, we joined a Congo line and we cheered on the Huskers...all at the reception.  Here are some pictures from the big day.

Introducing Mr. and Mrs. Baker…

Everyone hit up the dance floor for “We are Family”

I love you mom...and this picture.  You should too.  Way to celebrate the Huskers big W.  2-0.  GBR!  You bleed Husker red!

Some of the cousins...

I also love you Jamie...and this picture.  Please don’t hate me.  You can close your eyes and pretend the picture isn’t there.  I feel like you should be saying, “There’s no place like home.” 

Another great weekend in the books.  This is going to be a crazy busy week.  New Bible study, Kirsten’s volleyball game, FCA, Big Brother Finale and my volleyball league starts.  Love it!

{The Launes}

September 11

Today was a beautiful day.  Clear blue skies full of sunshine and warm temperatures.  Almost identical to the weather 10 years ago today…a day that weighs heavy on any American’s heart. Primetime TV and the internet have been full of stories remembering 9/11 in the days leading up to the 10th anniversary.  It is so intriguing and so sad.  I really didn’t plan on blogging about 9/11 today, but then a couple of things happened and I couldn’t resist.

First, I was headed up to school to get a few things done and the cemetery had their flags all hanging at half staff.  I love when the cemetery has all the flags out, but this only happens like twice a year.  They have never hung on September 11th, but today they did.  And they were beautiful flowing in the gentle breeze.  Of course I had to go back and take pictures.

Then, I saw this commercial on TV today while I was watching a little NFL Sunday afternoon football.  It immediately caught my attention and of course brought tears to my eyes.  It is a must see.  I’ve seen it at least 10 times now :)

Of course I remember exactly where I was when I found out, what I was doing and how I felt.   It still seems like just yesterday.   We had a golf meet that day and were running late.  This school van was so old that it didn’t always run and it definitely did not have radio.  We got to the golf course and rushed out to play our first nine.  There was no time to go into the clubhouse first like we usually did.  It wasn’t until after nine holes that I went into the clubhouse and saw the events that had unfolded throughout the morning playing on the TV only to have to head back out to play our second nine.  I remember going out and feeling scared and confused as I really did not know what had happened.  Surely it had been an accident or some terrible nightmare.   I didn’t feel safe and the last place I wanted to be was golfing.   I remember our coach telling us on the way home that this was big and we were going to read about it in History books someday.  He was right.  America was forever changed in one day.  Ten years later the aftermath is still fresh. 

{The Launes}

Happy Birthday to You…

Is it really Thursday already?  I never say that!  But after a Monday off and an unexpected Tuesday off, this three day week has flown by! 

Before I get to the birthday...Trent and I had another first in our marriage this week...we were both sick.  At the same time. Throwing up.  No fun.  Of course as I was miserably lying on the bathroom floor this milestone dawned on me and I even suggested we take a picture to commemorate it.  Trent declined saying he hadn’t been that sick in 20 years and did not want to remember it!  Whatever the nasty bug was, it’s gone and it also didn’t put a damper on all the busyness of our weekend.

It started Saturday with Ellie’s 1st birthday slash Husker party.  We headed to the Barent’s to watch the Huskers kick off their season against Chattanooga and get their first W of the season.  We ate sloppy joes, opened presents and had birthday cake!

Happy first birthday to you!

Then Sunday it was my cousin’s bridal shower that my sister and I put together.  It was simple, but got the family together and celebrated their big day coming up this Saturday.

Scrabble cookies...

B for the soon to be Bakers...

Mason girls...

The whole family...

The bride to be with her family...

Tomorrow is Friday.  Jeans Day, Bluejay Burgers for lunch and football game...TGIF!

{The Launes}

Friday Night Lights…

It’s been awhile.  Not because I didn’t have time to post, but simply because nothing interesting was happening in my life.  I was anxiously awaiting something to blog about but between school and trying to catch up on sleep, there was little time for fun.  However, I’m turning a new page and tonight I kicked off a three day weekend by catching some Friday Night Lights...live.  Trent and I headed up to Cedar Bluffs tonight to watch Chris, my brother in-law’s brother and the Dodge Pirates take the field.  They are a D-2 school and play 8 man so it was a totally different experience.  High scoring, small field, two point conversions and tailgating before the game!  With 33 seconds left in the 1st quarter it was Cedar Bluffs 6 and Dodge 48...crazy!

Go #62!

However, things didn’t go exactly as planned...on the very first play of the game, Chris hit a guy and most likely broke his collar bone!  Poor guy...I felt so bad.  He missed last season with a torn ACL and now he will miss at least part of his senior season for this.  Then, as the first quarter was winding down, the raindrops began to fall and the thunder and lightning came.  Thank goodness for Karen and her ponchos.  I did not plan for rain.  It was such a big lightning delay that they finally postponed the game until tomorrow morning.  But in between the rain and lightning I of course took it as a photo opt moment!

A rainbow in the middle of the storm.

Trent stayed dry with a little help from his umbrella…the sky was uh-mazing!

It’s going to be a big weekend...birthday party, Husker game and bridal shower plus hopefully a little R & R!

{The Launes}