Day 8

Today I am thankful for my little man, Connor.  My OB doctor thought we were having 2 girls.  The next week we went to the specialist and she told us we were having a boy and a girl.  Everyone seemed happy enough we were having 2 girls.  Then the next week.....geesh, everyone was crying and so happy to have a boy to pass on the name.  My sister told me on the phone that day that she was so happy I get to experience the love of a son because it is different than a daughters.  She was right.  He is such a little loving guy.  He has been a little difficult from in the womb, as an infant and is much more laid back as a toddler.  He came into the world hungry as you can see below.

I will always take his kisses!

He and Claire are always partners in crime.

His first football game.  Who knew he would love it so much?  Well, I kinda thought since his dad is such a sports nut but on most days he wants to play tackle football.  I love how anytime he sees football on TV he yells, "Tackle him, tackle him!"

He has loved sports from the first time he held a ball.

He adores his twin sister.  The bond these two have is so sweet.  

This kid likes to eat and make a mess!

He can be found climbing up to the counter and eating ALL the leftover doughnuts!

He started out as such a tiny little thing.  He had MSPI and had to drink special formula.  I remember when I took this picture I wanted to always remember how scrunched up and tiny he was.

I love this picture.  He loves to watch TV.

He loves to play with his cars and line them up.

Hmmm wonder what he ate?

He loves the water and I loved watching him explore the water this summer.

Not surprising.  All the cars are all lined up.

Playing in a park in downtown Chicago.

He is 7 months old here.  Such a cutie.

He loves his food, as I mentioned before.  He double fists it!

The only boys!  He loves his cousin, Alex.

I adore those long eye lashes just like his mama's.

This tractor (combine) ride was the highlight of the fair!

He loved being a pirate for Halloween.  He took on the part and shouted pirate commands.

This so clearly shows the difficulty he had as an infant.  His poor tummy.

Even though he is happy here he is stretched out stiff as a board!

These jumpy things were such a lifesaver.  He loved to bounce and I could fix supper.

My cute little scarecrow.

What a sweet sweet baby

I love the smiles on these two faces here.  Connor is adored by his Grandparents.

These two cousins are pretty thankful for him too.  He and Maddey and both the "middle" child but he and Alex are the only boys.

Little prince is one!

Gosh, how I loved those curly locks!

If it is round he can make it into a ball!

I am so thankful that I was able to carry this boy and survive that difficult pregnancy.  He might have been a difficult baby, especially until we figured out the MSPI stuff, but I feel so lucky to have been  blessed with this little boy.  

Thankful Day 7

Today I am thankful for where I grew up, Auburn, NE!  I am thankful for the house I lived in my entire life.  It is very bittersweet because that house is for sale.  As glad as I am to have my parents near me and close Auburn is such a huge part of who I am and have become that no longer having a piece of it is quite difficult.  I searched the pictures on my computer and the web to see what I have of Auburn.  Sadly, in the past 3 years (last time I took pictures off my computer and onto a hard drive!) I have very few pictures of my children in Auburn.  

Here is Auburn wonderful swimming pool.  That little small town has a better pool then the city I live in.  I will miss not taking my kids there.  The old pool I practiced swimming in every day was replaced my senior year.  I can't forget Coach Gene yelling at us and making us swim snakes in that pool each day of swim team practice!  This pool opened the summer before my senior year.  It is such a great pool I wish GI had one like it!

See that cobblestone street.  Courthouse Avenue it is called.  I will miss taking my kids to the parade every year and being farm town kids.  I used to love riding my bike down that brick road when my mom would let me ride my bike to school in 4th grade.  

The deck at my parent's house.  Dad sure labored over building that in time for my college graduation and my sister's class reunion.  In fact every part of that house was labored over and fixed up.

Laney took some pictures I found on my ipad and I'm sure glad she did.  Who doesn't love that front porch?  I remembering playing on it as a little kid and swinging on the porch swing.

Looking across the street.  Geez, neighbors have come and gone but that house with the pillars will always be Chic and Norma's and the little one on the left will always be McMahon's!

That front porch.  Come rainy day we could ride our bikes on there.  Or on stormy nights while my sister was cowering in the basement my dad and I would watch the storm.  We knew it was raining hard when the gutters on the corner of the street were gushing with water!

Another porch view.

Southside bar with friends.  Always the place to go.  When I was little it was Bea's.  Sometime Bea is still at the bar.  I used to love going on my dad's Friday delivery route and having lunch with him here.

How this kitchen changed over the years.  At least I have some pictures of the twins in this house.

Again, the parade.  At least this is at my aunt and uncle's house so we can go to this spot again!

Small town fair.  

That house.  It will be missed.  I did not know that when we were there for my dad's retirement party would be the last time all of were there together.  Kinda of interesting that Chic & Norma's son and grandson came that day too.  

I am so glad we got a family picture that day.

Mom's living room.  I'm sure if I looked through pictures there would be some of Dad's TV room too!

This is Halligan Center at church.  

That little wood on the left.  Those dividers I used to get yelled at if I put a wet drink down without a coaster!  It is those details in the house I will miss.

Now, beyond the house in Auburn is the town.  I feel very fortunate to have grown up in this small town.  I felt like I knew almost everyone and was always safe.  I walked home many night at 1AM or later and never felt it wouldn't be safe.  I always left my keys in my car and the house unlocked.  Our house didn't lock until my parents replaced the front door!

The church on the left is where I went to preschool.  This spot was always the start of the parade.  I was in that parade every year that I can remember.  As a kid I was either in the beer truck with my dad, on the girl scout float, in the band or driving a car for my dad's work.  I never remember watching the parade as a kid.

The movie theater that reopened when I was in 6th grade.   I remember walking to here from my house or Jenn's in middle school to meet friends.  My parents never questioned it being safe.  

The courthouse.  I remember being a little kid and going to visit Chic in his office here.  I wish I had an old picture of Chic & Norma's liquor store from when I was little.

My church.  From our CCD classes with the foldable walls in the basement to when the Halligan center that was built on later.  I remember all the classes, lock ins, and exploring we did in that church.

The view down hwy 75.  Right were that black car's taillights are is where you turn to go to my house. I wonder how many times I rode my bike up and down those sidewalks.

The old Engles gas station on the Southside.  I remember LONG ago when my friend Kara's dad had this gas station.  It is right by Calvert, my elementary school.

Even though I might not have a place to stay or a reason to go back here regularly I will always be thankful for this small town I grew up in.

Day 6 Thankful

Today I am thankful for my little lady Laney.  We were so blessed and surprised to find out we were expecting Laney.   She was such a great baby and has grown up to be a great little gal.  I had been very close to children, especially my nieces and nephew.  I had babysat so many kids that I couldn't wait to be a mom.  I never felt like the first time parent thing because I had nannied for 2 babies.  Delaney Ann arrived as the biggest baby in our family at a whole 7 pounds 7 ounces!

She adores her little dog, Zoe.

She has always been my little miss.

Such a happy girl.....always.  I am so thankful for a first child who is so laid back and easy going.  She never got into things as a baby, wouldn't do something without asking first.  She has the family anxiety that has been passed on to her but she is always so proud of herself when she overcomes that and tries something new.

The day Jeff and I went to Omaha for our infertility treatment when we got pregnant with the twins Laney stayed in Grand Island with her Meme and Papa.  They took her to the store to buy a doll.  Laney insisted on getting a boy and girl twin doll set because mom was having boy and girl twins.  By golly that gives me some shivers when I think about it.  After 4 failed infertility treatments we were not sure she would get to be a sibling.  She loved being around kids and we really really wanted her to be a big sister.   I am so thankful that happened because she has always (well 99% of the time) been so good to them.  At first she really just wanted her sister but Connor grew on her too.  Boy does she love being the big sister.

She is my girl.  She loves her cuddle time with mom.  So, yep, today I have so very thankful for Miss Delaney Ann Chmelka!! 

This picture was taken on one of the first times we left the twins and took Laney on a mommy/daddy date.  We went to a Husker baseball game.  I love this silly girl.  What was even sweeter is she kept saying she wished Connor and Claire were here because she missed them.  What a goofy girl!

November 5

I don't have any digital pictures to upload.  I could scan in some old pictures.  Today I am thankful for the girl who turned 20 today, Jillian, her mom and brother.  I nannied for Jillian (and her brother, Josh) when she was a little baby turning 1.  She was such as spunky little thing who refused to crawl and would roll all over the house.  I have not seen her in years but love to keep up with her on Facebook.  We went to Disney World in 2000 and had lots of fun in Florida.  I will find an old picture to upload tonight!  Here is a picture from her facebook.  She is all grown up!

In my time with Myra, Josh and Jillian I learned a lot.  I have never traveled far from my sheltered little small town USA of Auburn.  I moved to Kansas City to live with a family who had a house MUCH larger than I knew to a town MUCH larger than my tiny 3,400 size town in with a Jewish family.  I learned a lot about the world and even though we haven't had much contact except through facebook I am thankful for the experiences I had with this family!

Day 4

November 4 thankful....  I am thankful for my sister, Jennifer.  Growing up we were far enough apart in age that she thought I was the worst thing ever.  I always looked up to her.  She is a fantastic mom and amazing doctor.  

She was so helpful with the birth of the twins and was in the operating room when they were born.

She is always there when I need her and always my biggest advocate.  She helps out everyday picking Laney up.  She also made me an aunt and nanny to her oldest.  

So, even though I spent my first 18 years thinking she absolutely detested me I am thankful to have grown up with a great sister!

Day 3

Day 3

I am thankful for this guy.  We have been together 9 years.  Our 8 year wedding anniversary will be here soon.  Thank goodness he is very laid back.  He puts up with me so you know he is a great guy.

He adores his kids and lets them (almost) do anything they want.  He has learned that cookies at 3am might not be the best parenting choice!

Man oh man was having twins more difficult than we could have imagined.  He is so great with them.

He coaches any and every sport he can.  Laney loves having him coach her in softball.

Finally a rare picture of us! 

November 30 days of being Thankful!

Most people are doing their 30 days of thankfulness on facebook.  I decided to do that here...

Day 1

I am thankful for this girl, my niece Abbey.  She gets day 1 because she turned 14 November 1st.   I had a bit of a shock today when I realized she is 14.  She could have a school permit if she lived outside of town!!  OMG!  I nannied for Abbey when she was born and my sister and brother in law were still in medical school.  She is the first born grandchild and has grown into such a sassy girly girl.  I love this picture because she was so excited about my wedding.  She insisted on helping my with all the planning and had many ideas on how it should go.  I absolutely adored her from the moment she was born.  Today I am thankful for Abbey!

(and since it is November 2 I better do Day 2...)

Day 2

I am thankful for my mom and dad.  I am so lucky to have grown up with them as my parents.  Not only were they awesome parents growing up they are fabulous grandparents.  

My mom was great teacher who taught me so much about this profession and always understands my frustrations and joys.  She also taught me about discipline and common sense.  My sister and I talk about how it is so unlikely to come from a difficult family situation as she did and yet do so well and different from her own raising.  She is the only one of her 6 siblings to have a Master's Degree.  She is a great example of you can be who you want no matter what hand of cards you have been given.

My dad is stubborn, onrey and has always appreciated my social-ness!  (Is that even a word?)  He was always the one I went to when I wanted yes for the answer, he taught me to golf and always told us girls could do anything boys could do.  Maybe that is why I ended up on the boys golf team?   I'm so glad he finally decided to retire and we get to see him more.  

They are adored by their grandkids.  They moved from our childhood home to a GI to help when the twins were born.  They have made such sacrifices for my kids and I'm forever grateful!