4th of July

This past 4th of July I had the pleasure of spending it with most of my family in Nebraska. We had a great couple of days of swimming, hanging out with the family and fireworks.

We went down to Wahoo to enjoy the picnic and games in the park which we always attended when I was a little girl. I was a bit sad to see that they didn't have as good attendance as we had when we were kids. I guess I was just having a bit of a nostalgic day of 4th of July in small town USA.

After our little picnic all of the cousins went swimming in Wahoo (the town where my Parents were born and my Grandma lives). Here are some pictures of the pool.



Isaac a little cold after his first dip!



Abby enjoying the water!



Becky and Aiden



Angus really didn't understand the whole concept of the 10 minute rest break. We don't have those in China.



Aiden didn't mind the break.



They had fun games at the pool and the kids were to go under water and fetch some diver sticks and in turn they would get a lollipop. Of course you didn't have to tell our kids twice!

The funny thing about 4th of July at the Wahoo Pool is that back when I was Angus' age I went swimming at the Wahoo Pool on 4th of July. The next week in the Wahoo Newspaper was a picture of me swimming in the baby pool. I wish we had digital photos back then and I could share it with you!

After swimming my dear, sweet 90 year old Grandma invited us to dinner at her apartment complex. She reserved the party room for us and had the food catered by the local grocery store. She also treated us with some patriotic music on the electric keyboard!



Grandma tinkering on the ivories!

After dinner we went back to Fremont to watch the fireworks display there. We found a great place to sit in a field. The kids quite enjoyed the field because they were able to run around and be crazy for a while.



Isaac and Gemma



Fireworks!

Grandma Snelling's 90th Birthday Soiree

Dad and Grandma

My Dad's mother Rosella Snelling turned 90 years old on the 17th of June. She is probably the most incredible 90 year old woman in the world! She is not only beautiful, but she is funny, a ball of energy and incredibly musically talented. She planned the entire party and sent out the invitations out herself. She also performed for us playing the keyboard. Here are some pictures of her special day.



Grandma and my Mom.



Grandma getting warmed up before the dance off.



My cousin Shannon, who lives in Texas and teaches kindergarten with my Grandma. She grew up down the street from my Grandma.



My niece Abby and my nephews Isaac and Aiden.



Me, my sister Jenny and Becky and my Mom. Who do you think I look like?



Angus chasing all of the cousins with his scary monster face.



Grandma performing on her keyboard. This woman has never been able to ready music and can play the piano, keyboard accordion, and button accordion all by ear. It is pretty amazing that she can still do this because she is extremely hard of hearing. I think it is all about feeling the rhythm.



My family



Grandma cutting a rug! She was definitely the Belle of the Ball!



All of the Snelling cousins. We are actually only missing one.



My Uncle Allan, cousin Jan, and my Dad. It was the first time I had ever met my cousin Jan in person! Oh how I missed out in life! She is probably one of the coolest people I have ever met and we have so much in common! My Dad is probably happy didn't meet before now because we would have raised hell when we were girls!



My Uncle Allan's family



The Woods!



Angus stealing the decorations.



Me and Jan at my parents' house.



My cousin Terry, who is Jan's half sister, my Dad and Jan.

First Couple of Days in Nebraska

A view of the lake from my parent's dock.

It is hard for me to believe that we have been in Nebraska almost a week. The time has really flown by and I am so happy we decided to spend a whole month here as oppose to splitting our time between Arizona and Nebraska. It has been so relaxing! I think this may be the first time in my life I have taken the time to really relax!

Our first day we had a visit from the kids' cousin Abby. Abby is 2 and lives very close to my parent's house. Here she is on the dock with Angus.

Abby on the dock.

The next day while we were hanging out Angus fell asleep on my parents' cat! What a great cat! He didn't even move!

We went to the Wahoo Swimming Pool to meet up with my friend Rachel and one of her 6 kids. My kids aren't really familiar with procedure, so it was a bit difficult for them to understand. Here is Angus at the pool during the 10 minute safety check.

Gemma taking a break.