they grow up so fast!

The middle of May Nick and Michele bought their first home.  Last weekend Roger and I made a trip with a uhaul to Topeka to take M's furniture to her.   It is so exciting! Their house is north of Topeka in the country.  There are about 10 houses on this dead end road.  Nice and quiet. 

So Friday we unloaded furniture.  Then Nick and Roger finished putting up M's basketball goal.  Saturday we had a lazy day.  I had a "special date" that I will blog about soon.  I also took some time and got to visit Jessica and Gabe's new townhome.  I hadn't been back there since they got moved in so I had to check out how she had everything decorated.  So cute!  Then Saturday night Michele and Nick had a bbq.  And from Roger's mouth. . . . he foundered himself from eating too much.  Oh my goodness was the food good!  

There was then lots of fun in the yard.  And the funny ~ the dog!  His name is Buster.  Buster lives down the road one way.  And has family that also lives on the other end of the road.  So lets just say Buster visits a LOT.  What a sweetie!  "Except he swipes tennis balls!"

Topeka. . . .

What a B.U.S.Y.  weekend!  Lots to do with so little time to do it in! 

Saturday morning started out with Michele and Nick looking at another house. . . . . AND making an offer! How exciting.  By the end of Sunday. . . . they negotiated and offer accepted!! 

Then we were off to our paint class with Junque in my Trunk.  Karen is a distributor for The American Paint Company and sells her products and painted items in the NOTO district at Pinkadilly.  She is the sweetest and man she knows her paints.  The class was an express class on the paints and techniques to use them and the waxes.  I even got to quiz her on my trim I'm refinishing.  I just can't seem to get it to look like I want.  She suggested some great ideas!!  I guess you would say I'm self taught on my paining.  Once I have some "extra" time, I hope to be able to go to one of her Beginners classes.  I just find it all so exciting!!

Next on the list was the photographers. . . . . Checked off the list!

And then to the bridal shop!

After several hours. . . . yes. . . . several hours {and this is not our first visit} bridesmaids dresses are ordered.  And Jessica has said YES to the dress!  What a great feeling to have this done and ordered.  And what great bonding time these girls had.  Just too bad her last bridesmaid could not make it as she lives in Oklahoma. 

We finished the weekend with a very beautiful church service where Jessica got baptized at their church in Topeka.  

After visiting a little more it was time for me to hit the road to the west.  Jessica was on her way back to the bridal store to verify some sizes.  And Michele was taking a load of her belongings to Nick's mothers to store until they get moved into their new house. 

What a busy month!  Next trip to Topeka is MOVING weekend for BOTH the girls.  We will be soooo happy when that is over.  Just around the corner! Yiyiyi!  

Exciting things are happening for The Ummel's!

Yi yi yi. . . . . .

After several scheduling problems . . . . . . Jessica and Gabe have had to change their wedding date.  For the LAST and FINAL time.  May 9, 2015 @ 3pm. (This is Mother's Day weekend.) The wedding will be at their church in Topeka Kansas.  And the reception/dance will be at the Downtown Topeka Ramada.  We have blocks of rooms reserved so more information will be sent out at a later time.

Famous? ? ?

photo courtesy of CJ Online

diamonds & cowboy boots. . . . . . {May 9, 2015}

This is going to be soooooo much fun!  Last weekend was the Topeka Bridal Fair.  Jessica, Michele, Lena (Gabe's Mom) and I attended.  If only we had a unlimited budget.  Wow!  You name it.  It was there.  Besides walking our feet off, we got lots of ideas.  Ate lots of cake.  Made lots of plans.  Deposits made to hold the date.  And some meetings are planned.  We are on it!  Looks like I will be making a few trips to the east.  And Jessica will be making a few trips to the west.  Am I really old enough to be the "Mother of the Bride"???? 

thanksgiving/black thursday??

Gosh! Thanksgiving came and went! Hard to believe that Christmas is almost here. Where does the time go? 

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving. With Mom still having problems since her fall, I was blessed with Thanksgiving dinner. And I'm not saying blessed. But R.E.A.L.L.Y blessed! I can not even tell you if I have ever hosted Thanksgiving dinner before this year. We have always went to my Mom and Dad's. This was always Charlene's holiday. I'm sure she was laughing in heaven watching me cooking and getting everything ready. Probably with her arm covering her eyes. But it DID turn out well. And I did NOT burn anything. NO fire alarms went off. {cough cough} {like others we know} {cough cough} {like about every year}

And of course the Ummel tradition. . . . This year it was shooting Mama's new gun!

And of course the planning. . . . . 

We then did the Black Friday {Black Thursday} thing. I know there was lots of controversy on when shopping should start. That it shouldn't be on Thanksgiving. I completely understand. BUT we do always complain and say we ate way too much. That we should get up and do something. . . . . Well, we did. We planned. We shopped. We succeeded! Go team!

Thank you Courtney for standing in line and being our "person" for the tv bracelet! You are awesome!  We did good! There was O.N.L.Y 21 tv's. And we got 4!

 Yes. We are honest! 

Just in case you are wondering. Dad was sitting next to me in the tv line. Mom was fighting her way for the jeans. {in a wheelchair} Go Mom! Michele was smooshed among the people for hours to get her sound bar. And Cody was a big help going between Grandma and Michele helping them out. 

Turkey cooked. Turkey ate. Nap. Shopping. Home and snuggled in bed by 10:00 pm.

GO TEAM!

morning thoughts. . . .

This last weekend I had ran my hand across my husbands face. I instantly thought of this man. I know that sounds funny. . . .  but Roger just has so very many of his father's features. Not only his looks and wrinkles, but his smile, his caring and loving heart. I miss this guy so very much! He was such a good Grandfather! But boy oh boy did I cuss him at times. When I had supper on the table and then he would pull in the drive to do chores. My girls LOVED doing chores with Grandma and Grandpa! Eventually I planned my meals and times around when we thought Grandma and Grandpa would be there. If only I knew then what I know now. If anything I hope that what I learned from this man will make me a better grandparent when the time comes someday.

downhill spiral. . . . .

yes. that is what it feels like. a downhill spiral.

When we went to Topeka I started to not feel so great. Jessica had been sick. Michele had caught it. So, why wouldn't I. Obviously not from them. But, yes, I caught it too. A simple cold. 

A simple cold that has now lingered for almost two weeks. A simple cold that is down in my chest. A simple cold that has made me feel miserable. A simple cold. Whine. Whine. Whine. And yes. I can whine. This is my blog. And I can if I want to. :-)  I feel so important. Today I have talked to two of my doctors. I got an antibiotic from my primary physician. Yeah! And was taken off some of my RA meds by my rheumatologist. Boo! Blood levels elevated. Humira gone. Boo! Methrotrexate gone. Yeah! (makes me sick to my stomach) No advil. No tylenol.  No anti inflammatory's. Blah. Blah. Blah. Doesn't he know I have an auto immune disease?? :-( I can certainly see where this is taking me. Ouch.

On top of me not feeling the best, our Jorge has not felt well either. So I took him to the vet this morning. Somehow, he has punctured his cornea. And then not being related to that, he is also sick. Running a fever. Sneezing. Congestion.  He too came home with lots of medicine. I can't believe my dog wants to be rocked. Silly little guy.

Mom update ~Surgery again. Tomorrow. Boo! Her incision has not healed properly and has now abscessed. Tomorrow morning they will be opening it back up and cleaning it out. yuck. We pray that is heals properly this time. And yes. We are letting her keep her A+. Maybe we should even give her some bonus points for the additional surgery.

But upwards bound!! Jessica accepted a job today! Go Jessica!!

Awww man! Just as I'm finishing this post. . . . . Michele just called. She is on her way home and was rear ended on interstate. The police are on their way. But she is fine! Thank goodness!!

Whewwwww!!!! What a day!

our girls. . . .

 were home this weekend!! All work and no play? Kind of. Not really. Some. Of both!

First thing Saturday we started digging. Believe me! It is deeper than it looks!!  By afternoon we were tag teaming. Roger and Michele. Me and Jessica. Let's just say we were all tired and sore come Sunday morning.

 Saturday evening Mom, Dad, Courtney and Cody took us to Golden Corral for supper. Stuffed we were! They have cotton candy on their dessert line. And I LOvE cotton candy!! One there and one for the road. :-)

Sunday Glada and Audrey came up and Roger bbq'd some burger's for us. Not a big cookout, but we still had plenty. 

The girls laughed! Talk about bang for their buck! Got to see both sides of the family on this trip!

Sunday Michele also worked on her t-shirt quilt. She has saved t-shirts from high school and college. Now she is putting together a rag quilt with them. Can't wait to see how it turns out. It is going to be so cute!!

 And Sunday evening. . . . . their favorite past time. . . . .

And talk about spoiled! We get to see them the weekend after next. But this time. . . .

2 plus 2!!

The Color Vibe. . . .

Saturday morning Jessica, Michele, Nick & I along with Gloria and Brooke. . . . . 

 

 

Gloria~Brooke~Jessica~Michele~Nick

Me~Brooke~Jessica~Michele~Nick

 "Somebody" lovin' the color!!

And the winner is. . . . .

hard to believe!!. . . . .

 Jessica, Michele and I made our first wedding purchase this last Saturday! Can't believe our first born is engaged!