Helios from my hotels

Pine Bluff, Ark., sunset — Aug. 24, 2011

Jackson, Miss., sunrise — Aug. 26, 2011 (the dome on the left is the state capitol)

Urbana, Ill., sunrise — Aug. 30, 2011

Appy Birthday!

Leslie surprised Jackson with this Angry Birds display on our mantel, the morning of his 8th birthday. He's a huge fan.

For his birthday "cake," he requested frozen mocha Mud Pie. I like to think I raised him right.

Again this year, we had a "grand" party (with his grandparents). Landon was all smiles.

With Jack's opposition to affection, Bob & Lloy figured out the kind of kisses he actually likes!

Grandma Nancy.

Already playing with his new set of Legos.

Mom brought my grandpa — Jack and Landon's great-grandpa — down with her from Nebraska.

Born in 1922 and 2008, respectively.

Wowing G-pa with my iPad and teaching him about apps.

Pooling around

Bowling birthday

For Jack's 8th birthday, he chose to hit the lanes.

I'd never been to the local bowling alley, but when we walked in, a man asked me if we were there for the open house. Come to find out, it was "Youth Open House" day, with free bowling, free hot dogs and free soda. Score!

"Girl Power" personified. When Leslie took treats to Jack's class the previous afternoon, Riley confidently notified her that, when it comes to bowling, she's pretty good.

Putting all that Wii Bowling to use...

Strike!


Synjin jumps for joy.

Not bad...

Fun, friends, pizza and presents.


For the uninitiated, this is "Waspix" from the Hero Factory line.

When it comes to Legos, Jack and Brody are ol' pros.

Travel Snaps

Will you please help get our picture in the paper? Go to http://travelsnaps.omaha.com ... click on the red "VOTE NOW!" oval ... click on "Aug. 19-25, 2011" ... and vote for our family vacation photo taken in Oceanside, Calif.! The pic with the most votes will be printed in the Sunday edition of the Omaha World-Herald on Sept. 18th.

Thanks for your help. And spread the word!

The best G-ma & G-pa ever

...were married 66 years ago today.

Extreme nature close-up

It looks to me like this zinnia's wearing a yellow lei and going to a luau.

We had to scrunch down really low to the ground, in order to look up at this mushroom.

Friday night lights

The boys and I went for a walk around the pond tonight.

Brothers.

With Jack climbing up these rocks and the evergreens in the background, I told him it looks like he's in Colorado. So he let me take his picture.

TGIF.

Bacon-wrapped eggs

I tried a new recipe this morning. Before...

And after...

Yum!

First day of second grade

Hopefully by the time I'm taking Jack's first-day-of-school picture in college, he'll be a little more willing.

Back-to-School Night

Unfortunately, William and Meriwether's old wooden canoe finally rotted this year.