Today Beau got to go with our neighbors to pull irrigation pipe! They have miles of it to separate and pile on a trailer pulled behind either the pickup or their Ranger (atv). Well, Beau's job was to drive! Part of the time he drove Duane's pickup all by himself! His job was to pull forward every few seconds and then stop so the guys could load these huge pipes! He loved every second of it! Here is a picture of him driving the ranger right before they quit for the night. He'll have this job for a couple days and he couldn't be happier! I think he's really a 16 yr old trapped in a 6yr old body!

This is the kind of thing he will remember for a lifetime!

This is our new puppy. His name is Mac. Short for the McNab Shepherd that he is. He is bred to herd livestock. And he does a great job of keeping all of us together! He is the sweetest tempered pup! The girls carry him around and push him in their baby stroller and he never once nips at them or complains. We think he's pretty special! And he's got blue eyes, so he fits right in!

Mac is a trucking dog, whenever Rod is on the road. He does really great in the truck -his only weakness is paper towels and tissues. He can't resist shredding them to pieces!

The latest Omaha STORM

On Friday June 27th, we had a storm roll thru Omaha unlike any I've ever seen! It skipped our little town of Gretna, for which I am thankful!

Here is one color the sky gets right before major weather hits!

Then the sky gets really dark. Keep in mind, this is only about 5pm

and was sunny just minutes before this!

There was no tornado with this storm, just straight line winds of 80-90mph. I say this tongue in cheek as these winds did more damage than any tornado we've had in the 10 yrs I've lived here.

This depicts just a little of the damage done by these winds.

The wind just snapped and flung trees and poles down like toothpicks!

Wonder if this ups the price of fuel even further??

That used to be an telephone pole in the picture below. Snapped right in half !

Can you see the light pole down behind it?

This semi used to be sitting at the top of the hill on the other side of a partition.

Witnessing the damage after a storm like this, sure makes a person respect the power of wind. And the crazy thing is, after such a fierce and scary sky, immediately after the storm has passed, the sun comes back out and the sky is clear and beautiful again! This midwest living is pretty incredible!

A special thank you to Shane Martinez for sharing all these great pictures!

Gpa Haner's Funeral

Rod's step-grandpa Clarence Haner, passed away and his funeral and burial were this last week in Colorado. Here are the pictures from his burial at the Denver International Military Cemetery. Gpa Haner served in the Navy and it was so awesome to witness a ceremony like this. What an incredible setting! I learned that anyone who is serving, or has ever served in the military, can be buried in one of these cemeteries. The wives can be buried on top of their husbands and their information is then etched on the back of the tombstone. Gpa Haner would have been proud of this final good-bye.

Uncle Alan

My favorite picture is when the man is presenting the flag to Gma Haner. I wish I could have recorded his words and the expression on his face when he presented the flag. He never once looked away from her eyes. It was one of the most respectful things I've ever watched.

2008 T-Ball Season Opens!

The Slugger

Kaylee watching the game.

Luke came with his own ball and mitt!

Beau on 2nd base. Beau running the bases.

Dad coaching Beau on 3rd. Little sister hamming it up. Well, Beau started his second year of t-ball tonight! He's #9 and and wears a burgundy hat and shirt. He says, "The hitting part is kind of fun, but the rest is BORING!!!" Evidently he is ready for something more like coach-pitch or actual baseball. He definitely has the skills down! These were the pics that Andrea took tonight and was kind enough to share. Me? I forgot my camera in the van! But I did remember it when we went out for pizza afterwards! Those pics will be posted tomorrow! (When I get my camera out of the van!) Are ya seeing the trend here? (grin)

For those of you that I didn't get emailed, and are looking at this: The above pictures are pictures of our house that we currently live in and just put on the market to sell.

Our plan is to move to York, NE when our house sells. We are so excited to get to live "in the country" and still only be a mile from Starbucks and Super Walmart! A great way to break in this city girl I'm thinking! (Grin!) And we will get to be a part of the Lincoln field which I think is so exciting!!

My goal has always been to raise my kiddos in the country where they will know how to work hard enough as teenagers that they will fall into bed at night and not have to make up "trouble" to keep from being bored! And I'm pretty sure that, with all the farm work surrounding us, we will accomplish that! Oh, the adventures we will have!!!

Will have to post more later. . .

312 Bryan St

Here is the link to our web-video of our house. It's for sale, so if you know of anyone looking in this area. . . it's got a large guest suite out back that isn't pictured here: complete with private entrance, 3/4 bath and kitchen. Enjoy the video! http://tours.imprev.net/03782F07/19479/603141/603141.swf