Adventures in Lincoln

I've been in Lincoln for almost 2 weeks now and will be here all summer! I've been doing this with my oldest sister Lindsay for about 5 summers, and sadly this is probably my last visit since next year I have to start doing grown up things ;)

I love Lincoln, everything about this city is perfect! Yesterday evening we decided to be wild and take all 8 of the kids on a picnic at the lake. I'm amazed we all fit on the blanket.

I can only imagine how annoyed my friends are with me --all I do is post pictures/talk about this little girl. Damaris aka Chancho is probably the cutest kid to ever waddle the earth. Two summers ago she had just been born and I held her constantly, feeding her, changing her, bathing her--the works! I was practically her mother lets just say ;) So we've been pals ever since. 

Just this morning she was up before me and Lindsay told me she came running frantically through the house looking for me yelling "BIG MAR! (the kids call me Big Mar to distinguish us) WHERE IS SHE?!" Calm down Chanch it's only 6 a.m. give it some time. 

Damaris and Damaris :) How I feel about her is how Lindsay felt about me when I was a baby--which is probably why we spend every summer together. 

After stuffing our faces with cream puffs we explored the country side. It was so refreshing.

It was harder than it looks. John wanted to do hill races. Yeahhhh righttt. Track season's over.

Made it. Miss Sass O' Frass in the front. 

I was very tempted to go swim out and go sailing. 

Then the sand throwing began. Some ducks swam by later and Damaris goes "CHICKENS!" Idiot.

Precious girls. 

And the best for last. Rawr. I want to bite his fat off. Kapaun is very much a mama's boy but him and I are working on our relationship. I told him I'm his aunt and he has no choice but to like me so it's gotten better ;) Chancho calls him "Boy."

Graduations!!

Whoo! It's been awhile. Ever since I returned from Haiti my life was bombarded with school, finals, and other odds and ends. A few of those events included Kathryn's bridal shower (yes, another one), my other sister, Kellan, high school graduation, and also Kathryn's college graduation. 

Kat is in the middle as the almost blushing bride. Once they're married in August they'll move to Wisconsin, so naturally the theme of the party had everything to do with cheese. Which was just great, I had more than my fair share of cheesecake. 

Austin aka Perosis (Osteoporosis--Austioperosis--Perosis....we're all very odd) looovvess his heels ;) We're always giving him trouble for his cowboy boots with a nicely raised heels that make perfect clicking sounds when he walks. Aren't they too cute though?? (the couple, not the boots....but I guess the boots too).

 And now my baby Kev's high school graduation. She is the last of my mom's 10 children, so the ceremony was very surreal. It's wild to think that I was wearing that blue cap and gown only 2 years ago! Time flies.

She's going to Benedictine this fall, and has an intense love of culinary arts so will eventually maker her way to owning a restaurant and conquering the world one pastry at a time.

 Kellan is also quite athletic and will be joining me next year on the track team. 

Cum Lade! Kathryn is brilliant and graduated with flying colors with an Accounting and Finance degree. Most of the family made it up to Atchison to witness her monumental moment. It made me anxious to finish my last two years and for some reason felt an urge to major in 3 more subjects (that moment has passed).

Finally, I am back to my second home in Nebraska. My sister, Lindsay has 8 kids so I'm her little governess ;) This will be my last summer to do so, so I will be cherishing this summer greatly--especially this little girl. She is beyond special to me, it might have something to do with the fact that we have the same name lol. Damaris aka Chancho is a ball of fire and keeps everybody on their toes. 

I'm doing P90X this summer as well in preparation for Kat's wedding...this summer has a lot to look forward to!!