10 years!

I am proud of my husband for so many things, but the way he has succeeded in business is at the top.  This August marks 10 years!  He started Open Doors Computer Services before we met.  He worked as a manager at Menards for several years to save up money and when he was 22 he took a leap of faith.  His knowledge in business and computers have been factors to his success, but I think the biggest factor has been the way he connects with people.  Robert is an honest and caring man who  continues to have repeat customers because of the time he spends with them.

Thankfully, those customers came out to celebrate a few weeks ago!  We threw a big party!!  The theme was "10" and I did the decorations.

Robert had some koozies made (twice thanks to a spelling error :) and we set up some tents outside of the office. 

Robert was worried that no one would come, but we had a steady flow of people all day.  We estimated about 200 came throughout the day to celebrate the milestone.

Robert works for a few restaurants and they were nice enough to donate food during the day.  We also grilled out!  Totally unrelated- does anyone need 60 hotdogs??

Nola got ahold of the camera at some point and took some artistic pictures.  I really like the Hershey kiss picture, put I'm not sure who thought it was a good idea to put them on the tables- they were pretty melted once the sun came out.  

My parents even made the trip!  Look how cute my mom is!!

 

Do you think we look alike? 

 We got some shirts made.  I love this picture.  There are so many people behind the scenes of a small business.  Everyone in this picture has been a huge help in the last 10 years, especially Robert's family.

It was a fun day celebrating an amazing business man!  Here's to 10 more years!!!

Reycation 2016

My family lives all over, so we try to get together over the summer.  Last year we went to Minnesota, this year we headed to Chicago.   I've never been so I was looking forward to it!  With so many of us (10 adults, 2 kids) it's hard to plan stuff.  Luckily, my little sister took charge and planned some fun things for us to do! 

We went on a pizza tour (Rob's favorite) on the first day.  It was a bus tour that took us around to 4 different places.  All of them were delicious!!

The tour guy was funny, in my pizzapinion :)  

Then we walked around the city until our show started.  We went to #dateme, a Second City show.  It was sooooo funny!  It was written by the star of the show who made 38 fake profiles and put them on Ok Cupid.  The profiles were all rediculous (think crazy cat lady) but she still got a lot of messages.  All of the stories she told were true and taken directly from profiles and emails she received.  She even projected the real screen names.  So funny!  

The next day was the 4th of July.  My younger sister, Jessica, and her husband John like to try to run a race when they are in a new place.  I signed up with the intention of walking it with my mom but she backed out.  I wasn't going to do it but Jessica said she would walk it with me.  I'm glad she did, it was a lot of fun!  I decided to document it on social media.  

Since mom registered but didn't run she had a number.  I put it on my back.  She finished just after I did. 

At one point I told a worker that this was turning more into a pictorial essay than it was a race.  He didn't get, maybe he doesn't follow me on Instagram?!?!

The house we rented had a pool so we spent the rest of the day out there and ate and drank and laughed.  Then we went to a fireworks show in the neighborhood. 

Nola got a light-up sword thing from Aunt Jessica.  It's such a fun toy to have at home with a baby...... at least it doesn't make noise! 

The next day we went to a Cubs game and then went to The Book of Mormon- hilarious! 

I heard the show was a little outrageous, but didn't know anything about the story.  It was so good, I've had one of the songs in my head since I saw it! 

The next day we drove the 8 hour trip home- it took 10.  It was such a sort trip, but we had a lot of fun family time!  Some other highlights:

The house we rented had a lot of buddha statues.

Most of my family in front of the bean!  Rob and I didn't make it there, I guess we'll have to go back!

Some Turk time.  Uncle John met him for the first time on this trip!

I also got to see a college friend who lives in Chicago!  We ate lunch at, you guessed it, a pizzeria! 

Looking forward to the next #reycation!!

Birthday

I turned 32 last week!  The day of was pretty uneventful- took Nola to gymnastics and went swimming.  Robert brought home THREE cakes from Nothing Bunt Cakes.  They were the size of cupcakes and he bought three so each of us could have one..... um no.  I generously let Rob eat one and Nola never knew they existed.  Two bunt cakes for me!!

We found a babysitter in town and went up to Columbus last weekend to celebrate with some friends!  It was a good time... and we took out the selfie stick!

The pictures aren't great, but the company was!  Bring on year 32!!!

Wedding

I officiated another wedding!  A co-worker asked me to officiate her wedding before Nola was born so I got ordained online.  Last summer 2 friends/co-workers of mine got engaged and asked me to officiate for them, I couldn't say no! 

The kids were still in Wichita with my parents so Robert and I got to go to Lincoln by ourselves and enjoy the festivities!  I had to run the rehearsal on Friday night then we went to the rehearsal dinner at Old Chicago.  It was delicious and a lot of fun! 

The wedding was in a church and the reception was in the train station downtown.  They were both beautiful!  I was super nervous for the wedding but it went really well.  You could feel the love in the room and that helped calm me down.

After the ceremony we got to ride the party bus- my first time.  We were drove to a few places so that the wedding party could get pictures done.  

We took advantage of some of the beautiful backdrops.

The party bus pulled up to the reception and then the party started!  Dinner was Valentino's pizza so Robert was in heaven.

The Columbus crew (top) and the business teachers (bottom).  I taught a few business classes my first year and am still listed as a business teacher on the website :)  I work with some awesome people! 

Me and the groom!  Jeff and I coached softball together for 2 years.  We had a dance off, there was so much dancing, that ended in a split pants situation. 

The wedding photographer was a cousin of the bride, Jodi, and she did an AMAZING job.  Unfortunately, she lives in Canada.  If she didn't you know I'd be hiring her to do some family pictures!!

It was one of the best weddings I've been to!  So much fun, at least what I can remember ;)

Congratulations to Maggie and Jeff!!