Lots of Thing

First Thing:
It's been a busy few months.  I think that's usually how the summer goes.  Lots of changes have occurred.

Second Thing:
A very dear friend of ours is in a land far away . . . camping . . . for the next year.  When I first met Mark, I didn't realize how much I'd come to like him and enjoy his company.  Little did I realize I'd be filling flat rate APO boxes and mailing them across the seas.  He's been a good friend.  Can't wait to have him back in the states and at baseball games.

Third Thing:

Mi hermana está en México por un mes.  Estoy muy emocionada por ella.  Volverá unos días antes de salir de Nebraska.  

I'm so excited for her and all she'll learn.  Now we'll actually be able to talk about lots of things when we have our "Spanish only" time in the car on road trips.  (Although I'm not sure we'll have very many road trips together left in our future, when it's just the two of us . . . listening to Shakira, trying to learn all the words in Spanish, eating Salt & Pepper and Salt & Vinegar chips from Target)

Fourth Thing:

Midnight Blue

Natural Tan

Light Mint

Bright Coral

Nate and I spent the night at Home Depot and Lowes looking at paint samples.  Samples to come soon.  I think we've narrowed it down to our exact colors and we're excited to move in and paint.  Speaking of moving . . . that will be taking place next week.  Crazy that we'll actually have space and not hear anyone above us or next to us.  

Fifth Thing:

Apparently you can strain your back and pull a muscle by running casually on the treadmill while watching Real Housewives of New Jersey.  I learned that the hard way and am suffering nightly trying to sleep and daily driving to and from work.  Luckily I have a very helpful husband.

Sixth Thing:

My sister-in-law, Brielle, just posted pictures from Nate's arrival from Iraq.

This is my first sight of Nate after he returned from Iraq.

I love this picture of his family and now my family.  So happy he returned.

This is my favorite picture.  Walking to my car after picking him up from the Lincoln airport.  In the distance are his grandparents.  That's what I want to be like when I'm a grandma.