Halloween 2008...Like, Two Weeks Later

Okay, I know I'm behind on posting, but we've been getting settled in good. Here is our annual Halloween post...just before Thanksgiving! Here, Jack is admiring TiLynn's Halloween Stew thingymabob. Blogger is doing some funky stuff with the order in which photos appear so bear with me, alright?

Obvs Jack was Thomas the Tank Engine. He picked it out the day we were at the mall. Pretty simple costume. Nothing uncomfortable or complicated. Just the way we like it 'round here.

This picture was s'posed to be first, and it is of TiLynn giving Jack a bag of popcorn goodies.

And this one was s'posed to be at the very end. We visited Jace's house to see him and steal some of his parent's candy. He had a 'leg up' on us.

Here is Jace's mommy answering the door for Thomas.

Checking out the loot.

He found the Skittles immediately and subsequently, there was some tasting of the rainbow.

So many jack-o'-lanterns, so little time.

More tomorrow and for the rest of the week! We'll tell ya all about the big move too!

Our Last Full Weekend In GI...Sigh...

Walking away...walking uphill.

We spent the last weekend here in GI hanging out as a family. Saturday, after naptime, we went out to the Scarecrow Patch for the third time this year. After that, we decided to run into Boelus to eat at the Gold Nugget. It was a very fun and very spontaneous day. And to add to the spontaneity, Emily and Dan made a last-minute trip down to see us on Sunday since we're going to be about 5 hours away from them now. My camera battery died on Saturday and I forgot to recharge it, so Dan is sending me pictures of their visit.

We ran into Owen at the scarecrow patch. He gave Jack a hug because he was so happy to see him. We are going to their house tomorrow night for pizza. They've been really good friends to us and we'll miss them greatly.

Swinging in the barn.

We saw a mama kitty and her babies in the barn. Jack could not have cared less.

Jack rode the pony around the pond. The lady walking the pony said he was very talkative. Lawd knows what kind of stories he told her.

Saddle up, buckaroony!

Holy mac, we were bookin'!

This slide drops you into a big container of corn. I was picking corn out of my shoes for about five minutes after this.

These pigs were touch too friendly for my liking. While I was taking the picture, one tried to lick the camera. Those oinkers will eat anything.

The activities are endless out there. What a good time.

I think he was climbing up the bales to go down the slide, but we'll say he was doing "The Macarena" and leave it at that.

Exciting News

Well, I think it is time to make an official announcement since the cat is pretty much outta the bag on this one.

The Vrbi are packing up the house right now and moving to Palisade on November 1. It has always been a wish for us to live closer to family, but for six years the jobs just never really aligned themselves correctly. Well, lo and behold, it worked out for us to move this time. We are tremendously excited.

We have had a great six years here in Grand Island, surrounded by amazing friends. It has been an overwhelmingly enriching experience for us and we know we will keep in touch with those close friends we've made over the years. But as we've watched several friends move away, we realize we can be friends with people even though we don't live in the same town. In fact, some of our best friends live hours away (I'm not naming names, but the Wades, Hickenbottoms and Greenwoods know who they are!) and we have even more here in town that we'll visit regularly.

I have accepted a position at the Wauneta Breeze newspaper (where I worked right before I moved here; BEST JOB EV) and Amy will eventually be the speech pathologist at Wauneta-Palisade, Imperial (Chase County) and Hayes Center Schools whenever she is released from GIPS. We are currently waiting on word about her release. They had a candidate in mind, but no news yet. If she is not released by next Friday, Jack and I will move and set up house and she'll join us as soon as is legally possible.

That's the news! Stay tuned.

Amy's Weight Loss Blog

Amy's back on the weight-loss wagon. Check it out....

amyvrbi.blogspot.com

Godspeed, Uncle Soldier

We wanted to make sure everyone was saying plenty of prayers for Jack's Uncle Jake to return safely from his second tour of duty to Iraq. He left about a week or so ago and his mission this time is a little more risky. We've talked to him and he's in good spirits, but this trip is especially tough for him (and us) this time around. He's in our hearts and on our minds all the time and we need your prayers for a safe tour.

If You're Voting Here In Nebraska

Amy and I did our early ballots here in Nebraska and turned them in today. Thankfully, in doing them at home, we had more time to really research what we were voting on as far as amendments.
Because of this research, we feel obliged to inform you about Amendment 424.
We have done a lot of research on Amendment 424, which will appear on the ballot on November 4th. This initiative is intentionally worded very deceptively! It makes it sound like it's civil rights friendly, but IT IS NOT.
Basically, this is a proposed ban on affirmative action and it's being pushed by extremists from outside of Nebraska. It is meant to divide communities and deny equal opportunities. It works against equal rights. It could eliminate scholarships to our community and state colleges and the University. It threatens women-owned businesses, funding for domestic violence programs and women's health initiatives.
It could have a lot of negative impacts and risk the continuation of many other education, business development and public health programs!

I don't want to tell you how to vote, but I strongly urge all of you to do your research on this Amendment!
The Vrbi vehemently oppose Amendment 424!

Ye Olde Scarecrow Patch

We went to the scarecrow patch last weekend. Jack got up from his nap and we took off for the countryside by St. Libory. It wasn't really all that cold, just drizzly. Fall weather has mos def set in. I love the fall though, so you're not gonna hear me bitchin'...well, about that anyway...
We were there for about 45 minutes, which allowed us to do the straw bale maze, the pumpkin chucker, pet some animals and have a good time. Then it started raining so we left...without a stinkin' pumpkin. Redick.
This goat LOVED Jack. He kept sticking his head through the fence to play with us. We weren't sure whether to let Jack get too close. He went right over and petted him. Can goats hurt you? I have no idea. Shameful.
We got the rubber duckies racing with the pumps.
Wuv corn? Yes, I realize Jack has Ted Koppel hair here, maybe even a little on the Trump-ish side. He is scheduled for an Extreme Makeover: Hair Edition this week. Fear not. We're not dirty hippies or nothin'.
And while we were there, we ran into Brooklyn from Jack's daycare. They were happy to see each other and were pretty content to ditch the 'rents and play together. It was Brookie's third birthday party there for her family so we inadvertently crashed the sucker. They had fun...and that's pretty much all that matters.

Congrats!

My 'little' brother, Joe (Broseph), and his wife, Sarah, had a little sister for Peyton Elisabeth last night at 9:56 p.m. Her name is Sawyer Jane Vrbas and she is my fifth niece total. Now there are five boys and five girls in Grammy Tami's and Papa Jerry's grandkid crew!

I don't have any stats yet, but I'm told she has strawberry blonde hair and is very chubby! I can't wait to see pictures (hint, hint). I'll keep you posted and update with a picture as soon as I can. We're so excited to meet her this weekend.

UPDATE: Joe and Sarah have posted pictures and stats of Sawyer on their blog, Peyton's Place (hmmm...they might have to change that sometime). Check her out. She's a beaut!

Click here to visit Peyton's Place. Or here to see pictures of her on Missy's blog.

UPDATE TO THE UPDATE: You can also view pics at my mom's blog by clicking here!

My Two Cents

I FINALLY updated Dave Ja Vu, Part Two this morning. I had to get something off my chest, or else it was going to make my brain implode.

www.davejavu.wordpress.com

We will have a great many photos to upload this weekend, so stay tuned for that! I promise I'll get better about this blogging thing. No...really... I will.

Proud Moment

The Vrbi is proud to announce that Jack Parker is officially binky free! He had only been using his binky during nap time and bedtime and when school started we went down to just bedtime. Last week when Jack was going to bed and had his binky, Mommy asked him for it and he gladly handed it over. We thought it was a fluke but the next night he didn't even ask for it. Now it has been over a week and the binky days our behind us. It was kind of scary how easy it was. Yeah Jack! Mommy and Daddy are so proud of you!!!

Best Week Ever? Palisade, Wauneta, McCook, Omaha

Okay, I know two things to be true: 1) I'm a bad, bad blogger. 2) I have way too many pics of Jack in various sunglasses. I'm aware of my shortcomings folks, and I'm working on remedying the situation. I'll appreciate your patience as I do so.
Onward... Anyone recognize that china hutch? Well, it's Grandma Elaine's and with photographic evidence showing Jack in front of it, well it's safe to say we were in Palisade last week. But that's not the full story. We'll get to that though. Here Jack is looking at a photo of him and his cousins taken last fall.
Jack, Nathan and Jacob take a bath at Missy's. Here's the scoop. I had last week off for a much-needed vacay. After talking to Heidi on the phone on Monday, I realized I had a perfect opportunity to go watch Tori play some volleyball--something I haven't been able to do very much at all since she got to high school; for shame--so Jack and I hit the road to catch Tuesday's Southwest matchup and Thursday's Chase County game too! We ended up staying longer than expected and having way more fun than expected too! Yay!
We decided the boys needed baths before heading to Wauneta for the game. Jack has never had to share his bath before, so this was an adjustment for him. As per the photo.
Playing with Grandma Elaine's trucks. Grandma taught me the game of cribbage the other day. I love it, but could find myself quite addicted to it I'm sure.
We, of course, stayed at Grammy Tami's and Papa Jerry's place. Here is Jack wearing Gramps' boots.
Um, you have some rather large shoes to fill there kid.
Grandma Elaine and Jack on her front porch swing. Love this pic.

And this one too. Possib frame-worthy?
Here's Tori hitting the ball against Southwest. She is awesome at the game of volleyball and has really become aggressive in the past year. YAY!
Me walking the boyz around the block.
Sun. So. Bright.
Ummm...let's pretend I didn't give him sugar, can we? k-thanks.

Tori on the attack.
Missy took these v-ball photos because I forgot my camera when we went to the game. oops.
Matthew is my buddy. True story. He likes me cuz I'm awesome and I like him cuz he acts as a double-chin hider. A win-win for all involved.
Grammy no likey binky, Nate.
I believe Sarah snapped this photo.

Jack sacked out on Missy's bed. He took a four-hour nap that day. He played pretty hard though.
Now, I don't usually use my legs as props, but I decided to make an exception in this case because the cuteness of Jake overpowers the pastiness of my legs. I hope.
He crawled right up in there. He's quite the mover and shaker.
Umm...Sarah took this one, so I don't know exactly what was going on, but I'm pretty sure there was some blood rushing to the noggin. Kids these days and their cheap thrills.
Jack and Peytunia made good use of her swing. I think at times though she might have felt as though she were babysitting. She was a good sport though.

I don't have actual proof that Jack drove this. I don't think he actually did. This was staged I'm sure. When they were going, he was on the back hanging on to Peytie.
They're not in the same spot though in this picture. What did I miss? Needless to say, Sarah took this series of photos, not me.
Playing house.
Jack taught Joe how to do puzzles.
I took this photo of a very somber Peyton telling Jack good-bye. I like this photo, but I'm not sure why. Might be the sunlight on her locks.

We were going to head home on Friday, but decided to stay with Granny Janny that night and meet Max (or Snoop Dogg; I don't know that the verdict is in on the name yet) and catch Jeff's game against Scottsbluff that night.
Hank, Rick, Jack. Jack just got a kiss from Hank, hence the face.
Pick up those apples, boy, or you get no supper. (Not true. He not only had supper, but also had People Chow that Granny Janny made.)
I didn't bring my external flash so these photos suck. Here's Jeff kicking off for McCook. They won something like 4,982 to 7.
The Friday Night Lights. And in McCook they literally roll up the sidewalks for the game.

The next day, we grabbed Mommy and headed to Omaha to have a rendezvous with her fam. Jake, on the left, leaves for Iraq again soon (damn you, Bush!). Dan, on the right, tans too much! Hee hee!
Rick and Mike playing ladder golf. Granny Janny snaps these photos, cause I was cooped up inside, in the dark, with a migraine that lasted about 18 hours. It was horrible. Needless to say, Amy drove home.
Time to hydrate!
One of his fave activities? Running around this here tree.
And giving tours of the far side of the tree.

Emily got her ab workout, using Jack as a weight. Handy items, these children.
This is a ring. I should have actually posted the owner of said ring first. Here's what you're going to do. You're going to remember the ring in the back of your mind. As you scroll down, you're going to meet the wearer of the ring, as she makes her debut on the Vrbi. Yay!
Ricky sleepy.
This is us having breakfast. Auntie Em was quite the cook. I called her Aunt Jemima.
Daniel, Emily, Amy, Chuckles McGee.

There she is! Remember the ring? Okay. The owner is right there. No, not Jake! The girl on his lap that he has his hands all over! This is Brenna. She is Jacob's fiancee. They got engaged recently and we finally got to meet her! Yay!
Granny Janny with the camera we got her for Christmas taking photos of Mike sleeping.
Jake, what does your gut tell you? Within a month of being overseas, that'll be gone! The pasty skin too! (Like I can talk!)
The last part of our day there involved Jake getting his head buzzed. He did this before the last tour of duty so had to do it again. Brenna did the honors.
HAWT.

Bzzzzzz. Jack thought this was completely strange. He just stared in absolute horror.
She must have a thing for my high school shop and science teachers from looking at this picture.
Nice burnz.
The finishing touches. I can safely say Jack might be traumatized about haircutting now.
Two words: Cue. Ball.

That's a wrap, folks!