We've been together how long?

Got this site from my friend Janel's daughter, Lauren. So funny! Brian looks like my dad in so many of these, like his brother Jim in one of them, and like his brother John in the long-haired hippy one. Do it yourself at yearbookyourself.com.

Have fun!

Hillary!

Did you guys see Hillary's AMAZING speech last night? Brian and I sat in silence with our mouths hanging open, hanging on her every word. What an amazing woman. I can't wait to be able to teach Nina about her and everything she has done for women. Somebody posted this picture on one of my scrapbooking message boards this morning. I thought it was hilarious! How much are those two guys loving their jobs right now? Orange was definitely the right choice! :)



Brian chatted this morning with his cousin Steve Doocy of Fox News' Fox and Friends. Steve is in Denver covering the DNC for Fox. He has a hilarious book about marriage and a new one about parenting coming out soon. I enjoyed his marriage book this summer while we were visiting Iowa. Brian's parents had a copy, and it was such a fun read. He is super funny. My mom and her friends at the gym in the Villages are big fans of Steve. My mom announces every morning that Steve is Brian's cousin. She said that often turns into, "Did you hear that? Karen knows Steve Doocy!" No, no she doesn't know him! :) I'm wondering if my mom, a lifelong Democrat, secretly masquerades around as a Republican in the Villages. She wouldn't want her closeted Democratic status to ban her from the next bingo tournament or worse yet, risk eating a poisoned jello mold! Sorry, Mom, I couldn't resist. Here's a picture until we can get you a signed one:



Hope everyone is well!

The Wedding!

So I've received the photos from this summer's wedding! You may remember that Bancroft was the final destination of our summer vacation. We were headed there to attend Brian's brother John's wedding to his darling bride, Beth. We've called her Aunt Beth for years so we're extra excited now to officially have her as a new aunt to Simon and Nina. She is so sweet and so funny! She fits perfectly into the Bernhard clan! So above is whole gang. Brian's whole family except for his brother Tim's two boys (who are both away at college). Let's just say that when my family gets a family picture taken, it can be done a lot more close up! :)

The wedding was absolutely beautiful, and it was so fun to be with everyone again and catch up. Below are Brian's parents, Phil and Pat:



Below is Brian with his parents and six siblings. Back row (l to r): Brian, brother John (the oldest & the groom!), married to Beth, father of four boys; brother Jim, married to Cathy, father of 2 Wartburg students. Next row: brother Kevin, married to Dawn, father of 2 boys and 2 girls; sister Elaine, mother of Melissa and Clint, Grandmother of Avery, Godmother of Simon; sister Betsy, Godmother of Nina (and others, but Nina's her favorite); brother Tim, married to Carole, father of 2 college-age sons. Whew!



Our family picture from the wedding:



Simon and his Godmother, Aunt Elaine (and the person who tattoed him when he was just 4 months old):



And our favorite picture from the wedding!! Trying to get Grandma and Grandpa with all of the grandkids and great-grandkid. I love how Dakota is not available (2nd from left). I love how Nina feels the need to fix Grandpa's hair, and I love how Simon is relishing the state of bliss he's in when he's with his cousins in Iowa. On a side note, once we got home I found about 10 things that would have been nicer for him to wear and would have helped him look a lot less Forrest Gump-ish, but hey, hindsight, right?



That's it for now. Welcome to the madness, Aunt Beth!! You're gonna love it!

The Presidential Experience

We had a fun morning today. A traveling museum called "The Presidential Experience" is in town. They have replicas of Air Force One, the oval office and all sorts of other presidential goodies. The lighting in the makeshift museum tent was terrible so excuse the picture quality below.

We went with my younger brother, Rusty, and his BFFs and neighbors:



Nina contemplates the future of the presidency while visiting the oval office replica:



The regular pilot called in sick so Simon and I filled in and piloted Air Force One for the president:



There were tons of vendors there so we were able to get everybody all decked out for the upcoming convention and election. Go, Obama! :)



More coming soon!

Sniff, Sniff

How do I suddenly have a second grader? This is not fair! Time goes too fast! Of course Simon could not get out the door fast enough, after a few hip hop poses and an attempt at a normal pose. Have a great day, buddy!



With his BFF Zach, and Zach's sister during carpool this morning:



After Simon told her he would be gone and she would have to hang out with mom all day:

Skydiving!

We had a blast with Elaine and Co this past week. They did Waterworld, Bronco camp, lots of golfing, and skydiving. We should call it what it really is - indoor skydiving. But doesn't it sound so much more thrilling when you just say skydiving? Everyone loved it, and I think we'd all be up for doing it again. I wish I could blame my hair in the above picture on the wind tunnel, but unfortunately, this picture was taken before the dive.

Simon and his hero, Clint, getting suited up and ready to go:



Nina - Too cool for school (and skydiving):



Simon - loving every minute of it:



Clint - flying like a pro by himself almost the whole time:



Mel - Rockin' it out and keeping her straightened hair looking perfect:



Elaine - giggling the ENTIRE time:



Brian - after the instructor asked to have the air pressure turned up just slightly:



Renee - going for it and having a blast even without having taken a Xanax:



We had a great time - love you guys!