The Whitters

HELLLO!! (Please think of Fronk from Father of the Bride saying that)
Well the month of July has been full of a lot of things. I feel like I have lived a year in the last month, but I will update on all the happenings one at a time. First of all, Whitney "Whitters" Ryan Brunsen joined our family on July 8, 2011.


Matt and Whitney

We headed to Des Moines on Saturday to meet our new little niece. It had been 6 years since a new baby was born in the Kajewski family, so Whitney was treated like the star she is!


Whitney looking up to her idol already


Whitney in her Awesome/Obnoxious hat I got her :)


Whitney :)


And you people think we should have a baby, he thinks it is a football!


Matt and I with the Brunsen Kids, Hailey, Nolan, and Whitney

We had a very nice weekend in Des Moines, and are excited to watch little Whitney grow. She is one loved and spoiled girl that is for sure. And yes it does give me a baby itch, but then I remember that they come out of your vagina and I get all freaked out again. That and I am already fat, I already can't sleep, there a lot of "liquids" that come out of them, and they are a Huge responsibility. I don't know why I am so freaked out about having a kid. I basically raised Riley and Clare (I know I did a shitty job) and nannied for a family in undergrad and another in law school, I should be fine. But maybe that is it, I know too much. They are cute, and then they poop and puke, and then they are cute, then they don't do their homework, or "don't like noodles", but then they give you a hug, and like clock work they become mouthy for a decade. So we will see. I know we will try this "human out of your privates" thing at some point, but until then I will just keep practicing ;)

In other exciting news Matt finished my bench! This Spring Matt and I were bored on a Saturday and were bumming around an antique store in our neighborhood. We found an old beat up bench we both liked and somehow saw potential it in. Since it was so beat up, Matt decided he wanted to take on the challenge to see if he could refinish it and make it beautiful again. Well Matt really outdid himself!


Bench Before Front


Bench Side

Well after lots of supervising by me, and a LOT MORE work by Matt, this is what we got.


Bench Front After


Bench From Behind


Bench From Side

I love my new Bench! Matt did a great job, and now that I see his skills, I may be finding more abused pieces of furniture I want him to fix up for me. Hopefully someday I will have a nice entry way to utilize my beautiful bench!

More Updates to come Bloggers... gotta pace myself!

Jefferson Lives

I love the 4th of July. It is my second favorite day of the year with the order being Christmas Eve, 4th of July, my birthday, July 1st: the beginning of the fiscal year, anniversary, and groundhog day.

On July 4, 1826, 50 years after the Signing of the Declaration of Independence, the 2nd and 3rd Presidents of the U.S were both ill and were in the last day of their lives. Adams and Jefferson were what today would be known as freminies. They had completely different ideologies, yet had great respect for each other. The story is, that John Adams' final words were of his lifetime political rival and friend Thomas Jefferson. Adams died moments after uttering the phrase, "Thomas Jefferson survives," not knowing that Jefferson had actually passed hours before in Monticello, Virginia.

I love that story. Though it has been disputed as to how true that story actually is, that story is one of the many reasons I love history and was a history major. Two major figures of American History, rivals and friends, and both died 50 years after the signing of the Declaration of Independence. So in honor of America's Birthday I thoroughly enjoyed grilling, eating smores, drinking, golfing, and blowing up cheap Chinese fireworks! Ah the American Way!


Lillian and her Rapunzel Hair

Friday we were able to get to the cabin a little early. This allowed us time to relax, start making salads, and time to play with the kiddies. Lillian was so excited that Queenie got her clip on Rapunzel hair that she wore it the entire weekend. It was so funny, especially because it matched her hair color so well. Lillian told us that she was not going to be afraid of the Fireworks and gladly came along with us to watch the town fireworks in Crofton,Ne. That lasted about 1 minute and once again, Meghann was regulated into the car to watch the fireworks while Lillian covered her ears with her night night. We did have some improvement, because she opened her eyes and did watch a few of the displays!


LBJ enjoying one of many cupcakes!


Jamie, Matt, and Dad showing off their flag golf balls. They whined about me coming along, but I ended up placing 2nd out of all 4 of us. I lost to T.C. by one stroke.. damn it.. if only I could putt


Meghann and Clare on a boat cruise


Photographer Debbie


Captain Luke


Captain Lillian

Saturday we went for a boat cruise with Luke and Lillian. Of course they both wanted to drive so I helped them out a bit. Except Luke would point and yell at me to sit down in the seat next to him. He also repeatedly told me to take my hand off the wheel. He thinks sailboats are pirate ships, so he would point and yell that we needed to, "Get that guy!"


Clare and I on the boat



Riley and Matt officiated over the Flag Raising Ceremony this year. This involved the shooting of a bottle rocket and Matt looking like a State Trooper/Football Coach in his GH Football hat and aviators.


Dad and Matt, Doing what Men do, enjoying a cocktail in the water.


The Kajewski's on the boat


Clare enjoying her holiday with a boat nap

Lillian and Luke 4th Photo Montage

Smiling...


Being Silly...


And being even more Silly...

We celebrated the 4th on Sunday night as we all had to head back home on Monday. This meant that we blew a lot of stuff up. Walker Valley on the 4th of July is awesome. So many people are lighting off fireworks and sitting on the cabin's deck is the best spot in the Valley. Lillian and Luke weren't having anything to do with it and sat in the Living Room. We did open up the windows and they watched a few, but they soon moved to the couch and stayed away from the windows. Meghann will hopefully get to watch fireworks again in 5 years... She was the one who stood inside and cried until she was 12 over fireworks. At least that is what Dad says, so I guess payback sucks!


Jamie and Matt setting up the loot


Matt a little too excited to blow stuff up


Jem and Dad Cheering on the fireworks


America's Dog

Jem loves the fireworks. I love watching Jem watch the fireworks as much as I like watching the fireworks! Piper not so much. She shook so bad on the deck we had to put her in her kennel until they were over. Poor Piper.. She was just a little fuzzball of nerves from all the noise.

Well we had a fabulous fourth. Besides a little car drama during the week before, it was great. Both Matt and I's cars broke down in a matter of 10 hours last Wednesday. Needless to say it stressed us out a bit. We do not want to buy a new car, as both of our cars are paid for. But I have found that means we just get angry when they break down and we worry it is going to force us into buying a car. We are working very hard to drive those stupid things into the ground! They are now both fixed and we made it to the lake safely. I love all of us being shoved into the cabin for weekend fun. It will be interesting to see how we all do it as there are more grandkids and spouses that are added to the mix!

As usual Luke and Lillian were our entertainment, but Luke had some really memorable moments. Mom and dad put up a couple set of bunk beds in one of the rooms for the kids. Luke and Lillian each got to sleep in the bottom bunk and it all seemed good, until 8:30 on Saturday morning when Luke was no where to be found. After running around and panicking for a few minutes, Lukey Boy was found sound asleep upstairs by the door holding his night night and shoes.Luckily, Dad is good about locking the doors before he goes to bed, So Luke couldn't get anywhere. Luke told us he thought we all left him. Needless to say he was not allowed to sleep alone any of the other nights. I think Lukey Boy will be in the crib a little bit longer now too..

Luke also has become more of a repeater, which means we have to watch what we say... but we aren't the best at it. He kept asking Dad who was making all the noise and shooting off the fireworks. Dad jokingly said it was some guy, and said I hate that guy shooting fireworks. So Luke proceeded to say "I hate that guy" every time he heard a firework go off. A 2 year old should not say hate, but it was so funny. We would ask Luke who shot off the firework and he would go, "A guy. I hate that guy." Oh kids say the darnedest things...

Well this weekend we will travel to Des Moines to meet our new niece. It is planned that she will arrive by C-section this Friday. We are very excited to meet her! I then leave on Tuesday to join my family and the Palmer crew and Shepard Crew for a few days at the Wisconsin Dells. So more fun for us is on the way! Hope everyone else is having a great summer!!



My favorite Time on the lake. Late afternoon/early evening when the sun is beginning to set. I hope this is one of my last images I see before I die. Though it may sound morbid, I love this time of night on the lake. It is so peaceful and beautiful. Every time I am out there I love staring down the lake, into the sun as it starts to set... Now that is America!! Up the Queen!

Summer Weekends

We have had a lot of busy weekends around here. This weekend was our first weekend home or without visitors since Riley's graduation. We will be starting up another 4 week stint of running around this next weekend, so we enjoyed our down time. I am so tired that I don't really have any funny commentary. Driving to the lake is a huge pain in the arse. Since I-29 is closed for a good stretch out of Omaha, we have to take back roads and so it is not fun. It will be like this for quite a few months, so we are holding our breath that the flooding doesn't get any worse! Well here is a review of a couple of our activities.

A couple of weeks ago Matt and I headed to the lake for the first time. It was just the Kajewski's and Debbie and T.C. We hit the links, checked out the Dam, and cruised in the boat.


Golf League


My Favorite Hole at the Crofton Golf Course


Debbie on the Boat


First One in of the Season, as usual.. Matt did say it was quite colder this year!

As I am sure many of you have read the Gavin's Point Dam has been open for a few weeks and is suppose to be open a few more months. We headed over to the Dam to check it out. In the 7 years we have had the cabin we have seen one or two gates open for only a week or two, but now all 14 gates are wide open.. Unfortunately this has created horrible flooding for Sioux City, Omaha, Southern Iowa, and Missouri..



Last weekend the Whitmer's were here to visit the Zoo. I have not been to the Omaha zoo in over 10 years. It was a lot of fun, but our legs killed by the end of the night. Poor Lillian looked drunk when we put her in her car seat. We saw lots of cool stuff, but Luke was in LOVE with the train.. Every time we asked him what he wanted to do next he would say, "Ride the choo-choo again!"


Matt and Lillian Swinging


Ice Cream!




Whitmer's Before the 6 hours at the zoo


Matt and Luke Checking out the Zoo


The Train!


Luke and Lilly by a huge turtle.. But it is hard to take Luke's Picture, because the moment you take it he runs towards you and says, see, see! As in, he wants to see the picture..haha!


Gorilla Sleeping on the Bubble above my head... he was not impressed with any of us!


Lillian on the Elephant


And Matt on the elephant...


Whitmer's after the Zoo


Lillian all Zoo-ed Out



I am proud my crappy digital camera took such a neat picture. This is the picture Lillian and I took standing on the Bridge at Elmwood Park here in Omaha.. we are such pros!

So that is a run down of our weekends.. I have no funny jokes, stories, or commentaries...I was either too drunk all those weekends, or I am just too tired. Probably a combination of both.. This weekend I will be with all Cosgrove's at the Lake for the 4th so I am sure there will be some stupid and silly stuff that will be said and that we will do. I will totally report back. Hopefully we can finally get Lillian to enjoy the fireworks instead of sitting inside and screaming her head off and yelling at us to knock it off and lecturing us that we are going to hurt ourselves.....her mother does the same thing, it is so annoying..

Have a good 4th Bloggers!

And Then There Were None...

A couple of weeks ago I went home for my Baby Broder's Graduation. T. Riley was the last and the tallest Cosgrove to graduate from GHHS.(Little LOUDER!!) GHHS (Who you Rooting FOR!!?) GHHS... you get the point.

Unlike the rest of us, Riley did not have a graduation party. I was a little disappointed when he said he wasn't going to have one, but when the time came I was glad he didn't. No cleaning, cooking, or yelling between any of us while trying to get ready for a party. Instead we had a relaxing weekend, played some golf, had a nice brunch, and reminded Riley that we used to have to wipe his ass for him. haha... classic.. Riley didn't have a party mostly because my mom and dad despise them, and he was smart enough to negotiate a trip to NYC instead of having a party. This was not an option for us elder children. (Bullshit) Matt was a little upset that he was going to miss out on graduation food, So Debbie tried to appease him with some ham sandwiches on Hy-Vee buns with butter and a side of pasta salad.


Mom and Dad and Riley


The "My Baby Brother is 6'6 Awkward Hug" Photo

Saturday, Matt and I played golf with Debbie and T.C. on the Holstein Links. Matt and I had hit some shag balls earlier but it was our first time out for the season, and I kicked ass! I shot a 46 ya all! BOO-YAH! Of course I talked crap the whole week after beating Matt and then this last weekend we played in Algona and I lost to Matt by 11 strokes.. I hate golf..

Anyway, back to Riley. Sunday we headed to Mass and prayed that Riley would indeed receive his diploma. We had a good brunch put on by our Debbie and then headed to the GH gym to watch Riley matriculate.Weird to think I graduated 9 years ago, Meghann graduated 14 years ago, and Clare graduated 4 years ago. My how time flies!


The Kajewski's and Riley


All Ready for my Camera Duty


The Fam

So that is it folks. No more Cosgrove kids in the hallowed GHHS halls. No more Cosgrove kid detentions, no more Cosgrove kids talking back to teachers, no more Cosgrove kids being tardy for class. It is all over. I only hope that Lillian and Luke can carry on a bit of what we gave to that school. But, Lilly and Luke are part Jamie, so they will probably be all smart, athletic, and a good citizen and stuff...Wait they are part Meghann, scratch the athletic part..

So Debbie and T.C are officially empty-nesters, but they won't really feel it until T.Riley moves out in August. Though, I don't think they will notice it too much. I don't think they really know when he is there now. Oh to be the baby and get away with everything. I.am.SO.JEALOUS.