Cheeese......

See the camera

Say "Cheeese!"

See your Nana and smile

See your Papa and giggle.

Run little one, he's gonna tickle you

Hurry, get your books or your puzzles

Time to read and play

Nana and Papa take time to read all the words, giggle and tickle and play

Cheese snacks and chocolate milk

Swing high in the swing, slide down the slide too many times to count

Walk around the block with Papa or Nana holding your hand

Making memories and making two grown people experience pure joy.

Kailynn 10-14-2007

A Great Grandma, a Great Grandpa, 2 Grandmas and 3 Grandpas plus about 30 more loved ones attended this little ones 2nd birthday party.

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Courtney 10-25-2001

A perfect fall day for a pinata and lots of cake, presents, family, friends and fun. A perfect #8 birthday party.

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Jazzy 11-2-2006

Over 40 people came to her 3rd birthday party today. She is also loved by many friends and family. Homemade Chili & ice cream cake, friends, family, and many presents for this little one.

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Sierra 11-5-1998

   Eleven years old. So close to being a teen. Cheerleading is her passion. Family, friends fun. Sierras party is next Sunday. I know it will be awesome. We expect another perfect weather day and lots of friends and family will join us! We love to celebrate birthdays around here!

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Do you want to impress your friends and win bets?

 Use "cloture" in a sentence and be able to explain it. 

As explained by our Nebraska REALTOR® Association's own Kristen Anderson, Governmental Affairs Director:

Cloture is the only procedure by which the Senate can vote to place a time limit on consideration of a bill or other matter, and thereby overcome a filibuster.

Under the cloture rule (Rule XXII), the Senate may limit consideration of a pending matter to 30 additional hours, but only by vote of three-fifths of the full Senate, normally 60 votes.

Have fun making impressions and winning those bets!   

I don't know about you, but I got several emails today telling me that lawmakers may pass an extension on the $8,000 tax credit.

I suspect this will keep the buying public from doing anything before a decision is made!

Just give us a yes or give us a no!

I really don't care which one they choose!

Do you?

I mean, we don't have any control of the choice the lawmakers make at this point.

What we will do is deal with it.

And we will do an awesome job of it.

 Omaha's Women's  Council of REALTORS®

had their 29th Annual Business Fair

and the first annual Mystery Masquerade today

at Tiberon Golf Course Clubhouse near Gretna, Nebraska. 

About 30 vendors set up booths with their wares and prizes to entertain guests and attract future business. 

Over a thousand dollars in prizes were given out!

 I won $50 from HOME BUYER'S PROTECTION COMPANY!

THANK YOU PAT AND CHERIE CASEY!

 Many Guests and Vendors came dressed in costume. It was a fun evening with plenty of food, drink, wonderful people, and of course, prizes!

 Thank you to all the folks who worked so hard to make it an eventful evening and to the AWESOME Sponsors who made it all possible.

LAKE ZORINSKY is an extremely popular place to run, walk, skate, bike, boat, fish, picnic and play.

Located between 156th and 180th and F Street in Omaha Nebraska. There are picnic areas, soccer fields, a play place for children with slides and more.

People walk/run on both sides of 168th. One side is 4-5 mile and the west side is around 3 miles.

You can access the trails on 168th.

This pair of swans were first noticed by my friend this year.

Another lovely view of the lake.

Wildlife can often be seen in the trees.

I have been to Nebraska State Conventions, National Association of REALTORS® Conventions, CRS Sellabrations®, and Prudential's Conventions. I was on the committee that plans the Nebraska REALTORS® Convention for several years and Chaired the Committee in 2001. (Nebraska hosts over 800 REALTORS® at their convention. The cost of the convention is figured in our Association dues and is free to the members who pre-register and attend.)

As with most things in life, it's up to you to find value in attending a convention. You get to choose how to spend your time. I will tell you how I plan ahead for conventions and how I have made the most of my time at them.

First you select the convention you want to attend. If you sign up early you can usually save lots of money. You can also save money by watching the airline fares and buying your ticket when rates are down. Another way to save money is to find a quality hotel near the convention hotel. I like to attend with REALTOR® girl friends and share the cost of the room. Besides it's more fun when you have someone to laugh with.

When I get the schedule for the convention I go through it with a fine tooth comb. I like to use a highlighter and select the classes, instructors, WCR and CRS meetings, meals, and parties that most interest me. I seek advise from seasoned REALTORS® so I don't miss out on anything exceptional. For instance, seasoned REALTORS® know the best parties and how to get a ticket, like certain banks or CRS parties at National Convention. They know the extraordinary instructors and popular classes to take. If they have been to that city they will coach you on touristy stuff.

After I select the events that most interest me I sit down with my calendar and see how many of them I can fit into it. Some things will conflict and I will have to choose. It's so much easier to plan this ahead of time! If I am visiting a new city, I plan tourist time. When I went to Washington DC for the first time I planned a couple extra days to see the city. I usually take a kazillion photos. Okay, now you need to add camera and batteries to your list of things to take.

Watch for some classes that may be offered prior to the scheduled convention dates. Often a one or two day course for CRS is offered in advance of the convention. These cost extra, in my opinion, because they are worth it. If you are interested in getting your CRS designation you may want to plan to go early and attend these classes. Again, this takes planning ahead!

There are many things to do that are included in your convention registration fee. Conventions offer generous vendors displaying their wares, offering expert advise and giving away hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars worth of prizes in drawings. TAKE LOTS OF BUSINESS CARDS! Drop them in the fishbowls/baskets for the drawings. You can't win if you don't enter! My cousin/real estate partner, Marlene, won a television while at the CRS Sellabration®  in Hawaii in 2008!

I have found conventions useful in quality and selection of classes. You will find free/included courses on technology, forclosures, buyers, sellers, you name it, it can probably be found. Here's the link for the National Convention. Check it out!

To get the most out of networking at convention, I plan a small gift with my business card to pass out to REALTORS® that I personally meet. One year I took a Dumdum sucker and put a tag on it that said something like, "Don't be a Dumdum, call Donna with your referrals" and my card was attached. Another time I had a friend make fishing flies and my note said, "Cast your referrals to Donna". Go to lunches, meetings, classes and always sit with people you don't know. Meet new people and pass out your cards. Tell them about your business and ask about theirs. Meeting new people with similar interests is fun! Networking brings you business. Referrals are great! It's awesome to send referrals to people you have met!

CONVENTION TRIPS ARE TAX DEDUCTABLE! TALK TO YOUR TAX GUY!

Most important Things to take with you:

• COMFORTABLE SHOES FOR WALKING!
• CAMERA & BATTERIES
• A COUPLE HUNDRED BUSINESS CARDS

Yes there is value in attending a convention.

It takes some planning ahead and using your plan once you get there.

I am scootin all over the neighborhood to let everyone know the NEWS!

Today my Nana became the President-Elect of Nebraska's State Women's Council of REALTORS® Chapter for 2010!

My Nana is Donna Stephens. She reads books to me and treats me to Biscottis and chocolate milk. We sing our ABC's, play with puzzles, color and sometimes we watch Dora on TV.

My Nana has lots of friends in WCR. True friendships that have lasted for many years. People she can count on when she needs them and who can count on her. Some are REALTORS® and some are affiliates.

I heard that WCR is one place Nana goes to grow her business. Speakers, classes, the WCR website, and monthly meetings with awesome speakers and wonderful people she meets there.

My Nana has learned a lot about leadership and speaking to a crowd of people through her WCR experiences. I hear she is looking forward to learning much more over the next few years. Nana is a better REALTOR®, a better negotiator, and has gained confidence through her WCR experiences.

WCR FRIENDS have sent my Nana referrals. My Nana says she loves referrals!

Quiet neighborhood, quiet street! 

Not a thoroughfare like south 84th. Just a quiet neighborhood street.

Backs to woods, full fenced back yard, wonderful patio, huge one car garage has room to work or room to store the toys. The level shady lot has plenty of room for the kids, husband and pets to run.

Security System, Sprinklers, appliances included, whole house fan beautiful gas fireplace, full finished basement. This home has much to offer.

4th Bedroom is non-conforming in the basement.

ONLY $80,000 FOR THIS WONDERFUL ONE AND A HALF STORY HOME!

COOKS KITCHEN! BEAUTIFUL! More counter space than you can imagine.

Almost one hundred year old woodwork looks prettier than new!

Huge master bedroom is 19 x 15 and an enclosed porch.

3 bed, 2 bath and one car garage.