Family Update

Welcome back!!

Nothing like a little "cluster-blogging"

Thought it might be good to do an update. .

Especially since I had so many fun pictures to share!

This girl has gotten about 3 years older all at once. .

She is growing in manners and politeness. .

And is getting to be fine help!!

She got to participate in a gymnastics class and a dance class this year.

She loved them both!

She has gotten pretty tricky at front handsprings on the trampoline. .

And loves practicing!

She had her first recital right before Easter. She was excited and nervous all rolled into one!

She got flowers for the first time in her WHOLE life (Her words). .

And can't wait for it to start all over again next year.

She gets to/has to stay home this summer. Her dad works right at the house in his shop. .But she isn't highly motivated on her own. .so she is despairing the whole idea. .more because she knows that she will have to do some "work". .and that she will get into trouble if she isn't careful!

I am hoping that she will take care of some watering and learn how to get dinner started.

I think it will be a good step for her!

This guy will be graduating GRADUATED. .from 8th grade next week LAST NIGHT (by the time I actually got back to finishing this post :-). He is super excited! He will finally get his very own cell phone! He has been doing a lot of driving with his instructional permit. .and has the mandatory 50 hours of driving done so he can get his farm permit, which will allow him to drive to and from school alone, and to get parts or errands run for his job--working for his dad.

He is glad to be done with track, which he never really liked. .And will look forward to going out for basketball and golf next year as a freshman. He did join a neighboring school to participate in a high school trap shooting team. .and will get to shoot on their varsity team in a few weeks at the state competition. He and his dad are both really excited about that!

Grant and Tristan both graduated last Thursday from tech school in Topeka.

Look at the excitement!

Tristan started a job last week for a commercial carpentry crew. .and got to work on one of the buildings on the campus at the University of Kansas. .He loved every minute of it! He gets to be an 'intern' for 3 months before deciding whether this will be the job for him.

I think he has already decided that it is!!

Grant will continue to work for the feed store that employed him part time through the school year. He will do that until after he and his dad and brothers take their guided fishing trip in a few weeks. After that, he will start working at Kenworth-fixing the big semi rigs that he has loved since he was a tot!

Both of them got their dream jobs. .and we couldn't be happier for them. .

Or prouder! It was a fun weekend to hang out together. .

And, after 50 pictures. .I decided that they aren't any easier to photograph now. .than they were when they were little. Someone was always doing something dumb. .or looking the wrong way. .or making silly faces. .or kissing/licking the person standing next to them. UG!

In the last week. .since I started this post the first time. .

We have finished up a lot of the "end of school" things.

We have been through Cami's play day at school. .

It is essentially a mini-track meet for K-5th.

She did a great job. .

And unfortunately, in about 2 more weeks-it will seem-she will be wearing her own cap and gown!!

These guys were also back all weekend for Devin's graduation. .

Our church celebrated a 100 year anniversary on Sunday. .

So we were busy with that as well as a graduation BBQ in honor of Devin.

Not to mention all the graduation celebrations for the kids of our friends!

It was lots of cooking and hangin.

Devin is heading to get his farmer's permit today. .

And he will be raking in the "dough" at the shop soon!

Tristan had to head back late last night to return to work. .

Grant is heading there today. .as well as my mom returning home. .

So when I get home tonight. .

It should be back to the quiet life. .

As quiet as it gets anyway!

Here is our little grand-pet. .

Rastus. .is Tristan's little hedgehog. .

He is quite ugly, really. .which ALMOST makes him a touch cute.

Cami and Devin are in love. .and I hope I can remain firm in not having one in my own home in the future!

Well. .

That's it from this crazy crew. .

We have a characteristically busy summer getting started as soon as next week. .

Camps, jobs, an exchange student coming, road trips, and of course. .

the LAKE!

I hope to showcase some garden blooms again soon. .

But then, you know how that sometimes goes!!

Thanks for stopping by!

Lightening Fast. .

That's what our summer felt like. . 

Lightening Fast!! 

It was a good one!! 

But. .

SO LONG SUMMER. . 

It's time to start our new schedule. .

One that includes a bedtime. .

And some stability!! 

The oldest. .

Can't even BELIEVE. .

That it is the LAST first day of school he will endure around this place!

The look on his face this morning when he surfaced from his room was utter disbelief!! 

Devin will start his first day in junior high as a 6th grader today. .

Cami is no longer at the bottom of the food chain. .

She moves up to FIRST grade!!

Grant. .

His first day as an upperclassman. .a junior. 

This guy was happy for the first day of school too.

Although it means a loooonnnnngggg lonely day in his shop without his hired man to banter and bicker with!! 

The school calendar has been highlighted. .

Senior pictures have been scheduled. .

Mama has had a quiet coffee break and her first good workout in 2 weeks. .

Let's DO this thing!!

Happy Monday people!!

Stuff that Makes the Time Pass. .

I can hardly believe that over 2 weeks have passed since I have checked in. .

So many places we've been, things we've done, and stories I have missed telling!

Of course, Easter has come. .

And gone!

I was privledged to be able to share my testimony of conversion. .

from going to church every Sunday because I knew I should. .

To becoming a true daughter of the King. .

At our Sunrise service on Easter morning!

I read through the testimony that I put on my little 'ole blog last year. .

If you didn't get to read it then and are interested click here

We did all our usual traditional Easter things too. .

colored some eggs, attended an Egg Hunt, church all morning Easter Sunday with the traditional HUGE breakfast feast, and ate Bacon Egg Sandwiches! On Good Friday I transported kiddos from youth group to the city for the day. We bowled and shopped and attended a MASSIVE 10 band Christian Rock concert that evening! The only bummer was the part where I ran the red light I didn't see in the row of stop lights that were close together. .and ended up getting T-boned by a poor family who didn't expect someone to be in their lane. .

Thanks to the GOOD LORD. .

Not one of the 10 people were injured. .

and my car was still driveable for the 2 hour trip home. .

AND. .

My AWESOME hubby is able to do the repair work himself. .

Since we carry liability only on my Yukon!

I guess all the time he spent rebuilding cars and trucks has come in handy :-)

It's starting to look like spring around here. .

Grant and I are trying a new gardening technique this summer. .

We planted potatos (yes, in APRIL. .my St Patrick's day planting grandma would have had a fit!!) last weekend. .

In these tomato cages.

We put straw in them and made a nest. .

For POTATOES, you silly cat!!

and planted the little eyes outward. .

covered with some of our own compost and more straw.

Each layer had about a foot of space filled with straw in between.

We tried Purple Majesty variety as well as some type of bulk red potatoes eyes that were clearancing out of the farm store. .

another hint that we waited a l-i-t-t-l-e too long!

We watered them in. .

Hopefully they will be in a spot that can easily be attended to this summer.

We'll let you know how it works out!

We also tied them to the fence. .

Wind is the rule here in Kansas. .

And we sure didn't want our potential harvest blowing away!

The most exciting thing that we have been up to is visible in the background. .

This is how I found my bedroom when we returned from Vegas. .

With a straight thru view of Camille's room on the other side. .

The 100 year old lathe and plaster walls and nasty shreds of black insulation came out. .

And new walls are going up. .

The most fun aspect, though is this. .

A new sunroom/family room that will be entered from my bedroom. .

You can see it as the wall went up last week.

It will be a major change from the outside as well. .

This will give me a nice big chunk of good gardening space for things that need a little afternoon shade. .

And another little patio area to sit and watch life go by from. .

Here's the inside view of the new room. .

The back wall will contain some narrow french doors to open out. .

and plenty of nice big windows to view wildlife (and the animals I claim as children)!

The plans have changed already about 50 times. .

but, as they always do, for the better!!

We also decided to put in a second door to access the room from the large room that we use as the porch and laundry room. .

This door will come in where the little green window is on the left.

This will facilitate some entertaining in this big room as well as just private enjoyment!

Yesterday found me in the city picking up flooring and many of the odds and ends needed to keep progress going forward. We have the two bedrooms in the middle of the living room, which is about to finally wear me down. .

And the boys are all upstairs with J and I sleeping in Grant's bed and Cami on a love seat. .

Hoping that we'll at least have Cami's room painted and moved back into by next week. .

On the agenda for the rest of this week. .

Golf meet on Friday. .

Prom on Saturday. .

This lucky mom gets to help with the after-prom party. .

So if you are up at about 3 am Sunday morning. .

So will I be!!!

I am hoping to post some pictures of how the gardens are looking soon!

We're buckling down for some winter weather tonight here in Southwest Kansas. .

Hope spring has sprung wherever you might be!

Blessings to you all!

Christmas Recap!

Oh My!!

I've been on a blogging hiatus. .

From mine. .and everyone else's!!

My  major blogging time comes from my down time at my health department job. .

I am contracted. .

so when clients have to cancel appointments. .

or flat forget to come. .

I am just there. .

with NOTHING to do. .

It's amazing how much reading, writing, researching, and studying I can get done in 2 minutes here. .

or 10 minutes there.

And since the last two holidays were on Tuesday. .

my usual work day there. .

I have been on break. .

or rather. .

a break from PAID work!!

These knotheads will start back to a week of normal routines again today!

We had a great Christmas. .

and the New Year has arrived. .

bringing with it still more germs. .

germs that are apparently immune to mega doses of Vitamin C!

Poor Me!

This crazy kid has learned how to repair holes in walls. .

not fist holes. .

more like nail holes, dart holes, bow and arrow holes. .

and had the good fortune of enjoying the art of

re-painting the walls in the upstairs bedroom he and Devin share.

We have discovered him to be quite an artist. .

and since he was able to uncover his Christmas gifts from the bottom of the sludge he accumulates in his room. .

I am hoping that he will start doing some pencil drawing in the new binder he got for Christmas.

He did decide, however, that painting walls is NOT a great use of his artistic ability. .

so hopefully, he will be a little more careful in how he manages his room from now on!

This one reported yesterday. .

that the pickup is finished!! They have driven it down the road a time or two. .

The windshields are in. .

as are the seats. .

so it is a go. .

He is recovering well from a little surgery done New Year's Eve to fix some abnormal blood vessels that were causing him pain. .

And his demeanor is more like his dad's every SINGLE day!!

Poor Me!

This one has decided that it stinks to be the younger brother. .

and is looking forward to his mean older brothers moving out. He thoughtfully bought his mom a new cookbook at their book fair before Christmas using his own money. .When I figured out menus for the month of January. .I was able to add in several of the new recipes. .

The book??

Cheesy, Cheesy, Quick and Easy. .

starring. .

Cheese. . and Macaroni. .

the verdict from the consumers?? Not sure yet! but they're darn sure Quick. .

AND easy!!

This one. .

was thrilled to find a new fluffy robe with a hood under the tree. .

just like her mama's (well, without the wild polka dots!)

Her out of control, fuzzy bed-head hair scored her a new haircut last week. .

It's still long enough for a pony. .but curly enough now that she wants to wear it down!

Just short of a year now, she got her ears pierced on the way to Grandma and Papas. My dad looked at those earrings and said "Mel, you're growing her up too fast!" I think he'd be pretty amazed at how grown up she looks now! Sometimes I just have to watch her. .and wonder where the time goes!

This one. .whined about why I had a nice workout mat. .

and his was flat. .

and nasty!!

So Devin wrapped him up a nice fluffy mat to use for his workouts!

He is VERY glad to be done with Grant's pickup. .and on to some of his own projects! Racing season is only 2 short months away. .and he can hardly wait!

We enjoyed a little snow on Christmas day. .

And a little more on New Year's Eve. .

In fact, enough that the kids enjoyed sledding and snowballs. .

and it has been cold enough that even a week later, we are still sporting some leftover snow and the snow forts!

We enjoyed lots of family time. .

lots of sugar. .

And even some extra rest!

And as if we hadn't had enough treats at Christmas time. .

I have spent some extra time doing a little more baking this past week!

With all my stuff caught up. .

I spent Saturday baking Kolaches, a Czech treat that my maternal grandma used to make!

It was my first time to ever make them. .

and actually. .

the first time I have eaten them since before she died years ago.

They were delicious. .not nearly as pretty as hers. .but just as tasty for sure!

So that is the latest on us. .

I did want to share some photos taken at our Christmas with mom. .

Much of my "far away" family reads my blog regularly. .

so those will be coming along this week too. .

And then. .

hopefully. .

the little project I worked on for my sisters before Christmas!

Enjoy your week!