Goings On

We've had a lot going on lately; somehow it seems like we always do. The kids are glad to be back in school, especially Aubrey. She just loves eighth grade. We were chatting last night while biking through the neighborhood, and she was filling me in on her day. It was so fun to hear her spin on teachers and classes and people - she kept referring to the seventh graders as "sevvies." I got a kick out of that!

Luke has started soccer practice somewhat reluctantly. The practice time conflicts with his youth group time at church, so we compromised with the coach and leave part-way through practice. Luke really likes 56 Club - the fifth and sixth grade Wednesday night church group - and he hated to miss any part of it. His big impression after the first soccer practice: "My coach seems like he's a good guy, mom. He has four thumbs!" Yes, he really does have four thumbs. Perfect way to impress eleven year old boys.

Jackson is going to try cub scouts this year. This is something new to us, so we'll see how it goes. He is excited to have an activity that is all his own! I went up to the school yesterday and ate lunch with him; he still holds my hand in the hallways and is proud to have me in his class. I'd better take advantage of that while I can!

We had a fabulous time last weekend partying with Mom and Dad for their fortieth anniversary. We met them along with Gwen, Jason, Paige and Lane and Grandpa and Grandma Lois at the mini-golf/bowling alley in Garden City. It was lots of fun! I have pictures that I need to transfer to the computer when I have a moment. Paige took some great ones also; they're up on Facebook if you want to look. We got some good family pics after church on Sunday, too.

Sunday night was the annual Berning Fantasy Football League draft. We hosted a few Bernings at our house and the rest joined in via computer. As usual the men had a blast and the women stayed out of the way! Kathy and Ed stayed with us for a couple of days, which was nice. We went over to Wichita Monday to visit Dale Biel, who was in the hospital recovering from a heart attack. He looked great and seemed to be recuperating very well. Kathy and I got a bit of shopping done afterwards, of course!

It's almost September, which means State Fair for us. If you'd like to take in the fair this year you have a place to stay at our house!

Fourth Day of School

Aubrey - 8th, Jackson - 2nd, Luke - 6th

I missed taking pictures for the first three days of school... the first day Aubrey didn't have to go 'cause she's a big eighth grader, and the next two mornings it was raining. I wanted an outdoor shot so I waited. It wasn't raining this morning, but I had my jammies on still so I couldn't go outside. Oh well!

2009 Fair

Once again a great time was had by all at the Wichita County Fair. It was a whirlwind, as I'm sure all who were there can attest to!

The parade was led by Grand Marshals Grandpa and Grandma Lois in their Cinderella carriage. I had a hard time getting a good picture of both of them... the carriage was too elaborate! It looked like a fun ride, and Grandma said it was pretty smooth.
Lane rode his bike with the Christ Covenant float, but he took a breather long enough for me to snap his picture:

Our kids look forward to the time spent with cousins more than anything, I think. Here are Michael, Jackson, Noah and Luke waiting in line for their first ride, the Flying Scooters.

Aubrey and Bethany baked some cookies in Grandma Berning's newly renovated kitchen, she even let them use her pristine new oven!
Bethany, Aubrey, and Katie on the tilt-a-whirl:
and on the Merry Mixer. Oops, that's Noah, not Katie!Talia and Luke posing in their prizes from the game booths. Luke won the princess hat for Talia.
I even rode a couple of rides this year. Two. Otherwise known as one too many.
This is turning out to be all out of order. Anyway, here's Dad throwing a pack of gum to his grandkids. We never did see Mom - she said she was working the crowd!


The kids think they're celebrities when Dad drives the train. They get to ride up front with the engineer and toot the air horn. Pretty sure Dad was nearly deaf by the time Lane and Jackson got done with the horn!Lane won a cheeseburger hat at the game booths. Perfect!
Jackson and Lane took turns helping Mom take tickets from train passengers when they weren't riding with Dad.
Aunt Jo, Uncle Dick, Dad, Mom, Grandma Lois and Grandpa Earl. A good looking bunch, I think!

Y'all will appreciate this...

My neighbor, Jennifer, was talking to Jackson this morning. She came to me later and told me he seemed very excited about going to Leoti for the fair this weekend. "Does he know what to expect?" she very skeptically asked me. I really think she thought we were setting him up for disappointment by getting him excited to go to Leoti, Kansas for a county fair.

Um, yeah. We were listening to K-LOVE this past week, and they announced a contest you could enter to win four tickets to Disney World, THE HAPPIEST PLACE ON EARTH!!! Jackson snorted and said, "Mom, that lady doesn't know what she's talking about. Disney World isn't the happiest place on earth! It wasn't even close!"

Isn't it something to know that a little town like Leoti can create something so neat and so exciting that, year after year, little kids insist that it ranks far above Disney World? I sure think so!

The Leoti Fair ROCKS!

Cabela's and Grey Tape

Saturday after the Royals game, Aubrey and I spent the day shopping at The Legends (incredible sales, really!) and sent the boys to Cabela's.Everyone was much happier this way, believe me! Aubrey's in bed recuperating, and somehow I doubt that she'd appreciate me waking her up to take a picture of her bargain shopping. So here, look at this instead:

She is altering a swimsuit for a neighbor. How about that? She didn't get any sewing skills from me! Thanks to her grandmas for those genes!

Guess what Jackson found at Cabelas? Just guess!


He is officially a big boy.Here is Luke, showing off the quiver he made from grey tape, courtesy of Dad:
And Jackson, with his super hero mask. Also made from grey tape.

Royals Game

Jerry's birthday present from us was a day at the new K to watch Greinke pitch. He was SUPPOSED to pitch, but apparently he was too worn out from the All-Star game the weekend before, so we watched Bannister pitch. All in all, it was a good game. The Royals lost 7-8, but hey, there was some action! We saw three home runs and lots of hits. The renovated stadium is really, really nice.
Marilyn came to see us on Wednesday, then went to Kansas City to her daughter's house. They met us at the game, but of course I don't have a picture of that. Here's one from my couch:
.This was supposed to be a nice picture of Aubrey pre-game, but Luke had other ideas.
You can now walk behind the fountains in the outfield and see all kinds of exhibits and stores and activities. They have several activities, such as a timed run to see how long it takes YOU to run to first base, batting cages where you can bat against simulated major league pitchers, etc. Jerry and Luke tried the batting cages, but apparently they were set up for Shaquille O'Neal. I think there was one pitch that came anywhere lower than the tip of Jerry's bat. Luke's side was a little better.
Here we are, checking out the view from above the fountains.
Notice that the boys have their gloves? There were SO MANY foul balls into the stands, but it seemed like every batter was left handed and hit into the third base side. We were just above first.

We all really enjoyed the game. We'll be back!

Oh, I'm so behind...

I don't even know where to start. I'll try to hit a few highlights in random order with some jumbled thoughts thrown in for good measure!

First of all, I miss all you friends and family who are reading this blog! I've been catching up with lots of old friends lately, and remembering why they were friends in the first place. God is so good to give us the opportunity to make new friends when we move, but it sure is fun to reconnect with old ones, too!

We spent a few days in late June at the farm "helping" with harvest and just soaking up time with Mom and Dad and Gwen and Lane. A good time was had by all, especially Aubrey, who got to DRIVE (the car) and Luke, who got to drive (the combine.) I think we'll lose Luke for the summer soon... his heart is on the farm. Jackson and Lane spent time just being boys. Mom has some good pictures up on her blog, so you'll have to head over there and check them out.

As soon as we got home we did a load of laundry and headed to Ottawa for a fourth of July celebration with the Bernings. Once again, a good time was had by all! The kids loved swimming in the lake and fishing and water ballooning and shooting fireworks and enjoying their cousins. Shelley has lots of pictures up on her blog, so in the interest of actually getting this post finished I'll just point you over there instead of posting my own.

Aubrey got braces put on after we got home from Ottawa. She is handling them very well; just a few days where she didn't eat much. We're hopeful that they'll be off in a year or so. She reminds me daily that she'll be driving for real next summer....

Mom and Dad came to watch Luke play baseball last week. His team struggles, but Luke loves every minute of every game. We just got home from his next-to-last game, and I realized that I'm going to be sad when it's over. The boys have all really improved. Luke got the "Slugger of the Year" award from his coach at their last practice. He is just a tiny bit proud of it! I think the highlight of Mom and Dad's visit for Jackson was when Dad took him and Luke shopping for duct tape. They have used up their roll making wallets, quivers, super hero masks, and even flip-flops for their sister. You know, I'm sure there was a reason they needed duct tape but I can't remember what it was. Dad?

Summers are just idyllic for me; I love having the kids home with me. I love the long evenings with the kids in the back yard, (just got interrupted by a baseball hitting my window... no damage though!) and I love the freedom from a schedule. I especially love the opportunities we have to get together with family and friends so often. Marilyn and Tim were here last night and today, and we are going to watch Grienke pitch at the Royals game tomorrow night at the new Kauffman Stadium.

I'll close this long post with a prayer request: our former pastor's wife, Julie, has had a recurrence of her ovarian cancer. She was turned away from the Mayo Clinic because they said it was too late for her. The cancer has spread to her liver and pancreas. Her husband, Rod, has lost his job and also has had his identity stolen. Oh, they need lots and lots of prayer! Rod says that "they feel Christ near to them through all of this." We pray that he will draw them nearer still. Please add them to your prayer list!

I miss you all, and am looking forward to seeing lots of you at the Leoti fair in just a couple of weeks!