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!

My Eleven Year Old

We took Luke out to Ihop for a birthday breakfast. Bright and early on a summer morning... and no one even complained about getting out of bed! His quotable comment on the meal: "Now this is fine livin', right here." We're not quite sure where the southern accent came from all of a sudden. Note the LARGE sundae at the top of his plate. Not only did he order the large breakfast sampler (pancakes, hash browns, two eggs, ham, bacon, and sausage) as well as at least two cups of cocoa with whipped cream and chocolate chips, but they gave him a free sundae as well.
He was quite thrilled with the first present he opened; a check. Apparently he had never had a real check made out to him before. He was also thrilled with his other presents, which included an ipod that is now permanently attached to his ears.

I've attached a short video of his birthday cake; forgive our singing. We're readers, not singers, in our family!

Laziness

I don't have much to write about, which is the way summer should be, I guess. We're just hanging out, playing on the slip n' slide, swimming in the evenings, going to ball practice and just generally avoiding other commitments. Trying to keep the schedule free, you know? Poor Jerry still has to go to work, but the rest of us are livin' the easy life.

The basement is still in the process of drying out; I sincerely hope they come and take away the fans this morning. They are loud enough that I hear them constantly on the main floor - kind of a constant buzzing in my ears. Yet another reason to hit the pool! It looks like the carpet will be fine, but we had to tear out the pad. We also have a spot on the basement wall where we had to remove sheetrock a couple of weeks ago from a leak in the main water line. Perfect time for a basement remodel, huh? I'm collecting paint samples and ideas for making the basement more attractive. The carpet down there has kind of a pinkish caste, which is not what I lean towards when picking colors. I keep bringing home paint samples that have a goldish tone, which just doesn't work. Maybe I'll try for a greenish paint? Hmmm. I'd also like to hide some of the clutter on my desk. The desk I currently have does not have any storage at all, so everything is out in the open. I'm gathering up my courage to give it a skirt so I can store things under it. Maybe Aubrey can sew it for me....

Aubrey's friend Amy from Syracuse is here for a week or so. We plan to go to Leoti sometime next week and spend a few days on the farm.

Nevermind

Our basement has lots of water. Think it came in under that door to the outside. Ugh.