Weekend extravaganza

It was homecoming week at the Trail.  The kids had fun participating in spirit week, and attending the parade.  It was weird not to have a kid participating in the high school stuff.  We didn’t even attend the game since it was cold and sort of rainy.   Mallory even opted to skip out on participating in the Alumni Band night.

We did enjoy a visit from the derby car master. He allowed his lackeys to paint.  I’m pretty sure they will never be clean again.

And the best way to get paint dry?  By driving the car around and around In circles eliciting giggles and squeals from the lackeys.  Also, we learned the difference between flat vrs glossy paint.

Saturday morning, Saige was sad because her soccer game was cancelled due to cold/wet conditions.  Whereas I wasn’t sad not to go sit outside in the cold/wet weather, I can honestly say I have never seen a soccer game be cancelled for these reasons before.  She quickly recovered when we reminded her she was attending her first ever slumber party with her friends.  She had a great time, stayed up all night, ate ice cream and "isn’t even tired" today.
Preston and I worked at the Ottawa demolition derby concession stand as a fundraiser for his CWF group.  We worked the early shift.  It was so crazy busy the time absolutely flew by.  I made just shy of 200 walking tacos during our shift.  The derby had only just started!  It is a good fundraiser!   Preston said he didn’t mind doing concession work, and was happy to get to know some of the kids he will be traveling with in the summer of 2020.

Today we had our quarterly birthday party and enjoyed some family time.

And if your cousin gets a horse, well then you gotta bum a ride and some horsey snuggling.  Star seems like a very patient mare, and Emma-Kate was happy to share her for a little while!

The weekend was fun, but not relaxing!  The upcoming week looks like a crazy factory, and I actually wish we had Monday’s off!  Oh well. No rest for the wicked.

Just a little more

Quincy (#62 above) and Preston (#50 below) had games tonight at Burlington.  Both teams lost, however I saw some pretty good football so I think it’s safe to say they played really well!    I was happy to get to drive.  I enjoy the kids a lot.  Junior high is a squirrely time, but they amuse me!  The season is winding down. I think that is probably a good thing because we all know nobody wants to sit outside in the cold!  (Except all of my boys!). 

With everything we have going on currently, I really don’t have time for injuries or sickness.  And if you are gong to be injured, you should at least have a good story!   I am fairly incapable of injuring myself in a way that gives a good story it would seem.  Instead, I trip while moving trash cans, fall face first into said trash can, and somehow severely hurt my pinky.   Whereas I am thankful I wasn’t hurt worse, I feel pretty silly!   Side note- as useless as a pinky finger seems, you actually use it ALL THE TIME!   

This week, I noticed how much bigger Ollie is than Blitz.  Our puppy isn’t a puppy anymore!   Although the chewing, excited behavior, and incessant goofiness seem to indicate nobody told him he’s big now!   We seriously love these 2 dogs.  Blitz is smart and sensitive.  She minds well and is always good behavior wise.  Ollie....he’s our village idiot.  The kids get mad at me for saying it, but he is just so darn funny and spastic.  He gives all of us a lot of entertainment.  

Fall is my all time favorite time of the year.  The prairie turns colors and flowers pop out for one last show before winter.  These are at the end of the driveway.  I have memories of having to cut sunflowers out of electric fences as a kid.  I should probably hate them, but I don’t.  For a weed, they shine bright!  You gotta love that. 

Saturday fun

Saige had her first soccer game today.  She’s been looking forward to this for months now.  She played really well.  Soccer is a lot of running. She didn’t seem to mind!  

After the other goalie got caught up in the net and almost strangled, Saige got to play goalie. She was thrilled!  

Harper was thrilled as well!  

For 9 months I carried this child and had almost daily discussions with his father over names.  When we finally agreed to name him Cameron, I was so happy and thought it was an amazing name.  18 years later, and he has introduced himself to everyone on campus as Noremac.   Noremac attended a barn dance last night.  The girl he went with told him he was the “best dressed.”   I told him to dump her because she lies.  

Preston and Quincy have been spending their Saturdays working at the vineyard.  They have stories of all the work they accomplished, but I get the feeling they do a little playing too!  Today they got to try their hand at shooting.  Honestly, the people they work for are some of the kindest people we have ever had the pleasure of meeting.  Cameron loved working there for the last 5 or 6 years, and now Preston and Quincy seem to love it as well!  

Colin spent the day here getting the derby car ready.  Glass, seats and carpet are all gone.  Muffler is gone.  Inner tubes placed in tires.  Lights and bumpers removed. I don’t know what’s next, but the kids had a squealing good time spinning around the yard in a car without seats or windows!  

More....

We have been watching a lot of football.  Some of  us watch.....

Some of us work the chain gang.  I asked Harper if she thought the guy running chains was cute?   She looked over, saw her dad and said “what?  Are you crazy?”   It was pretty funny.

I always kind of laugh about my Jim.  He is this giant man. He sometimes has been known to intimidate people.  I have seen him defend me or the kids and have been happy that he is an intimidating person.   It is kind of funny though, he is also one of the most soft hearted people I have ever met.  This week, a cat was brought in by animal control.  Multiple attempts were made to find the owner. She is a very nice cat. Jim kept her at city hall for days while they searched for an owner.  Nobody claimed her so yesterday, he brought her home “until the owner can be found.”   He was attached and afraid if they took her to the clinic she would be put to sleep.  He had already named her.  I am guessing Joni will be a permanent resident.  As I was headed to bed last night, Jim and Joni were snuggling on the couch.

Thursday night lights

A friend of ours took some video of the 8th grade game last night.  Preston's team did not win, but he made some amazing plays.  (Preston is #50 in blue).
Quincy's team played last night as well.  The 7th grade team is 4-0 in league play.
Gotta love some jr. high football!

Who needs a night off?

The 7th grade team has a ton of kids on it.  As a result, the coaches scheduled a couple of extra games.  This week, Quincy played in one of the extra games at Osage City.  She had a great game.  I think she had about 8 tackles, and a couple of times where she pushed the runner out of bounds.  It was hot, but I am so glad we went because she played so well!




We had our opening picnic for RE.  In the past, we have tried to have a closing picnic in the spring, and every single time the weather is terrible.  Switching it to an opening picnic was a pretty good success.  The girls had a great time!  I am excited for some of the things I have planned for my class this year.  I am saddened that my assistant for the past 5 or 6 years retired though.  I have no idea how I will function without her!

We have reached that time of the year where every single day has some thing going.  I can tell you that these little girls are missing Madison.  When she lived with us, her "thing" was staying home in the evenings.  The girls would often stay home with her rather than going to ball games, and they would cook dinner and bake amazing things.  I have heard more than once lately how much they NEED their Madison back!  :)