Pig Whisperers

Colin and Cameron really love these hogs! Anyone want to trade laundry?

Finally

After more than a year of searching, nagging our poor realtor, crying when things we thought we wanted sold, dragging the kids to countless open houses and driving around fruitlessly in the country, we found some land that we like! We have signed a contract and are supposed to close next Thursday. We are so excited! We are realists, though and know that we most likely won't be able to build for a couple of years. At least we know where we will be, what is possible there, and that it will be ours! The land sits about 3 miles from where we currently live.

The kids have already decided that there is (pictured above) the 'perfect' treehouse tree, and have big plans for dad and all his tools. Colin doesn't understand why we won't just drop him and his friend Zac off out there with a tent and some food and let them camp out for a few days. They can catch fish and make their own campfire- it will be great - please mom?? UUUMMMM I don't think so son! But we can go out and fish in the pond and spend some time out there if you like, my pouting 10 year old!

Keep your fingers crossed that all goes well at the closing next week!

Starting to get in the summer groove

Preston is really loving t-ball!
Dirty Kids! Makes for good nights sleep!





Overbrook PRIDE recently put in new playground equipment and a new children's fishing pond. The new equipment is great for when the big kids have ball practice! The fishing pond isn't open yet, but the boys got to help stock the fish.

If you don't mind rotating your head a little - Preston and Quincy were having a little picnic with sand pies in the back yard. Cute! I couldn't figure out how to turn it right. ???

We have been staying busy as usual. I took a new position on the Overbrook Library Board. I have my first meeting tonight. I am looking forward to it, although I feel a little frightened by the 4 year commitment. Of course, we love our town's library, so being part of keeping that going will be great! The girls have a track meet today, and then their league meet is on Tuesday, and then we can mark that on our done list! They have had a great time I think! Colin has started summer free-style wrestling. I have to admit the throws are a little intimidating for a mom to watch, but he loves it and we are glad that he is able to get to the practices and is enjoying himself. We have ball practice every single night of the week, and I just got the preliminary game schedules, and it looks like we are ball-parking it 6 nights a week this summer plus Saturday morning t-ball. I am excited to offer the opportunity to our kids and I love to watch them play!

The pigs are getting big already - Colin's Jenius might just eat us out of house and home - he is really getting huge. I forsee his own special pen and a diet before the end of summer! They moved the county fair back a week, so we have quite a long time before they show. Colin is really good with the pigs - I mean he really loves them. He gets in the pen and squats down and they all come running - he lets them chew on his clothes and he scratches them and talks to them. One would think they were dogs the way he acts! The other kids are ok with the pigs, but don't really think of them in the same light as Colin does. Maybe he should have been Grace's Godson!!

Well, things here are too quiet, I better go see what Quincy is up to!

Thanks Uncle Jay!

Preston loves his new hat!!

Jr. High Dance

Madison and Mallory had a jr. high dance last night. They reported that the chips were stale, but other than that it was a pretty good time. They said that they didn't dance with any boys - but I wasn't there so who knows!

Busy week

My PTO hosted a carnival as a "goodbye to Overbrook school" yesterday. I was stationed at the inflatables all day, Preston and Quincy had a great time sliding and bouncing in between the classes, and what a nice benefit of working - to get a huge slide and a bounce house all to yourself! They had a great time! The only trauma we had was when I had to unplug them for the end of the day - Quincy had a very sad few minutes, which were easily forgotten with the cotton candy that she got! It was a pretty good day overall, I think the kids enjoyed it!

It has been a very busy week here. Almost too busy really! We have hardly had a chance to catch our breath before we have to run right back to the next activity. Ball practices are going well, and suprisingly, we haven't missed too many due to rain. It seems like it clears out for long enough to squeeze them in. Mallory and Madison's track meet was cancelled due to the weather. I was unaware that Kansas has a monsoon season, but it would appear that we do!

Jim and I worked at a biscuit and gravy feed this morning for PRIDE. I think it was pretty successful, and we even had enough of a break that we got to eat a nice breakfast! It was also ballpark clean up day. So much for a Saturday! Jim and his friend Jay took the boys to the KSU spring game...a tradition that they look forward to. Personally, I think they especially enjoy this game of the year because of the vet school cook out - but we won't mention that to them!

Just for you, Grace

Superior Creature = Cow - see how cute? See how curious? See how warm and fuzzy?

Less superior creature - see how unwarm and friendly?

Just wanted to try once again to teach this very important lesson. And I couldn't let much more time go by with pig photos and no cow ones!