Happy 6th birthday Harper!

My Harper Joy is 6 years old today.  She was an extremely excited little girl today.  She took a day about herself with maximum enthusiasm. 

All she has wanted for months now is a Frozen Ice Castle.  She was pretty thrilled!  

I also got a kick out of her giggles when we sang to her this evening.  

Harper is smart, sweet, serious, shy, extremely honest....sometimes to a fault and somewhat moody.  She is an amazing little sister and a wonderful big sister.  We love her so much!

Happy birthday sweet girl! 

Harper (and Cameron) had a birthday party

Just a few wrastlin' photos

Thanks to Mike Beckman for the awesome photos of Colin from yesterday's tournament.  His photos are what I always wish I could take!  I fail.  I am happy that he is willing to photograph all the kids!  Wrestling slowed down is amazing. And looks painful!  

A stellar Saturday

Seems like most Saturday's this time of the year find Jim and I having to split out and cover the activities.  Since Jim hadn't had an opportunity to watch Colin wrestle, he went to Garnett while I covered the 4-H community service morning. 

I am very impressed with the kids who worked this morning.  We cleaned up the senior citizen apartment complex in Overbrook.  The kids bagged up a ton of leaves, swept off sidewalks, picked up sticks, and ate donuts.  Donuts, it turns out, are a great motivator for the 6-10 year old crowd!  

Several of the residents came out to thank the kids for their work.  The kids were getting a kick out of telling them they were "making the best better".  I admit, kids crack me up.  On the way home, our kids said they wished they could do more service because it feels good to do things for people.  I was pretty pleased with that conversation.  After all, it doesn't cost a cent to help people.  

Jim did a pretty good job of keeping me updated on how Colin was doing.  He ended up placing 4th for the day. Overall, I would call this day a huge success!

Kid stuff

Colin had a double dual last night against Holton and Jeff West.  He was a team captian for the night. It was a good night of wrestling.  Colin lost his first match against Holton, but came back in his second match and dominated.  

He's petty fond of the cradle.  He won by pin.  Mike Beckman was there....thus the good photos!  SFT won both rounds of the dual in team points.  

Tonight Cameron had a basketball game against Labette County.  I have no idea why they schedule non-league games against teams from so far away, but at least it was a home game!  Cameron started at guard on the JV team.  He played great.  He had several rebounds, a few steals, and sunk a nice 3 pointer. 

It was fun to watch them play, but they lost pretty soundly.  

Quincy's class went to see the Topeka Performing Arts production of The Nutcracker. Quincy was really not excited about this trip.  She thought a field trip ought to be more exciting.  It did not help that Preston did not enjoy this trip last year.  The tall woman in the middle is their PE teacher.  She has danced every year for 16 years.  Quincy didn't think that made it any more exciting!  She did enjoy going out for pizza afterward. I have no idea who took this picture or why she looks so upset.  It was on the school website. It made me giggle. 

Updates on things

Harper is really loving school.   I am impressed with her teacher.  She is sweet and fun.  I love that Harper loves going to school.  

Preston has been working hard practicing for band.  He was 10th out of 20 trumpets in the 5th grade band and he wanted to move up.   He knew he would have to practice. He had his playing test yesterday and he tied for first chair. I am very proud of him.   

In other news, I mentioned back in October that my eye doctor had found a spot on my eye during a routine eye exam. Yesterday, I saw an eye specialist. She told me that she believes it is ocular melanoma.  Basically skin cancer on my iris. The good news is that I have a very good eye doctor and it is a very small spot.  The bad news....well it is cancer. There has never been anyone in the history of the world with a happy cancer diagnosis.  Old school thinking was that you removed the eye to keep it from spreading to the brain.  I  was told that there are more progressive treatments than that now.  I will be seeing a specialist at KU Medical center later in December.  In the meantime, I vow to find joy in my days. It is something I am trying to always do in life.  Tomorrow has never been promised anyway.  If you are the praying type, our family could use a few right now.  I will try to update as I know more.  

Happy sweet 16 Cameron!

Today is Cameron's 16th birthday.  Cameron is an interesting boy....we never quite know what kind of outfit he will come up with.  He is a Mecca of weird t-shirts, bow ties, strange  80's wear and who knows what else he has in his dresser!   Today it was a polo shirt and a bow tie.  I don't even ask anymore.  We also never quite know what he will say! 

Cameron always asks for French dip sandwiches for his birthday.  He wants au  jus with it.  He said this years version was better than last year. I take that as success!  

Cameron is smart, sweet, outgoing, busy, and hilarious.  He has a quick witted sense of humor that sometimes leaves you insulted but you don't realize it until later.  I truly enjoy having him in our family.  

Happy birthday Cameron!  We love you!