A wild couple days

Cameron and Lauren are here for the weekend.  I think they technically came for a wedding, however I don’t care what the reason is, I am happy to have a chance to see them!   

Madison cleaned out her closet and asked the girls if they wanted some stuff she intended to get rid of.   They were giving her a fit over giving away this shirt.  They though she should wear it when the baby is born!  I don’t know that she was amused with them.  

I was sitting at a ball game when I got this picture from Quincy.   She was asking if she should run over it.  Unfortunately, her texting took long enough that the big boy slithered off.  Now, I am not my mother’s child.  My mother will literally tell anyone that the only good snake is a dead snake.  I try to have a nicer attitude.  They literally eat all the things I hate.  Bug and mice patrol.   I refuse to kill a black snake, or a garter snake and I absolutely love the tiny baby ring necks that live around our house.  The venomous ones, well I sort of have a different attitude towards those.  I am sorry, but given the opportunity, yea I would have killed it.  I wasn’t entirely sure what type this was.  I put the picture on the herpetology Facebook page and asked.  I was met with several people telling me it was a timber rattler, that they are being traced and to please document it so they could count it in their surveys.   There were also many comments commending us on the “great find” as if we went looking for him?    I didn’t have the heart to say if things had been different there wouldn’t be a reason to catalog him.  He lives another day and has been counted as a sighting for our county at this point.  He better stay off the driveway from now on.  The good news is that there is also a speckled king snake that we see almost weekly.   Their favorite food is rattle snake.  (Go spotty Jo!).  

This week, there has been a giant invasion (or perhaps hatching) of these moths.  I was told they are Hackberry moths, although I did zero research so this may not be accurate.  All I know is that there are a lot of them.   A whole lot.  It was kind of cool for about 2 minutes.  These things are literally everywhere.  Inside my car, in the pool skimmer, in my laundry.  All over my humming bird feeder.  It is sort of annoying at this point!   

At work, we did some spraying utilizing drone technology.  This thing was incredible.  We sprayed Utilizing drone technology this week for the first time.  I did not know how it would work, so Evie and I ran up to watch.  I was very impressed.  They sprayed a very large dam using 1/3 of the normal amount of spray, and it literally took 8.37 minutes.  We may do this again, but we are waiting to see what kind of kill and what kind of bill we get from this time!  

Harper had a double header tonight against Auburn.  They lost both games but they played so much better!   I was very proud.  Harper had a really awesome hit down the 3rd base line.  She lacks confidence, but she is a good player.  I love watching her work so hard.  

Also today, we took Preston to enroll in classes at KSU.  We met his academic advisor.  We turned in paperwork with the admissions office and took care of a few other things.  I am so thankful that Cameron was home and willing to help.  It was a ton of information that he had and passed along.  It was a great day!   

Kinda sad

Tonight Preston (and his friend Dylon) attended his last 4-H meeting as a member.  I was remembering how excited he was to finally turn 7 so he could be an official member.  He had a pig and was so excited to show it!   He and I have talked a lot about 4-H over the years.  He doesn’t see that he has gained any real knowledge out of it.   I have a feeling he will look back someday and see he is wrong.  His excitement has definitely waned over the 11 years he has been a member.  I wish I could say that the 7 year old excitement was still alive and present, but it isn’t.  I do still strongly believe in this program however.  Learning where your food comes from, and some knowledge about agriculture- priceless.  Knowing how to run a meeting, how to cooperate with others, how to get along when you don’t agree, how to prepare a presentation, how to fake it til you make it, how to cook, and how to present your best products - all important lessons he has learned -even if he can’t see it right now.  He has also attended summer camps, had opportunities to go to community events and give back, been overly generously compensated by the community for livestock he sold, and traveled to Washington DC.   I truly believe, as he moves on through his life he will look back with a fondness that all 4-Hers seem to have.  July means a pool party and August brings his last fair.  

 He is a man who is now excited about other things.   Starting college, living on his own, making his own way in the world.  I am so very proud of him, and kinda sad at the same time.  

A very good weekend

Evie (and coach Andrew) had a T-ball game yesterday.  She has been so excited about it all week.  Telling me this year she would run to base and NOT walk because she is big now.  Also telling me she got a brand new shirt/hat to wear.  Girl was absolutely elated.  No way could we miss it!   She tried to hit the ball out of her dad’s hands instead of the T, but other than that she did a great job!  

After the game, she was the flower girl in my cousin Travis’ wedding. 

Brief things about Travis - he is my first cousin, and is the last of the 20 cousins on my dad’s side. He was born later than the rest of the cousins, actually coming after some of the great grandkids arrived.  He right was born right in between  Mallory and Madison and Colin. This essentially means that rather than hanging out with any of his cousins, he hung out with my kids, and nephews.  They have always been close.  I cannot even tell you how many times Travis took the brunt of blame for stupid decisions made by Colin and Cameron.   Example- let’s put our boat in the river at the public fishing area and then proceed to float down river about 10 miles.  Oh!! but we don’t have a motor on the boat, so now we are floating in Clinton Lake, and have no way to get home.  Let’s just say that Aunt Linda was SO NOT impressed.   Travis was older, it was his fault for not stopping them!   Travis took the blame.  Colin and Cameron were at fault.  He has always been there for my kids.  Cameron planned a surprise party for Colin’s birthday.  He got food, a cake, cleaned the house and pool, but forgot to invite people.  Travis showed up- never told anyone they were stupid.  Just ate dinner and thanked us for having him over.   I have a zillion stories about this kid, and I will be forever thankful for my kids having cousins to grow up with.  

Needless to say, Travis is also a glutton for punishment and asked Colin and Garrett to be groomsmen in his wedding.  They were happy to stand up with him, and only gave him a little grief!  

Ok back to the wedding.  Evelyn was given a beautiful dress to wear for the event.  When we tried it on her, we realized it was very long.  We didn’t have time to return it and get it back in time for the wedding.  My friend Grace is an amazing seamstress, however she had hand surgery a few days back, so she was out for helping.  My mom worked really hard.  She cut and pinned up, and got the dress shortened by at least 6 inches.  When we tried the dress on again, it was better, but still more than floor length.   We borrowed a hoop skirt.  That helped, but as she was walking, she would still sort of trip.  We talked to her about holding the dress up a little, but dang it- she’s just a little kid.  Her turn to enter - they had them walk down a flight of steps.  I was so nervous - knowing the dress was long.  First step she was fine.  Second step, she tripped!  I was so, so relieved that Abby’s brother had ahold of her and then chose to pick her up and carry her down the stairs!  Once on level ground, she was fine!   She did an absolutely amazing job!  We are so proud.  

The wedding was fun. I sincerely hope Travis and Abby have a happily ever after!   I was happy to get to hang out with so many of my cousins, aunts and uncles!  

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I also loved seeing Colin and Spencer for a while!   Oh, and baby Lawson (isn’t he cute?).  

I had an amazing time with my forever wedding date.  I sometimes can not believe it has been almost 30 years since our own wedding.  I’m so lucky that I married the best dude - my favorite!  

There is a song out right now - “Next Thing You Know” I believe it’s by Jordan Davis.  It’s catchy but if you really listen to the lyrics it sort of reminds me of our life.  It goes by so fast. I am having a hard time wrapping my mind around how fast we went from wedding to our kids being adults!  Or some of them anyway!  

We had Evelyn’s weekly request for lunch before Colin and Spencer had to head back to Wichita. We had a nice visit, complete with a little pool time.  I’m so very blessed, life is good.  

Harper’s turn

Me: Harper smile!

Harper: I am!  

Harper had her first game last night at Burlingame.  Harper has reached the age of double headers, so she has less nights at the ballpark, but long nights when she is there.  

Her team lost both games last night.   I feel like they made a lot of errors that you would make if you’re rusty.  Considering that almost all of their practices got rained out, cancelled for graduation, or shortened due to field scheduling issues, I’d say they will get better with more experience playing together.  The core of the team is the same as last year, but we have several new girls.  Learning coach expectations, and cohesiveness of players will come.  Junior high can also be a rough age, as sometimes listening skills seem to decline.  Overall though, I think this will be a fun team to watch!  

Harper played some right field, and had a good night at bat.   She likes playing, and had fun so that is the important part.   I’m happy we were able to get both games in, as there were storms bouncing all around us, but we lucked out and it stayed clear!  

What a week

Tuesday evening, we had a pretty large storm roll through.   Harper had ball practice that turned into a uniform hand out time, and we had quite a long drive home in the pouring down rain.  We got home in time for it to blow over and give us an amazing rainbow display!    It wasn’t over for long, as we had several more storms roll through over night, dropping anywhere between 4-6 inches of rain depending on who you asked.   

Wednesday morning I woke up to it still coming down, and realizing some parts of my district at work were in flood warnings.   I have a new maintenance person, so I went over with him what needed to be checked, and then went to take a shower.  Since my job is in flood control, we are always busy on these kinds of days.   I was just starting the water when Mallory called. Her floor drain was failing, and her basement was starting to flood.  We quickly made arrangements for Preston to run get a portable sump pump, and to call me when he got back and I’d come help,   That lead to us telling Evie that Aunt Mal installed an indoor swimming pool!  Preston, Mallory and I spent a couple of hours pumping, and sweeping water.  It was not good.  

These photos are weird, but Saige’s coach had sliding practice.  She used a slip and slide.  The girls had a lot of fun!   Jim took her so that I could have girl’s night with a couple of friends.  It was much needed after a crazy day!   

We also have 4 liters of baby rabbits.  So far, the moms seem to be taking care of them.  

I’m not attached….you’re attached.   Baby rabbits are not cute when they are born, but in 2-3 weeks, we should possess the cutest baby animal ever created!  The girls are hoping there will be at least a couple to show this summer.  More time is needed to see what we are working with.   Keep your fingers crossed for the girls little project.  J

Last night, Saige had a game at Lyndon.  Mallory turned in a claim to her insurance, and they agree there was damage.  Part of the insurance’s requirement to getting it fixed was to call in the restoration people to treat for mold and fungi.   Mallory discovered that she could save $1000 by agreeing to tear out the flooring and vanity herself.  I encouraged this highly, because it makes me mad when I have to pay for demo.  Jim stopped by before he left for the game, and saw that she was struggling. He told her to take a break and come watch the game with him, and then after the game, we would help her.   She agreed to this plan.  After the game, we all worked together to get the flooring and vanity out.  I was so proud of how hard the kids worked.  I thought it was a floating floor.  It was not.  It was held in place with some of the most vile glue I’ve ever seen.  It was a process, and a ton of work.  We finished about 12:30 this morning.   The good news Mallory saved $1000.   The bad need- she’s only up about $900 because she had to agree to taking all of us out for dinner in the near future!  Honesty, we don’t mind helping but that glue had us all so frustrated, I am pretty sure we all considered burning her house down for her.  ;)

It was also sort of sad, this was pretty flooring and it was a shame that it got ruined.  I hate tearing out stuff that looks good.   It was wet underneath a lot of it, so I am sure it was the right choice though!   When I was at work this morning, Saige texted to  ask if it was normal that her hands were really sore.  I told her to consider herself lucky it was only her hands, as my entire body hurts today!   

We have made it to Friday, however the weekend is not looking very much like a relaxing one!  Lots going on!  Weekend is never bad though!  

I’ll leave you with a little friend we found on the deck.  I believe it is a blue tailed skink, although his tail was broken off, so it was sort of hard to tell.  Evelyn loves him though!   I do enjoy watching how they can run headfirst down the back side of the deck!  Agile little fellow!   I hope he sticks around.  We could use a few more friends right?   

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