The week in review

We have had a fairly busy week for the end of July. Sunday thru Wednesday evenings we spent up at the church with VBS. Andrew had a blast with Ms. Doneen and Ms. Ally. His favorite part of VBS was playing sharks and minnos in rec. I can already hear the conversations now ... "Andrew what is was for favorite thing about school today?" "Recess mom!"

I was able to stay home with the kids Tuesday and Wednesday and we had a lot of fun. Tuesday was kind of rainy so we played inside and worked on cleaning the house a little bit. Wednesday we ran errands (birthday shopping) and had lunch with Shane. I was able to mow while the kids were "napping" (more like playing in their rooms, but I like to think that they were napping). Then they got up and helped me pick beans in the garden. It was a little muddy from the rain, but we got four rows done. I have already canned about 20 pint and a half jars and will have another canner full to do this weekend.

Now it's Friday, the kids are spending the night with G&G Renyer, the house is pretty clean, and I can't think of anything to do tonight. It's pretty sad when you get older and you realize that your life really does revolve around your kids. When they are gone I am actually a little bored :( I should probably get some scrapbooking done, but I might just lounge around the house with Shane instead!

Tomorrow the kids are getting their birthday pictures done. I just hope no one falls and gets a huge scratch or big bruise tonight ... cross your fingers!

to western Kansas and back

Last weekend we took a little road trip to western Kansas. It was reunion time for my mom's side of the family. In years past, and since my grandparents passed away, we had been going to either Estes Park or Winter Park for our reunions. This year the family decided to take the reunion old school by going back to where they were held when my grandparents were still with us. I have to say I love western Kansas. My grandparents lived about a mile east of the Colorado line and could see for miles around there house. Everyone knows everyone and helps out with everything. You have to drive about 30 miles to get to the nearest WalMart (which had been in Goodland only a few years). I just love everything about it what can I say. Anyway, back to the reunion. It was held at the fair grounds in Sharon Springs. I am a little disappointed that we couldn't stay for fair weekend, but that's how life goes. I didn't hear a final number of how many actually came, but I think we were expecting a little over 100. Most of the family still lives in the western part of the state so there was little drive time for them. We had about a 5 hour drive with two children that like to pick on each other. It definately wasn't as bad as it could've been, but it also could've been better.

It was Kacie's (my youngest niece) birthday on Saturday. I felt bad that we were driving on her birthday so I made arrangements in Hays to have a cake made at Dairy Queen. She was completely surprised! I kind of forgot an essential peice to making the surprise party go off without a hitch, but we were traveling so I should get a little break. Who says a knife to cut a frozen ice cream cake is essential anyway?! Thank goodness Shane had his knife on him, and that he cleaned it since the last time we went fishing a few days prior.

So Sunday was the potluck at the reunion and I wanted to do something special since we were back were we had been when my grandparents were around for the reunions. To do that I decided to make a cake with their picture on it. It was my first cake using the eatible pictures so I think it turned out pretty well considering we traveled across the state of Kansas with it and I was in a hotel room when decorating it. I had forgotten, but was reminded by my Aunt Carolyn, that Saturday was my grandpa's birthday so it made my cake even more special.

Now we are back in town and gearing up for vbs at church. Our theme is the Boomerang Express so I have been working on Australian Outback stuff to put in our room. So far we have made Ayers rock, aboriginal art, and boomerangs to put in our classroom. I sure hope the 2nd graders like what we've done!

July 4th ... a little late

We headed over to Aunt Tammy and Uncle Mike's for the 4th this year. Mike made delicious prime rib in the Green Egg for dinner! The kids started off doing poppers and parachutes while it was still light outside. Then came some of the nighttime fireworks. We had a blast as always at the Hampton's!

Brooklyn with the popper

Brooklyn & Andrew in thier chairs waiting for the fireworks to start

Andrew, Shane, & Brooklyn working hard at controlling the sparklers

What are we going to do mom?

"What are we going to do" is a phrase that mom's (and dad's) probably hear about 100 times a day. Last weekend we decided to do something and took the kids to KC to see Caden, Ryan and Amy. Andrew and Brooklyn got to see him for the first time and were a little unsure of the "new kid in town". After only a few minutes they warmed up to Caden and wanted to hold him. Both did very well at supporting his head and making sure he didn't cry.

Then we headed down to The Legends to eat at T-Rex and walk around for a little bit. The boys went to Cabella's and the girls went to Nebraska Furniture Mart. I was a little disappointed because I had complete confidence that NFM would have the perfect bed for Brooklyn, but I didn't have any luck finding what I have envisioned for her.

Sunday we headed over for pizza night a little early in order to go down to the pond for a little fishing. Shane was the only one who caught anything and his one fish is nothing to brag about. Back to the house for pizza, but the kids had to take a little ride with Grandpa Koci before they wanted to go in for supper.

Today we went and bought our fireworks. The kids couldn't wait any longer ... seriously everyday about every second Andrew has been talking about either wanting a horse or needing to stop for fireworks. The fireworks we can handle right now, so the horse thing will just have to wait a few more years. Do you think he'll forget about it now that he has fireworks? Wishful thinking on my part? Anyway, we shot off a couple parachutes when we got back. Here are a couple of pics the kids would let me get before running off to the next item of business for the evening.

Father's Day

Father's Day weekend was yet another busy weekend. We had my side of the family out Friday evening for some bbq chicken sandwiches and the fixins. Mom and dad took the kids home with them so Shane and I had all of Saturday to ourselves, and what did we do? Nothing, we did nothing; it rained so we couldn't mow, we had already cleaned the house, and the kids weren't around to entertain us so we decided to head off to Lawrence to walk Mass and see the new things to see. Of course it was nice until we got there and then it started to rain. We ran to Buffalo Bob's thinking it would maybe blow over while we ate lunch, but it didn't. After walking in the rain for maybe five minutes we decided to head back to T-town. That night we went to a reception for a couple of my friends that went to Mexico to get married (what I would do if I had to do it all over again!). After some good food and a little dancing we left to get the kids and get home. Jeff, Barb, and Jessie came out for lunch (a mexican fiest as Jessie called it) after church. We had fun visiting with them and showing them some of the things we had done since the last time they were out. Then we were off to the Hampton's for supper. Mike made some yummy chicken in the green egg and Tammy made my favorite tater casserole. The kids (of all ages) jumped in their pool for a quick swim before desert. Home around nine rounded out the weekend festivities ... ready for Monday and another week at work ... oh wait, just kidding!!!

As expected, June has been pretty busy so far. We started off the month with a family garage sale over at Grandma and Grandpa Koci's house. We did pretty good for being "out of town" and having mostly little items we were trying to get rid of. I think Grandpa came out ahead of the rest of us as he had quite a few tools (high dollars) that he sold. The kids had fun at the sale as well with their cookie stand. Strangely no one wanted to buy cookies if the kids weren't sitting right there at their table. I guess seeing two adorable kids makes some people hungry and seeing a grown woman doesn't! Coincidentally the garage sale fell on our anniversary. Shane and I have been married five years ... what a ride it has been!

Then June 9th our newest nephew was born, Caden Koci. Shane and I made a trip to KC to see Ryan, Amy and Caden last Wednesday. I wish I could say that it made me want to have another little one, but I think I am leaning more towards Shane's reasoning, we have the perfect pair a boy and girl. Plus I got to thinking about needing another room and right now we are pretty full. Anywho, Caden was a perfect little guy congrats Ryan and Amy!

The rest of the week we spent time in our semi neglected yard. The weeds had taken over in a few spots and the garden needed some tending to. While Shane and I worked hard in the garden the kids took advantage of the warm day and played in the sprinkler in the backyard. It was quite amuzing at times.

We also made time for a trip to the zoo on Saturday. I'm not sure if they were more excited about the animals at the zoo or getting to ride on the train, but they had fun at any rate!

May activities galore

We started off the month by throwing a baby shower for Ryan & Amy (hosted by Grandma Koci, Aunt Tammy, and myself). Several from the Shane and Koci sides of the family joined us for a brunch in honor of the soon-to-be newest addition to the Koci family, Caden. A simple game of baby camouflage entertained the guests as they arrived. Then we had lunch and played a game of guess what's in the bag. Ryan and Amy made out with a lot of fun things for little Caden!

On Mother's Day we had a fun time with family and helped Aunt Tammy celebrate her Birthday. I had picked up my own gift this year because I wanted some working boots and that seemed too difficult to explain to Shane which ones and what size and everything else that went along with it. The kids were with me when I got them and they "picked" them out for me!

A couple weeks later we helped Kody and Paige celebrate thier high school graduations. Kody, our nephew graduated from Mission Valley

High School. Paige, our cousin, graduated from Washburn Rural High School. Kody had a graduation party on Friday before graduation and Paige had hers on Saturday. Then graduation Sunday came and went, and now the two of them are "adults" and ready for what lies ahead.

Memorial Day weekend we had Jeremy & Meaghan with us from LA. We played quite a bit of pitch and packed as much into the weekend as we could. Saturday night we had the Brinkman side of the family out for a bbq. It had been a while since we had all been together. Then Sunday night we headed over to the pond for the annual campout with the Koci's. We caught a lot of fish, told a bunch of stories, and enjoyed the loveliness of a night at the pond! Memorial Day we had some old friends, the Giles, out for grilling and some shooting. Jeff, Barb and Jessie came out as well to do a little shooting, it was like old times with boys out in the yard with their guns. Then J&M left us to head back to LA on Tuesday.

Now we're in June and still trying to recover from May. I can't believe 2009 is half over and I still haven't gotten everything done that was on my wish list to have done in 2008. I guess the old saying time flies when you're having fun is true for this crew!