Christmas 2010

Bruce and I LOVE Christmas! It's a time when our family can all get together, spend time visiting, eating, playing, and wearing each other out! It's not about the gifts for us - but seeing the kids have fun and enjoying family. Keeping Christ first in Christmas is always my goal..... but oftentimes it seems we have to rush to get everything done.

Christmas involved all the kids opening presents in a wild frenzy - the amount of trash that came out of that extravaganza could fill the landfill! Just a few of the pics I got are below, but I did get movies too!

Mommy watching Buggy model her apron!

Abby before her cast! Did I mention these aren't in any order!! Oh well.... I try....

I really do enjoy making things for all... I hope they enjoy and use their gifts!! These got broke in when we baked some cookies for Blake and Shannon - our neighbors.

Papa taking the kids for a plane ride....

Our Baby Konnor - he had a great time on Christmas....

All the K-Kids but Kon - he was snoozing! :)

Wii partners!

The girls sporting their new aprons!!

We all had a great time - well I know I did - and judging from these grins - the K-Kids did too! Wishing you all a Happy New Year in 2011!! May all your dreams come true!

God's Blessings!

I couldn't resist taking some more pictures outside since we still have beautiful fall weather. I know our days are numbered before we realize the cold northerners and snow and ice. I haven't gotten a picture of our calf crop but I'll try to do that real soon before they all grow up!! With all the beautiful trees it isn't hard to see God's creating masterpieces everyday..... Who could possibly doubt it after looking outside and to the heavens!! We are blessed indeed.. Let us give Thanks everyday!!

We still have mums, but I think their days are numbered!!


This shot was taken on Locust Street in Alva at one of our jobsites. Aren't the tree gorgeous??

The same street, only a different direction taken with my Blackberry...

The triticale is growing - I don't know how - we sooooo need a rain.

The leaves are still falling - such a beautiful FALL!!

A shot from the deck!

And Emmy was begging to have her picture taken!! What a mug......

Only two weeks under Thanksgiving and then a short month until Christmas!! The year is speeding by - let us all enjoy each other, our families, friends, and our home sweet home! Blessings to you all!

Exploring Exploration Place

On friday, the 29th of October, Bruce and I headed to Mulvane to visist 3 of our Papon grandkids. On saturday, we got to take Katie and Kelton to explore Exploration Place in Wichita while little Konnor was getting his pictures taken with mom and dad. We couldn't have asked for a more beautiful fall day. So the day begins.......

Konnor after his trip to Wichita. Isn't he changing??

Arriving at Exploration Place the kids had more fun watching the ducks.


This photo was later when we were all starving so we had a little snack break.

Kelton was cutting wheat in this picture. He didn't want to leave the combine!!

Pilot Kelton giving a try at the Wright flyer.

and of course, Katie had to give it a try too. This is very, very, hard!

I think the 172 flight simulator was the most intriguing to Kelton. We were amazed at how well he did!

I swear, Katie tried to touch this bullnose snake in its cage! Ickky...

They both loved milking the cow named Molly.

Kelton was very brave and touched a python snake - so did Nana- but not Katie and Papa.

This exhibit is when you first walked in. An assortment of balls making their way up and down and around! Was amazing.....

So after about 3 hours at Exploration Place, we headed to Taco Bell for our lunch and then home just before Mom, Dad, and Konnor arrived. Everyone had a fun filled day and when we arrived home, found 3 brand new baby calves....... We hope to go back to Exploration Place again very soon.

Some Autumn Activities~

I haven't taken much for pictures lately - although the fall trees here have been gorgeous!! Maybe I'll venture outside and take some tomorrow if the wind doesn't blow them all to the next county.... Bruce said it is suppose to be super windy! :( We have officially started calving season last sunday. Fuzzy was the first to have her calf. Noticed a cow was missing in the morning on Thursday so I saddled up Blackie to find her! She was way out north with no baby but she wasn't thrilled to see Blackie, me or Emmy. We left and later that evening, we had another new baby. I don't have any pictures to show because neither Mama lets us get very close. Very protective Mamas. Isn't it amazing how God has equipped all of the mothers on this planet to protect their young? I'll see if I can get close enough to get a picture later this week.



I found this picture on my camera that I hadn't erased and thought it was really cool! When Carrie and I were gone to a quilting meeting, Bruce created this house (Fort) for the kids! It even had a carpet inside! Pretty creative!! Papa even hauled it to the shed for all the grandkids to enjoy when they are here.

Notice the entrance to the Fort with a chimney and window!

Here it is - the triticayle! sp

Another picture so you can see how straight the rows are drilled. Good job of planting K-Man and Papa! Notice Blackie in the coral.....

This is Blackie out in the pasture with his good buddy Frankie Donkey! It's the first time that Blackie's been turned out for over 3 months! He sure enjoyed grazing on some sweet grass!! Isn't he pretty????

I hope all my beautiful Grandkids have a wonderful and spooky Halloween - I'm sure they will all be so excited to get dressed up and bring in a ton of candy on sunday! I still have wonderful memories of our boys doing that - it seems like it was only yesterday! Happy Halloween!!

A Bountiful Harvest!!

After Nascar weekend with the grandsons and our boys, Carrie and the kids got to stay in Kansas while Shawn returned home to work. Spending time at the farm included harvesting the indian corn, pumpkins, and sweet potatoes. We all had a lot of fun gathering everything (except for the scratchy vines) and the gator came in real handy to haul everything to the house. Besides normal chores of feeding Blackie and riding him, we found time to go to an old schoolhouse and Cherokee Strip Museum in Alva for some school time. We did some phonics, math, ABC's, and learned history of the schoolhouse and what was expected of the students and teacher. Very Interesting!! Glad I didn't teach back then...... The museum was interesting and had some quite fascinating collections but the kids liked the outside farm equipment the best.

Doing schoolwork at the old desks with slates and chalk.
Mom giving her students a helping hand!

Papa even got to take a few minutes off to learn about the old school. DeeDee had fun too.

Back on the farm, K-Man is using the gator to go pick pumpkins.

DeeDee had a ball outside falling her siblings....

My crop of cowgirls are increasing - K-Sis loves to ride as well as older sis and little peewee sis.

Blackie was really good with them all and looked forward to the feeding crew every morning.

K-Girl would love nothing more than to ride all day and by herself!! Hard to find a pony, but we're looking....

Blackie had to endure a little dressage - some pink vet wrap to help spruce him up. K-Man wasn't thrilled with all the pink when he rode - wonder why???

This is the first year we tried sweet potatoes in the garden. The one K-Man is holding is as big as a football - I think it weighed 9 lbs. We have to cure them for 6-8 weeks so they sweeten as they ripen. Kinda weird but we'll wait! Should be ready for Thanksgiving. :)

Papa and K-Man after washing all the sweet potatoes.

A shot of the kids on the gator after picking the pumpkins and indian corn. Was pretty hot out!

Quite a Bounty! God is good!

Yes, we are hot and ready for a treat after our work in the garden.

Makes me itchy to see us standing amongst the vines.

Great times!! Papa and I are looking forward to a little rest after roofing season. We're taking off to go somewhere! and we can't wait!!

Below is DeeDee driving her horse. We weren't paying attention to her but she ended up finding Bruce's exercise band and she got the desk chair and put behind the horse. Anyway - the display was quite entertaining - Enjoy :-)

Nascar Weekend - WOW!

Nascar was great this weekend, but it was all about the boys!! They are truly such great and devoted fans AND they were very supportive for each other's drivers. The newbies were Shawn, K-man and me! and we were indeed in for a treat! Everyone warned me how loud it would be but until you experience it - you don't really understand!! The seven of us, all Papon boys and Tom and me, met up at the hotel right across from the Royals Stadium. We all got there about the same time. As soon as Shawn and K-Man got there from MN and got their stuff inside, the Fireworks started. It was something else..... A great way to start off our fantastic weekend - with a big BOOM!

We left early after our breakfast at the hotel and parked without any snafu. Eric was our driver and he did great navigating through all that insane traffic. The boys went to the fan walk and Tom and I were the pack mules carrying all our snacks, drinks, coats, etc. Got to see some of the cars qualify as well! The entire trip, the boys played so well together - was great seeing them play football in the parking lot, nascar in the motel, and laughing at breakfast.. They will truly miss each other.

K-Man and Moose discussing the cars.

Moose - the Nascar guru...

K-Man - the Nascar statistician....

in front of the M&M truck...

and in front of Jeff Gordon's truck.

Eric, Bruce, Shawn, and Tom looking on the action!!

Shawn and K-Man at the #24....

Eric and Moose enjoying time together and cheering on Kyle Busch.

The Start! vroom...... (an understatement)

Intros of the drivers and the cars!

I am such a newbie at this sport, I constantly was asking questions to whoever I was setting next to. Sorry Eric, Shawn, Bruce, Tom, K-Man, and Moose. Was a great weekend with mostly beautiful weather - if only the wind wouldn't have blown.