Another year older!!

Don't know how I managed to go to the lake and NOT get  pictures of the kids IN the lake!! I guess we were all having too much fun! Kelton, Katie and Konnor had a blast swimming, splashing, and making sandcastles!  I must admit, we had the best sandcastle around!! Everyone wanted to help us build it!! After spending time on the sand and in the water, we headed back to the trailer - we took our showers and then took it easy while Eric prepared  and grilled the best steaks EVER! I fixed potatoes and onions, and cole slaw, and we got to ALL enjoy the cake Theresa prepared for my birthday (even Katie and Konnor could enjoy it!) I got some wonderful organic spices and sugar to use for my apples - a perfect gift!

Papa and Konnor enjoying polishing up on their stacking skills, too!

Papa and Katie   building a tower!!

Katie is such a clown!! She told me that the camper is hers!! :) LOL

Konnor enjoyed walking halfway to the trailer in the background and telling the barking little dog - NO NO and shaking his little finger...... Couldn't help but laugh!

Hanging out!!

Working on his wheels......

I swear - really, Katie is eating string cheese, but it does look a little gross! Eric finally had a seat - he managed to escape my picture taking most of the time!

Today, Labor Day - I finally created a quilt block on the hayloft barndoor! I've been wanting to do this for sometime, but its been so blasted HOT! I actually had on jeans today while I painted this!! Now my knee is fired up!! Better hustle to the frig and find my icepack!! Thanks for all the Birthday wishes!! God has blessed us so much over the years, but nothing makes me happier than spending time with FAMILY! Each one of our grandkids are so special and unique in their own way!! and to know that God has created each and everyone of them to his own specifications -- its gotta make you smile!!



Finally, an Update!!

If I were to say that June was super busy, it would be an understatement!! We were absolutely thrilled to have Peggy come stay with us before we went to Fredonia to see Grandpa for Father's Day.  We all had a great time! We also got to keep Katie and Kelton for 3 days while poor little Konnor was having his surgery. They enjoyed their time here and we had lots of activities to do! Then we had a family reunion the following saturday. I didn't post any pictures but it was nice to see all the family. Jeaneane did a great job pulling it all together. Peggy came home with us and then Bruce flew to McCook, NE to catch the Amtrak. She finally made it to see her kids and grandkids - I'm sure she was worn out!!

 At Alabaster Caverns Entrance

 Bruce, Jo, Guy, and Peggy -----missing Pat

 Peggy and I had tons of fun shopping for "finds"......

 I posted this barn because I liked it! Matty and the mules use to live here so long ago....

 Katie and I finally got to make the cookie mix that she has been sleeping with. It was awesome! I was gonna send some

 home to Mom and Dad but we ate every last one of them...

 Kelton enjoyed riding Cheyenne. Katie and Kelton got to stay 3 nights and we

used every minute up from swimming to games to riding to working in the garden, etc.

 What a cute grin!

 Katie's waiting her turn to ride!

 It was sooooooooo hard to wait but she did.... Even played with LT.

 Proof that she was having a good time with the help of Papa!

 On the 4th of July, we celebrated by flying the L2. It was my first time to ride! Really neat with all the glass

around you so you can see for miles and miles.

 Bobby and James went also, so we did some formation flying. I took some really

good pictures but only posted a few of them.

James and his beautiful Taylorcraft!

Some beautiful red buttes we flew over down by Freedom - its like a miniature Sedona!!

Since I had my knee operated on wednesday, it's giving me a little time to work on pictures! Bruce will be leaving in a week and a half to fly his L2 to Oshkosh for the EAA Airventure. He'll be planning his trip first to Michigan to see a friend and then on to Oshkosh where I'll meet up with him! and best of all - he's done roofing for now!!  Yipppeeeee :-)

New Family Member Arrives

Yes, we have a new member to our family, although Cheyenne has been with my niece Angela forever - we are excited to bring her to the farm for all to enjoy. And so far, she has been an absolute blessing. K-Girl was so excited she couldn't speak!! Nothing like a girl and her horse :) Kgirl would hardly leave her side, and first thing in the morning would want to ride before she or Cheyenne had their breakfast! Looking forward to her being here for many years.

PALS ALREADY!


Our precious K-Kids!!

Fishing is always fun, and boy were they biting!

Another fun activity were gator rides.... usually K-Man was driving.

Kelton enjoyed his ride too!

Emmy loves when all the kids are here! Can't you tell by her grin! and mine.....

Katie needs to be reintroduced again since Blackie spooked and she took a tumble! She likes Chey too!

The K-Man and K-baby and the gator making their rounds!

K-sis making a fashion statement on her ride with Daddy by her side.

They still LOVE Frankie Donkey!!

Kentucky Derby!! The Run for the Roses!!

Kentucky. The Bluegrass State - beautiful people - but mostly beautiful race horses!! Thoroughbreds are amazing animals - I owned Joy Bar who was 1/2 thoroughbred... Quite a breed! This was a dream come true for this lady! I've wanted to go since I was knee high to a grasshopper - and finally - I can check that off of my bucket list. Bruce was busy with our business, so my super good friend of 40 years, volunteered to go along! We had so much fun at the track, the experience was amazing....

The Amigos
That is ArchArchArch out of the #1 gate. I bet on him to win, but he ended up with a fractured leg - he is suppose to recover just fine.

You can see ArchArchArch in the gate!!

A shot of all the starting gates prior to the race.....

This is one of the races on the turf track, talk about a thunder of hooves!! Gorgeous....

Derby Day and our hats.....of course!

a view from our seats in Section 128.

Off the turn...

I talked a spectator into taking our picture :) during the Kentucky Oaks - the filly race!

another view from our seats - hats everywhere

From the Paddock area. Notice the twin spires.

The Paddock area where they saddle the horses and the jockeys weigh in.

What a wonderful weekend and memorable time....

Flying High!!

Well, today was the day the Forward Lady became an airworthy aircraft again! After much trial and tribulation and redtape, we are both so proud to say - "SHE DID IT!!" What a beautiful day all around!!

Bruce is ready to go for his flight. He has been looking forward to this for sooooooooo long!

Buckled up and ready to fly! I'm proud of you honey!! :)

and she's off........

Really is gorgeous to look up at- the star is a beauty!!

She did it!!

I swear - she has a grin on her face!!

and the movie......... hope you all ENJOY!

Airborn!! Journey complete!

Well, it's official! I have witnessed the Forward Lady airborne and flying over the runway in Alva. It was a beautiful spring day as the L2 departed 17. She was anxious to climb, but her pilot, Bruce, decided he better wait for the appropriate paperwork before flying around the patch. Next time, it will happen! Everyone was so excited to see her, and what a beautiful sight it was. I tried to post the video clip but it was too big. Maybe I can edit it and then post. It's so exciting to see how it was all in thousands of pieces and now all is replaced or refinished or repaired and in operating order. This indeed has been quite a journey with many ups and downs..... Now I'm sure Bruce will begin looking for another "project"!

Bruce and the Forward Lady

On saturday, I drove over to spend the night with Little Bear and enjoyed playing with him. Sister and Brother were off on their own adventures, so we had our special time together. Papa came over later in the evening and joined in on the fun....

K-Bear always has a smile on his face :)

and he sure loves his Papa!

What a cute smile! Got some sort of bug by the next morning and then things went downhill! Temperature spiked, no appetite, but generally was still in a good mood. Just wanted to snuggle.... Hope he is better very soon!