Shane's Birthday

More memory moments at Shane and Cindy's...

the girls' outdoor kitchen

mudpies in the 'oven' (fridge/dehydrator)

hours of imaginative play

Littles laundry assistance

Pasco asparagus for lunch

Riley & Hank rounding up the chickens

fixing a minor issue

Friday, May 17 Shane turned 37! Cindy had several families over for a rib dinner to celebrate.

ribs, mashed potatoes, salad, bread, birthday cookie, & cherry dessert

the (adult) crowd:
Dave & Carla, Steve & Jana , Martin & Rachel, Harvey & Lorna

a big rack

Hank and Riley had slept in various places outside almost every night. This night they opted for the front patio. A little better than the 1st night when they got thoroughly mosquito bit out in the shed and had a cat snuggling with them!

sacked out

December Delights

Art class: Learning one point perspective.

Baking Days: birthday cake, french bread, gingerbread cookies.

Violin Concert.

Christmas goodies.

1st fur buyer meeting of the season.

Hunting, Baking, Playing Ball

The first days of December were busy for us.

Several evenings, before rifle season, Riley drove the golf cart down the end of the lane to the intersection where his hunting spot is set up in the trees. He is still waiting for the buck.

Riley & Annie's basketball teams held a jewelry/ bake sale fundraiser. Annie made 2 plates of cinnamon rolls for that.

Later in the week we attended a benefit supper for friends whose son has lymphoma. I made a chocolate chess pie & 2 cream pies for that. 

Then we wanted to try a new recipe: focaccia bread. So one evening for supper we devoured almost these 3 focaccias with toppings...Italian cheese, tomato garlic, and apple cinnamon.

South Central Kansas Thunder played their first home game vs. Reno County Sabers. Annie's team lost by 1 basket as it swished through when the final buzzer sounded. Riley's team won by a decent lead. (Maybe 15-20 points? I forget the final score!)

We had new friends over for Friday night supper and games. 

We tied a festive ribbon on our door wreath and got out the little nativity set that used to be my parents'. The girls played for hours with the small figures.

Saturday Annie mixed up cultured salsa with a bucketful of green tomatoes from our garden that had ripened in the garage. We harvested a total of 218 pounds of tomatoes this year!

That evening we ate delicious chili and cookies at our neighbors'. 

December started with bang of busyness! We like activities, but we like quiet times too.

Thank You God for life's variety of blessings!

November in a Nutshell: More School Pics, Homeschool Co-op Finale, Family visits

Riley and Annie had a basketball program ad deadline to motivate their pictures getting taken. Caroline and Cora were a little behind, though excited, nonetheless!

Caroline Mae. Grade 4

Cora Ellen. Grade K

The beginning of November our local homeschool group hosted a family night where the students were showcased for their 12 weeks of Friday school classes and whatever else they had learned in the year. Cora's music class sang a couple songs with hand motions.

Annie and Caroline split the recitation of James 1. Cora knew the first several verses quite well, but stage fright became reality as the microphone was given to her to start, so she gracefully eased off stage.

I taught art during one class period for the Jr. High students. This picture shows an easy last day watercolor project.

Mamaw and Papaw came to Kansas for 2 weeks! We enjoyed making more family memories:
Listening to a Russian Jew speak on Israel & prophesy,
Attending a Ladies Luncheon Tea to hear a missionary to Ireland,
Going out to eat & making homemade ice cream for Mamaw's birthday!

Plus we enjoyed what they brought:
Gifts for birthdays present & past,
My grandma's corner cupboard,
Painting skills, window cleaning, & sink scouring that were generously applied!

the "new" hutch (minus the doors) becoming my closet

Saturday morning tradition: Shannon's pancakes

3 generations of femininity

watercolor picture of the gourds from Mamaw

Other things we did in November:
We weighed garden veggies (from October too) = 163 pounds.
We had yummy stir fry with cousins/family.
Riley & Annie had many basketball practices.
Annie spent an afternoon making cards with some other gals.
Caroline practiced her violin at lessons.
I went to the last ladies' Bible study (Family of Jesus) until the new year.
The family went to a homeschool energize conference.
We roller skated at the rink.
We had Sunday dinner company & went away for another Sunday dinner.
The older children & I attended a 4-H meeting.
It snowed!!!
Caroline had her first eye exam and we ordered glasses.
Riley & Annie played in their first games of the season.
We packed shoeboxes & decorated cute notes for the recipients.
Our family served, escorted, & ate at the community Thanksgiving dinner.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Birthday Celebrations

Happy 9th Birthday to sweet Caroline!

She picked her whole day of menus, rather than just a supper meal. Her siblings weren't impressed with that..uh..favoritism, but they liked eating her food choices!

Dutch babies and fruit kabobs for breakfast.

Biscuits & gravy for lunch, and grilled chicken, butter beans, potato chips, and pumpkin griddle muffins for supper.

Caroline also picked this lamb cake I had cut from a magazine years ago.

When it was completed she named it Cuddles and didn't want to eat her!

Since her grandparents were here visiting from Ohio, she had an extra large gift pile to open, Plus a package came in the mail from the other grandma that very day to add to the heightened excitement! Let me tell you, there was extreme hyperness going on.

Arts & fashion -ooh la la- here comes fancy Nancy Caroline!

Then just a short week later, Grandma Rose celebrated her birthday in Kansas!

Mamaw & her western girls

Papaw treated her (and us) out to dinner.
Check out his fried chicken and Mom's delish salad!

And I just had to include a shot of Annie's Ultimate Sub Sandwich, wowie!

We treated her to some pictures, artwork, and homemade mocha almond ice cream.

Happy Birthday special ones!