Harry Potter VI

On Wednesday night we saw the latest Harry Potter movie. I have been waiting so long for this new movie to come out and now after seeing it, I can't wait for the next one (or two) to come out as well. I could seriously watch Harry Potter movies all day.

The movie was good and followed the book well, I thought. Because I have read all the books, it's hard for me to remember what specifically happened in EACH book, so as I sat waiting for the next event to happen I had to refresh my memory and think what book I read that in.

It was a long movie, filled with all the important details. A few scary scenes, but also a lot of laughs too. It ended as did the book with tears in my eyes.

A Day Away

July 14-15, 2009

On Tuesday afternoon I left for my "day away." I was going to my mom's house to help her get some things done around the house and garden, which is really the only thing I could think to give her for her birthday and Mother's Day this year. This really means for me a chance to take a break from the girls and do something I enjoy doing; working and helping people.

Tuesday night we watched Bailey's Coach Pitch softball team play for their chance at the championship tournament. They won their game! It was a quiet and cool evening in small town America. Later I helped mom switch out a bed in one of the spare bedrooms, right before a big storm blew in.

Wednesday the weather was cloudy and perfect for working in Colgin's garden. We had lots of weeds to pull, yard art to fix up and replace, and bushes and tress to trim back. It's amazing to see how much all the trees and shrubbery have grown over the past 8 years. To see pictures from the days we were just putting the garden together, you wouldn't even recognize the beautiful garden it has become today. I'm sure Colgin had his hand in that.

When I arrived home Chad had great "daddy" stories to share. It seems that his respect for me and what I do all day has increased immensely just with one night/day at home with both girls. He definitely had a rough go of it.

Storms blew in about midnight and both girls are now TERRIFIED of storms. So for 2 hours he was up calming them back to sleep. Then he noticed the cat had gotten sick in the hallway, I guess she doesn't like storms either. Then while cleaning that up he found a frog in the upstairs girls' bathroom! How that got there I have no idea. Then about 4am storms rolled in again and Campbell was up for another hour. Needless to say, no one got much sleep that night. As Wednesday morning woke up his store manager, Jason, called to tell him that the storms messed up the credit card machines and the computers at work. Plus Chad had to go in and pay taxes and get wine and information ready for a wine tasting that evening. He also had to take Cooper to tennis lessons and Campbell to swim lessons all at the same time. Thank goodness for friends. He had big ideas of going to Topeka to shop at Sam's Club, but quickly voided those and opted for an afternoon nap at home. If that wasn't enough he had errands to run and his car tire was low on air. When I arrived home that evening they were all happy to see me. Yeah!

The babysitter arrived and we were off to a wine tasting and then the Harry Potter movie. A busy day away was all worth it.

Odds & Ends

The picture file on my phone was full, so I finally downloaded those pictures. Here are a few of the highlights.



May 3, 2009 Campbell and her friend Claire. Too cute!


Campbell loves to swing! Cooper is pushing her, while Claire & Avery play too.


March 5, 2009 - I may have posted this one already. The girl loves to swing.


April 6, 2009 My little Chiquita Banana.


April 6, 2009 The girls eating dinner, of course being messy.


May 1, 2009 Shalee Lehning and I at the K-State Powercat Auction.


May 26, 2009 A rare moment where the girls are asleep in the car.


June 6, 2009 I love her pose with her hand, even though she is sound asleep.

The Diving Board

July 13-24th, 2009

Campbell is taking swim lessons and loves the water. I am so excited that finally one of our kids actually likes to swim. She was a little afraid the first day because there were a lot of kids and she wasn't quite sure what was going on. In the days following she has jumped right in and can touch in the 3 ft section and likes to play "Alligator, Alligator What Time Is It" with the rest of the group. Her swim coach is Sarah and she really likes her. Sarah even talked Campbell into jumping off the DIVING BOARD on the second day. It was great to see! She wanted to do it again.

Cooper at this age, when I tried (key word being tried) to get her to do swim lessons was TERRIFIED of the water and would not get in, of course until lessons were over.



Coach Sarah is in the water waiting. Mark (our neighbor), Cooper, Marcus, and Macie all wait by the side to watch. Campbell is on the diving board wondering what to do now. The water is 10 ft deep here!~


With the help of a little push from Mark, off she went right into Sarah's arms. She was so excited. It was great. I wish Chad could have seen it. Cooper of course said she was going to do it tomorrow. Well tomorrow hasn't quite come yet for Cooper, she's still too scared.

Visiting

July 10-12th, 2009

We headed up to Iowa to visit my dad & Marie for the weekend. Marie was going skydiving on Saturday morning for her 50th birthday and we wanted to watch and share in the moment. But after they waited for 3 hours, the weather just wasn't going to cooperate. It was a cloudy day and the plane could only get up to 3000 ft, which is where the static jumpers were jumping from. To tandem skydive (which is what she was doing) the plane needed to get to 10,000 ft. So it was postponed until next Saturday. Which we can't make it back up to see, so we'll just have to watch the DVD instead.

It wasn't a wasted trip though. Chad and my dad golfed and us girls just relaxed and enjoyed the hot tub. We also made sure to eat some yummy P.F. Chang's. It was so delish!

Herington Parade

July 9th, 2009

Herington, KS Parade

My mom invited the girls out to ride on her 4 Paws Pet Grooming float in the Herington parade. They of course were thrilled and excited because they would be "walking" the dogs in the parade. We decorated up the trailer, loaded up the four legged animals, and filled our buckets with candy to toss. It was a bright sunny day, but the people turned out in large crowds to see all the floats go by. It was a lot of fun waving to the people as we drove by. Too bad our float didn't win the contest though.



The girls were sitting in the shade as we did the decorating.
Cooper, Campbell, & Bailey.


Waiting in line to get the parade started. We had 3 dogs on the float with us. CoCo, Bella, and Timmy.


Papa Butch driving the golf cart that was pulling our float. He had Maddy riding with him. The crowd loved it.

Golf Camp

July 7-10, 2009

Cooper attended Junior Golf Camp last week. She had done this last year and really enjoys the sport. This year she did very well again and to our surprise and her delight, she needed and received new clubs. After the first day with the putter, the coach said she needed a longer club, obviously she has grown over the past year. So we went and purchased a putter. Well after day 2, the coach said she needed longer clubs too. So this time Chad took her to the golf store. She was able to get measured, try out a few new clubs and really choose the ones that are best for her and that she can still grow into. Good thing we have Campbell to pass down the little clubs to soon. Last Friday lessons were canceled due to rain, so they finished up today with parents taking them out on the course in a golf cart and playing 2-3 holes. It is great to see her enjoying a sport and she really likes the fact that she can play with Chad anytime.




Cooper and her new golf clubs. Pink is great!


These ones are a little heavier than the last set.


Cooper getting ready to hit.


She hits her hybrid club very well.


She does well as long as she concentrates.

Branson

July 2-6, 2009

Family Vacation - Branson, MO

We met my dad & stepmom, and my sister's family down in Branson for a our long overdue family vacation. We had planned this trip for last summer, but Kelly was pregnant with Ryland, so we waited until this year.

I am the official travel agent for the group, so I had the activities planned out. We rented a very nice 3 bedroom condo, which was just perfect for everything we needed and wanted to do. It was close to Silver Dollar City, there was a swimming pool, and it had a dock to get into the lake.

We arrived Thursday afternoon. We took in the sights, ate some dinner, and had some fun in the pool.

Friday we ventured out to Silver Dollar City. Everyone except for Marie, Ryland, and myself went on the first ride, The American Plunge, aka "the infamous log ride splashing into the water." We had to buy the picture that was taken on that ride, it was too funny. Campbell's hair was standing straight up and Cooper was completely in tears. So believe it or not, both girls went on more rides after that. Marie, Chad, and Pat took in a lot of the big "adrenaline" rides, while Kelly, Dad, myself and the kiddos waited for something more our speed. The park was nice with lots of shade, a few hills, but things were close together. There is definately something there for everyone. Shopping, eating, shows, rides, souvenirs, and of course salt water taffy. We spent the day (from 10am-6pm) at the park, which is a lot longer than I thought we would last. When we arrived back at the condo we were all ready for dinner and more pool time.

Saturday was July 4th and we headed in to see the sights of Branson. Branson is like Vegas with out all the money. There are shows, theaters, museums, go-carts, putt-putt golf, and of course TRAFFIC!!! When you go to Branson you have to ride the "Ducks." They are a vehicle that can go on land and in the water. So you ride around Branson seeing the sights and then splash down in to Table Rock Lake for a little boat ride. Our tour guide was fantastic and very humorous. The kids were even able to drive the "duck" in the water. Afterwards we went to a water slide park and rode the waves for 30 minutes. It was a cool day, but we all still had fun. We were all a little tired from the day before so we headed back to the Condo for lunch and naps. We enjoyed some pool time and a few of us (Chad, Pat, & Marie) spent some time in the lake. The boys bet Marie that she wouldn't jump in the lake, and then right before she jumped in the lake, they jumped in first. It was crazy funny! The kids did some snaps & poppers, but the real fireworks show was the one we saw over the lake. It was big, colorful, and really amazing what those things will do nowadays.

Sunday morning the guys headed off for a golf game and us girls and the kiddos went back into Branson to drive the go-carts. The afternoon we ate lunch and then rented a jet ski. While those who weren't on the jet ski were playing in the pool, the jet ski goers were out on the lake taking in the sights. That lake is huge! There were so many inlets and coves and we didn't even see much of it. Tons of space and lots to do. Afterwards, we surprised Kelly with a cookie/cake for her 30th birthday celebration and had a great steak dinner.

Monday we all headed back home. We stopped in Carthage, MO to see the Precious Moments Chapel, something I've been wanting to do for 9 years. It really was an amazing sight. We all made it home safe and sound and look forward to next year's trip, whereever it may be to.

It was great to enjoy family, play games, drink, chat, snack, relax, and make great memories. The kids enjoyed activities, movies, snacks, games, and of course all the freedom that vacation brings. It really was a great trip.

I need to get some photos from Silver Dollar City from my sister. I'll try to post those later.



Happy Independance Day! Campbell, Cooper, Ryland, & Bailey trying to pose for a picture.


Bailey and Cooper doing some snaps.


Campbell doing snaps, although most of hers didn't snap so we had to help her out.


Ryland enjoying the balloons for Kelly's party.


Kelly's cookie/cake to celebrate turning 30.


Surprise Kelly! Now make a wish.


The girls and I in front of the Precious Moments chapel.


There were so many great photos options. This is a fireman statue.


The girls at the entrance to the chapel.


Daddy and his girls enjoying the quiet garden.

Sublette

June 26-28, 2009

We always enjoy traveling to Sublette to visit the Watson's. It's our small town getaway where we can relax and enjoy some down time. On the top of Chad's to do list is to eat at Cattleman's Cafe, always a favorite. This weekend Taylor had a softball tournament, so we all attended to cheer her on. Her position is pitcher and she did a great job, even though the team lost by 1 run.


The weather was cool and windy, so the girls and I tried to stay warm under a blanket.


Campbell was making friends with everyone, including Kathi & Scott.


Chad trying to get Campbell a better view of the game.

Rainbow

June 24, 2009

The summer storms usually come at night, so it was a rare occurrence to see this rainbow after a storm shower. The girls were excited to see such a pretty sight.