Lunch in the Fields

Cole and I took lunch out to Marc in the fields today. 

Another faithful part of the family. 

Cole got to do one of his favorite things - a four wheeler ride with dad!  They even got to ride through some water at the edge of the field collected from all this rain. 

When they returned, Before he even got close enough for me to hear, Cole started telling me about the three "neigh neighs" he saw while he was out with Marc. He kept repeating it with his little hand trying its best to hold up three fingers. We talked about it the whole way home too. 

Another highlight: throwing rocks in the makeshift pond. Cole loves to do this with the small amount of water that pools at the end of our driveway, so this grand scale was even better. 

This was just the outing I needed. 

Cole spiked a fever Thursday afternoon and then threw up that night. Katie, Rachel, and Emily were scheduled to come visit bright and early Friday morning with Emily's new baby in tow. We ended up having to cancel/reschedule to avoid passing the sickness as well as giving us time to tend to Cole. I was super bummed and all I could think this morning was that I was supposed to be drinking coffee with some of my best friends, learning and talking about life, and lounging around or going for a leisurely walk. I was feeling so sad and sorry for myself. 

Nothing like a trip to the fields to perk you up - with all that fresh air and excellent company (even though I'm still sad)!

Our Holiday Weekend

From Georgann

Dave and I had a fun weekend that was a bit productive.  I watched Elsy on Friday.  We made a card table tent with blankets and watched the movie "Anastasia" in the tent.  Really fun!

It was Dave's year to attend JCCC's graduation which was Friday night of that weekend.  Dave is pictured here after the ceremony with Sara Duncan and her mom and dad, Mike and Pam Duncan. Their family went to First Pres with us before they moved away 18 or 20 years ago.  Dave was Sara's counselor at JCCC.

We asked Norma and Ladell if they were free to hang out on Saturday.  They said YES then invited us to Liberty for dinner.  They had been so busy...moving Cory out of his rental house back to their house on Friday, then moving Abby from one rental to the next on Saturday.  And they still had energy to fix a wonderful grilled pork chop meal with twice baked potatoes, salad and brownies with a game of Tripoly afterwards.  They are fun people!  Cory and Erica were there too. Bonus!

Sunday we planned to go to the Celebration at Union Station with Julie, Anthony & Elsy but the rain changed our plans.  We ended up taking Mr. Goodcents to Puryears and Abby and Josh joined us.  Afterwards Elsy entertained us.  Here she is feeding Josh the spaghetti she made him.

So the productive part of the weekend was getting flowers planted in flower boxes and two Knock-Out rose bushes planted in the front yard.  We also moved some furniture around. The dresser from our back bedroom to the front bedroom then the book case from front to back.  Also bought a storage cubical for the back bedroom.  That will help us keep our toys organized.  :-)

Dave has been training for BAK.  He has a new helmet and new bike gloves.  He is ready.  He leaves for western Kansas a week from Friday, June 5.  Dana, Shirley and Chelsea have organized a taco salad dinner for Dave's bunch of friends on Saturday night when they are in Lakin, KS.  That's where Chelsea and Michael live.

Monday afternoon on Memorial Day we went to see the movie "Where Hope Grows".  Lois and Chuck went with us.  It's a Christian, faith-based movie and was very good.  We enjoyed it.  Later that afternoon we watched Elsy.  Brad and Kathryn joined us for dinner at Chili's.  Elsy got to enjoy Uncle Brad reading her after-dinner-books.  I think Kathryn enjoyed it as much as Elsy!  :-)

Oh, one more thing.  Dave got new glasses!  Would you have noticed?  Brad did. Norma did.

Tomorrow, Thursday, May 28, Dave and I will have been married for 38 years!  We also are leaving for a trip to Chicago with our friends the Blachlys and Elders.  We're staying in Springfield, IL to visit Abe Lincoln on Thursday night.  We'll continue to Chicago on Friday.  We have tickets for the KC Royals vs. Cubs game on Saturday night at Wrigley Field.  We'll be home late on Sunday eve.

Colors

Cole and I were out playing with his new birthday chalk while wearing his new birthday Royals hat after taking an awesome, long 'no-pacifier' nap. 

He shocked me when he picked up the different colors I asked for and even named some himself (black). Cindy had mentioned that she thought he knew some of his colors while she was here, but I just figured he was having some lucky guesses. Who knew?!!

Our boy is growing up!

Cousins

Shandra and her family came to visit for Memorial Day. Cole loved being with the big boys and they were great with him. He would follow them around and imitate them. Luckily, they're pretty good kids.

We were leaving the house and I told Cole he could choose who he asked to put on his socks and shoes and jacket. He chose Owen and owen was happy to oblige. 

Mail Call

Cole got a letter from Grandma Ellis. He excitedly opened it on the way home from the post office all by himself. 

What is it?

"Pampa (grandpa)...bike"

Sure enough. Mom included a picture of Dad posed in front of his bike, training for BAK. 

Fun stuff!  Thanks, mom!

Shuckin' Corn

We had some corn on the cob while Cindy and Charlotte were here. Cole hopped right in to shuck the corn while C and C made a last minute trip to get peppers for supper (and then later more buns after I burned them!).

Fun Time in Sublette

We always have fun, Cole is making it more fun every year.

On Thursday we watched him while his parents were in a doctor's appointment.

He spent a lot of time organizing rocks and playing bravely on the equipment.

In the afternoon he was a great little helper in the garden.

Once he disappeared and when Dana followed him he went into the house through the dog door. He went to get his own work gloves! He found some ski gloves to help get the dirt to his mother.

Next year he will be digging the holes for plants.

We brought him some presents from many aunts, he was really good about looking at the cards first.

I have to admit I kept him entertained in the car for a long time.

While he was napping we sorted through A LOT of clothes he couldn't wear. Giving Dana some needed storage space.

Dana always makes great meals while we are there, we feel blessed to be retired and able to go visit.

Climber

In the past few weeks, I have seen Cole become a lot more confident in climbing up vertically on ladders and things at the parks. Seems so grown up. Here he was today...

Four Wheeler

We took dinner out to Marc in the fields and Cole got to go check with dada on the four wheeler. He couldn't get enough!

Track Meet

On Friday, Cole and I went to a track meet in sublette and met our friends, Kristy and Grayson, who were watching their nieces compete. It was Cole's first track meet and of course it was SUPER windy!

Cole had to have a crash course in where he could walk/run - not on the track or in the sand pit. It was kind of tricky. Glad for the seatbelt in the stroller!

Trip to the Strawberry Patch

From Georgann

Julie sent me this text on Sunday morning:  

I'm thinking of taking Elsy to pick strawberries tomorrow.  I know you are working but I'm inviting you for a couple hours in the morning :)

I decided to take her up on the offer and I'm glad I did!  We went to Gieringers Orchard outside of Edgerton, KS. It was a gorgeous, bright morning.  

Julie gave Elsy on-the-job training

 Elsy caught on right away!

Pick one, put it in the box.

Or EAT IT!

Then do it all over again.

Enjoying the berries afterwards