Catching Up for the Week

I don't know where the time goes, I haven't posted since last Wednesday!

We were so busy getting ready for Keith's parents to stay the weekend, and I just couldn't find time to sit and look through pictures, or even take many!

You may laugh and wonder why I am showing you a platter of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches!

They were so cute with the gummy bears intertwined, and a big hit with the kids, AND some of the adults!  

They were thick and gooey, and yes, I had one!

Here's Keith with his mom and dad, Trudy and Ralph Yoder. 

I didn't realize he and his mom were color-coordinated at our get-together... but the folks came 

down Friday night, and left Saturday after the party to go home to Ames. 

Our sweet little granddaughter, Brynn Allison, will have a little sister 

to play with in September. 

Papaw Yoder did some baby-dandling on his knee with Carson. 

And Big Brother Jace was everywhere at once!

There was lots of playing with balls and bubbles....

And driving around in the yard. 

By the time everyone was gone, Keith and I were worn out ... I hurried off to church... and 

was able to sleep in yesterday morning.  We spent a very quiet day resting... and then 

went to a T Bones game at 5:05. 

We saw this contraption parked in the handicapped parking.  What a GREAT idea... a 

wheelchair sidecar!

And there goes Team Mascot Sizzle, waving to everyone from the back of the Lakeside Speedway truck... while two race cars were exhibited.  The kids in black stepping out of the way were there to sing the National Anthem. 

Skies were balmy... but it was very hot and humid. 

By fourth inning, this had started to happen.... and Keith and I kept our eyes on it. 

We were still very tired... 

So at the top of the sixth, we decided to start for home.  We drove home through pounding rain. 

(The game was called in the seventh). 

And the evening ended up overcast and wet.  

We have clouds again today, but rain chances reduced from 80% to 40%, and so far, we have had no drops. 

Keith's daughters, Amber and Andrea, and sons-in-law, Jesse and Nick, have offered to 

come and help us on the 12th at the old house, to blow out as much as we can in one day's work 

on the property, to help get it ready for renting.  We are so grateful for this, because Keith's health is still dicey, and trying to do so much was going to be hard on us.  I am going to get Chris and Haleigh, and we will get as absolutely much done in one day as we can.  What a relief it will be to Keith and me to have the house ready for a rental agent to handle it, and not have the responsibility of going out there regularly to check on things. 

I know I'm remiss in reading some of your blogs, and I apologize for that.  

I'll try to get caught up this week. 

Party Day

Oh. My. Goodness. 

We had a great time, and as it happened, both families were not here concurrently.  Jim's family was held up because Jacob's game was at 1 instead of noon... and Keith had told his family to be here at noon, when I thought we were eating at 2.  I took the eggs down to the food kitchen/thrift store, and stood around visiting (and shopping, again) and then wandered home with my finds.  Imagine my surprise when stepdaughter Amber and baby grandson Jace pulled in ten minutes later!

I had already done the potato casserole, thank heavens, and we popped the ham in to warm up right away! 

Once Jace got here, Keith was useless.

Yes, he's a little doll.  He had a Mizzou outfit.

Here's the Star of the Party with Mom Amber, left, and Aunt Andrea, right.

There was a lot of visitin' goin' on...

Then, the first families all departed and Jim and Amy and the kids came... so there was a second round of eatin'

And present openin'

And then we had a couple of hours of quiet and rest...

I started out with a Christmas Sweatshirt, honest.

I know you're all beginning to think I spend all my time on the couch.

After our rest, we dressed up in our good duds and went to the Kansas City Ballet performance of the Nutcracker, at the new Kaufman Performing Arts Center.

Here are Keith and his parents in the lobby.

And here is the lobby we were in:

Yes, it's mighty spectacular, and there would have been pictures taken from that second-from-the-top tier, but the camera locked down.  I have a message "Memory Card Locked" which I have never seen before on any camera I have had.  I was able to take the pictures off it, but not erase them.  I have no idea what I have done, and tomorrow, when I am less exhausted, I'll read the manual and try to figure it out.  I did take the card out to show my mother in law, but only as I normally do. I was unable to take another picture, including any of the lobby from above. 

Though I have seen the Nutcracker literally hundreds of times, it still represents the Christmas season to me, and it was a wonderful end to a blessed family day.

It's 11:39, and Keith is already asleep, as I will be shortly!  Back to regular farm news tomorrow!

Happy Halloween!

We planned a small Halloween party here at Calamity Acres, but it turned out our grands had to be at another party during the evening, so they came early while still light.  Mom and Dad dressed up too, and we all had a good time taking pictures and visiting.  I had fixed barbecued meatballs, chips and dip, and some delicious gorp as well as decorated sugar cookies and tiny cupcakes.  While the scare factor was missing, the cute factor was in full swing. 

A motley crew indeed.

Dear daughter-in-law Amy and youngest grandson Jax.

Swashbuckling son Jim.

Jax and Paiton, our two littlest grands.

Beautiful sister Madison, Paiton and Lilly Ann.

Your intrepid blogger, as an apple with a worm in it.

Abby just wanted to sleep after all the excitement.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!