Finally our vacation pics...the easy way.

So I have been frantically trying to get the boys vacay books done on shutterfly because I can get the books 25% off and free shipping and realized after I finished I realized I can post the link to view the books right here on the blog.  YEAH!!  Click and enjoy.  (FYI...this is Blake's book...Brett's book is identical except for the last page with the 5 highlights...Brett's highlights were 1. Windjammer cafe and eating all the jello and rice he could eat, 2. swimming with the stingrays, 3. holding the crocodile, 4. playing on the wipeout obstacle course in cozumel and 5. trying all the fancy desserts offered after supper every night.).

http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0ActnLNo2ZNmTto&cid=SFLYOCWIDGET

Soooooooo behind....quick catch up.

KSU was blessed with a new look this football season.  Even though we don't sit on this side of the stadium it does benefit us as it blocks the setting sun. 

The bronze statue of Coach Bill Snyder.  Great tribute to a great man and coach.

 Handprints by each of his family members.  This was his request as he has stated many times he wouldn't be able to do the job without their support.

 A couple of weeks ago I went and visited my roommate Jill and her 3 girls.  She was blessed with Raegan Grace on August 9th.  So I got to get my newborn fix for the afternoon.  

 Three of my favorite girls, Rachael, Rebecca, and Raegan.  I've given each of the girls nicknames mostly because I've always called Rachael Toots since she was little little and she asked me recently what I was going to call Rebecca so I've decided Rebecca is Tater and Raegan is Biscuit.  Jill definitely has her hands full and I wish I was closer to help out but in time it should get easier right??

So we've added to our household this week....we now have 3 kitties that will hopefully grow up to be great mouse hunters.  Tonight we had them out and within minutes one was up in the tree.  Funny thing was we looked and looked for him and finally saw him sitting up there watching us look for him.  I've never been a cat lover, but who can resist kittens.  This is Salvy (aka Salvador Perez)

 This is Hosmer and Salvy on the right.

 And DLough, he wasn't interested in climbing trees but thought the grasses were fun.

 Sassy is still trying to get use to them.  I think she would like to play with them, but hasn't quite figured out what to do with them yet.  They don't seem to mind her, even when she just barks and barks at them.

 Hosmer and Salvy enjoyed being in the tree so much they fell asleep.

Tomorrow will be another Saturday of football, only this time we're not going to Manhattan for the game...decided we needed to take a weekend off.  We're hoping for 3 wins tomorrow.

School Year 2013-14 has begun....

The boys had their first day of school August 15th.  They were both ready to go back and after a week plus they seem to be in the routine of it already and like their teachers...so far.  Blake is a 1st grader.  Brett is a 5th grader (last year at the grade school...next year he's moving onto Andover Middle School). 

 Not only did the boys start a new year but I went back to work after 7 years.  I am working part time at their grade school...Monday and Friday I'm a library aide and Tuesday and Thursday I'm in the front office as an Office Admin.  To be honest I am still adjusting to my new schedule and figuring out how to keep up at home and keep my sanity.  And to top it off we are in full swing of football season and have added Blake to the mix as he's playing flag football too.   Games start this weekend....Go JayCats (Blake's team) and Cyclones (Brett's team)...next week KSU starts...Go Cats!!

 Heading to the bus....this is Sassy's favorite part...I think she waits all summer for school to start just so she can make this walk.  She barks at the boys all morning until they head out the door.  

I hope to post pics from our Caribbean cruise which we took Aug. 4-11, however I need to go thru the 500 pics and select the highlights.  This added to our craziness for the start of school as we returned Sunday, I started work on Monday and the boys started football practice Tuesday and Wednesday and school on Thursday.  Lesson learned...never take vacay the week before school starts!!  Thank heavens for Grandma...my mom came down and stayed with boys while I started work...my brother, Scott, and nephew also came to hang out so the boys had one last hoo-rah before school.  Mom and Scott helped not only with the boys but with the yard work....so thankful for all their help!!  

Stayed tuned for Caribbean pics...Stephanie

Collin Klein Passing Academy

Brett attended the 1st Collin Klein Passing Academy today in Topeka.  (We were going to attend the one in Wichita, but the state baseball was still going on due to getting rained out on Sunday).  It was a great camp by a great Wildcat.  

 He took pics with all the kids and signed autographs before the camp started.  Brett and Blake had him sign their sports illustrated with him on the cover.

 Brett receiving a pass during one of the drills.

 Husband and wife team...Shalin runs the registration and pics for the website.

What I liked the most about this camp was not just learning about football but he stressed the importance of setting life goals, being a great teammate, and how to be a great leader.  It was also fun to watch him walk around the camp and get excited when the kids completed a pass/catch.  He never walked by a kid without saying something to them, even if they weren't in the camp.  Blake can attest to the as he was running around the track and Collin gave him some encouraging words to keep it up.

 The group at the Topeka Camp.

Best of Luck to Collin in the remaining camps around the state and his future football career.  We'll be cheering for you on Sundays.

2013 Summer Recap 2

The end of June we celebrated nephew Steel's 9th bday along with SIL Jenn's thirty something birthday at the Lakehouse.  

The boys always give us a show with their acrobatics off the dock.  This year they had a lot more air to work with as the lake is still very low :( (as you can see by the ladder, normally this has at least 2-3 steps in the water...the bottom rung is 6 in. out of the water...this was the end of June and I'm guessing it's probably worse by now) !!   

 Blake and his famous cannonball!!

July 4th we made a trip to KC to take in a Royals game.  We had great seats behind the 1st base/Royals dugout and enjoyed walking thru the Hall of Fame.  

3, 154 baseballs make up this #5 representing Brett's number of homeruns.  Plus the famous pine tar bat.

As you can tell we're big George Brett fans and love that he's back in the dugout these days.  Plus the Royals won against the Indians and included 2 home runs and a grand slam.  It was a great day to be at the K.

Mid Summer Recap 1

So by my lack of posting I'll use the excuse of a busy summer....here's a recap of what we've been doing.  In June the boys had a half birthday party since their birthdays are in November and schedules are so crazy with football and you can't swim in November (usually).  Brett had about 8 friends over and Blake had 2 (I know so not fair but I wasn't sure how many little ones I wanted in the pool with the big kids plus Blake is still making friends at his new school.)  They swam, they snacked, they swam, they played whiffle ball, basketball, they swam and we grilled dogs and invited the parents to stay and eat too.  It was a fun afternoon/evening and hopefully we can make it an annual event.

 Blake and his two buddies Cameron and Quincy.  

 Brett and his buddies...this was their game of choice for quite awhile...how long could the person at the bottom hold on before he fell in.

Heated game of whiffle ball.  Most of these boys have played football and or baseball together the last couple of years together.  Good group of boys.

 We also had my cousin Katie and her family down for a visit.  Normally we get together at the lake but they hadn't seen the new house yet and the lake was still cold so they came here to swim.  We also found a weekend in both of our crazy schedules to get together at the lake too...next weekend.  Can never have enough cousin time.

Katie and I....are 3 months apart and have always had a close relationship growing up.

 Blake attended VBS at Holy Cross.

 Brett attended Starbase at McConnell Air Force base with a couple of buddies.  

 Cousin Karlie and Emily came to visit catching one of Brett's games during a tournament and had some swim time.

Once again we had pretty wheat around the house this year....I love it....and really really miss it when it gets cut.

Our farmer cutting the wheat at the house.

Blake finished his baseball season with a special treat his coaches set up.  The Kansas Cannons (team made up of college players from all over trying to make it to the next step in their careers) played at the same complex and our little guys got to run on the field with the player that played the same position and had their name and number announced...just like the big leaguers.

 This is Blake and Devon at 2nd base.  Such a thrill for our little guys.

 Standing for the National Anthem.

Blake's first year of machine pitch was really fun and he did really well.  We had some great and patient coaches and hopefully we can stick with this team for awhile.  

Stay tuned for Summer Recap 2.

Stephanie

Summer is in full swing....

Brett's baseball team is doing pretty well this summer.  Its' amazing how all the boys have improved especially in hitting.  It's fun to watch that's for sure.  The team also played in a tournament last weekend and did pretty well for being the first one.  We're hoping to get in at least one more.  We love our time at the ball field.

 Blake is doing well for his first year of machine pitch...the majority of the time he's hitting off the machine rather than the tee so that's exciting for him and us.

 Blake up to bat.

 Blake at second getting ready to run...so serious.

 Blake playing 3rd base.

 Blake completed his 2 week session of swimming lessons right after school was out.  He's become quite the fish at our pool so far.  So nice to know both boys can swim and have a good time in the water.

One evening eating supper Marty looked out the back patio and saw this doe and buck nibbling on the trees. I stepped out to take their picture and they stopped and looked at me before they carried on down the tree line.

 A couple weeks ago, Uncle Trent, Aunt Kay and friend Shawn stayed with us as they had a wedding in Pratt.  The boys always love visits from family and this one was no different.  They swam well after dark, had races around the house and tossed the football around. Trent and Shawn enjoyed throwing Brett up in the air just as much as Brett did I think.  Blake partied like a rockstar as he stayed up to 2 a.m. hanging out with Uncle Trent, Shawn and Marty.  Crazy kid...guess he's starting early to get in shape for college life.  

 Before Trent, Shawn and Kay left for the weekend they were kind enough to hang a tire swing for the boys.  Now once we get the poison ivy killed around the cottonwood tree it should be a time.

The boys are busy with camps and I'm busy running the taxi service.  I think I'm actually looking forward to them not being in a camp for once as it would be nice just to be home for several hours at a time to get the mowing, laundry etc. done.  We also have a few more visits coming to our house along with trips to the lakehouse.  Before we know it summer will be over and school back in session.

Stephanie