Summer pics part 2

On our way home from our Manhattan day trip (see previous post)---we drove through Newton---

I was reading Facebook in the car and saw someone post about the Newton Fair/ Rodeo.

So, I had a great idea to stop in Newton for the Rodeo!!

Steve was less than thrilled about this...but it was his turn to go with the flow.

We went to the fairgrounds and ate before going to the Rodeo.

Growing up in Newton, I went to the Rodeo EVERY YEAR!  Aunt Barb and Uncle Jim usually took us!  It's just what we did.  So, I was excited to take my kids.  I told them we were going to the rodeo and they had NO IDEA what I was talking about.  My kids are "city kids"--rodeo, horses, farms, etc....is not normal to my kids!

BUT, THEY LOVED EVERY MINUTE OF THE RODEO!!!!

We will be going back next year FOR SURE!!!!

I took this picture of the boys' flip-flops because we were among the FEW who wore flip-flops to the dirty/dusty Rodeo.  But, we had not planned this part of the field trip!!

All the kids were called into the rodeo area (not sure what that's really called!!)

So--we lifted them over the fence. 

They were suppose to chase after calves with ribbons tied to them and try to pull off the ribbons.
Each ribbon won you $25!  WOW!!!

So, kids started running EVERYWHERE!!!

And, then we saw this....

Paige was not thrilled to be amongst all the kids running crazy.

Thank goodness Tyler picked her up and brought her to the fence where we were standing.

Once again----flip flops were not good to run around the dirt..... oh well.

After the Rodeo... it was time to go HOME....

but, not until we rode a few rides.

We were tired, we'd been gone all day, spent more money already than we had planned.

So---each kid got to ride 1 ride!

YEP!!  1 ride!  

But, they were good with it.  We told them it was already past their bed-time and

 it was 1 ride or no rides.  

And, they choose 1 ride!!!

The tilt-a-whirl for the boys...

The ponies for Paige

We may take another random day trip to Manhattan again,

but we will for sure being going to the RODEO again.

Actually, I'd like to go to the Rodeo one night and the Demolition Derby the next night.

Now my kids at least KNOW what a Rodeo is.  (or Radio...as they kept calling it!)

And, next year we'll wear tennis shoes!!!

Summer pics

A few random pictures from the end of summer!  Aug 2010

We needed to return a K-State cheerleader uniform for Paige, so Steve had the great idea to take a day trip to Manhattan!  (Steve will try any excuse to get to Manhattan, Wildcat territory!)

I, was a bit more reasonable...saying,

What will we do in Manhattan with the kids?  

We're going to drive 2 hours to return something, eat, and drive home????

I quickly just went along with him, so we went to Manhattan

The trip was not so great!

We had to find SOMETHING to do with the kids.

Steve suggested this pond/lake/waterfall/something....

We did pack swim-suits, thinking we may hit the Manhattan swimming pool---

but the kids were just too "high-strung", ok NAUGHTY, to do that!

If nothing else----

I got cute pictures of the kids on our day-trip to Manhattan!!

When we were done... we were WET!!! and a bit muddy!

We had to change clothes in the bag of the Suburban and then head home!

The kids did have fun exploring.  

We should have stayed longer.... but we were getting nervous on the wet rocks

and kids running around!

You've been BOOED!

The kids are out of school the rest of the week for PTC.

I was suppose to be in Michigan visiting Sydney, but that trip had to be cancelled because I got sick!  UGHH!!  But, it's a good thing we canceled the trip, because I have been coughing and I am sure I have LOTS of germs!  During the day I am good, but at night and first thing in the AM, I feel like...CRAP!!!

So---today we BOOED!! some neighbors (We won't say who...)

Here's how you BOO:

There was a ghost here bringing treats to you,

He flew to your house just to say Boo!

Who left this BOO Bag, who could it be?

You might find out, but not from me!

Pace this sign where all can see

So everyone will know a Boo! you received.

Enjoy the goodies as a treat from us,

But now it's your turn to Boo! someone else.

Fill each bag with some treats and fun.

Bring them to your friends and 

neighbors, know...then run!

Happy Halloween!!

Each kid got to pick one friend to Boo!  There were strict instructions, "if it's your friend, you get to carry the bag and ring the doorbell, we will take turns", blah, blah, blah.

Well, Paige decided she didn't want any part of the RUNNING!!!  She just yelled from the car, "hurry, hurry"

So---the boys delivered them all.  One boy would carry the poem/sign and the other would carry the bag of goodies.  Jaden would pretty much throw his down on the porch and RUN!!!!!

before Tyler even rang the doorbell.  

Then, Tyler would run back to the car and start yelling, "go, drive away,"

before he was even in the car.

It was quite entertaining!!

We have done this for several years in our neighborhood.

We don't know who started it this year.  We found our BOO!  Monday morning before school.  

We have an idea of who might have started it, but we do not know for sure!!!

Happy Halloween!!!!!

K-State Football

It's FOOTBALL season!   

Steve's sister and parents had extra football tickets a few weeks ago, so we got to go! 

Well, Paige stayed home (and was less than thrilled) but she had a super special day

with Grandma Roth!  Grandpa Roth rode with us to the game--that was fun!

I'm not sure why the boys have such serious faces!!

I think I might have told them NOT to smile---because I didn't want their "Cheesy" smiles!

This is Jaden yelling "AHHHHHH" to distract the other team!!

And, then the thunder rolled....

The skies got dark
and we had to take cover with 2 little boys.
We first headed to the concession stand, not thinking it was really going to be that bad.
We got hot dogs, pretzel, and drinks.
And, then it started raining HARD, so we hid out under the stadium, for a little over an hour.
Amazingly the boys did pretty well.


A few hours later we returned to the game and it ended with a WIN!!!

We cannot wait until we have season Football tickets!  
Maybe in a few years!!

Ballet

Paige has waited for the day she could take DANCE!!!

We finally got her signed up at the YMCA.

Saturday mornings, 10-10:45am

The first week, I was out of town at Premier meetings and Steve knew I was sad to miss taking her to her first ballet class.  

So--he so appreciatively emailed me a few pictures on my phone--

that made me smile!

She is so big.  I keep telling her to STOP GROWING, but she won't listen!

Week 2 -- mom took more pictures at class!

She really listens and pays close attention to her teacher, Ms. Elizabeth.

Sydney Update

I am so far behind on my blogging!  Our lives are CRAZY!!!  I was so far behind anyways and then Sydney got sick and I have not even thought about it.   So--I am going to attempt to do lots of posts this weekend!

Day 1 of being in Michigan with my niece Sydney and her family (my brother, Stacy, and Jeremy!)  Sydney and I laid on the couch a lot today and then went upstairs to take a nap in her bed.  Then, back down-stairs to the couch!  Aunt Stefanie is not a "sit on the couch" kind of girl!  But, if cuddling is what Sydney needs, then that is what she will get!!

Sydney is doing pretty good. She is not getting SICK from the chemo--she is just SUPER SUPER TIRED!  I just feel so bad for her, just laying around.  I wish I knew what was going through her mind all day.

She hates her medicine.  I think, well, I KNOW...I gave her this trait.  I used to HATE medicine.  My mom and dad had to literally SIT ON ME, to get medicine down me.  Not so good times.  So, I understand.

The Dr. said that Sydney is screaming and throwing fits about her medicine because that is the ONLY thing she can control.  Makes complete since!

We did have time to paint our nails today and Syd's toe-nails. So, that was something fun we got to do.

I love my Sydney girl so much.  But, it does make me miss my kids at home too.

So---love on your own kids extra today.   Keep praying for Sydney.  She is fighting this thing. She is doing so well.  We just want her to continue!!  The Dr. said this is the fastest they have seen someone fight off the cancer cells.  I believe it is because SO MANY people are lifting her up in prayer!

Day 2 in Michigan--Sydney was much more vibrant and alert today!  We played LOTS of games.  Well, LOTS of Skip-Bo Junior and Sorry Revenge!   They are super fun card games!  Jeremy asked if I would go to his soccer game today, so of course, I did!  That was fun.  He is an AWESOME soccer player and scored a goal for me!!

Football helmets

Jaden and Tyler have become OBSESSED with FOOTBALL, the past few months.  Football is all they want to play.  They come home from school, or from anywhere for that matter, and want to head right outside to play FOOTBALL.  TACKLE football.  They just throw each other down, it's either funny or scary, I can't decide.  Steve tries to get them to just play CATCH,

 but they don't like that.

They are always asking dad to come play football with them.  And, he usually is a good sport and plays with them.

Luckily Paige is the cheerleader, so I get to "help the cheerleader" and I don't have to play!!

So--one day, the boys decided they needed helmets for football....

and this is what they found.

Can you see it?

They are using UNDERWEAR as helmets!!
Now--that is creative!

Hilarious!!

I had to call the neighbor behind us---whom we share a backyard with-- and make her aware of this funniness that she may be seeing if she happened to look out her window. 

I shouldn't have called her---wouldn't that be funny to look out your window and see kids playing with UNDERWEAR on their heads!!  It was clean underwear!!

Hike...

Tyler for sure knows more about football than I do and Jaden is quickly catching up.

They are too funny!

We feel bad we didn't sign them up for football this year, but their LOVE for football really started after it was time to sign up.  And, we just needed a break after both boys playing baseball

 this summer.

But, basketball is getting ready to start!!  YEAH!!!!!!!

Hopefully we will soon replace football with basketball in the backyard.