Cheyenne's 4th Birthday

Cheyenne had a great 4th birthday. We had several family members over to celebrate. She wanted a Cinderella cake and that's what she got!

Opening presents. Aunt Cheryl made her a Hannah Montana blanket!


She got several movies, one of them being Alvin and the Chipmunks. She also got the Squeakquel.

Cheyenne hanging out with Papa & Uncle Matt.

I can't believe my baby is 4 years old. These 4 years have gone by fast. We hope to enjoy the next few years cause I know they will go by fast too. We're so proud of Cheyenne. She's become a fine little girl, and a daddy's girl at that! We love you Cheyenne! Happy Birthday!

Easter

I know it's been a few weeks since Easter but I'm playing catch up on posts remember? Easter weekend was a little different this year. Not only was it Easter, Cheyenne also turned 4 on Friday. My brother was able to come home on Saturday but not Sunday and my sister couldn't get off work so she didn't even make it home. Scott was working days as well. And of course the holidays are still difficult without my grandparents there. Saturday morning I took the girls to Bushton for the Easter Egg Hunt. They got to get eggs and candy and play with their friends. Then we headed out to mom and dad's for an early Easter dinner. While mom finished lunch, the girls and I played outside. We had a delicious Easter dinner but it was a little different not having everyone there. Afer we finished eating and doing dishes, the girls and I headed home to get ready for Cheyenne's birthday party that evening.

Cheyenne, Cheryl and Rilan before the Easter Egg Hunt.

Cheyenne gathering her eggs and candy. The girls were in different age groups so I had Cheryl go with a friend.

Playing outside at Mema and Papa's.

Cheyenne and Uncle Matt hanging out on the couch after they got their bellies full with lunch.

Back and Proud

I've really been wanting to start posting on here again but haven't had the time. I took the laptop to bed last night and sat there paying bills and hoping to get something posted when Cheyenne came in. She wanted to lay with me. Then a few minutes later here comes Cheryl. She wanted in bed too. It was Scott's first night back on nights so I didn't mind the company. While I finished paying bills the girls were playing and laughing. It was after 10:00 and I figured they wouldn't go to sleep until I turned the light off. I put the laptop away, turned out the light and laid in bed with them. It wasn't long and they were asleep. And so was I!

I just got a text from the girls' babysitter with a picture that I thought I could take a few minutes out of working to post and hopefully get me back into it!

They have been and we have been working with Cheyenne on writing her name. She has kind of a long one to write so we got the Chey down first. The only problem was that she wrote it from right to left instead of left to right. She wrote it backwords on our steps with chalk this weekend. Today she wrote it right on the white board at daycare! The N's need a little work but we're getting there! I'm so proud of her!

Now hopefully these posts won't be few and far between. I have lots of pictures to post and things to talk about!

Home

Well, we have finally moved into our new home. It isn't completely finished yet but it's close. It's just little things that we need to finish. At least we don't have to pay for 2 places to live now. We are enjoying our new home and it's nice to see all the hard work we've (or I should say Scott) put into it. We have lots of things left to unpack and find homes for or get rid of. Scott prefers the latter. That's my plans for the weekend! It'll be even nicer once we are completely settled. I do have before and after pictures that I will post later. Just wanted to give you a quick update. Hopefully after this weekend I'll get back to blogging on a regular basis. I know, I've said that before but it should work this time!

KRPA Conference

Since Tuesday, I have been in Topeka at the Kansas Recreation and Park Association conference. The Lyons Rec staff asked if I wanted to ride up with them so I did! We've had a good time. I've attended a few good sessions and a few rather boring, didn't really pertain to me sessions but overall it's been good. The Trade Show will start shortly so I'll head down there to check out the vendors, get some freebies and eat some supper. Tomorrow we'll attend a couple sessions, eat lunch and head home.

You always have good sessions and bad sessions but the major benefit from these conferences is networking. Just by talking to people in sessions, between sessions or at lunch or socials you learn alot about what other recreation commissions do. I always come back with new ideas to try!

This year they had a photographer that went around to different sessions and events taking pictures and then posted them on the website. I was captured in a few of them I thought I'd share with you. It's nice to have pictures and not have to carry around your camera!

Tim, Junior, me, Brice and Ben deciding what session to attend.

I decided on 5, 6, 7, 8 Rhythmic Games, Icebreakers and Dances

Doing the Cupid Shuffle!

Same session playing a partner icebreaker game where you walked in circles and when the music stopped you had to find your partner and do what the instructor said. Left ear to left hip!

These are only pictures from Tuesday. Today's aren't online yet. I will share them with you when they are available.

Happy Birthday Cheryl!

Today my baby is 2 years old! I can't believe my baby is no longer a baby! These 2 years have gone by too fast. Cheryl loves to talk and sing. We just love listening to her! She loves playing, teasing and fighting with Cheyenne. I know they will get along great someday! They just have their moments right now. We are thankful for the 2 wonderful girls that God has blessed us with. We look forward to the next 16 years we have both of them at home! Time goes by so fast. We have to cherish every moment. Happy Birthday Cheryl! We all love you!

Ringing in 2010!

Happy New Year! May God bless everyone in 2010!

The girls and I stayed home tonight. We played games and ate ice cream and popcorn. We also watched Ice Age. Scott unfortunately had to work. I enjoyed my time with the girls. They even stayed up until 10:30! That was without Chey taking a nap yesterday too! I figured she'd crash early and I'd have a hard time staying up this late by myself. The 3 of us had a lot of fun! I got caught up on laundry too! It was a wonderful way to end 2009. We look forward to what 2010 has instore for us!

BRRRR!!!

Since it's been a month since I've posted, I wanted you to know I'm still here, froze to death but still here. When I got in my car this morning at 8:20 am it said -7! That's of course without the windchill! It is cold here! Enjoying the snow but it is miserable if you're out in it very long. My poor husband had to be out in it all night last night at work. He's glad he has 4 days off to thaw!

We're very busy with work and working on the house. I have good intentions of posting in the evenings but when the girls go to bed I am ready to hit the sack too. Sometimes I'm ready before they are! I'll be back regularly soon!

SNAKE!!

The girls and I ran to Ellsworth today to go to the grocery store and wash the car. When we got back I noticed a piece of siding sticking out under the bathroom window and when I went to look at it I saw this SNAKE! He was huge! Scott was sleeping and I didn't want to wake him up. I called my mom and she said I should kill it. I wanted to but wasn't sure how. I got a spade out of the garage and attempted to hit it on the head. He pulled back and was up against the house. I waited a little bit to see if he'd move. I tried to poke him a little and he started to slither away. When he got away from the house a little ways I attempted to drop a cinderblock on him. He pulled back right before it landed. As he started slithering away again I just started hitting him as many times as I could with the spade. He started going in the leaves under the bush and I scooped him up and moved him back and hit him some more. He was still moving his tail so I hit him several more times. I put him on the cement and hit him again. I don't like snakes and wanted to make sure he was dead. I don't want snakes around my yard with the girls playing there. I don't know my snakes but a couple people said it was a bull snake. I know he wouldn't hurt anything but I still don't like them and he had to go!

Pee Wee Soccer

Chey has been playing soccer at the HRC for the last 6 weeks. She wasn't really sure what to do the first several weeks but got bettter. The first couple games she wouldn't even stay on the court the entire games. She didn't usually kick the ball because she said "the boys do it". Scott and I have been there, my mom and grandma came and all she usually did was run after the other kids. Brittany came to her last game yesterday and she kicked it like 4 or 5 times! Hopefully she'll do better next year. It was fun to watch her and the other kids (3-5 year olds) play soccer.

Cheryl cheering on Chey. She wanted to go play too!

A lot of times when the ball came to Chey she would back away from it!


Cheyenne following the other kids

She's at least running!

One of the "breaks" she took. Cheering on her teammates.

Ready to shake hands with the other team.

Here is a video of Chey kicking the ball during her last game. They are behind the goal (there are no boundary lines. You can't keep 3-5 year olds in the lines!) but she kicked it twice! She was pretty excited!

Cheyenne's team

Happy Halloween

Chey was an elephant and Cheryl was a monkey this year for Halloween. We had a Haunted Hall at the HRC and I had to work so Scott took the girls out for the night. They went with some friends to Lyons and to Chase. They each came home with a bag full of goodies!

One Year

Yesterday was my one year anniversary with the Hoisington Recreation Commission. I've been through a lot in this first year. Made several changes and learned a lot. I'm still learning every day. I feel like I've done a pretty good job with all the activities. We'll see what the board members say on Monday when we have our board meeting. I have been pretty excited about some bus trips that I planned. I planned one to the Chiefs vs. Broncos in December and filled the bus! We're also going to Castle Rock, CO to go shopping next weekend. I've planned some changes for the summer baseball and softball programs for this upcoming season so we'll see how that goes. Overall, it's been a pretty good year. We'll see what the next year brings!

behind

I'm a little behind in getting these posted. I actually have been working on them since the day after Homecoming. I have been having problems getting pictures downloaded and posted on our new laptop. Hopefully I get it figured out soon so it doesn't take me so long to post!

Staci's a QH Homecoming Candidate

QH Homecoming 2009

Queen candidates riding in the car to the other side of the football field

Queen & King Candidates Staci Clark & Jordan Dahlke

King Brenton & Queen Kieran

2009 Candidates

Staci wasn't queen but we are still very proud of her!

Homecoming Parade

Yesterday was QH Homecoming. My baby sister was a candidate. For the festivities, they had a parade through Bushton. I took off work a little early and picked up the girls to see Staci and the QH classes travel down main street.

The girls got quite a bit of candy! I said we don't need to get any when we go trick-or-treating but I doubt that happens.

The theme was Kream the Kats (they were playing the Chase Kats). This is the senior float.

The Senior Banner

The King Homecoming candidates.

The Queen candidates.

The candidates "posing"!

Sisters

Mom & Staci

Staci and the girls

Bubble Bath

The girls like to blow bubbles in the bath tub. Cheryl blew bubbles in the bubbles!

Wedding and Friends

Saturday was Brice Soeken's wedding and I was excited because my friend Staci was coming up from Texas for it. Brice is the son of my former boss at the Lyons Rec Commission. Staci and I had plans to ride together but those plans were changed due to some sick kids at the family's house she was supposed to stay at. She decided to stay in Wichita instead. Saturday morning the girls and I got ready and headed to Burrton about 11 to watch Staci and QH play some volleyball. I was disappointed to find out that they played at 2 and I had to leave at 2:30 to get to Wichita in time for the wedding at 4:00. Chey wasn't feeling too well and hadn't wanted to eat much. I wasn't sure how she would do at the wedding. We watched a few points, QH was ahead when I left by the way, and then headed out. We made it to the church and found Staci and the boys. The girls weren't quite sure what to think. I'm not sure if they really remembered each other or not. It has been over a year and a half since they've seen each other. Staci and I stood in the lobby waiting to go into the church until the last minute. Making little ones sit any longer than they have to didn't seem like a very good idea. Then we noticed the cry room and decided to just start out in there! The kids could run around and we didn't have to worry about them being quite. Us and the guy with the baby younger than ours made full use of the cry room!

After the wedding we headed to the reception. We got to visit with several people from Lyons we hadn't seen for awhile. We had quite a time trying to entertain the kids while waiting for the bride and groom to arrive. Staci had to try to keep Barrett away from the table decorations. She turned her head for just a second and Barrett grabbed her water and poured it down the front of him! Cheyenne just wanted to sit on my lap. This is very unusual for her at a wedding because all she usually wants to do is dance. She danced for a few minutes but that was it. By the time the dance really started she was asleep on a chair.

Brody got out on the dance floor as soon as he could!

We stayed long enough to see the bride and groom dance and Cheryl to eat some cake and then walked out with Staci as they were heading to their hotel too. I put the girls in the car and visited with Staci for a few minutes. That was about the only time we got to talk without interruption. When I got back in the car, both girls were asleep. I knew it would be a long, quiet ride home.

The beautiful bride and groom in their first dance!

Junior and Marc, proud parents of the groom.

Cheryl enjoying her cake!

Junior, Staci and I

The groom, Brice, and Staci and I

Barrett on the dance floor

It was so good to see Staci, Brody and Barrett. That was the first time I'd seen Barrett. Cheryl liked playing with him. I wish Cheyenne would have felt better so she could play with Brody. Hopefully she didn't get them sick. It was good to see all the other former employees of the LRC too!

Computer & Internet

We finally bought a laptop and have internet at home! That was mine and Scott's anniversary present to each other! Look for more posts to come soon! I should be able to post more often too!

Weekend Wedding

Labor Day weekend Scott's friend Levi got married in Goodland. We made the trip up there when I got off work on Friday. We stayed with Papa Fritz so the girls were super excited! They love Papa Fritz and Archy, the dog, and Sunny, the cat! Saturday morning we just hung out and then headed to the wedding. It was a very nice wedding. We went to the reception and all the girls wanted to do was dance. We got a few bites of food down them and then finally let them go dance. They had a blast dancing with all the other kids!

Cheryl showing us who's boss!

Daddy with his girls!

Mommy and Cheryl!

Scott & Levi

The beautiful bride and groom!