Sad Face :(

Grandpa and Grandma just left for the second week of their trip north. We'll miss them! We had a great time with travels, shopping, and lots of baseball. We can't wait to do it again next year!

"Oops I Did It Again"

We matched again yesterday. I just got up and she's in the shower so I haven't seen her yet. I wonder if we'll match again. And yep, that's rain on the window. It was one of those late-afternoon, batten down the hatches, kind of looks like a tornado (all storms look like tornados to us now), gone in 45 minutes kind. And it was nice weather for the baseball game later last night! Plus, we won!

Regal in Purple

Without planning it, my mom and I both dressed in purple yesterday! Great minds think alike! We went to the baseball game (where it was "wear yellow" night--we didn't), and the king's mom met us for the game. Guess what color she was wearing? PURPLE! I guess it was really "wear purple" night. Wish I'd gotten a photo of the three of us.

The King's New Job

The king's job has been in jeopardy for a couple of years now. The economy and advances in medical technology will someday make what he does obsolete. So he peruses the Want Ads from time to time in search of the next great job opportunity. This week he may have found his true calling.

I proudly tell people I come from a long line of oil field trash. My great-grandfather drilled his first oil well in our state when he was a young man. He added a few more over the years. His son, my grandfather, added to the number over the years. It is not the big money-maker one might think, but it kept my grandparents comfortable and now does the same for my parents. My brother is now learning the ropes of the bookkeeping/management end of the business though none of us work in the "oil patch" anymore--that's hired out. And not much new drilling is happening in this part of the state now because much easier drilling and much more oil can be found in another part of the state--where the king's mom happens to own land that is now being leased out to oil companies.

But this week my parents are here and the king and my step-father headed up to "the lease" to check on the wells, pump houses, and assorted stuff that goes along with this very complex operation. The king had a great time learning about the workings of what he's been hearing about for years. And it was then that his destiny became clear.

Off in the distance, this is what he spotted:

A "beautiful" backhoe.

He knew what he had to do.

He climbed inside and began to dig.
This is the life!

Close up so we all know it was really him.

After they finished--well, they didn't really finished because the backhoe died and now needs some TLC--they headed back into town for dinner.

But first they had to make a stop at the local John Deere store.

Here's what the king is asking for for Christmas:

Ummm...How much is that going to cost Honey?

They're Off!

We took the kids over to the Hot Springs today...they'll be there until Friday. They'll have a great time, and we'll have a great time without them. We did get to spend some quality time in a tire shop on the way when the "low tire pressure" light came on 1/2 way there. Turns out I ran over a bolt somewhere along the journey! But it's all good...did I mention they are gone until Friday????

YIPPEE!

Grandma and Grandpa are here!

Fiesta Dancing

Each year the princess' dance studio performs at the South Park Fiesta. Lots of games, great food, entertainment, and a classic car competition. It's always held the last week of July, and it's always about 1000* (yes, 1000*) outside!

Last year they danced on the road and she ruined a pair of ballet slippers with the tar and gunk. Plus it was just darn hot! But like I said, it's a great venue so off we headed yesterday. And this time they weren't performing on the street but on a sidewalk instead.

I had nixed the idea of her wearing her cool purple outfit that she does her solo in because I didn't know where they'd be performing and I didn't want her rolling around in it on the tar. It's too cute! But the dance director lent her another outfit so it was all good.

And hot...about 97* when she was dancing at 3:00! Yikes! You can see by the photos how red her cheeks are. And you will see also what troopers they all are. They performed their hearts out, smiled, danced, and then RAN off the "stage" to the cooler grass!

I was at the side of the "stage" so got some good shots that I wouldn't normally get from this angle.

She knew how hot the pavement would be so wore her jazz shoes for this dance. She usually wears "paws" which just cover the ball of her foot. I vote that they all wear jazz shoes next year!

SWEET!

After her solo, it was time for the group dance...but only after she had to try to get her tights on her already sweaty body inside a sweltering hunter's tent!

Okay...off to a good start.

No Jazz shoes. Only Paws.

Look at the princess and Val. You can see it on their faces--especially Val's.

Holy Mother of Jupiter, Mars, and Venus...this pavement is HOT!

Okay, we'll get through this, but we'll take this moment with our backs turned away from the audience to look miserable.

Nice splits on the hot pavement.

Nice lift, and Taylor is thrilled to be away from the pavement for a moment!

Plus she's really glad they aren't dropping her because this is not the way this lift is supposed to go!

Another nice lift. And almost done.

And finally the "Please, God, let it be done now" pose!

They did a great job, really!

I'm very proud of them all.

On the way home we were talking about how tough you have to sometimes be to be a dancer.

"It's not for sissies," I said.

"Yeah, if it were any easier, they'd call it football," the princess replied.

Good one!

Iris Wrapup

For the past 4 summers the prince has worked at a local Iris garden. It's not his favorite thing to do...dig irises, clean irises, mark irises, sort irises, and package irises, but when it's over and the owner hands him an envelope full of cash he always decides to do it again the next summer. This summer the princess was able to start her Iris career as well. She too finds the work tedious but the money awesome. And she has to save for her 8th grade trip to Washington D.C. (the reason the prince started working there 4 years ago), so this summer's work gained her about 1/4 of what she will need for her trip! Thanks Irises!

No Defog Button

The prince went with his friend, Tucker, to the baseball game the other night. It began to rain (flooded downtown actually) so they ran to Tucker's truck for safety. As they were sitting there the windows fogged up. Tucker turned on the defrost button, but all that did was fog the windows up more. So they searched and searched for the "defog" button. Alas, Tucker's old truck doesn't have one. I was a gigglin' fool as he told me this story. I then informed him of the workings of the defrost button. "Oh, I'd better call Tucker and tell him he does have a defog button."

Now that you've had your laugh for the day...and yes, they are both blond.

Woolworth Menu 1950's

The most expensive thing on the menu: Egg salad sandwich $.60, but it is a "three decker". Wouldn't we call that a "triple decker" today?

Super Jumbo Banana Split is $.39. That's a bargain!

And you could get a king size cola-cola for $.10.

Ahhhh, the good ol' days.

Go Fly A Kite!

A few nights ago we were sitting outside, enjoying a relatively cool evening. The princess noticed a bit of wind and decided to fly her kite. Not just any kite, but the best kind of kite: the $1.00 at Walmart kind of kite!


Lift off. Apparently it works best if you have one hand on your hip to maintain some semblance of "cool" while flying.



Sorry for the angle. I was trying to get her AND the kite in while looking into the sun. Not working out so well on my end.

"Hey! Hey guys! Can I play too?

There was only one incident of the kite landing in our tree. At least it was our tree and not one of the neighbors' trees! The problem is that a couple of years ago that would have been no big deal, when the tree was skinny and 5 feet high. But now it's much fuller and probably hitting the 7 or 8 foot mark. So there was a little surgery that had to be done to remove the kite from the tree, and we think the tree will recover! These photos were taken after that little problem so, as you can see, it didn't affect the kite in the least.

Visiting the Cousins

The prince headed out on a road trip last weekend with Grandma. They went to visit the cousins and celebrate Grandma's birthday...again!

What?

The king got a new cell phone.

As he was playing with it tonight he said, "I have the coolest phone."

I said, "Rub it in."

He said, "I left the charger at work."

WHAT?

"No, I said 'Rub it in, not plug it in!!!'"

You're going to WHAT?

Loyal blog followers may remember a post back in December 2008 where the prince decided he would like to join the Girl's Dance Team during 8th grade. No? Well the link is attached.

December 2008

Dance Team Link

http://laggeland.blogspot.com/2008/12/i-think-ill-join-dance-team.html

That dream died...as it should have, but this spring it was reinvented in the form of being the mascot for his high school. I believe this is much more up his alley, and we were behind him 100% in this endeavor. Attached it the link to that fine memory.

Mascot Link

http://laggeland.blogspot.com/2010/05/real-reason-he-wanted-to-be-mascot.html

May 2010

Last week he, along with the cheerleaders at his school, met for two days with the Kansas State cheerleaders for a camp. Kansas brought 3 male cheer guys (called Stunt Men, thus making a cheer squad now a stunt team), and these three guys looked around at all the girls and one lone prince and saw where their challenge was. By the end of day 1 of cheer camp they had him convinced that he needed to be a stunt man--in addition to his mascot duties--and he agreed. I had visions of college scholarships in my eyes. All three of those guys had full-ride for cheer. But the prince's visions were more in line with the fact that in some of the lifts they taught him, he gets to rest his hand on a cheerleader BUTT for a few seconds! Holy Moly!

This is not without it's risks though. As the cheerleader was jumping down after one such lift, she accidently kicked him in the crotch! (I'm sure it was an accident!) One of the stunt men, coaching them, said, "Great job. You got her down safely before you winced!"

So now he's a Stunt Man...and a mascot...and will run track...and is on the honor roll...and will get his license in December...

Is it asking too much if I will continue to dream of the full-ride scholarship?

July 2010

He doesn't really like this top...and who can blame him...but ah, the perks that go along with it!

Soaring!

We bought these photos from one of the dance competitions the princess did last spring. I love how they show how far off the floor she comes with her leaps and jumps! She's amazing!

This is the second photo but rotated. When I was scanning them, this was the way it was in the scanner. I thought it looked cool so threw it in here too!

Oh Mighty Hunters

When Shelley was here a fly got in the house--or maybe it was a moth. Anyway, with our high ceilings, it went up on the peak to hide when the fly swatter came out. But the prince had a plan. See the Nerf gun in his left hand. He would shoot at it, and then when it flew away from the Nerf bullet, the king would swat at it. It took them a couple of minutes, but you can see by the look on the prince's face that they were successful! Gotta thank Shelley for having the presence of mind to get the camera out and capture it!

Happy Birthday Grandma!

Check out Grandma's fingers. She was trying to convince us she is 8!

We love you!

Alaskan Glaciers

I've saved the best for last. These photos are stunning.

Do you see the horse in this photo?

Thanks Jeanette, for letting me share.

Alaskan Wildlife

These are all her actual photos...no postcards or anything. Pretty impressive!

Alaskan Scenery

Last month our friend, J--the world traveler, was in Alaska. She agreed to let me share some of her amazing photos, so over the next couple of days, we get to live through her!

Do you hear it?

That's right...there is silence in my house. And no, the kids aren't still sleeping. They are at their JOB...digging, washing, labeling, and packaging iris bulbs. My mornings are FREE this week and maybe next week too. What to do? I know, bask in the quiet. Life is good!

Awwwwwwwwwwwwww

Could she be any cuter? That's the princess...back in 2002, it looks like. She's on Grandma's school bus. When they were little, it was a special treat to go with Grandma on "Take Your Child to Work" day. Looks like she's having a little lunch--either ham, turkey, or peanut butter with NO JELLY! And check out her boots--Winnie the Pooh. She wore them winter, spring, and fall (we got her into sandals in the summer) because they were easy on/off and she was going to DO IT HERSELF! Thanks Grandma for sending this one to us. And isn't the internet great?