Just Catching Up

 For those who have been asking me what in the world we are doing, well, here it is!  This is our existing kitchen, half bath, coat closet, and door going out into the garage.

 

 And this, my friend, is what we are hoping to accomplish:  an extended dining area, a mud room for coats, shoes, etc., and a half bath that will have a shower added.

 The first task was to empty the garage.  And yes, there were some things that had been placed from Dad's garage in Houstonia that were still waiting to be gone through.

 Emptying everything on the rafters was a dirty, dusty adventure.  What a mess!  There were things that we had never seen before.....like.....

 this head on this pedestal.  It was abit freaky when this head came tumbling down from the rafters!  All we can figure is that it was either used for a wig or was a hat stand.  It was pretty startling at the time, but we had a good laugh.

 Richard removed all the siding from the wall and we are ready to begin!

 That white box hanging in the air....oh, dear.....that is the router that gives us internet out in the shop office.  Can't let anything happen to that!

 The lumber was delivered, so I guess we really are going to do this project.

 Beginning the framing project.  The ladder is where the dining room table and china cabinet will eventually be.

 This gives us an idea of how it will be turning the 2-car garage into a one-car garage.  Haven't had any surprises yet.  Looks just like how the plans were drawn.

 We have hired some of the work done, but Richard is doing a lot, too, as you can imagine.

 Beginning to get to the point of knocking out the existing dining room wall.  That will be a big day!

Yep....we keep the plans scotch taped to the door.  It's like our new art work!

Lots of This and That!

The end of August, we made a trip to Indiana to deliver a car, but it was great to work in visit with Stephen and Freya.  A little work needed to be done on their van and it's been a long, long time since a tree was used to do some pulling.

 

Freya was ready to document the entire process and Lena and Emmy cautiously watched.

 

As did Max and Henry.  It tickles me the way Henry was holding his hands to keep out of trouble!

 

And wouldn't you know work on the van was done at lunch time, so that called for a trip to eat out at Dairy Queen.

 

It was sunny!

 

Sunday morning after our lunch.

 

One more picture with Grandma and Grandpa, then we were off to the airport for our leisure trip back home.  Oops.  Forgot to document that experience with pictures.  We missed our flight; I got on the next flight; Richard missed the next two flights; he arrived in KC at 11:45; we came upon a road closed for bridge construction;  arrived home at 1:45 AM.  Yep....could have driven home faster.

 

The baby quilt that I finally got done for Camden.

 

Brian's newest babies.  Yesseree....genuine Texas Longhorn cows.

 

Feeding time.

 

Gotta  protect those horns.  That's was makes them valuable.

 

Jordy is looking kind of sleepy.

 

Camden just starting to smile.

 

It's next to impossible for me to get a picture of Westin.  He's always on the go.

 

This is the story behind this picture.  Richard was headed out of town and called me on his cell phone to take a picture.  These 5 highway workers were all sitting on the bank watching the backhoe at work in the ditch.  Forty minutes later they were still sitting on the bank watching the backhoe operator!  It was a hard afternoon for them.

 

I did the Bible lesson for our Sparks when we had "Ice Cream Night!"  This ice cream sundae is about 4 feet tall and the colored toppings and green spoon are removable.  I did a "Wordless Book" lesson using the sundae.  We had 152 Sparks that night!

 

Lisa made this little bench for me from the Smiley baby crib.  I haven't made the cushion yet to put in it.  It's pretty neat.  It's strong enough for the little ones to sit on to put their shoes on.

 

Tyler spent the day with me while his mommy went on a field trip with Kayla.

 

A couple of weekends ago John & Donna, Marilyn & Barry, Jim  & Susanne and Richard & I all met in Houstonia to attend the high school reunion.  It was a very good time together!  Can't wait for the next time.

 

Marilyn, Susanne, and Bev

 

 

John was so anxious to show off the key of the rental car he was driving.  I'll be jiggered.....we had one just like it!  Both of us driving Mazdas that weekend!

 

 

Happy Birthday, Brian.

 

 

Tried to get a picture of Jordy's curls!

A Busy July!

 Westin and his mommy came over for a morning visit.

 

 Let's take just one picture by these blooming lilies....or maybe not!  Westin had places to go and people to see!

 

 Stephen, Freya and family came for summer vacation and, boy, do we get the award for packing a lot into one vacation.  During the week Steve worked on a van for their family.  We played a lot of ball and the kids took turns batting.  Henry and Max waiting their turn.

 

 Go, Kayla.  Keep your eye on the ball!

 

 Joshua doing some fielding.

 

 Is this what you call "kissin' cousins?"

 

 Stephen lining up the kids at CiCi's Pizza for Sunday lunch.

 

 The last two summers it has been so hot that we wouldn't think of eating outside.  This week, though, the weather was wonderful, so at the last minute we had a picnic on the patio.

 

 Brian and Westin sharing some food.

 

Richard and Bryan finishing up the meal.

 

 Time for more ball and more play.  Lots of kids!

 

 Go, Henry!

 

 That weekend Joshua's baseball was finishing the final baseball tournament.  His team was undefeated, and they won first place in the tournament.  It was a fun season.

 

 Joshua chose "99" for his number!

 

 All the boys have their own bat bag.  Big time stuff!

 

 We spent one afternoon at the Discovery Center.  Lena and Emmy enjoyed painting on these glass walls.  I wonder if any children go home and color on the walls after this fun experience??

 

 Max and Henry first went to the grain/auger display.

 

 We chose July 4 to do a Chuck E Cheese outing and we literally had the whole place to ourselves!  Everyone else was getting ready for the evening fireworks.  Chucky gave his performance for just our grandkids!

 

 We "say" we go there for the children.....but it looks like it's the big kids are playing the games to me!

 

 I finished these matching dresses for Emmy and Lena after they got here.  I have fun making the little girls' dresses.

 

 We have been talking for quite awhile that we needed to clean out Ryan's old "tree-house," and this seemed to be the time to get it done.  Steve helped me clear out junk and old carpeting, and thoroughly sweep it out.  Surprisingly, it wasn't as bad as you might think it would be for not being used for many years.

 

 With new carpeting, running an extension cord out there to have a fan, it was just pretty special.

 

 On Saturday night we all went to Brian and Carly's for a cookout, kickball, hayride, and watching the Holton fireworks from the back of their property.  What a fun evening!

 

 Bryan and Jordy playing "peek-a-boo!"

 

 Brian getting sister help spraying bugspray!

 

 Better get the legs protected, too.

 

 Tyler was really concentrating on kicking that ball.  Don't know about kicking that ball with flip-flops, though.

 

 Lisa was the designated helper.  Thanks, Jonny, for organizing the kick-ball event!

 

Jonny and Jordy running the bases!

 

 Freya on second and Rebecca on third.

 

 First group leaving for the hayride.  Brian made a neat trail in the pasture and he pulled the trailer with the 4-wheeler.  Thanks, Brian, for making that happen.  It was fun!

 

 Getting ready for Ride #2!

 

 This is a nasty picture of the "A coil" of our air conditioner.  We began to notice water on the floor right before Steve's family came and waited until the day after they left to have it replaced.  The corrosion was terrible and it was almost like softener salt in the middle.  Definitely needed attention and we didn't have be without A/C.

 

 Now, THIS, is a car!  Had to pick up this car to take to the auction and it completely filled the rollback!

 

 During July we had our annual garage sale.  I had decided that I could finally part with the Samsonite suitcase that Marilyn had given me years ago when we had lots of children at home and needed lots of suitcases when we would go on vacation.  When Lisa saw it, she said, "Mom....you aren't selling that suitcase, are you??  There are soooo many ideas on Pinterest using these suitcases."  So Marilyn's suitcase with the initials MES is now with Lisa.

 

 And speaking of  re-using.....this is Lisa's mantle display this summer.  Look closely at the blue flower in the center.

 

 This was a piece of  Mother's jewelry when it was so popular.  It's fun seeing things with new life!

 

 I love the garden produce.  It's easy to fix meals these days.  I don't want to speak too loudly, but I haven't had any trouble with raccoons invading my space this year.  I faithfully turn on my "coon" music each night at 9:00.

 

1. I'm finally getting some green beans.  I canned 16 quarts from this picking. 

 Carly and Westin one day before the "birth day!"  I don't know how she was able to hold Westin with Camden right out in front!

 

 Yes, folks, I think it's time!

 

 Camden Wallace Varner.  Born July 18, 2013; weighing 8 lbs, 14 ozs.  Thank you, God, for a healthy baby!

 

 Brian....just a little bit proud of his two boys!

 

 Camden - one week old.

 

 "This little piggie went to market......"

 

 Richard and I went to his mother's family reunion.  Here is Aunt Mary and his mother.

 

 Richard's cousin, Debra and her daughter, Beth.  Congratulations, Beth in passing your state board's for occupational therapy assistant.

 

 Looking at pictures on the computer.

 

 And finally the Jackson County Fair Parade.  Yes, we did have an entry thanks to Brian and Westin.  We focused on our "Heavy Duty Dodge Trucks."

 

 Brian put a cab to advertise the parts business.  And folks, there you have it!  It was a full July!