Playin'

Well...our family has been playing.  Playing a lot.  Here's a quick glance...

Garrett played 3 on 3 soccer agin this spring.  They had their tourney last Saturday and took 3rd place.  Very, Very, proud of him...I would show you pics, but they are lost.  I have no idea if I deleted them or not, but I can't find them on my camera or in any file or folder on the computer. grrrrrrr

Garrett also plays in the 5th grade band playing the trumpet.  He also played special music at church!

Playing Ball....Maddie is playing this summer on a traveling team.  We have been to Beatrice, NE and then to Abilene last weekend.  In Beatrice they took 1st and Abilene took 3rd.  Both weekends had some great ballgames. 

 

 Owen has been playing with cows and friends.  Here is his friend Jonah at the CC Sale Barn....

And we can't forget Lucky...Here he's playing dead!

 Here playing in the pond!

Brent and I have been playing as well....we play the drivers, referee's, coach, washers, dryers, cooks, gas pumpers, gardener's and everything in between....BUT we LOVE it and wouldn't trade it for anything!

My Mother's Day was great and had a wonderful day...AND A BIG SHOUT OUT to my parents who celebrated their 35th wedding anniversary on Mother's Day!!!!!  Couldn't ask for better parents, how blessed am I that God chose them to be my parents! Love you!

Spring Break 2011

As some go skiing or to the beach and warm temps, we have in last 3 years or more gone to SD.  No, not San Diego, SOUTH DAKOTA. As was the same this year, we miss out on 80 degree weather in Kansas and bring back 30 degree weather with us.  BUT this year we did get to enjoy 2 days of 60-70 degree weather.  Regardless of weather my kids and I had a blast!  (Brent was solo  for 5 days and survived!)

Sunday after church weather was nice, by lunch it was great.  So after a quick lunch we headed to Wagner Lake.  Which is a man made lake with a walking trail around it.  Great place to run off some energy from a long car ride the day before (which btw, my kids did AWESOME.  Only a slight "moments" over dead batteries on dvd players was all)

Little Gazebo

 Of course we had to have a cattle stick..see Pooky the dog in the corner.  OR the calf

 Stopping to throw a few rocks.

 These are some pics of the "Goldhammer Century Farm" that we stay at.  My mom is from South Dakota and her sister JoAnn still lives on the "home" place.  The kids and myself included LOVE to look at and check out the old buildings.  Garrett did a "name" collage with nature items with my mom's camera.  I'll see if I can get those soon. 

The Barn

 Check out the hinges on this old shed.  See the stars?

 The loading chute.  I don't know how long this has been here, but I think a LONG time.

 Inside the barn

 Owen playing sale barn.  Obviously some updates have been made in the barn.  Thus the green metal gate.

Aunt Jayne and Carter working the gate.

 shoo'n cattle up the chute

 Maddie working the gate for the boys loading more cattle

Awesome weather vane.

We are so blessed to have family that welcomes us in the drop of hat.  We were no small group with my mom and my sister Katie with Carter and yes 4 wk old Gemma!  Also my Aunt Jayne from Minnesota came and even brought along my cousin Rebecca with her little girl Natalie, who was born in January.  Not to mention our Hostess Aunt Jo and her companions Pookie and Lexi (who had to be bulls, cows, and calves, more than they ever WANTED too!)  We love you and THANK YOU!

The weather here today stinks and we are praying the weather man is right and we WILL have 80 degrees by Friday!!!!!

Visitors

Last week we had some visitors come hang out for the day!  Its was great.

Miss Gemma and finally a pic of Owen holding her, but that lasted all of 30 seconds!

I'm not sure what she is doing here, but I think she is

One of a Kind!

Oh and her hair is so FUNKY.  It always stands up!

Gemma Kathryn

Gemma Kathryn had some visitors last Saturday...I talked to Katie today and Gemma's 1 week check up went great and she is doing great.

Garrett and Gemma

Maddison and Gemma

Where is Owen and Gemma you ask?  Owen could have cared less about Gemma, he was just too excited to be at Carters and play bull riding and rodeo and hauling cattle.  Hoping soon to get some pics.

Quick Trip to KC

A couple of weeks ago we made a quick trip to KC on a Sunday afternoon because Brent had a work meeting.  So we met my brother and family at the Legends and messed around while Brent went to the meeting. 

Cousins checking out animals at Cabella's.  What a Great FREE thing to do when killing time.  IF your kids enjoy "stuffed animals"...which mine do.

 Group Shot

 Going to feed the fish but Cabella's was out of fish food and miracoulsy no one fell in. That is one of my biggest fears.. Don't ask me why, but it is.

 These two yahoo's took a break from "hunting" for a quick photo shot.

 Morgan enjoyed some free space to wander

 Another group shot

Mark and Family toted us to Granite City for supper where ALL the kids ate free on Sunday nights.  It was a great deal. Then to Target.  Brent got done with his meeting and picked us up there.  Thanks Rundquist's for tagging along!

Honor Choir

Garrett was selected to attend the  5th Grade North Central Kansas Honor Choir in JC early in February.  The concert was about 20 minutes long, but was very nice.  I was pleasantly surprised at how well all the 5th graders sound.  Its an age when voices start changing.  But they were really good.  Very proud of him!

A few of my favorites

With many snow days the last couple of weeks the kids and I were running out of ideas, so we did some baking.  Thought I would share with you two of my all time favorite cookie receipes...a sweet treat for
V-day!

So I'm trying to upload photos, but blogger and I are having issues soo here are just the receipes.  I promise they are TASTY!  If I can get pics soon I will

Sugar Cookies

1 c. Sugar                        1 tsp cream of tartar

1 c. Powdered Sugar           1 tsp soda

1 c. Butter                       1 tsp vanilla

2 eggs                            1 tsp almond extract

4 ½ c. Flour

*Cream together wet ingredients.  In separate bowl mix dry ingredients.  Then add to wet.  Mix Well

*For cut out cookies.  You might need to add more flour.  Dough can be sticky. Wrap in plastic wrap and put in fridge to cool.  (a couple of hours) Roll out on lightly floured surface and cut out. 

*For drop cookies-Drop by teaspoonful onto cookie sheet and then flatten with glass dipped in sugar

*Bake at 350 for 10-12 minutes.

Cool and Frost as desired

I like the drop cookies the best!

Thank you Susan for sharing this great receipe.

Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies

1c. Crisco               

                                   1 tsp baking powder                                    

1c. Brown Sugar          1 tsp salt

½ c. Sugar                 1 ½ tsp vanilla

2 Eggs                      1 1/3 c. quick cooking oatmeal    

2 c. Flour                   ½ bag or more of chocolate chips

1 tsp baking soda

*Cream Crisco, sugars and eggs.  Add vanilla and mix well.  Add all dry ingredients and then chocolate chips.  Mix well

*Drop onto greased cookie sheets.  Bake at 325-350 until browned.  Cool on rack.  (may add m&m’s too)

My notes: 

*I have used ½ butter and ½ Crisco.  They do come out a little flatter, but still tasty.

*I usually do 350 for about 12 minutes switching sheets at 6 minutes.

*I have made the

This receipe was given to me as a wedding shower gift.  Thank you Nancy!

se with old fashion oats, but for some reason they make the cookie dough a little softer (have NO idea why)

*Due to my lack of coordination I have made these with only one egg. Don’t ask why.  They turned out fine, but wouldn’t try it on a regular basis!