Harold Wedding pt1

This is the story of farming this year. Lots of repairs. This is Greg troubleshooting the pivot control  switches thankfully he can sit standing arched foot on the cables is crippling. Bruce and Millie are relaying tools, gadgets, circuits, and whatever else is needed. I demanded he get down and we head to the airport for Harold's wedding. Thankfully they had found the problem and Reed was able to replace the parts that had worn out. 

My mom took the younger kids to their cousins in Weiser where all things awesome happen. They got to ride horses.

And swim and see a colt be born. And much more I'm sure. I'm so thankful for family help. 

We got to Arkansas no problem Jake was great on the planes sleeping most of the time. We went to dinner at McDonalds and got a call from a neighbor asking if we needed a tractor with a large blade to put out the fire at our house? We were surprised and didn't know what was going on. We called Reed who informed us he was burning cheat grass but all was well. We found out when we got home a string of neighbors had come to help at 11pm. He had Bruce send them home knowing things were ok. We are thankful for neighbors who are willing to help. 

The next day we met up with Harold at the temple. It was good to see him and Lexi get sealed. 

The temple was gorgeous and the day was special. Their planning led to a stress free day for us and we really enjoyed seeing some of the south. 

There were a few people at the wedding and it was nice to meet her family. 

Greg's parents Lloyd and Sue had driven out and hauled us around from place to place. 

We provided a luncheon of fried chicken vegetable platter, fruit platter, rolls, and potato salad. I really appreciated Harolds brother in-law helping so much with the set up and clean up. He was always available to help through the whole day. 

I always like seeing the countryside. This was green and had lots of trees growing out of rocks even. I think the soil is pretty poor. We saw little farming and fewer cows. I'm always curious why there are no ruminants grazing. I learned when I got home from a neighbor that the grasses are lacking nutrition to support livestock. I don't know why. But he said the cows will die with bellys full of grass that is not nutritious. Interesting. I learned from a book I read when I got home this area had been logged in the 1800's to help with the building of Kansas City and the railroads. The trees obviously grew back these might be 3rd grow back from then. It was humid and hot while we were there over 90 each day. 

As we were driving down the freeway I heard the wind blowing and told GReg he checked mirrors and realized the tailgate had flew open and our one piece of luggage had flown out the hatch onto the freeway. We stopped and backed up and he retrieved the bag. Thankfully it was only scuffed up everything was fine inside and out and the bag is still very useable. 

We heard tale of this ice cream shop. We decided to try it out. It was so good we went two times. 

 After the ice cream refreshment we found farm fields as we got closer to where Lexi lived. Ripe wheat fields and corn in various stages from a few inches high to almost shoulder height. 

We saw a few random pivots that we learned were used to distribute and pull water that pools in low spots in fields to other areas. So their pivot pull water instead of apply it I think? 

The siblings worked to assemble to food for the evening. I enjoyed helping where I could and watching them tease and talk to each other. 

I was missing my family group at this point and took pictures to share with them the special day. This is just before the reception began. 

The refreshment spread. It was very good and so diverse. Fruit and vegetable cups, chicken salad and ham sandwiches. Meats, cheese & crackers, berries, cheese and tomatoes, granola and yogurt, if you could think of it it was available. 

Brownies from Sam's club and a delicious lemon cake. 

Her aunt made the dry flower arrangements. 

My kids would have enjoyed the dirty soda bar. 

Lexi fed Harold cake so nicely he got a bit on her nose. 

We did some dancing Harold chose I'm so Happy. A nod to his childhood nickname. It was fun to swing with him. They had a string send off Greg wasn't sure what to do with those I taught him- you wave it.

 They left under a rainbow from the downpour that had occurred during the reception. Her sisters had used blank sticky notes and paint to decorate the car. Much washed off but enough was left to get the idea. 

We helped cleanup, washup and pack up the buffet bar and headed for our nights lodgings.

Jake missed his siblings and enjoyed seeing them on the phone. He also showed us he is strong enough to pull himself up on things pulling himself up on the bed blankets. 

The next day we went to church in Joplin and met kind members. We flew home to more work and things that needed to be fixed. We are thankful for this new family and their desire to start in the temple. All's well that ends well. 

7/8th Grade Play

One of the rights of passage from Willowcreek to high school is participation in the musical play. This year was a story of hollywood trying to find an actress for a movie. The girls had supporting roles. Millie as a secretary and Livy as an etiquette school instructor. The play was a whopping 2 hours long in a 90 degree gym. Thankfully there were microphones on almost every child actor but it was an intense labor of love to stay seated. Jake was not a fan and so I alternated between standing in the doorway and playing outside with him. 

The girls were so thrilled, not really, to get to swing dance with boys in their classes. I love the movement captured in this photo. 

Millie into her part. 

And after the show the girls with grandmas. Livy was so thrilled to get to wear makeup. This was the first time I had done her make-up. When I got her hair right and her makeup correct I turned around and realized I had to get Millie made-up as well. We were late, but not later than the show started. Phew haven't done that before. We should have practiced beforehand but each day seems crammed full these past few months.

Livy was bummed not to have a bigger part but she brought her best to the part she played and really hammed it up with her insistence on manners and decorum. 

 I'm thankful for these traditions and opportunities to grow and stretch. Singing, dancing, memorizing lines all in front of an audience is not easy or comfortable for most people. However after 9 weeks of continuous practice the kids did a great job and entertained all in attendance. Yet another part we love of going to Willowcreek for school. The day of the performance the graduating Seniors came and walked through with promises of watching the students dress-rehearsal. The girls were looking forward to that peer review. I got these pictures showing our senior with her siblings. 

Don't tell these two they look a lot a like and have similar feelings. Afton laments Addie gets everything. Long ago Addie was saying the same thing about her older sister. She made goals and she worked very hard to accomplish things that she thought were worthwhile. I hope we can channel and teach Afton to use her drive and abilities to become who she desires. 

Bruce loves pictures can you tell? 

We are blessed. 

Addie Graduation

Addie was the valedictorian of her class. The only one this year. She earned a lot of scholarships from her dedicated effort searching them out and applying early to any that came her way. We are proud of her efforts throughout high school. We caught this quick photo before she left for the ceremonies. 

We don't make our kids sit through the pomp and circumstance. Since the room is always overfull we figure other families are thankful we left ours home too. 

She spoke about being friendly and kind. 

Her coach Cassandra the muscle behind XC practice. Addie was one athlete that didn't cut corners or miscount she always did all the workout, that's what leads to medals. 

I was out in the hall with Jake who finally fell asleep towards the end of the commencement. My sister Mary took pictures of family that attended. Anna and Joey. 

Papa and Grandma Corn and Grandma Lasley

Grandma and Grandpa Saunders

Sweet Izzy her friend from grade 1. 

And sisters Avery and Millie who are also great friends. 

Brody.

Jake sleeping through the hoopla outside. He is such a champ to survive all these events with older siblings. 

The superintendent and her husband. More Addie fans. 

Dear Gert who hired Addie to clean her yard. 

The principal and his wife. Erin & Chad Hartley. 

Wyatt a friend and person who truly admired Addie's kindness and goodness. 

This was a tender day thankful for the experience with her. She was a power for good, a testament to creating the life you want by doing things that are hard until they are easier, and a friend to all. It has been different each time a kiddo graduates. We will miss her perspective and light at this school. We learned a lot though to apply as the next group passes through those formative years. Life is so good and we were truly blessed by all the new coaches, and teachers, and students Addie learned from and with. We are very blessed. 

Memorial Day

The flowers bloomed early this year. we had beautiful shows of anything from the bulb family however the usual standbys for grave decorating were long gone. Thankfully there are many other places that grow flowers and thus flowers were purchased for the annual tradition of grave dressing. 

Last minute Millie mentioned that the neighbors had some later bloomed not decimated by rain and wind iris. This is one flower some great grandmothers loved we try to remember people with flowers they enjoyed while on earth. Reluctantly I reached out to the neighbor who was generous in their sharing. We went and harvested flowers from our yard and theirs. Snap dragons, roses, bachelor buttons, and iris.

We traveled to aunt Ruth’s where the flowers were divided and arranged. They were so pretty.

Many of the kids helped this year. I love that they enjoy the experience as well.

 The annual picture at cousin David’s grave.

The kids are good sports about carrying flowers all over the cemetery. They shot off a cannon this year my goodness that was loud and surprising. 

After the ceremonial remembrances we headed to my parents for the bbq and visit. It was a nice day full of family and food. The kids enjoyed the hay ride each getting turns to drive the tractor if they chose. When asked if papa should keep having this gathering each young child answered a loud yes! That’s good they desire to continue traditions and pastimes that have been going for decades. It is good to celebrate our ancestors. We are blessed by their efforts.