Prairie

Our time with the kids home is rapidly coming to an end:(.  We have Kent here now along with Hannah.  On Saturday, we drove through Council Grove on highway 177, aka Scenic Byway, to Strong City to meet up with Leah and her adorable little family.  We had some amazing eats at Ad Astra, best kept Prairie secret.  Several of us had the Barn Burner burger and homemade potato chips.  Kent tried the fried Brussel sprouts and Hannah found some yummy vegan fare.  

Then we drove 10 minutes up highway 50 to Cottonwood Falls to hike around on David's families land.  We stood on the very spot where Leah and David got married just two short years ago.  It was Emmet's first trip outside utero to the prairie.  Scott was being

exceptionally silly.  He talked to the cows and had us all cracking up.  "Line up please", he told them. And asked, "Do we have any first time moms?"  

This is the tub that held the cold waters on ice for the guests at the wedding.  Still there.

Kid Heaven

It's been so amazing to have Hannah here this summer.  I can't remember the last time she was here for such a long visit.  I love how when our kids come home it's like they never left.  Hannah has been helping me deep clean the house.  We drink coffee together and go the the store and lots of walks and hikes.  She spends lots of time studying for her gre and cooking vegan dishes.  Did I mention I love having her around?

This weekend, I was in kid heaven.  We had all three kids home for five days and the icing on the cake was that Emmet stayed here, too!

Thursday Scott and Hannah and I picked up Joel at the airport and we went out to eat in Wichita with Leah and David and Emmet. Then we hung out at Leah's.  We all stood around and made eye contact with Emmet for about half an hour. His little grin is precious.  It was also cool watching Joel meet Emmet.  

On Friday, Scott, Hannah, Joel and I stuffed ourselves at Chipotle then hiked 6 miles on the konza.  Hannah and I enjoyed the flowers immensely.  The boys talked about baseball.  

On Saturday, I got up and started preparations for the baby shower.  Leah and David and Emmet arrived around noon and people started coming shortly after.  Season, Alexis, Peggy, Julie, Mom, Dave, Jon, and  Broghan all came to meet baby Emmet.  Larry and Joanna too!  It was a fun day filled with food and family. Mom and Julie met Emmet for the first time.  

Sunday Mom and I and Scott picked up Adelle and went to church (where a Homestead girl graduated!)

then the whole family went to Lake Wabaunsee.  

It was so great to see everyone!  I haven't seen Emily for about four years so it was great to talk with her and meet her boyfriend's family.  Always good to spend time with the Kuenzi's which happens way too seldomly.  

Monday was spend just hanging around with the main Clark's and baby Emmet!  He is soooo adorable.  I loved cuddling him and interacting with him and watching Joel and Hannah do the same.  By the end of their time they gained some great experience.  Leah is such a great mom.  It's harder work than I remember and she handles it like a pro.

Tuesday morning Leah woke me up and we went for a walk together.  Then we started packing and preparations for the drive to deliver Leah and Emmet to Newton and Joel to the airport.  We spent about half an hour at Leah's but had lots of fun.

Joel danced with Emmet and comforted him.

Joel's visit was way too short this time.  It is always hard to drop him off at the airport.

I do not want to think about Hannah leaving.  But before she does, the excitement continues with a visit from Kent starting Friday!  

Whew! Worn Out!

Yesterday my friend, Hilary invited me to go kayaking for the first time!  She borrowed an extra boat so Hannah could go too!  I was sooo nervous!  Hilary knows I don't do well being underwater but she said not to worry, that if we didn't put the skirt on, I would just fall out if I capsized and she could help me back in.  Hannah had some experience.  Neither of us capsized!

So we got the boats all ready and put on our PFD's and carried the kayaks to the boat ramp.  After a few instructions, Hilary helped me get in and shoved me out first then Hannah and Hilary quickly joined.  

I was much less nervous once I got out there.  It was a little nerve wracking when the wind kicked up causing tiny waves.  We paddled over to an island and then around it where it was calmer.  We even stopped and got out for awhile on a shore and Hannah got all the way in the water!  We piled back in and hugged the shore and went around rather than across because Hilary is smart.  I felt badly that I was pretty worn out by then so we stopped.  Hilary said not to use your arms or shoulders much and I did til I got the hang of twisting and using my torso.  So I got an excellent full body work out!  I did fall out gracefully while trying to get out of the kayak but I fell into the boat not the water.  I really did enjoy the adventure and would very willingly go again.  Maybe next time we'll go out on the big lake and not stay in the Riverpond area.  

After we got home and rested and snacked, Scott and Hannah talked me into hiking the Konza!  I'm usually all for it but I was pooped!  They wanted to go 9miles but I talked them back to 6.  I'm not going to lie, even though it is beautiful out there and the weather was magical yesterday, it was pretty exhausting!

  Fortunately, when we got back to town, we got pizza at a new place, Pie Five, and ate it on the back deck.  I also drank a well earned Hard Cider.  That's the life, for sure.  What a great day!

Summer so far!

Summer is wonderful.  I love having Hannah home.  We wake up when we want, usually 830, and I have my quiet time in my favorite deck chair with the sun peeking through the trees and my pups nearby.  I have Diego trained to be quiet in the mornings.  

Then Hannah and I deep clean for two hours each day.  We spent 8 hours on the kitchen alone!  We've also done the dining room, the deck, the front foyer and the hallway, and the floors.    It's so nice having the house clean!

Then I go to water class at 11.  I love water class, getting exercise, sunshine, and friendship at the same time!  And I love not teaching it!  

I come home and eat lunch and get a couple random things done and then rest and read.  I read a great sci FY series called Wool that I loved and I'm soon reading the sequel, Silo.  

Then I go to step or lifting class at the gym most days or a long walk with Scott and Hannah.  My legs are getting so tired but I will hopefully knock back back off the 6 pounds I put on at the end of the school year.

Yesterday was my birthday so I had myself another birthday party.  It's so hard to know who to invite but even though tons of people invited couldn't come, three friends did come and Hannah too. MIT was fun!  I'm going to do it every year!  

Tomorrow I'm going kayaking with my friend Hikary and Hannah is coming too!  

I also have several therapy clients at Courserlapo and am still doing Homestead.  

And Rex is hangin in there, too!  I love him so much.  

So far so good, summer!