Pictures from the Fourth

We didn’t get many photos, even though we both made the effort, we both forgot the camera. Here’s a few from the iPhones from this week.

We did fireworks with some friends. Adelynn carried the (unlit) sparkler to Mommy.


Watching the “fi-were-works” “up, sky!” She really enjoyed them this year! She pointed out every single one.

Trying on Daddy’s hat and Mommy’s headband.

We Okay, I coordinated outfits several days this week so we could wear our matching bows. This is a very appropriate time of year for it… so I wanted to get some wear in.

We ended the night watching the Fair’s big fireworks in the field with some more friends. Adelynn loved them and stayed up really late. Her little friend slept in the stroller in the back ground the whole time. We liked staying in the field this year, but Steph promised us we would get our front row seats back again next year! (For those who don’t know, my best friend Stepanie’s parents own Showalter Fireworks and Rainbow Fireworks. They do the show here every year and we’ve had the privilege in the past to sit as close as we safely can.) Looking forward to next year! :)

Happy 4th of July

July 4th was a fun day.  It began with the traditional breakfast-including cereal hanging from the tree.

Briscoe was feeling very needy..

The parade was very enjoyable this year-perhaps because of the little ones.

Be sure and notice "Grandpa Randy" waving in this shot of the City Band.

After the traditional lunch of fried chicken, Tim, Kate and I took Mandalay and Shona to the pasture to wade in the Ark River.

The river was about a foot deep and smelly!  Hence, we had to do doggy baths before heading home.

Hello From the Shooks at 457 Fountain:

Our biggest news is a "new" van.  Our 2001 with 224,000 miles has decided it only likes first gear.  Due to the cost of a new transmission, we have been car shopping.   That is not a shopping trip that I enjoy:)  But we found a 2005 with 87,000 miles so now we have a "new" van.  It is also white,but has grey rather than blue interior.  I cleaned out the old one tonight.  I hope someone uses the insides and the tires from the salvage yard.  It was in really good shape inside.  Poor Tim has to see his new tires go as they do not fit the new van. 

When Andrew and Katie were home in May, he wanted to take up our carpet and check out the floor beneath.  Sooooo - it was actually in good shape and now we have wood floor in the dining and living room.  There are a couple of  places that need attention due to an old vent and the remodeling someone did in front of the fireplace.

Erik has recovered nicely from his surgery.  The stent came out last Wed (he'll be happy to show it to you!) and he was able to play Frisbee on Sunday.  He is now a much happier camper:)  He said if anyone ever asks him to go through that again the answer is NO.  He plans to put some sealer on our wood fence to earn a little spending money.  We may have some other odd jobs he can complete.  Good news for his finances and my "to-do" list!

Samuel is mowing lawns for the neighbors this summer.  He isn't keen on doing it in the heat, but certainly isn't going to arise early to do it while it is cool!  He has been invited to go with his friend Nathan to Tablerock next week.  He's looking forward to it.

Tim is trying to finish up some work at Southwestern so he can take July off.   My work has been busy too and the boss and his wife have been having health issues so they have not been there very much. 

We're looking forward to a vacation in two weeks.  Hannah is flying to KC where we will pick her up and go to MN for a few days.  Then she will fly back out of KC and Erik and Samuel will play ultimate frisbee in Topeka at the Sunflower state games.  Last year Tim and I watched and it was 105 that day.  Looks like it could be more of the same this year:(

So everyone stay cool.  Take some time to relax!

Love to all.  Vicki, Tim, Erik and Samuel.

From Auntie and Uncle Tim

Hello Family:
This month Tim and I each did part of the blog.  Since Kate and Chris each do their own you are stuck with boring stuff about us.


Tim's contribution
Hi, I am Mandalay, Tim's favorite pet.  He says I am precious, but Kate does not like it when he calls me that.  She says it is just plain weird.  My first home was not very good. They yelled at me lots and lots.  I don't like strange people coming around.  I run and hide if someone comes to the door.  

My day always starts in bed. Laurie thought I was sad one night and invited me to sleep in bed. Now I sleep there every night. I love to stretch out between Tim and Laurie.  If Laurie is in the way, I just give her a good nudge with my nose.  She says I give her bruises on the leg, but how can my little ol' nose do that?

Laurie usually gets up first in the morning.  I like that since then I can move up and snuggle with Tim until he gets up.  Then he takes me outside. I won't do any of my business unless he stays and watches me. I feel safe when he is watching me!  Then comes breakfast.  I must be part horse since Kate says I eat like a horse with my lips.  Yum yum!  I eat my food as fast as I can.

Then comes a morning nap. If Kate is home I get to snuggle with her and Shona after Kate gets up.  When Tim comes home at lunch sometimes we go play in the yard.  Then back to my bed for an afternoon nap.  About 5:30 I start watching at the door for Tim. When he comes home I bark for joy when I see him walking up the steps. I am very excited to see him, but I am also scared. I hide behind the chair, or maybe on the couch.  I never meet him at the door, I wait for him to come pet me. He always does!  He likes me. I think.  I sure like him.

After supper sometimes we go for walks. I especially like the fairgrounds. I get to go off leash now.  I have been good and don't go too far. Tim trusts me. Yea!!!  Sometimes I see a rabbit.  Then I run after it. I am so excited I can't help but yip for joy.  It kind of embarrasses me since my yips sound like I am a puppy.  Not very adult like.  But I love to chase rabbits. I also look in  every culvert and hole I can find.  Tim says I will find a skunk someday.  I sure hope so. I like chasing black and white kitty's too!

In the evenings I like to wrestle with Shona outside. We play tag and dog pile. Shona likes to be on the bottom of the dog pile, which is fine with me since I am bigger than her.  Kate and Laurie think I am getting bigger.  Is that why I have less to eat now? The vet says I am "chiseled"?  Doesn't that mean I am good looking?

One of my favorite times of the day is bed time. Usually Tim goes to bed first. Sometimes he is not ready when I am. I try to tell him to hurry up by giving him long, sad looks. Sometimes it works.  Then we can get in bed and I can snuggle up next to him.  I feel safe and loved then.

I am sure glad Kate found me for Tim.  I love my new home.  I want to stay here forever.

Mandalay

Auntie's contribution

A day in life of Auntie (based on Monday)

6:15 a.m.             Arise

6:30-6:40 a.m.    Beauty routine begins and ends –sorry Mary no Mary Kay products

6:45 a.m.              Breakfast

6:55 a.m.             Arrive at work to see all three maintenance men staring at a large mound in the grass

                            I join them and learn that it is a mound of water underground and if you step on it it      

                            Feels like a waterbed.  (I didn’t try it first hand or foot though)

7 a.m.                  Arrive at desk and discuss how to transport the intergenerational group around town since two came with walkers.  Oh did I mention that one of the ones with a walker fell last night and is in the hospital?

8  a.m.                   Transportation problem solved.

10:30 -12 p.m.    Talk to parents, send out permission forms electronically that people have “lost” try and track down a parent to fax us a permission form, discuss how long the bathrooms should be closed on Sunday morning so that maintenance can clean them.

12 p.m.                Receive call from group in California that when they called the number given to us for the bus driver bus driver responds that he is not the driver and to call Charlie.  Charlie doesn’t answer.  I call our office contact; he is out of the office and gives another number; still no answer.  Call main number and talk to “Jimmy”.  Now the main number rings the corporate office in Maryland-my folks are in California.  Jimmy hangs up on my three times because “   they just got a new phone system and he doesn’t know how to work it.”  Finally, get name of driver and it is not Charlie.  Jimmy assures me that the new driver has just been there waiting for the group to call.  ARGH! 

12:30 p.m.           Group in California checks in and they are on the bus.

1-1:45 p.m.         Check in campers that will be going to Houston.  Nice group and they all have their paperwork completed.  Of course, it is the smallest group all year-6 campers.

2:15 p.m.            Boss calls from California to let me know that a tour has been shortened and now they have more time to kill.  Also wonders how things are going here- “If so and so is still mad at so and so?”

3 p.m.                  Daughter of lady that fell arrives at Cos.  She has learned that mom, did I mention she was 88, had fallen 3 times last week before she came to us. 

3:15-3:30 p.m.   Finally go through mail and make phone calls.  Several messages about papers and check in the mail!

3:30 p.m.             Depart for mother duties. 

I would like to say that this was an unusual day, but unfortunately that is a pretty typical day at my place during camp season.  It’s why I have a deer in the head light look sometimes by the time you see me in the evening.