Kansas #6 ~ Grandma Joy's House In Russell Springs

This is Grandma Joy...isn't she beautiful!? Every Sunday all of Terri's family has dinner at her house. The town that she lives is so small, I bet there are less that 50 people who live in and around the town. It is a beautiful, serene place that I love and have very fond memories of spending summers with my Dad and Terri and visiting Grandma Joy!

Shayna is Nathan's cousin and an absolute doll! We are hoping she'll come to CA for a visit next summer. They live on a farm, and she can care for farm animals like no other! If you saw her bottom half, she's almost always wearing jeans and boots!

Terri (my step-Mom), Grandma Joy, and myself.

My 2 favorite cowboys riding their bikes!

The kids going to a walk...down to the bridge. Notice Nathan and Eldon in their shorts...the other kids in jeans and boots! City boys!! He he he

We usually have potluck and Joy's house and it is SO DELICIOUS! Always tons of food!!

I was so happy we got to spend time with Grandma Joy!

Holly and Kensley

Kensley and Holly are my neices...and we always have a silly time when we're together!! I love them SO much!!

WE ARE ADORABLE...I wanna squeeze these girls right now!!!

Kansas #5 ~ Happy Birthday Jessie

While we were in Kansas, we got to celebrate Jessies birthday! She is our sister-in-law and as sweet and darling as can be! We just loved getting to know her. She was surprised by our little surprise birthday cake!

All the kids helped to sing Hapy Birthday...I think Jessie was happy!

Blowing out the candles!

I put the candles in the cake straight out of the oven and the bottom of the candles melted. All that was left was the wick...so weird!

Here's Aunt Jessie with almost all of her neices and nephews! She is a perfect addition to our family! Happy Birthday Jessie!

Kansas #4 ~ Hunting for Sharks Teeth

We were lucky enough to have a day to go Sharks tooth hunting this trip. It was 103 degree, windy, and dusty...but we had fun.

These chalk rocks are layers and layers of old sediment from a million or so years ago, when everything was under water. It is amazing to look at and think what it used to be, unspoiled by buildings and people. The boys had a blast digging and hammering!

Konor and Kutler tried to follow Eldon up the hill...

Aunt Jessie found some interesting rocks.

Fossilized fish bone.

For Eldon, higher is always better. Notice he has two hammers and a screw driver, he was serious about this!

Nathan and Eldon hunted and hunted and dug and dug...

Konor...I know, looks dangerous doesn't it?? Miraculously, no one got hurt!!

Uncle Jarod took the boys on a hike to the top of the Bluffs. They were SO HOT!!

WAY up on the top...

Kutler...such a great kid...I miss him!

Then Jarod had to come back down and get Chase! He wanted to be with the big boys!

Happy Chase with his Daddy!

This is what we found...a couple of fish bones and a seashell impression in a rock...but NO teeth! It was so fun though. The best part...NO SNAKES!!!

Kansas #3 ~ Showing Cows!

This is Kensley, my darling cowgirl neice who lives in Kansas...way to far away from me!! I just adore and cherish her! Her and her brothers raise and show bucket calves. It is SO much work for these kids. They get the calves as babies and bottle feed them several times a day, then transition them to feed. They must do this early morning to late evening every day of the week...it is amazing to me that they are so dedicated to these calves. Then, they show them at the Fair and auction them off!

Kensley had a lot of competition this year. She had to teach her calf how to walk with a lead. She bathed him and trimmed his hair just so...

She had to get him to stay with his legs in perfect position, and impress the judge by answering really hard questions about cows! I had NO idea of the answers...seriously! She did so great and I was proud to be able to watch and cheer her on!!

Konor is one of her little brothers and one of my favorite Cowboys!! He is in the red shirt talking to the judge! He came into the arena with such confidence and charm, oh, how I want to kiss his dirt-stained cheeks right now!!

He also did great at the show and walked away with a ribbon! My sister and her husband put so much time and energy (and money) into this sport and after the fair, I think they are all exhausted and happy to be done...until next year!! I miss my Kansas family...sure wish they lived closer!!

Wordless Wednesday #49 ~ Kansas #2 ~ How to Break a Horse

One of my favorite pictures from the trip...love these kids SO MUCH!!

Breaking a horse with love and patience...it worked!

Kansas #1 ~ Trip to Denver International Airport

Nathan, Eldon, Tanya, Holly, and I arrived at the airport and checked our bags!

A LOT of bags!!

We got the kids McDonald's and waited to load...the kids were so excited, and so was I!

Nathan and Eldon on the plane...they looked so cute!

Holly and Tanya...ready for take-off!

We finally arrived in Denver and rode the moving sidewalk...always fun!

I don't think every airport has a toronado shelter. Made me feel nervous and safe at the same time, luckily there was no need to use the shelter!

We got our suitcases and got on the shuttle bus to the rental car facility. The Denver airport is so confusing!

Holly and I on the bus!

Waiting for the car, a really long line!

Tanya drove the first leg in our snazzy red car.

3 kids in the back seat...yes, they complained...no, we didn't care!

The sky looked cloudy, and we got a few sprinkles, but overall it was a great trip to KANSAS!! We were so happy to arrive. I will post many pictures of our adventures and family in the days to come!