Kyoto for 45

I'm so dang lucky to have this amazing women as a big sister. My mother and I got to celebrate Kelly and her 45 fabulous years along with a bento box full of delicious eats. We met on a quiet Monday evening in Kearney at Kyoto, a Japanese steakhouse. Perhaps only 30 seconds of the 2 hour dinner was silent as we shared, listened, reminisced, laughed and sighed over life.

Cheers to my forever best friend and mentor.  May God grant you many more days full of deep joy and fill your soul with the love only he can offer.

Winter on the Plains

I have officially come full circle at the Stuhr Museum in Grand Island. I personally experienced the Nebraska history museum as an elementary student in the 90s and now I have attended as a parent sponsor on a field trip with each of my three kiddos. Nothing has grown boring. I still love every minute of it!

On a crisp November 5th morning, a guide met Tucker's 2nd class at a farmstead in the year 1895. The kids were immediately assigned chores to get ready for the Christmas holiday. 

We got to gather wood for the stove, do the wash on the front porch, iron clothes, stir the popping corn, string popcorn and create paper chain garlands.

This 2nd Grade age is the best.  The students were mature enough to follow instructions and listen respectfully while still maintaining their childish imagination and curiosity.

HaLLoWeen

Halloween was pretty exciting this year. I got to start the party by bringing treats to Tucker's 2nd grade class. 

All the kids dressed up this year including Jentry!

Woody from Toy Story

Alien boy abduction

The Grim Reaper

Trunk or Treat!

The boys were finally old enough to roam the neighbor without us while we manned the porch candy. It was a fantastic evening of spooky fun.

Fall Festivities

Fall is such a special time of year. Tucker and I got to check out the new additions to our local Pumpkin Barn.  They added more animals and some fun games too! 

Papa and Onnie gifted the kids some spooky Lego kits which were a big hit.

The eve of Halloween we kicked off soup season with a yummy cheeseburger soup and carved pumpkins.

Nathan's artwork

Discover Trip

While Jentry's senior year has been full of lasts it also includes some firsts. She courageously drove herself to and from the OMA airport without a hitch. This was a quick weekend trip to participate in the Grand Canyon University Discover Trip. She got to visit with students, tour the campus, stay overnight in the dorm and attend a Lopes basketball game where she briefly met up with her dad and Erica.  

The trip brought the reality of college to the surface and she is now both excited and nervous to be living on the GCU campus in less than a year's time!

Senior Night

The Senior Filly Golfers were honored during the last home volleyball game. How did we get here?

So proud of these girls and all their accomplishments! 

Addison, Jentry, Laurel and Mia

Papa's Pumpkin Patch

Papa John managed another plentiful pumpkin patch this season.  Harvest day is always a delight. Who can find the biggest gourd?

The boys couldn't resist pumping a few BBs into a green pumpkin.

Papa's hard work and generosity made for a gorgeously orange front porch display!

School Picture Day

 Say cheese!

Jentry - 12th Grade

Mason - 6th Grade

Tucker 2nd Grade

Fall Break & 42

Four days at the lake was just the refresh I needed. Work had gotten really heavy, plus my volunteer work in our community was heavy and life at home is sometimes...well... just a lot. So when school had a long weekend break, I too scheduled some much needed time away.  I shut everything down and just soaked up the sun, fresh air and time with those I love.

Jentry stayed home as she was busy going to the high school football game, moving flamingos for a prom fundraiser and marching (for the last time!) with the band at Harvest of Harmony.

Meanwhile, we were attending a slightly smaller parade in Orleans at Applefest.  We were thrilled to see Papa Bose driving his Diamond T Truck.  The boys even got to jump in with him to finish the route.

Mom and I took the boys to find the Bose Bros crew cutting beans along the river.  Mason got to ride in one combine with Richard and Tucker got to ride in the other with Connor. It was dry and windy but they had a blast.

The boys and I had fun exploring the freshly uncovered rubble from the old Republican City.

Nature can be so beautifully healing.

We finally got to hike to end of White Cat Point. The views were spectacular and the history under my feet had me yearning for more knowledge of the indigenous people who once called the land home.

The vacation came to end on Nathan's birthday so we celebrated his 42 years with some spice cake and candle when we arrived back home.  He said the time at the lake was just what he wanted.

GDay + Color Run

Sutton Public School's annual Grand Parent's Day celebration was Friday, September 26th. After a short musical program, Tucker enjoyed lunch with Papa John and Onnie. They even had some time in the classroom to make a special fall art project.

Mason hosted Papa and Grandma Bose for lunch. I didn't get a picture but they enjoyed a current events game and their time together.

After the program, it is tradition for all the elementary students to participate in the color run. The boys love getting splashed with color and Jentry even got to run with her Kinder buddy.

Girls Golf

Jentry decided to switch things up this year and traded in her volleyball shoes for golf shoes. I was very impressed with her abilities and she improved a great deal within the short fall season. Coach Newmyer was a wonderful mentor and inspired Jentry to love the sport. I hope she will continue to play for many years. 

Seniors; Jentry, Addison, Laurel & Mia