Zach.
New Year's Eve sand soccer with friends.
And foam pit...
Thursday, December 31, 2015
New Year's Eve 2015
We originally were not going to do much as I had been fighting a cold all week. Then we found out our friends were coming to town... three families headed to the new Wichita Sports Forum/Aviate for fun at the trampoline park and a little sand soccer.
Zach.
New Year's Eve sand soccer with friends.
And foam pit...
Zach.
New Year's Eve sand soccer with friends.
And foam pit...
Monday, December 28, 2015
Christmas 2015
Christmas Eve family picture no one was excited to take.
Emoji pillows from Santa.
All in the same room but no one is talking.
Jake, Uncle Steve.
Zach, Adam, Matthew.
Brothers.
All the cousins.
Some people were Star Wars newbies. We were not quite sure what to think of this.
Emoji pillows from Santa.
All in the same room but no one is talking.
Oma, Scott, Sherry.
Papa, Katie.
Jake, Uncle Steve.
Zach, Adam, Matthew.
Sorta matching robes for the two youngest cousins.
Brothers.
All the cousins.
Some people were Star Wars newbies. We were not quite sure what to think of this.
More family.
Tuesday, December 22, 2015
Random December Moments
December 20. Star Wars VII: The Force Awakens.
It wasn't opening day, but we arrived three hours early because everyone else had told us it was packed. It was a Sunday morning...and we were at the movie theater before the workers were. Turns out we really didn't need to be there that early. We waited in the car a long time.
Oma and Papa came later. We saved seats. Spoiler alert: Han Solo dies!
December 21. Jimmy's Egg breakfast to celebrate the first day of winter break. All this food...
20 minutes later... #LivingWithBoys
December 22. This sunrise.
It wasn't opening day, but we arrived three hours early because everyone else had told us it was packed. It was a Sunday morning...and we were at the movie theater before the workers were. Turns out we really didn't need to be there that early. We waited in the car a long time.
Oma and Papa came later. We saved seats. Spoiler alert: Han Solo dies!
December 21. Jimmy's Egg breakfast to celebrate the first day of winter break. All this food...
20 minutes later... #LivingWithBoys
December 22. This sunrise.
Thursday, December 10, 2015
Middle School Spelling Bee
Zach made it to the all school spelling bee. The competition was tough, as he was up against seventh and eight graders. No worries though, he was confident.
Eighth from the right, in the red shirt. He made it about halfway...
"Vigorously"
"V-I-G...E-R" doh!
Eighth from the right, in the red shirt. He made it about halfway...
"Vigorously"
"V-I-G...E-R" doh!
Saturday, November 28, 2015
Thanksgiving 2015
I didn't take very many pictures this year. The weather was cold and rainy, with an ice storm predicted for the next two days. Grammy drove down on Wednesday morning.
Our meal: turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, macaroni and cheese (made by Adam and Zach), green beans, rolls, watergate salad, fruit salad, fresh vegetables.
Dessert: two pumpkin pies, chocolate pie and ultimate chocolate cake.
I also made some autumn sangria, which I thought was really good.
Pre-dinner entertainment: Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and the National Dog Show.
My peeps.
With Grammy...
We are thankful when...
-my home is warm when it's cold outside, I don't start a fire when making steamed broccoli, children can get themselves ready for school with minimal supervision.
-families get together.
-family is together. Time is short - something you don't realize at the time.
-there is vegetables on my pizza.
-I get to spend time with family, reliving memories.
-family comes together and clients listen.
-the dog stiff arms me in the middle of the night, when my boys to to school in shorts when its 40 degrees outside, and when my wife asks me what I think of some new clothes, and then promptly ignores my opinion.
-goals are scored, wood is cut, and grades are made.
-all is well for my family and friends.
-I'm with family, I'm alone, I'm walking in the forest, I'm walking in the city.
-we see family we've not seen for a while and they still recognize me, and I'm thankful for indoor plumbing.
-Starbucks is open, my family is around and -- I'm thankful for snails, skunks and indoor toilets with soft toilet paper.
This was our view the next morning. A bit of ice, but that didn't stop us from picking up a few things from the grocery store and liquor store and going out to dinner with dear friends (priorities). Scott and Adam also made it to Lowe's...there were some Black Friday sale items Adam was interested in. Grammy and Zach stayed home and played games.
Our meal: turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, macaroni and cheese (made by Adam and Zach), green beans, rolls, watergate salad, fruit salad, fresh vegetables.
Dessert: two pumpkin pies, chocolate pie and ultimate chocolate cake.
I also made some autumn sangria, which I thought was really good.
Pre-dinner entertainment: Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and the National Dog Show.
My peeps.
With Grammy...
We are thankful when...
-my home is warm when it's cold outside, I don't start a fire when making steamed broccoli, children can get themselves ready for school with minimal supervision.
-families get together.
-family is together. Time is short - something you don't realize at the time.
-there is vegetables on my pizza.
-I get to spend time with family, reliving memories.
-family comes together and clients listen.
-the dog stiff arms me in the middle of the night, when my boys to to school in shorts when its 40 degrees outside, and when my wife asks me what I think of some new clothes, and then promptly ignores my opinion.
-goals are scored, wood is cut, and grades are made.
-all is well for my family and friends.
-I'm with family, I'm alone, I'm walking in the forest, I'm walking in the city.
-we see family we've not seen for a while and they still recognize me, and I'm thankful for indoor plumbing.
-Starbucks is open, my family is around and -- I'm thankful for snails, skunks and indoor toilets with soft toilet paper.
This was our view the next morning. A bit of ice, but that didn't stop us from picking up a few things from the grocery store and liquor store and going out to dinner with dear friends (priorities). Scott and Adam also made it to Lowe's...there were some Black Friday sale items Adam was interested in. Grammy and Zach stayed home and played games.
Tuesday, October 20, 2015
Springfield Soccer Tournament: Good and Bad
We came home with trophies for both teams. Proud of these boys and their teammates!
These two...
U13s.
U12s.
Despite lack of sleep (at least for me) we had a great time, and Scott even survived the "team drink." The story behind the drink is that Scott and Matt (the other U12 coach) make a bet with the U12 team. The loser must try a taste of a "drink" the winner has made. Keep in mind the "winners" are 15 11- and 12-year-old boys.
I use the term "drink" loosely. The boys used everything they could find during our team dinner (pizza, candy, red pepper flakes, garlic sauce, Oreos, fruit, tobacco, salt and who knows what else). It was very chunky this time.
After...
All fine and dandy until we headed home. And someone got carsick. Piles of it everywhere. We stopped in the middle of nowhere Missouri and everyone exited the car...at Superman speeds.
Our team manager and son had also driven with us. If you look closely in the yellow circle, you can see Adam and Ben (our team manager's son) WAY in the distance. They either couldn't stand the smell, or were texting girls.
A nice man drove by and offered help. He came back with paper towels, trash bags, cleaner, a bucket, water and rags.
Zach had to change clothes. I changed my shirt. We threw away earphones, three shirts, a pillow and windshield visor thing I use to keep the sun out in the summer. They were not worth saving.
I ended up driving with Zach in the front seat. We still had three hours to go.
Here's what else happened:
On Monday, we spent $145 to get the van professionally cleaned. #WorthIt
U13s.
U12s.
Despite lack of sleep (at least for me) we had a great time, and Scott even survived the "team drink." The story behind the drink is that Scott and Matt (the other U12 coach) make a bet with the U12 team. The loser must try a taste of a "drink" the winner has made. Keep in mind the "winners" are 15 11- and 12-year-old boys.
I use the term "drink" loosely. The boys used everything they could find during our team dinner (pizza, candy, red pepper flakes, garlic sauce, Oreos, fruit, tobacco, salt and who knows what else). It was very chunky this time.
After...
All fine and dandy until we headed home. And someone got carsick. Piles of it everywhere. We stopped in the middle of nowhere Missouri and everyone exited the car...at Superman speeds.
Our team manager and son had also driven with us. If you look closely in the yellow circle, you can see Adam and Ben (our team manager's son) WAY in the distance. They either couldn't stand the smell, or were texting girls.
A nice man drove by and offered help. He came back with paper towels, trash bags, cleaner, a bucket, water and rags.
Zach had to change clothes. I changed my shirt. We threw away earphones, three shirts, a pillow and windshield visor thing I use to keep the sun out in the summer. They were not worth saving.
I ended up driving with Zach in the front seat. We still had three hours to go.
Here's what else happened:
- We stopped about a hundred times for people to go to the bathroom.
- I had a 30-second panic attack when I lost my keys, and then found them in the gas station bathroom.
- Adam fished his Pringles out of the trash can after he accidentally threw them away.
- Scott went heavy on the "car air freshener" he bought at the gas station, and the car then smelled like sweet vomit.
- Zach was starving and the only thing we would let him have was saltine crackers. Crumbs everywhere!
- Finally arrived back home at 9:30 p.m.
On Monday, we spent $145 to get the van professionally cleaned. #WorthIt
Sunday, September 27, 2015
Twelve
Twelve years old!
We celebrated by taking a crew to Get Air...a trampoline park downtown. Air Ninja course...'nough said. Then back to the house for pizza and ice cream.
The crew.
The crew.
Tuesday, September 22, 2015
Friday, September 18, 2015
Kansas State Fair 2015
The last time we went to the Kansas State Fair was 2009.
The boys had a day off school, so I took the day off and we headed to Hutchinson, KS.
It was one of those Kansas days that has two seasons in one: summer and winter.
It started out really hot. Tank top and sweating in the sun. All of sudden, the clouds rolled in, the wind picked up and it was 65 degrees and I'm shivering on the Ferris Wheel.
We watched a chain saw sculptor. I mean, who doesn't like creating art with a chain saw? He started out with a tree trunk and ended up with this:
Did the zip line. Getting ready...
Rode the big slide.
Rode the Ferris Wheel. View from the top:
Saw the butter sculpture (a must-see):
Looked at all the winning produce, including 1000 pound pumpkin.
Watched Pogo Fred. A trickster on a pogo stick.
Found the Queen Bee. OK, someone had to show us where she was, but still.
Walked seven miles (or 16,000+ steps).
Rode the Skyride. The boys took a selfie because we couldn't all ride together.
Zach and his turkey leg.
Got up close and personal with cows.
Looked at the rabbits. Heard clucking chickens, but found it was just a recording over some speakers!
We played Carnival games and won Grumpy Gary to keep Tuxedo Sam company (Adam won Tuxedo Sam at Worlds of Fun this summer). Grumpy Gary is the purple fish, Tuxedo Sam is the penguin wearing a top hat.
Tried the grilled macaroni and cheese sandwich.
Visited the Slushy Factory again (just like six years ago).
Here's what we spent:
$24 entrance fee ($10 for adults, $4 for kids 12 and under)
$4 ride the big slide (2 rides)
$12 Skyride (for three people)
$20 zip line (for two kids)
$15 Ferris Wheel (for three people)
$11 turkey leg + bottle of water (for Zach)
$12 cheeseburger + fries (for me and Adam, then Adam ate the rest of Zach's turkey leg)
$12 ice cream (2 cones and a root beer float)
$10 slushies (for two)
$5 mac n cheese grilled sandwich (we all shared it)
$15 carnival games (at least we won Grumpy Gary)
Before we left I grabbed a bunch of cash. I ran out. It's good that Scott wasn't with us.
We watched the pig races. We were pig race newbies. The pigs had names like Donald Rump, Jean Claude Van Ham, Swillery Clinton.
If you can't see the video go here.
When we left, Adam wanted to ride the tractor out to the parking lot, even though it would take more time. "For the experience," he said. We ended up going WAY out of the way, and ended right back where we started. We walked to the car instead.
The boys had a day off school, so I took the day off and we headed to Hutchinson, KS.
 |
| photo credit: Adam Dyer |
It started out really hot. Tank top and sweating in the sun. All of sudden, the clouds rolled in, the wind picked up and it was 65 degrees and I'm shivering on the Ferris Wheel.
We watched a chain saw sculptor. I mean, who doesn't like creating art with a chain saw? He started out with a tree trunk and ended up with this:
 |
| photo credit: Zach Dyer |
Did the zip line. Getting ready...
Rode the big slide.
Rode the Ferris Wheel. View from the top:
Saw the butter sculpture (a must-see):
Looked at all the winning produce, including 1000 pound pumpkin.
Watched Pogo Fred. A trickster on a pogo stick.
 |
| photo credit: Adam Dyer |
Found the Queen Bee. OK, someone had to show us where she was, but still.
 |
| photo credit: Adam Dyer |
Walked seven miles (or 16,000+ steps).
Rode the Skyride. The boys took a selfie because we couldn't all ride together.
 |
| photo credit: Zach Dyer |
Zach and his turkey leg.
Got up close and personal with cows.
Looked at the rabbits. Heard clucking chickens, but found it was just a recording over some speakers!
We played Carnival games and won Grumpy Gary to keep Tuxedo Sam company (Adam won Tuxedo Sam at Worlds of Fun this summer). Grumpy Gary is the purple fish, Tuxedo Sam is the penguin wearing a top hat.
Tried the grilled macaroni and cheese sandwich.
Visited the Slushy Factory again (just like six years ago).
Here's what we spent:
$24 entrance fee ($10 for adults, $4 for kids 12 and under)
$4 ride the big slide (2 rides)
$12 Skyride (for three people)
$20 zip line (for two kids)
$15 Ferris Wheel (for three people)
$11 turkey leg + bottle of water (for Zach)
$12 cheeseburger + fries (for me and Adam, then Adam ate the rest of Zach's turkey leg)
$12 ice cream (2 cones and a root beer float)
$10 slushies (for two)
$5 mac n cheese grilled sandwich (we all shared it)
$15 carnival games (at least we won Grumpy Gary)
Before we left I grabbed a bunch of cash. I ran out. It's good that Scott wasn't with us.
We watched the pig races. We were pig race newbies. The pigs had names like Donald Rump, Jean Claude Van Ham, Swillery Clinton.
If you can't see the video go here.
When we left, Adam wanted to ride the tractor out to the parking lot, even though it would take more time. "For the experience," he said. We ended up going WAY out of the way, and ended right back where we started. We walked to the car instead.
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