Happy 4th of July!

This long weekend was needed; yesterday, I got a recharge from my friends, and today I have gotten all the things done. On the 4th, we always start in Potwin to see the parade, then shrimp boil at my best friend's house. We came home and did some fireworks, took a nap then went to Lake Shawnee to see the big show. I have lived in Topeka for 18 years and have never ventured out of town for this show. We did it, and it was fun! 

It was nice to sleep in today, and I get to do it one more time tomorrow! The 4th of July on Friday might be the best. :-) 

July 2024

Trying to recreate the photo in 2025! 

Decided to watch the fireworks from across the street so we could get out of traffic!

It more-or-less worked. 

It was a great show! 

June Goal Update

We are halfway through 2025. That seems unreal. I should be half done with all of my goals but maybe I was going uphill and now I'm ready for that downhill. Do I seem preoccupied with hills? I finally found the 3 mile route around my new neighborhood. It doesn't have just one hill, it has two, not a fan. You might say run another way. But you can't, this part of Topeka is nothing but hills! If I move again I will give heavy consideration to the elevation of the neighborhood. LOL 

Hope you are all ready to celebrate America, my neighborhood is already at it! Good things it doesn't bother the dogs that much. 

Read 24 Books 10/24

Finished two book in June. They were both pretty good, I recommend both! 

Gifted and Talented, by Olivie Blake was a book recommended by the library newsletter. I love trying books that way because I haven't been failed yet. It was in the fantasy genre and I haven't really read much fantasy so that was good for me too. The book is about three siblings who all have very limited magic powers. Their dad is the head of a huge company and doesn't get along with 2/3 of them. He dies and the entire book happens over a week when the siblings have to sort through the mess of the unexpected death while they all have chaos in their own lives at the same time. I read it mostly on the drive to and from Michigan, it was perfect for that! 

Killers of the Flower Moon, by David Grann was my next read in my journey to learn more American history that doesn't get taught. America right now is messy, truth be told it has always been messy. I don't think we have ever been this selfish and hateful, but Native Americans, Americans who were put in internment camps during WWII and Black Americans that lived in the Jim Crow South might all disagree. Not saying what is going on is ok, it's not, but I'm working on understanding more about my country and the people I live here with. It feels like the right thing to do. 

Killer of the Flower Moon is very well written. I've actually seen the movie made from the book and the story is so much more than they could cover in a movie. I didn't really understand from the movie how the murder of the Osage Indians for their oil-rich land shaped the FBI. This one will go on my shelf! Topeka's own Charles Curtis plays a role in this story. So now my next books needs to be on the early days of Kansas. 

Run 650 Miles 288/650

I ran 57 miles in June. I thought I would run 65 this month but took the entire week of our vacation off. So I was scrambling to get what I did get. I am halfway through the year but not halfway through my running goal. Oops....

Money Goals

Fund 3-6 month ER Fund- Done April 2025! Yay for selling my house! 

Pay off Car - Done April 2025! Yay for selling my house! 

UFOs (unfinished objects) that need Finished 

T-Shirt Quilt (have the shirts)

Alpaca Quilt Did not make any progress on this in June, but it was too nice out to be inside sewing, it's getting hot now so I'll be indoors more. 

Placemats - Done April 2025 

Alex and Daryl Photo Books 2021-I got both boys 2021 books done in May! 2022-Got Daryl's done in June! Halfway through 2022. 2023

I visited my nieces Wheezy and Thelma in Lawrence last weekend. Their mom who is going to KU in the fall wouldn't let me take them home. Boo 

I got new running shoes this month! Aren't they pretty!

Michigan Vacation Part 2

 While Michigan was lovely, and the weather cool, we took a few days to knock some extra states off of my list. We stayed one night in Indianapolis and had too much fun at the NCAA Athletics museum. The first floor was an awesome showcase of all of the NCAA sports. There were the ones we knew like Football and Track but then there were surprises like fencing and rifle shooting! 

Then on the 2nd floor they had all of the things you could play with! I think the boys could have stayed in the quarterback simulator all day. We also ate at a huge food court called The Garage. It was a delight for a family that can never agree on where to eat. Alex had Indian, I had Greek, the Bergmans had BBQ and Daryl had a lobster tail. Oh, Daryl! LOL 

Before we left Indy we stopped by the War museum. It was a little eerie because the night before we learned about the missiles that the US ordered to hit Iran. Hopefully there is not a new exhibit at the War museum anytime soon! It was good to visit a place that Lucas and Joseph could get as excited about as much as Daryl and Alex got about the NCAA exhibits. We all learned stuff at both places! 

Our last stop before we headed back to Kansas was Casey, IL where we saw a lot of Big Things! World's largest to be specific! Last year I saw this town featured on CBS Sunday Morning. The town created tourism in the middle of Illinois and it was really cool! The perfect end to our road trip. What is more Americana than building a huge rocking chair or mailbox?!

There were other families lining up to try the quarterback simulator. I had to move my boys along, much to their dismay!

We did shoot hoops for a long time. It was nice after being in the van so long!

The War Museum was built after WWI, I wonder what they would have done with all of the space if that was the last war, now they might run out of space.....:-(

When you want to mail your entire family some place!

Or need a birdcage for 7!

When those mice get a little too big.....

The map is looking great!

Bonus of Air BNBs over hotels. Cats! There were six at this particular one and they all loved scritches. I called this guy Baby Mitts because he kinda looks like Mittens.  

Michigan Vacation Part 1

 Last Tuesday through today was our first family vacation with a party of 7! Last year Alex couldn't go because his appendix decided to burst a few days before we left for South Carolina. 

Not only did we visiting where Jeff grew up in Michigan but we are crossed some states off of my list. On the agenda were Indiana, Ohio and Michigan! We rented a big van to take our party of seven. This was the best idea we had of the whole trip. The kids were all able to have a little space as we drove 11 hours to Michigan then to Cincinnati, Indianapolis and Casey, IL! 

In Michigan we got to meet with some of Jeff's Michigan friends. We visited all the restaurants he likes, fished and visited the roller coaster park Michigan Adventure. It rained a little every day but when we had our day at the pool the sun was shining and it was perfect. After our few days in the Muskegon area of Michigan we headed to Cincinnati. In Ohio we enjoyed the River Walk and visited the Ohio Black Music Hall of Fame. It was a cool area and let me check Ohio off of my states list! 

Part 2 coming next so I can include lots of pictures! 

Our rented van for the trip! We didn't tip over!!

Day 1 in Michigan we got to go fishing!

Putting our toes in cold Lake Michigan 

He humored me with a picture by the sign of his Alma Mater

Swinging at the Cincinnati river walk

Our view from the top of the Ferris wheel at Michigan Adventure Land

Belated Last Day of School Lunch!

 Traditions are important, since both Daryl and Alex have been in school, we have had last day of school lunch. In their school district the last day is always a half day. I pick them up and go to the restaurant of their choice to celebrate another school year completed. While the last day of school was last week, we had our traditional lunch yesterday! 

This year we took on and and won 7th grade and 10th grade. The boys both hit their strides, Alex in Middle School and Daryl in High School. Both had really good friend groups and activities they could really shine in. Daryl took on Wrestling and Baseball again and it was a lot of fun! The unknown of his year was the newscast he did in second semester. He had a blast and he was really good at it. Maybe a little of that journalism skill comes from mom ;-). 

Alex almost quit the trumpet but stuck with it and his end of the year concert was a triumph. Then he surprised us all with how good he did at Tennis. We actually all three went to the tennis court today and while we were just goofing he was on one side and Daryl and I were on the other. LOL He could take us both on! 

Way to go boys, enjoy your summer, you earned it! 

At lunch time Daryl drove Alex to my office so I could take us to lunch. Man, has him being able to drive come in handy this year!

Last day of school pictured captured by dad!

Flashback to first day of school!

May Goal Update

Well it's June. Let the summer lack of routine struggles begin! May was so full of activity I am actually ready for a lull to get some stuff done around the house. We are all moved in but our storage room in the basement is a disaster. I also want to spend some quality time with my sewing machine! Happy Summer, Y'all!  

Read 24 Books 8/24

I had two fantastic reads in May. I recommend both titles! 

The Starless Sea, by Erin Morgenstern was my first book of the month. It could have been my only book because it is longer and it is so beautifully written you really want to savor the story. Morgenstern is the writer of one of my favorite books The Night Circus. To me The Night Circus will stay my favorite by Morgenstern but The Starless Sea is still such a unique read, I will read it again. I had to reread the first couple of chapters just to confirm the ending was what I thought it was! So this one is a keeper and is going on the shelf. 

By The Fire We Carry, by Rebecca Nagle was also a wonderful read that I almost finished in one day. I started it on Memorial Day and the weather was perfect for staying in with a book and a coffee. This book is the American History that I was never taught, the history of how Native American tribes were conned and evicted from their home lands in the south and resettled in what is now Oklahoma. It then talks about how time and time again they get the raw end of the US legal and political system. The author has a family connection to the generations-long fight for land and tribal sovereignty. Her story comes together in the outcomes of recent supreme court cases. It was highly addictive. 

Run 650 Miles 231/650

I ran 61 miles in May. I had planned to run 70 but it was really wet for the last part of the month so longer outside runs turned into shorter inside runs. I had a half marathon on the last day of the month, and while I didn't feel as prepared as I should have been, I still shaved off 4 minutes from my last race. I was also unprepared for that one! Next race on the books isn't until November, so hopefully I can stick to a training plan for the first time this year.  

Money Goals

Fund 3-6 month ER Fund- Done April 2025! Yay for selling my house! 

Pay off Car - Done April 2025! Yay for selling my house! 

UFOs (unfinished objects) that need Finished 

T-Shirt Quilt (have the shirts)

Alpaca Quilt I now have the pattern and fabric thanks to a lovely quilt shop, Fabric Bash in La Vista, NE. I cut some squares in May, then I got intimidated by the first block I was supposed to make! I plan to overcome my worries and do some sewing in June.   

Placemats - Done April 2025 

Alex and Daryl Photo Books 2021-I got both boys 2021 books done in May! 2022, 2023

This one is going on my shelf, you need to read this one!

Too pretty not to share!

Ok hear me out, this looks easy but I am already having to watch Youtube videos to figure out the blocks!

Just a couple of kids waiting to run a half marathon!