A 4-H Weekend

 Last weekend the boys' 4-H club had 3 activities, so I'm calling it our 4-H weekend. I represented the family at Landon Trail clean-up. While it was cold in town, with the trees blocking the wind, it was really nice weather to clean the trail. With our other club we mainly just picked up trash but with Silver Lake we also helped trim back some growth to keep the trail clear for walkers and horse riders. It was a fun morning and I got my steps! 

On Saturday night we had Achievement Night. I'm always so proud of all the kids going across the stage. I've never had much luck trying to get the boys to do record books, but we attend to support our club and maybe, just maybe, win a door prize. We are 0 for 6 on that quest, but you can't win if you don't show up! 

Then we had our regular monthly club meeting on Sunday. We have been in the Silver Lake club for a year now and Alex is finally starting to talk. LOL They filled Christmas Shoe Boxes for a service project and both the boys had fun doing that with another club member. 

While we do little 4-H these days, I am glad the boys have stayed enrolled and get to meet some youth outside of their school circle. You can never have too many friends and 4-H is a great place to make some connections for your kids. 

Now, to see if we can juggle 4-H with my new three........

When you get caught taking a secret picture...

oops I think I edited out Daryl. Oh well, he won't mind. LOL

After a weekend of kids activities, margaritas! 

4-H Exchange Time

 Lately, one of Daryl's favorite 4-H things is the Exchange group. Every two years the group matches with a 4-H group from another state and one summer our kids go to that state, then the next summer we host the kids here. Daryl gets to be with friends his own age here in this county and also gets to make friends that he probably would have never met any other way. This year they exchanged with Delaware. He is still gone for one more day, but I think the fun of this group is best displayed in the pictures I have received since he has been gone. LOL 

I can't wait to get whatever details he will give me when he gets back!

He caught a home run ball at this game!

Challenging Leroy to arm wrestle

How arm wrestling ends?! LOL Get him Leroy!

July Goal Check In

With the fair behind us and school in front of us, we have a few weeks to relax. Daryl did a workforce training program this summer and the last day for that was July 19th. He worked from 9-12 Monday-Thursday and on Friday he had a lesson in professional development. The program was put on by the city and it was call Topeka Way to Work. If you have a 14-16 year old next summer, check it out! Now when he goes to apply for a part time job he will have some work experience and it kept him occupied this summer while making a little money. 

Alex had some school enrichment in June but has had July to himself. He is doing things for me when I ask him and doing some creative writing, unprompted! Excellent July Boys, we did good!  

Read 18 Books 14/18 

I read two books this month and that was mostly because my first book was already half read when the month started! July is a busy month so I'm glad I still made time to read. 

Dune Messiah by Frank Herbert was a book I had been picking at for a couple of months. I learned all the ins and outs of Dune in the first book but this one was still a slow read. Like the first book this one got good when there was only 3/4 of the book left. So now I do want to read the third Dune book but will the first part of the book be any better?! 

The Color Purple by Alice Walker was literary perfection. 10/10, should have read sooner. There is a reason it is on all of the "best books" lists. It is both painful and beautiful, sorrowful and joyful. Such a hard thing to do and I loved every page. This book is for sure, going on the shelf. 

Run 600 Miles 365/600

I don't know when I will learn not to take the first half of the month easy. This is how my weeks of July went to get to my 55 mile goal 

Week 1: 9.1 miles

Week 2: 11.45 miles

Week 3: 8.42 miles

Week 4: 15.8 miles

July 28-31: 11 miles 

Monthly Healthy Habit Drink More Water  

Not only did I keep my water bottle with me at all times this month, I've also started to up my fruits and veggies again. Nothing with too much acid though, I do not want mouth sores again! 

In August I'm going to try to eat more protein! 

2024 Money Goals:   

• Replace Garage Door Replace Windows In a holding pattern on my new windows
• Down payment on New Car (Done July) Found my new car in July! The plan was to put down 10K ended up putting more down to make my monthly payment lower. My savings account is sad, but I'm very happy! 
• Pay Mortg. Principle down 4K Made a principle payment in July
• Hit my Savings Goals for the year Made the smallest transfer to savings in July that I have all year. It's an expensive month. Alex's Birthday, County Fair, and yearly vet appointments so saving anything is a plus! 

Daryl working the concessions stand for 
4-H Exchange 

Alex and I reporting for duty at the 4-H pancake feed! 

We had two baseball games during the fair. Thankfully after last night we are done! 

Daryl's best showing in Archery ever!

My favorite fair scarecrow.
The '24 theme was "Get Carried Away at the Shawnee County Fair" 

County Fair Lite

 Today is day #1 of County Fair 2024. I thought we cut our entries down last year, well this year we cut even more! The fair is a great part of 4-H but it is not the only part. As the boys get older I don't press them to enter several items for each of their projects. I know just offer my help to get done what they want to do. And since mostly they just want to be with their friends it makes it an easier week for me. 

Last week we helped our club decorate our haybale, that was fun! Also last week Daryl had his buymanship judged. This week he has Archery and is working in the concessions stand. After I realized I didn't complete an entry for Alex's computer presentation, he is just being a helper this year. Honestly, he is the most meticulous help I could ask for! I think one thing that the county fair has taught my boys  is to pitch in. At the fair if your area is done you go and ask your neighbor if they need help. If someone asks you to run to the office for something you go get it. It's teamwork at its finest. 

Happy Fair Week everyone! It's going to be hot and not everyone will be the champion. I hope you all still have a good time and be nice to yourselves! 

Daryl's Buymanship outfit, once he found the
peacock golf shirt he made the outfit around it!

Helping mom set up fair displays!

4-H Club Days

On Sunday the Meerpohl boys participated in County Club Days. For the last couple of years they coasted and did impromptu talks because you show up, draw a topic and give the talk. No muss, no fuss! 

I was very surprised when Alex decided he wanted to do a talk on computers. He is looking at computer parts all day, dreaming of his perfect build. So that made sense! 

He wrote his talk while he was at Dad's house and he made his poster at my house three hours before his talk. That's how he wanted to do it, and he got it done. He got a purple ribbon on his project talk and he can talk about computers for days! 

Daryl did an impromptu, hey, it's what he knows! He got a blue ribbon for his effort. A little extra practice in public speaking is a great way to spend a Sunday! 

 

Happy 11th Birthday and Happy Fair Week!

 The boys had a great 4-H fair last week! They scaled back a lot on projects this year so there was a lot less stress. Alex took his diamond painting for visual arts and Daryl did one buymanship outfit that he modeled and was in the Archery meet. Alex had been working on his diamond painting since January and his persistence really impressed the judge. He got his first ever rosette with a reserve champion on his project! It might have even inspired him to do arts and crafts one more year. Fingers crossed! 

Daryl was in the senior division for the first time in Archery. That longer distance really got him. So his combined score got him a red ribbon. Hopefully next year he will get his score back up! He got a purple ribbon on his buymanship outfit and a champion rosette on his modeling. Since the fashion revue is the last event of the fair it was fun he ended on a high note! 

The first day of judging was Alex's birthday but I was able to sneak away from the fair at 5pm to take him for his requested steak dinner and Coldstone ice cream. Throw in some awesome presents (game controller, pickle ball paddle, chess board and Roblox gift card) and he was thrilled with his birthday! Yay! 

Now that fair is over it's time to start preparing for back to school?! Where did the summer go? 

His first fair rosette! His diamond painting was
Naruto characters. 

Daryl's casual buymanship outfit

Daryl in the Archery meet

The birthday boy! He ate every bit of his steak!

Alex always worries about talking to the judge.
But when it is his turn he does great! 

Where is Daryl?

 On Monday Daryl got to leave for his 4-H Exchange trip to Texas. He has been anxiously awaiting this trip since we hosted Texas 4-H'er Lathan last summer. I will do another post when he gets back next week, because at this time I'm just getting pictures and one word answers! So I know he is having fun! 

While Daryl is gone we are having a Triple "A" week at home. All About Alex. :-) Alex has been getting to pick what we eat, what game we play at night and what we watch. I asked him today if he misses Daryl, and he said "eh, a little." Looks like Triple "A" week is a success! 

A Kansas kid surfing? Unbelievable!

Crab!

Told Alex Daryl got put in Jail in Texas, he believed me for a minute!

Reunited with his Exchange partner!

And then there was High School....

 It was graduation week at The Manor and on Wednesday it was Daryl's turn. His time as a Robinson Raven is over and he finished middle school with some academic achievement and many life lessons. I'm going to repeat what Alex's principle told us on Tuesday, "They are growing up, but they are not grown. Our work isn't done." He will continue his school journey at Topeka High! 

We enjoyed a family brunch after Daryl's graduation ceremony and celebrated both boys. Alex was the picture captain and made sure we had all the picture groups before our company left. Daryl wore a nice outfit that included his 2022 4-H Fashion Revue shirt, so that was a double win! He always looks so sharp when he dresses up. 

Now the boys are dreaming about summer with friend hang outs and trying to make some money. I see some small business plans coming soon! 

Ready for his name to be called. 

Always have to take a picture by the tree!

Thank you to Grandpa Mike, Aunt Barb and Grandma
Rosie for coming! 

The graduates

Brunch of cinnamon rolls, fruit and breakfast tacos was a hit!

Busy Weekend!

 The boys had me going this weekend! We started Saturday with the Shawnee County Spelling Bee. Daryl was representing Robinson Middle school. I was proud of him for qualifying and my heart broke as much as his did when he got out the first round. The nerves got him. 

I was able to cheer him up with a frozen coffee, and I was happy to do it! 

On Sunday both boys participated in 4-H Club Days. They were a part of Model Meeting and they did a good job with their roles. Daryl was the book character Sherlock and Alex was the book character Naruto. Daryl was the club treasurer and Alex was the rec leader. Their Model Meeting got a purple ribbon!!

On Monday was the last 8th grade basketball game. Those games made February go fast! 

Fall Chores

 The way this seems to be going, I will be in the market for a gutter guard in 8 years. My current gutter cleaners are very affordable. They just want Freddy's for dinner! Got them back at 4 today, with the time change, I didn't want it to be too dark for our task. All I do is move the ladder. They take care of the rest! 

I stole them away on Saturday night too for 4-H Achievement night. I loved sitting in the crowd and enjoying the program. The fact that Daryl or Alex wanted to talk almost the entire was a little annoying. Some people's kids! 

I hope everyone had a good weekend, now we get to go to work in the dark and come home in the dark, Yay us. (sarcasm) 

2022 Fair Post #2

 On Sunday the 2022 Shawnee County Fair wrapped up! It was a good fair and even with the heat, everyone was having a good time! (It rained all day Monday and that would have been nice if it came a couple of days earlier!) 

   Friday, Daryl had his Archery meet and he earned a red ribbon in bare bow. He really enjoys archery so I'm so glad they have an event at the County Fair.  On Saturday, the Boys helped with the 4-H Pancake Feed, participated in their club tour and enjoyed hanging out with their 4-H friends. Daryl also competed in a pickle eating contest and made it to the final round! On Sunday, Daryl walked in the Fashion Revue. He got a blue in Fashion Revue, mostly because of his paperwork, he scored very highly for his modeling. :-) 

The boys didn't take a ton of projects this year, but I was proud of what they got done. The older they get the less I have to do with their fair prep. They are sure growing up! 

Mr. Cool in the Fashion Revue!

Alex's Harry Potter Diamond Painting

Alex's Grogu Diamond Painting

Pickle eating contest!

Club Tour!

Those participating in our club tour!