Shawnee County Fair 2026 And End of Summer Ball

To round out July, I worked my 15th Shawnee County Fair, and the day after that Daryl had two nights of baseball for the end of his season. The fair was fun and we got two days of cool rainy weather and two brutally hot days. I wish we could have split the difference but you get what you get at the end of July. 

It was my second year as the Shopping In Style superintendent and I'm not sure how long I have been helping with the Archery meet. We had more youth in both this year! The only thing that was weird is this is the first time I didn't have a 4-H'er at the fair. The boys did not enroll this year and that is ok, it was just weird. Mom came and helped, so some things don't change! It is probably her 14th fair. LOL 

Daryl's Topeka High team won the league tournament and the league outright. Both games had their exciting parts and Daryl got hit by a pitch in both. It's a rough way to up your On Base average. This team was fun to watch and they are talking about making a fall ball team and have their awards ceremony on Sunday. Way to Go D! 

Today was the first day of T-High marching band camp and Alex and his trumpet were at the school bright and early. I will have a reason to go to all of the Football games this year, and I will get to leave after halftime. LOL Can't wait to see the show! 

That's a wrap until fall ball!

My first time presenting the Foundation Scholarship winners!

Pancake Feed

First day of Marching Band Camp

Happy Birthday Alberto!

Monday was Alex's 14th birthday! Being a summer baby, he's only had one or two classroom celebrations, but he embraces having a summer birthday and often has a  swimming parties. He had one of those on Saturday at his dad's house, and since we were helping Grandma move over the weekend, we had a birthday dinner for him on Monday.

He got to pick the meal and his request was Cajun Chicken Alfredo. We haven't made that before but I think it turned out pretty good. And since I didn't get to make a fruit pizza for 4th of July, I made one for his birthday dessert. He loved it! 

I am so glad I got to spend the evening with him and it was so much fun to have Grandma there too. Happy Birthday Alberto, Al and Alex. You go by many names but you will always be my "fair" baby! 

Happy 8th Grade Graduation!

Today Alex graduated middle school. Can you believe it? It seems like 8th grade just started, and now it is done. I will miss Robinson. I have been taking a kid there for six years. It is a great school, and it was great for my boys. Many times during graduation, the students and staff said, “Once a Raven, Always a Raven.” By the end, I had tears in my eyes because that is true. The foundation that Alex got at Robinson is going to set him up for success in high school.

I can’t wait to see what both boys do at Topeka High next year. When Daryl came home around lunchtime, I gave him a big hug and told him he is a senior now! He said, “Yay, I guess.” LOL!

That's a wrap on 8th grade!

From Doubleheaders to Dinner Galas

This weekend was full of activities, and I’m glad I was in town for it!

Daryl had baseball on Friday. It was a doubleheader, so I saw the last inning of his first game and all of his second game. He did great pitching and fielding, but he’s having a little bit of trouble with his bat right now.

On Saturday, we started at the Master Gardener Plant Sale and got some flowers for the porch. Planting them in pots might be next weekend’s chore! That evening was the inaugural Robinson Gala. Alex was in two of the student performances, and all of the performances were very good.

There was also a silent auction, and I bid on and won some reserved seats for 8th grade graduation! So now I don’t have to be there an hour early to make sure I have a good spot to take pictures. It was a good night.

Today, I had an easy run and then just caught up on some house stuff. It was the relaxing weekend I needed. Now to get this week back on track, waking up early and getting to bed early too. Here we go, May! The next post will be a goal update.

He is officially taller than me!

Their dance was pretty cute!

The song was also cute!

What do you know, a cute baseball player!!

Tennis Goal Complete!

Today was the City Tennis Tournament, and I’m not going to bury the lead, Alex got first place in the Varsity 1 bracket! This has been his goal since last year when he got second in the Varsity 2 bracket.

He had one match that was closer than any other he’s had this season. He was down 0–2 and came back to win 3–2. I was really proud of him because even when it didn’t look good, he didn’t quit. That showed some mental toughness that he is still developing.

The best part was that his buddy won the Varsity 2 bracket, and Robison had placers in the Varsity 3 bracket and two of the doubles brackets. So they were in the running for the team trophy, and they won it! Good job, Ravens. You had a heck of a season. That’s a great way to leave middle school tennis.

He is already looking at camps for this summer, so I know we aren’t done with tennis, and that’s okay with me.

He ended the season undefeated with a City Tournament first-place finish. Good work, Al! Now for some ice cream tonight!

Funny story, it rained right before the tournament started, so the kids pushed water for an hour. When they all took a break Daryl, Jeff and I went into action! It was all hands on deck. Tournament started 90 minutes late but that's ok, they got to play. 

With his medal

The Robinson Singles players. 

City Champs!!! They did it!! 

March Goal Post and Tennis Begins!

Made some good progress on my goals. The weather here is crazy, but when it’s nice, I’m enjoying being outside! Alex did have good weather for his first tennis match of the season. He won all of his matches, and the other school had way more players, so he played eight times!

Daryl got to pitch last week in his game against Washburn Rural, and he did great! He was a little so-so about baseball when the season started, but he’s all in right now. Hopefully, we can end the year on a high note!

Read 30 Books (up 6 from last year) 6/30

I finished two books in March and was really close to a third so that should make for an easy three in April! The first book I read was top rated by my friend Lisa and I should just copy all the books she likes. It was great! Heartwood has a lot of stories going on around a missing hiker on the Appalachian Trail. I love books that bounce between characters, it makes you keep on reading! Recommend, if it wasn't an e-book I would put it on the shelf! 

My second book also kept me turning pages. A Curse So Dark & Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer filled my fantasy quota for the year. It’s not my go-to genre, but this was a good take on Beauty and the Beast. I picked it up at the Dusty Bookshelf in Lawrence, and while I thoroughly enjoyed it, I’ll probably put it in the book sale pile. It does have a sequel, but like I said, my fantasy quota is full. LOL

Run 620 miles (down 30 from last year) 158/620

I ran 65 miles in March. I am doing good getting my long runs in for my race prep, I'm falling behind a little bit with my mid week runs. I set my alarm, I just don't always get up! ope. My race is the end of April so I should get good  miles this month too! 

Grow my savings by 60%

Made another savings deposit in March and my savings goal is on track to be accomplished by September! Jeff and I are also starting to shop around for our first house project for the year. We are replacing our privacy fence, but I don't want a boring privacy fence....so stay tuned! Lola will be very sad she spent most of last weekend escaping from a "private" location. We finally figured out the board that she could push through. Darn dog. 

UFO (unfished objects) to be completed in no particular order 

Did some more stitching on my UFO. I was going to take it with me last weekend and I forgot it! I have some travel time at the end of April so hopefully I can finish it on that trip. 

    Alpaca Quilt

    T-Shirt Quilt

    2 photo books for Daryl and Alex

    1 knit project from stash

    1 stitched project from stash 

I am not a sports photographer but I liked these!

Progress on my stitching project

And my new rainbow pants, just for fun!
I love thrifting!

Baseball and Band

 We are ending March with a flurry of activities. 

Last week Daryl had his first baseball game. This season started off rough with him taking a baseball to the eye during tryouts. He had to take 10 days off (doctor’s orders), but the good news is he’s back and ready to play. Definitely a tough way to start the season.

Alex had his first music festival last Thursday, and it was such a fun one to watch. The middle school band headed to Baker University, played two songs, and got rated on their performance. They ended up with an excellent rating. I took the morning off to go watch, and I’m really glad I did, they were so fun to watch!

And then Jeff and I snuck away to see David Byrne. He’s been on Jeff’s bucket list forever, and I was just along for the ride. I have now been converted to a fan! The whole show was so unique. The band marched around the stage with their instruments, every song had visuals, and it just felt completely different from any concert I’ve been to.

My favorite was Psycho Killer, and the crowd absolutely lost it during Burning Down the House.

10/10 would go again.

Celebrating our successful week at a Library themed speakeasy. There was a password to get in! 

Last Week was Formidable!

Trying to come up with a word that really described last week was hard. I settled on formidable because it means “difficult to deal with.” Yeah, that’ll do it.

It was a decent work week and a good week for the kids. One of my molars decided it was time for us to be done with each other. So tooth pain on Monday turned into mouth pain on Tuesday and then total head pain on Wednesday. Wednesday afternoon I had the sucker pulled and started the road to recovery! A week out, and I feel great.

Enough about me. Alex has been keeping busy with his middle school basketball team and tennis clinics, preparing for that season. I’m trying to play it cool, but I can’t wait to see him play this year. He has put in so much work since last season, and I’m ready to watch his 8th-grade season.

He visited Topeka High two weeks ago, and I can’t believe that will be his school next year. He said he and Dad visited three tables: Band, Tennis, and Science. Then they bounced. LOL. That sounds about right.

Aaron visited Topeka High as well, and going from four schools this year to two next year is going to be AMAZING! Aaron checked out the theatre table, and that was good to see. I love that T-High has something for everyone.

You can tell my monthly goals went off track during my Molar Week, but I’m back on track, and Lola and I have gotten our walks in all week. She is still very distracted by EVERYTHING, but we’re working on it. I just wish she didn’t see squirrels as such a threat…

My molar diet consisted of soft foods and ice coffee. Finally got hot food and drinks back on Sunday!

Getting serious about Lola walks! 

Basketball , Wrestling, Band and Burrrrr

I should have posted a week ago, but the crew has been busy! Alex has started his basketball season. The JV has had one win and one loss after two games. Daryl ended JV wrestling at Topeka West. At that meet, he had two wins and one loss. Last Friday, Alex had honor band at Washburn University. Whew! All while it has been super cold outside.

It is Feb. 1st, and while this isn’t my goals post, I do have to show off my 2026 planner. As someone who really has to plan my month so I don’t waste it, the Commit 30 planner keeps my goals in front of me. In January, I finished my first sticker page, and I didn’t do too bad. I’ll update the rest of my goals in my next post.

January felt like 100 days long. Excited to see what February brings!