The HANDFUL

What a week. We started with an unwelcome guest Sunday a.m. that we did not know about until Mondsay p.m. Security cameras are a plus but they don't do it all. We are still on the lookout for this scumbag...

The newest Tribe member is getting chunky and we love it!

THOSE cheeks! 

And today made everything else seem less...water therapy was a welcome respite from all the life we've been doing lately. We enjoyed several paddles and then had lunch before making a drive ALLLLLLL the way around the lake checking out the day use areas and campgrounds and boatdocks and marinas and picnic areas. Yep, we did them all! A nice day of getting wet, we really need to do this more...

The new pump is great but it is still a workout pumping up both boards!

Such a welcome day on the water...we definitely need to plan to do this more often. Getting wet felt so good even if I didn't intend to fall off the board it happened (my first time falling off BTW) and I was thankful for the cooling off it gave me. 

The HANDFUL

It's fair week. We are proud supporters of our local youth fair. This week we've been both volunteers and goers. This morning we've enjoyed the rabbit show and then tonight the steer show. It's always a good time. And we love a slice or two of pie and the pork burgers. They are the best! Cash the Cow did a great job in the ring and so did Little #2 handling him. Tomorrow is the big sale; unfortunately Cash the Cow weighed in above selling weight but one of the rabbits will be auctioned off.

Lots of tired Little Littles, thank goodness for a wagon to rest in! They have both been troopers.

In other news ROADA got new house batteries. Quite a job to get the old ones out and the news ones in but MiRV did it! Now we are back in business. Just thrilled to have had them last as long as they did.

So if things get back to some semblence of a new normal we are ready. However between family needs and a new outbreak along with a new variant we aren't too hopeful for potential travel. But we are ready, well, sort of...

The HANDFUL

The theme this week was to rest up. Hahahaha hahahaha, well, at least we tried. Lots went ahead and happened after the departure of daughter and family and so much more needs to be done. We are knee deep in summer projects and have a looooong list still on our "to-do" list. It would help if we stopped acquiring new projects. 

Had a very nice 4th of July celebrating with friends and family...

Family Celebration #1

Family Celebration #2

Annual Stonegate Parade...

Impromptu swimming party with the cousins on 4th of July!

Our new flagpole!

That's just the highlights folks...it's been a challenging week and yet a good news week. Though the challenges seem to be coming fast and furious. We've popped up some BIG bucks for new RV batteries, yes, plural as there are F.O.U.R. and those little puppies aren't cheap. Hope we get at least as long out of the new ones as we did the old ones. They were the originals and we have had ROADA an unbelievable 7 years now! It's all good in the big scheme of things and hoping to be out driving and seeing the our country soon.

The HANDFUL

What a jam packed week with the Bee we have had. She's been full of energy and enthusiasm for sure. What I can remember is that we have been to the lake paddle boarding, went fishing, bought fireworks, made banana bread, had a cousin visit, played several hands of UNO and attended a cousin birthday party...that is what I can remember right now!

So the action packed fun filled week is leading into a weekend long 4th of July celebrating. WHOOT, whoot but no booms please she isn't a fan of the loud. Just bring on the poppers, glow sticks and smoke bombs with a few parachutes thrown in for good measure.

I'm worn out but I'm loving it.

The HANDFUL

We are in MO with the daughter and Bee and oh life is good. So much fun to have them here. They got to meet the newest family member this morning and tomorrow we will be birthday celebrating and then head back to NE for a few days. 

And goodness it was H.O.T. in Nebraska this week for that tee ball game. Holy moly hot. But it was entertaining to watch the little ones. And the ice cream stop afterward was tasty if not eventful...

Couple more days here then off to the North again for a week of helping out around the house and getting some projects done. Also the last tee ball game for the season. Then we will be back in MO with the Bee for a week without mom or dad! Let the fun begin. There will a first birthday bash on the social calendar for another cousin and I'm sure we will find lots of other fun things to do. We are hoping to get over to the lake to get the boards wet. Whopee!

The HANDFUL

Ahhhh...we added to our tribe this week! Held her for the first time at the ballgame last night and she is absolutely ADORABLE!!

Excited to have our own little one coming down for a visit next week. Also going to get to see her play tee ball. Should be a great time.

The HANDFUL

This was a milestone week for us. It's been a whopping 35 years since we got married. It's a bit hard to fathom this milestone since some days I still think I am in my 40s. LOL Anyway the two kids who put college on hold to get married and start a career in the United States Air Force are still together. Both of us went on to finish college and one of us over achieved with multiple degrees including a Master's Degree in Information Technology. You would be correct if you guessed that it wasn't me! The Air Force career was a 26+ year adventure that seems like a lifetime ago when in reality it only ended in 2013. It was an adventure in which we made homes out of 17 various situations from duplexes to apartments to RVs in eight states and three countries. While in the Air Force we were apart the good majority of at least 6 years for various TDYs and other job related travel/training. That's a thing of the past as we rarely travel separately nowadays. Honestly, we rarely do anything separately, never have.

Since retirement we have been able to travel to 42 of our 50 United States of America and four of the ten Canadian Provinces in our RVs. And you know we wanna try to hit the other drivable States along with the remaing 6 Provinces and three Territories in Canada. Come on Canada open that border! However, this is not gonna be the year for Alaska just sayin'. Oh my how I've gotten off track...

Back to the two young kids who got married way back in 1986. We are still together and living the dream. Once in awhile its been a little bumpy but we continue to work on doing life together, remember to extend grace and love even when we are acting unlovable. It's a partnership and it is NOT 50/50. Marriage is 110/110 and some days you don't feel it but you do it. I love the product of our love, she is remarkable and she has given us one of the greatest gifts ever. They are a huge wonderful outcome of our union! There are so many defining moments of our years together and I cannot pinpoint just one as we have such a treasure trove of memories to pull from. I love them all for different reasons. I'm thankful for all our adventures together even the ones I'd rather forget! Like how about that little hike? Then 9 miles later... or the Tipo breakdown on the Autostrada in Italy and let's NOT forget you being away on January 16, 1991 when I needed a driver. Yep, there are some great memories!

So MiRV I say 143 to you...you make living the dream, dreamy and there is no one I would rather be doing life with! Happy Anniversary! And thank you for the carrot cake, it was totally awesome but we are gonna have an anniversary dinner out sometime soon!