Kansas in August

Last August the kids and I took a fun little trip to Kansas and I have neglected to blog about it. So here is the trip in pictures.

 The kids got something stuck in the light and couldn't get it down.

Such a good dog!

We always go to the zoo!  Quentin and Eden being good sports.  Z, not so much.

I love the placement of Quentin's and Charis' masks!

Ouch!

These two did an amazing rendition of The Princess Bride.

We stayed an extra (unplanned) day and had fun putt-putting and driving.

I think Faith and Eden got hold of my phone!

Eden's Poetry

 Today something happened -- Eden went on a writing rampage!  She wrote six poems, five of which are recorded here.  (The first one was written at church and is still there.)

Rainbow

On a sandy shore I know,

Lots of rain there will flow,

And on hilltop, will appear a rainbow.

So I step outside, and I chase it, 

But the bones in my legs will give a fit,

For no matter how far I run,

I cannot catch that colorful fun!

And when I get to the hilltop, just as I have feared,

My colorful friend has disappeared.

So I go home now, with tears in my eyes,

For I do not like to say goodbyes!

But I know, yes I know, even though defeat this time will win,

That a new rainbow shall soon begin.

WaVeS

Waves aren't much at first sight,

But you see, waves always want to fight.

They crash against the rocky shore,

And collide with the sandy floor.

And, oh, oh! They do so much more.

They rear and buck in a wild storm,

And make people feel all forlorn.

They fight and fight with all their might,

And it seems they'll never get life right.

But some day it will end,

And a thankful hand they will lend,

And on that bright, sunny day,

All the fighting they will wash away.

Rain

I like it when it rains,

Rain is like the blood in earth's veins.

It gives us water and therefore life,

Makes it a little less full of strife.

I splash in the puddles that rain makes,

Then go inside to eat chocolate cakes.

And sometimes a rainbow will appear,

And that makes my life a little less full of fear.

Honey

Honey is sticky and sweet,

Its opposite is the stench of my brother's feet.

But I do admit, its warm odor is something hard to beat.

Its lovely warm smell, 

Is like a warm spell,

That wafts through the kitchen doors.

It goes with most everything,

Scratch that, it doesn't go with most everything,

It doesn't go with chicken wing,

Or double espresso soufflé fling.

I like it when it's sticky sweet,

Unless it gets in my hair,

Now, honey!  That's just not fair.

I love it when I sit down at the table,

I always feel able,

To gobble that honey right up.

Why Does Finding Stuff Have to Be So Hard!!!

Why does finding stuff have to be so hard!

Hard like the hardwood floor,

I'm never going to ask for more.

My shoes!  My book! 

I've lost it all.

To get it again I'll have to go to the mall.

My life is a mess, a tangle, an alternate universe where everything is missing!

I will have to find my stuff soon,

Or my head will burst like a balloon!

Auuug! Everything is missing, and I can't find any of it!

So, as you can plainly see,

I will have to get my mom to find it for me.

Halloween

 Halloween was awesome!  Eden was Rosie the Riveter and Z was the old man from Jurassic Park.  Z went over to a friend's house and Eden and Nathan and I went to the house of one of her friends.  Z went trick-or-treating with a group of friends and Eden went around Lydia's neighborhood.  Eden says the best part of trick-or-treating was that she got a TON of Reese's Peanut Butter Cups!  And after trick-or-treating she had a sleepover with Lydia.  They made and decorated Halloween cookies, learned to ride a hoverboard, and listened to a bunch of music.  Eden got 76 pieces of candy! + 1 toy bouncy ball!

Eden is the perfect Rosie!  We figured out how to do her hair by watching several youtube videos.

The "amber" on the end of Z's staff is marshmallows spray painted gold.

Eden as Rosie and Lydia as Rey from Star Wars. Lydia seemed pretty thrilled about doing her pose, Eden, not so much. 

Lots of candy!!!

Montana Trip -- Sunday

 I just realized I skipped Sunday!  On Sunday we hung out at the cabin.  Nathan and Z went for a hike on the property, and then in the afternoon we all went for a hike a couple of miles away.  This hike had beautiful scenery, but the trail was very overgrown and buggy, so the hike didn't last a super long time.

The boy does love a good hike!

We saw this pretty little schoolhouse on the way to our hike.

And this absolutely gorgeous ranch!

That's a waterfall back there.  The picture doesn't come close to doing it justice.  It was truly one of the prettiest sights I've ever seen.