Pioneers, pancakes, and stick pull

Every July around the 24th, my church has a pancake breakfast picnic, pictures, and pioneer games to celebrate the day that the pioneers made it to the West.

This picture was taken a few years ago... maybe 4.


This one is a more recent picture, I think it was taken two years ago. It was supposed to be a serious picture (my dad wanted to make it look authentic) but a few of us could not help our smile as people walked by and giggled.


This year we didn't take a pioneer picture, but we had a big stick pulling contest. (Stick pulling was a game that the pioneers played.) We ended up having a tournament. Separated into children, women, and men.



The rules are simple:


Don't get pulled up... or you lose.


Don't let your rear end off the ground... or you lose.


And don't let go of the stick... or yep you guessed it, you lose.


I was not planning on signing up for the tournament because I had just given blood earlier that morning, but the man in charge insisted that I sign up. I didn't expect to do that well, but... I kept winning.


And winning...


And won the women's bracket! I was surprised and a little dizzy, but had a lot of fun. I doubt a bracketed tournament is how the pioneers played the game, but they did play it.

Home away from Home

This is the building that I will be staying in... well a building like the one I will be in.

My building is way Northwest. It is kinda a big campus.

I am not counting...

... cause I am really not, but I only have about three weeks left before my family takes me out to Utah. For the longest time I have been dreading it, because I wasn't sure how I was going to pay for EVERYTHING. Now that I out that I got a scholarship/grant, I cannot use that as my excuse for not wanting to go. I have come to realize that this is it! When I leave I am leaving my home, family, friends, my car(yeah), and mostly everything I have ever known. (don't worry I won't leave the blog) I am leaving my childhood and becoming an adult. For now I am going to cherish the time that I have here as a kid.

Bouncing back

I looked out my window the other day and saw my sisters jumping on the trampoline in a different way. Calvin, my brother had propped it up on our shed/barn and the girls were running at it then bouncing off. I had to take a few pictures.

Klarie or monkey, a nickname that she truly lives up to, and was constantly climbing up the sides to get to the top.


Calvin tossed her at the trampoline, she bounced off and landed right back in his arms.


Kelcey discovered her ability to walk sideways.


Katelyn catching some petty good air coming away from her bounce.


Monkey girl and Spider woman posing at the top.


Of course I took my turn bouncing, this one taking me by surprise.


Calvin must have hidden wings, just look at his height... and this is before bouncing off.


Take two is a little bit smoother for me. PS I love how blue the sky is!


We have had a trampoline most of my life, why didn't I ever think about doing this?

Mother, Wife, and Coach...

Stephanie Phillips was never a close friend to me, nor did I talk to her on a daily basis. In fact, I only really talked with her when she was my aerobics teacher. But she has still found a special place in my heart.




For the past three years she has been battling colon cancer. She was so strong and determined not to give up the fight.



She had coached Kickapoo Chief's Basketball for many years. This year she was able to lead the lady chiefs to many victories leading to the state championships. She was honored to be named Missouri State Coach of the year.

As a student I saw her in the hallways and could tell that she was not getting better. She was losing weight and not looking good, but she was still at school, still going, and happy to be there. I have been following a blog that a friend of hers has been writing (http://stephsgonnawin.blogspot.com/) and have read about the things she and her family have been doing to prepare themselves for the inevitable.

I received news of her death this evening, and although I have been expecting (but hoping otherwise) it still came as a shock. I am happy that she is not suffering anymore, but my heart still aches for her family, friends, and the fact that her life was cut short. I wish she could have pulled through and beat the cancer, but I guess she was needed somewhere else.

Etch-a-Sketch

I haven't really drawn in a while, but last night I started back up randomly. Here they are. (I only got two done, not including a quick sketch of my brother watching TV)



A hand that is not quite done, but is/ will be a symbol of hope and relief. I have a few things I want to add.



This baby took me a little longer. I don't think the scan does it justice, but I still like it. As far as choosing to draw a baby... I like babies and was curious to see if I could do it. Now I just wish there was a real one in the house.

Awwww...

I have been busy with work lately and haven't done anything fun exciting, or worth blogging thus explaining why I have seemed to have disappeared from the blogging world. Don't worry I am still here.

Today at work I read a book about Brazil and learned a lot of cool things. I think I enjoyed the pictures of this foreign place more than the facts that I read. The pictures offered white sand beaches with beautiful water. The Amazon looked a little intimidating, but the people looked kind and welcoming. I was pretty much sold on the idea of vacationing there when I saw a picture of a black-headed Sagui Dwarf monkey and instantly fell in love.

(Yeah, isn't it just adorable?)
If I hadn't of been at work I would have started looking at plane tickets right then so that I could go to Brazil personally and find one to keep in my pocket. This little monkey is part of the Pygmy Maroset family (I am not sure if I am referencing that right, but it is related to them.)



Think about how long it would take the monkey to get through a banana!



I really want one now! These little monkeys only get to about 13 inches TOTAL length, so their torsos are about 4 inches. I have always wanted a pet monkey, but these kinds are so cute and cuddly (not the ones that you see flinging their poo around). I am thinking one of these monkeys would be so fun to have. I would put a little diaper on it and carry it everywhere! I am going to look and see where I can get one!