SD Church Camp

Cindy and I made our way up to SD Church Camp (CFO) the middle of June. The big draw was of coarse our grandson and oh ya...he brought his parents. We drove west across NE and came in thru the southern part of the Hills. It is so beautiful...we meant to take Hwy79 to 44 then in to Keystone but we turned a couple of miles too soon into the park and ended up taking a little longer route. It actually turned out great...we drove by a pretty large herd of Buffalo and the drive was wonderful.

We had Carsten and Katie with us for the week which was a real blessing. Talk about good kids.

   And here is the Star of the show...with Grandma.

And here is Michael having a snooze with Grandpa

   

 

                                                                          

 Hey Mom where you been? 

This guy just has to show up and it makes for a good picture.

                                                                               And here's Dad

The week flew by and we really enjoyed our time with daughter...son-in-law...grandson...nephew...and great neice...short and sweet!

Play Ball

I like to watch sports...some more than others...but in general I will watch anything sports related. Now don't get me confused with the sport fanatic...I like to watch but only mildly care who wins...50-50. That goes up to 90 percent on Fall Saturdays...you figure it out. But what I really like to do is to watch sports with the 3 girls I love. This is on  rare occasions...but with the introduction of 2 wonderful son-in-laws... 2 of my sweeties have taken a new interest in sports. First Ashley...she likes to commentate...not on the sport itself but on everything else. The uniforms...mannerisms...what is said... the weather...it doesn't matter as long as she can commentate and if you keep up a running commentary with her it is a huge bonus...I love it. She has shared with me that she commentates some with Alex but it is much less when she is with all the Cranes...but give her time. Alex is very easy going with this and even has Ashley watching Denver hockey...we're talking true love here!

Now Dene' has not been a big sports fan either but that is changing too...huuummm I wonder why? Thanks to Tyler, Dene' has an inside knowledge of some facts that a casual fan is just not suppose to know. Awhile back we were watching a college basketball game and part way thru she started telling us about how young this team was and where some of the team members came from and their back-ground.Then true to Dene' fashion  she asked..." so what color are we for?" I love it and so does Tyler...he is so patient with her!

 

Now Cindy...you wouldn't guess her for a sports fanatic...and maybe I'm bending the definition here...but when I can get her to sit down and watch something with me...watch out! I would never call her opinionated but her her friends call her that (kinda a movie line). Last nite we were watching the second game of the Heat and Mavericks (basketball Miami and Dallas) and Cindy was going on non-stop about how sloppy both teams were playing the first half and the refs were letting so many fouls go by and Dirk talking such poor shots! She becomes an expert on any sport she sits down to watch...I love it too! Guys...if your love-one is willing to sit and watch some mindless sports with you...listen and agree with whatever they say...the magic of LOVE!

Speaking of mindless sports...lets talk about soccer. OK..that was low...my apologies to Alex and Tyler. Seriously I have come to really enjoy soccer. Thanks to my two sons in-law I have taken a great interest in the game..er..match. Cindy and I where blessed with the opportunity to watch Tyler coach and play...and hope to have the same opportunity to see Alex do the same.

Tyler coached the JV team at at our Catholic High school here in Lincoln while they were with us. They did really well and enjoyed the experience and energy Tyler brought to the program.

If its not obvious...Tyler is from the South...its hot...always hot...especially during soccer season. Coming to Nebraska and coaching in March was...shall we say... pretty cool!

          Here's the half time inspirational talk.

Tyler also played on a city team...which we really enjoyed watching  each Sunday afternoon. It reminded me of myself...when I was the star athlete in high school..running circles around everyone...OK...in my dreams.  

                                             

 

 

                                                                        Don't even try and stop this guy.

                                                       OK he's fast!

                                                            

                                                                                                                                                                                                  

                                                                                                              

                    

  Launch

                                             Another cool match

                              

                           

And the crowds came from far and wide!

Thank you Lord for Alex and Tyler, two good men, who share their love of sports with the ones they love.

Mmmmm...something smells good!

One of the many things I like about summer is smelling the good things people are cooking on the grill as you go for a walk around the neighborhood. My brother Dan introduced me to cooking with hickory and apple wood chips as you grill out. This not only adds a very nice flavor to whatever is cooking but the smoke coming off the grill is wonderful to smell too.

I feel like I am doing a good deed for the neighborhood as I cook out and provide everyone else with the very pleasant smell of wood chips and BBQ Ribs.

 Now I have a neighbor a couple houses down from me who keeps his lawn immaculate and tends to entertain and cook out quite often. He grills out with wood chips too. I don't consider myself a very competitive person (altho Cindy may disagree with that) but it seems to me the more I grill out the more my neighbor does too. And as I step it up a degree with the chips I'm sure he does too! Now Cindy I and are empty Nesters and cooking BBQ every nite is getting a little ridiculous. But darn if I'm going to let somebody out smoke me! OK a little competitiveness is good right?

Who says wood chips are just for BBQ on the grill?

 If it's good for ribs it could be good for salad right?

Let's not stop at supper....if it's a smoking contest you want...breakfast isn't for the faint of  heart...buddy...bring it on!

I am having a tough time keeping the syrup on the waffle though

Next I'm sure I can make some killer popcorn on the grill...I'll let you know.

Witness Protection Program

I feel like I've been in hiding or undercover...like being in the witness protection program. I work during the day relatively unknown and unseen as I repair copiers and printers. Then I go to the YMCA after work, come home and cook supper and spend the evening with the one I love. I'm not saying I don't like my routine...it's just time to share my widely exciting life with the world! OK...my family anyway...and only those who care to read on...MOM? are you still there :)

What do I know about the witness protection program? Well I have two very close friends who are in it. Donald, who I have known most my life, and Squeaker, who came into our lives several years ago and befriended Donald and myself. But apparently not Cindy.

                     Here they are in their younger years

Donald and Squeaker kicking Tyler's soccer ball around.

 Not long ago Cindy thought they had out stayed their welcome. Where did this come from? These little guys didn't do much but hang around here and there...playing computer games, sitting in the sock drawer sometimes...guarding my Bonsai plant from robbers. Cindy said she thought it was time for them to go...go where she did not say. But as soon as Donald and Squeaker got wind of their soon to be homelessness they went under cover to the witness protection program.

 

You didn't recognize them, did you?

It didn't matter that they had not really "witnessed any crime... yet" they weren't about to become just another stuffed animal statistic. They donned their disguises and went into hiding. This past Easter  I thought these two little guys could get back on the good side of Cindy again by giving her an Easter basket.

 I could not find them anywhere...they were that good. Finally I found them hiding in a bucket under some towels in a cupboard. To make a long story short, they agreed and now live in relative safety in my...well...sorry I can't say right now Cindy might be listening.  

  Thank you to my two wonderful daughters who inspired me to start blogging. I really enjoy reading their blogs.