Almost 4th of July

Our weekend started off a little rainy. However, it didn't keep the girls and I away from the annual fireworks show in Oriskany Falls. The forecast called for it to clear up later, so we took advantage of the opportunity to connect with old friends.
We arrived at Jason's for a gathering in the garage. My lap is still able to keep both girls on it. If only I could keep them this size.
Fun times with Jason and Diesel. Diesel is a little more smelly this week after getting into it with a skunk. Happy that didn't happen while we were there!
The girls met Diesel's neighbor friends Mac and Daisy. Mac was only 4 months old and at 78 pounds! More than double Kelly's size.
Before the fireworks, we set up the air mattress. Always a hit for the girls. I was happy they didn't ask to sleep in a tent.
Just a little tug of war with the sheets. With some imagination this made for a great fort.

Happy Father's Day!

Let me start by saying...Happy Father's Day to all the dads and father-figures. The girls and I took a trip north to Sixberry to celebrate. Gary's wish for the weekend was to have us go to camp. So in honor of Father's Day, we honored his wish.

Saturday night Dad and Arlene came for a camp fire visit. Laura was the s'more maker. There is just something about eating s'mores at camp that make you feel like a kid again.
After a s'more, we took on a "fierce" game of Toy Story Yahtzee.
Laura with her lucky Yahtzee roll. Boy was she excited! It was a close game. In the end, Grandpa still managed to squeak by Laura and Kelly with their tie score.
Remember that wagon last weekend... Well here it is, good as new. Gary's wish was to get the wagon rebuilt with the lumber from last week. Without us around he was able to get it back together again. The girls treated Gary by sealing the wood. All nice hickory straight from Whitaker Woods.
A little help from Dad on the corner. All ready for the next load of hay.

Family Gatherings

The weekend started out with the question of, will there be a soccer game or not? There were thunder storms on and off around us. Kelly's game was at 9:15, had she had the first game at 8 it would have been cancelled.
We were happy they still played. Kelly is starting to like it. A change since the first game when we couldn't get her off the bench.
Gary, the Boy Scout, was prepared to watch the game in comfort.
Saturday night we hosted a birthday celebration for Gary's mom.
Uncle Eric and Laura playing with the i-touch. We are lucky to have family who are more advanced in technology than we are. I'm not sure how Laura would learn about some of these things. Kelly found a new talent or scent? Happy to have my eye back to normal size! This past week I had some sort of allergic reaction that caused my right eye to swell shut. After a couple trips to the doctor and an ER visit we seem to be back on track. On Sunday, Gary went to pick up his lumber for rebuilding the wagon. He sawed some hickory out of our woods last week and delivered the logs to a neighbor for sawing. These are the left over pieces that will be sent through the evaporator. The truck was loaded with the cut pieces that will be used to rebuild the wagon.
Sunday afternoon Gary's cousin Heather and her family visited from Iowa. Laura and Kelly thought it was great to visit with someone who lived out "west". It wasn't a whole family reunion but we did celebrate the occasion with taking a picture at the family tree.

Water District

This past month our property has been under construction in preparation of the new water district. In 2005 the water district was extended to the airport. 5 years later they are extending another section which goes through our property.

Gary and the girls check out the hydrant at the end of our driveway, just behind our mailboxes. I think Gary is excited to mow around this...

Or maybe the other two out in the fields. This is facing Rowlee Road. Look at that nice smooth path they left us.

The dozer that was left for us to admire. Gary has been talking about getting a dozer however aside from the toy he got for Christmas this past year, this is as close as he's going to get to having one...

Kelly taking a turn on the dozer.

Laura's turn on the dozer.

Kelly and Laura showing off some of the rocks the crews had to move from the field.
We certainly have some big rocks if anyone is in need of them.
While we were walking in the field, we noticed these strawberry plants. I don't think I've ever noticed these.

Fishing and Castles

This weekend had only a small window of opportunity for some nice weather. I was teetering on whether or not to go to Sixberry. When we put it up for a vote it was obvious when Laura and Kelly raised their arms so high, we had to go!
Laura has inherited the Stanton fishing genes. She loves to fish off the docks. The only thing is she tends to follow in my footsteps of not liking the worm or the fish, just the catch. Thank goodness for friendly neighbors who would bait her hook as long as she liked.
Kelly has taken a liking to swimming a little more this year. The extra security of the tube helps her get to the raft. My bet is that the tube will be gone before the end of summer and she'll be on her own.
Kelly also seemed to like the fishing. She and Al caught this nice little bass and released it on the beach. All fish were for catch and release only.
Laura enjoyed some time in the sand. When we left this morning the castles were still holding during the rain storm that was passing through.