Festival Time!

The next morning was Sunday; I had nursery duty, so Buck and his mom and the boys (who arrived home from Chase's) went to the early service. Caelan and Noah were going to join us, but weren't sure what to do with the puppy. They ended up bringing her to our house and we arranged for our neighbors to stop by now and then to let the puppy out for breaks. Olive was on day 15 of diapers (the internet said 7 to 10, so not sure what was up with that), so we thought it best she not be let out the door--plus neighbors don't want to deal with diapers. I don't even want to deal with diapers!

Also, this was my drive to church . . . a slow down in the turkey department! Kind of like being in a low-rent National Park. We don't have bison or elk, we have weird-looking Thanksgiving dinner on legs.

With church key for the upcoming special events in hand, I arrived home in time to head to our favorite festival with the Crew! It's been 10 years since we've been back to enjoy it, wow!

While Buck found parking, the rest of us headed straight for the Pork Producers' tent--in the same place it always is :) Pork burgers are the BEST! Buck asked them, at my request, where such patties can be found outside of Pork Producers events--like this, the fair, and grilling in the grocery store parking lot. The answer--they can't!! Only the Pork Producers organization has access to these tasty burgers. Well, no wonder I can never find them for home enjoyment. We may need to add a pig or two to our Farm Permit arrangement, so I can infiltrate the organization and procure the secret! #goals

We looped the square a couple of times, peeking into our favorite stores, wishing some of the new ones were open, and deciding which vendor tents to visit. Hot coffee definitely made the list (for everyone but me), and when Caelan heard there were caramel apples just a couple of tents down--she and Brennen went to collect their harvest!

I was delighted to see the jewelry shop we used to visit was still open and doing well! It's the only place that I trusted with my wedding ring when it needed to be re-tipped and soldered together with my engagement ring. I've held onto this beautiful little ring I bought in Wales that broke clear back in my Cali days, before Buck and I got married. Noone will work on it (not that I've asked around too much) because of the type of gold. I mentioned it to my old jewelry store friend, and she said, "Send it my way!" I think we're also going to get Caelan's tennis bracelet fixed, her engagement and wedding bands connected, and my ring retipped (because it's been a decade plus). We might even get the third "anniversary" band we've always talked about adding to my wedding ring designed and crafted by her--eventually, but maybe less eventually than our former eventually (which is now around 20 years ;)

Caelan spotted a very Gabby gift at one of the new shops (which was darling!) I bought it and had it wrapped for a wedding present (which I still need to give her). Afterwards, we collectively decided it was time for another snack and this time we were all going sugary! While we waited in line for beignets, BeReal went off! I know they aren't supposed to be reposted elsewhere--but it's really fun when we're all together and it's time to Be Real :)

Some posts are more flattering than others, heehee :) The beignets were worth the wait! I think I had a pound of powdered sugar in the bottom of my bag. I was subsequently covered with white dust! Covered! Lol! The hot cider was on point, yum!

Caelan really wanted to bring Noah back to the festival this year to show him some of the things she remembers from being a little girl; next year they will be away at college, so now was their chance! Really one of the main reasons I wanted to go to the festival was so Graysen could experience the car show. It is massive for a small town! He was so excited--and disgusted--by the classics, and not-so-classics lining the streets :)

The owner of this low-rider was absolutely delighted to tell Graysen all about it (even though Graysen played cool, it wasn't his favorite). In fact, the guy was so excited that Graysen liked cars in general--he told Graysen to get behind the wheel--started it up!--and let him play with the hydraulics! That is a cool experience in my book :)

While the guys explored the cars, Caelan and I decided it was time to find a spot on the parade route! We also found a half-million-dollar Victorian for sale and sent that link to Buck as our location, heehee :) We should probably buy it and then move there ;)

Actually, we bumped into so many people we haven't connected in person with in that decade I mentioned earlier. One was one of our favorite children's librarians. She helped foster a love of reading in our kids that I am so grateful for! Long retired, she remembered us and was delighted see how the kids had grown--something she said she doesn't get to see very often. She asked for a picture with us, which was sweet. I also found a picture of the *story time just for us* she did, because she was going to miss having our kids to read to. Love!! She used to order new books, like The Boxcar Children, and save them at the desk for our kids to check out and read first. So many good memories, hugs from old friends, familiar old homes, improvements that actually are . . . and of course, the best ice cream in the world :)

We couldn't leave town without stopping by Frostees. Graysen ordered bubble gum and said it tasted just like he remembered . . . from when he was five! 

While we ate our ice cream in our warm van, we drove through the city park, admired the new walking paths, the new playground equipment under construction, jogged the boys' memories about picnics and baptisms and the hedge maze. They were so young then, but little bits and pieces stick out in their memories (like bubble gum ice cream :). 

It was a long drive after a long few days of driving for Buck and his back (where he had surgery) was bothering him as only driving can make it do, but wow, what a good visit to a place we loved. But for real, that house is for sale . . .

Senior Night Under the Lights

Wedding week started off at a straight sprint! After experiencing the professional football game and welcoming Grandma J, we packed on our layers of fabric (still no time to get to the shed for our winter clothes) to celebrate the boys' Friday Night Lights game. As we walked onto the windy, aggressively misting football field while the sun sank--taking the day's only warmth with it--I asked aloud, "Why do we live here?!" Several parents laughed, then invited us to huddle in the plastic half-shelter that they'd camped out under. It was pretty amazing what that windbreak did for the temperature and level of soddenness we were experiencing! Grandma J huddled in the corner with at least five layers of clothing and a blanket and was almost not miserable! Buck, meanwhile, stood on the field, helping with line crew and making friends with the refs (they called him by name the next weekend, "Hey Buck, second down." lol :) His jeans were soaked through by the end of the first quarter.

Can you see the mist falling when the building provides a backdrop? And how about that tackle by G$?!

Super cool that Rylan, Chase, and Josh showed up to support the boys! At first Rylan was just wearing a short-sleeved t-shirt which seemed an unlikely choice given the weather conditions (he was right, the weather app did say it was in the mid-50s--it definitely was NOT!) The trio went to grab coffee in an attempt to warm up. Buck told Chase, "Just for future reference, when you are out getting coffee and know that I'll be around, think, 'I wonder if Buck would like some coffee.' And the answer will be, 'Yes, he would!'" Ha! There was hot chocolate provided by some thoughtful parent; that was nice. (Brennen is 21, btw :)

For some reason the lights went out before the second half of the second game . . . but they were restored pretty quickly. Playing on turf was a fairly new experience for the teams, but they didn't seem bothered by it--although I'm sure it was just as slippery as the ball was with all that moisture falling from the sky (even though the weather app said it was HIGHLY unlikely any such thing might happen).

We had Graysen's giant speaker (with new microphone) along for the half-time senior line-up with parents. I got a rose from Brennen (which he got from the team managers, but it was still really sweet :) They read each guys' biography, and we took pictures with our seniors. Wow, Brennen is a senior!

They won! After the Varsity game it was laaaaate. And we were cold and hungry. Rylan suggested Raising Cane's, and we all agreed (they stay open past 11 p.m., which is what we needed!) Ahhh, hot chicken and fries!

I'm going to tack Saturday morning in the mist onto this post, too. We were barely home and in our warm beds when we had to eject ourselves from such comfort to head back out into the cold for more football :) It was an adventure, and we already knew to pack warmer than we thought we should! So, let's see . . . we were on the road by 8 a.m. and were home around 5 p.m. Still no time to get the real coats out of the shed!

We ate concessions at the football field, and gas station pizza when we arrived home. Then the boys went to stay at Chase's apartment--they've done that a lot recently! :) I feel like I should have more details to share, but we've had a lot of football games in the past few weeks, and they are starting to blur together. Both of the boys played, no one got hurt, yay football!

First NFL Game for the Boys

The boys' friend C had an idea to surprise his dad for his birthday. He got Buck and our boys involved, the worship pastor at church and some of his family, and a couple of other friends. They all bought tickets in the same row . . . way up top in the stadium . . . and headed to Kansas City to watch the Chiefs play the Broncos. This was Graysen's birthday gift from us, although he's not a fan of either team, or Miss Swift of whom he sent me a very blurry, distant picture, lol. However, the experience of driving down with his dad, brother, and friends, eating real KC BBQ at Gates, and then enjoying a packed stadium filled with NFL fans--pretty cool! And even though the Broncos lost, Buck and Brennen had a good time, too :)

Taylor, is that you? :)

Meanwhile, back at the house . . . Caelan was helping me with all the wedding things! Then she drove us to the airport to pick up Grandma J! It was dark and rainy, which is not my best driving conditions. I provided directions and a place for Scarlet to cuddle up--to prevent vomiting in the backseat. I'm super helpful like that, lol :)