Another Family Weekend!

Another picture post... because it is easier to caption photos than it is to tell a story!

Mom drove Andrew and i out to Topeka for breakfast with Kris, Ashley drove in from Hays and met us there.

Andrew enjoyed playing on the iPad on the way to Union Station, he covered it with finger prints.

Andrew LOVES trains, he was in heaven.

Ashley and I on the hand car.

Ashley and Andrew sword fighting, he was pretty good!

Uncle Eric watching TV with Andrew.

Sarah, Andrew, and me at the "Fire-Water" event on the plaza.

Mom, Alan, and Deb at Fire-Water.

Paul and Eric made it down to the creek after about an hour looking for a parking spot.

Andrew loves his strobe stick - and cried when I had to take it from him to fix the strap (so he wouldn't drop it in the creek).

The fire pits floating on Brush Creek.

Andrew was really intrigued by all of the people and the fire.

Not especially impressive, but pretty cool.

Andrew was SO sad about the sun coming in the window on the way to church.

Uncle Eric and Andrew with his "Sadie" balloon.

Andrew visiting Grammy's tree.

Phew, I'm glad our Squish is only the size of a peach right now!  Pumpkins are huge!

Just a priceless facial expression.

Andrew LOVED throwing the straw in the air.

Nana and her grandmonster.

Eric rode his bike to and from the pumpkin patch because we didn't have enough seats in the car for him.  He didn't mind.

Day 350: Motorcycle Oil Change

As I was just looking through these pictures I had to ask Jess, "was this really all today?". It was a very long, but very good, day. We were camping with friends last night, and this morning they decided to go swimming again, but we had more plans for the day so we packed up and headed home.

When we got home we saw our new pharmacy next door to the gas station was having an opening day barbecue. Jess and I will take a free lunch any day, so we checked it out for a bit and had a cheeseburger.  They also had a 50% off special on vitamins, so we bought 4 bottles.

After lunch we did a little research on getting an oil change for the motorcycle, but the one shop we could think of in Eudora wanted to charge us $65 to do it. So instead we drove back into Lawrence to get my O'Reilly's discount on oil, and bought the filter at a Kawasaki shop. We took everything home and changed it ourselves, and ended up saving about $35! It went surprisingly well for a first time, self taught (via a YouTube video) deal; we did hit a roadblock or two, though. The oil filter was the original factory part, and so was tightened pretty well to the bike. We ended up having to whack a screwdriver through the old filter to torque it off. And then after the oil change was complete and we were dumping the old oil into the jug, we found a single washer... Luckily it was an easy fix as Jess put the washer back on the oil plug while I blocked the drain hole with my finger.

After the bike was all good to go, we decided to pack a backpack and ride out to Steven and Leslie's for the night since we'll be going to Grandma's birthday party at Smithville lake tomorrow anyway. Time to wrap this up, we just finished watching a Kevin Hart standup and we're about to go swimming to bring this busy day to a close!

A slow start camping.

Campfire breakfast.

Pharmacy barbecue.

Lunch at the pharmacy.

My rides.

Prepping for the operation.

Mystic laying down on the job.

Jess worked on cleaning her melted boot marks off the pipes.

Soaking the melted boot sole.

Pulling the plug.

Jess screwdriver hammering a screwdriver into the filter.

Our handiwork on the stubborn filter.

Jess stood the bike up while I refilled the oil.

Me re-assembling while Jess bottles used oil.

Jess eating Wendy's on the way to Steven and Leslie's (only a block away from their house).

Day 322: Moving Papa

Papa bought a house last month, and we're finally getting around to getting him moved in.  Today, with help from Paul, Deb, Mom, Alan, and Alison, we packed and moved most of his stuff.  There wasn't much packed, so we balanced our time between loading the truck and packing more boxes.  We started at 8:30, and left his house around 5.  In that 8 hours, we cleared out (almost) his whole living room, and got the big furniture from his bedroom.  Over the next week we plan on helping him finish the office, bedroom, kitchen, and cleaning up the place.  Here are some pictures from the day!

 Awe, Ashley stayed over last night.  Isn't she adorable?

Ahhhh, and you're on a grammar criticizing blog! 

 There, that's better!  I fixed it with a Sharpie!

Dusty proof that Alison was working hard!

A collection of flowers from across the years.

 Eric and I carrying the very last two boxes (for today)!

Papa, proud new homeowner in his dining room!

 A beautiful living room, with a nice low window for Frisco.

The guest room - set up for Papa until his bed gets over to the house.

The office...

And Papa's bedroom!  

Here's the kitchen.

And after a very long day of moving, Eric and I rode the motorcycle home to Eudora.

Day 316: May Day

On this beautiful May Day, we had been planning to take a motorcycle ride to Cassoday.  However, it was only about 45 degrees, so that was a big fat no go.  Instead we did some errands with Mom and Alan - shopping at the mall, getting my rings cleaned at Shane Co, and Alan taught Eric how to make pens.  We gave Deb most of  Grammy's scrapbooking stuff, and took home some toys and clothes for when Andrew visits us this summer.  Another busy, busy day - good times with family!

And so it grows.

Often, I don't know who the ribbons are from, 

But it's such a great thing to see all wrapped around Grammy's tree, 

filled with love. 

From people whose lives she touched,

We miss you - your family keeps growing up and we wish you could see it.