A HEART TO HELP

Rog was changing oil on a car today and Meryn(3 next week) was trying to help. She was jabbering the whole time and fortunately Grandpa didn't get hit with the crescent wrench she was swinging around. She loves to be right where Grandpa is and is willing to help in whatever way she can. She is full of energy and we wish she was big enough to do more.

A GREAT FAMILY TIME

We left for Kansas City on Friday morning and arrived at Phil & Julie's house by mid-afternoon where we stayed for the weekend.

We went out for dinner together, all our children and their spouses, and the grandkids were with babysitters. We ate at Jose Peppers and had a fun time together. We did have Molly and Ella with us.

Saturday was Rog's birthday and we started the day by taking most of our grandkids on a walk and ended up at the park across the street from June's house so the children could play. Grandpa left for a few minutes to buy an ice cream treat for everyone. Later that evening we had a barbeque at June and Damon's and celebrated Rog's 64th birthday.

As the evening was about over and we were going to pick up the back yard, we noticed that the trampoline enclosure net had taken some abuse so I just happened to have my nylon thread with needle along and I began repairing the net. The big hole you see was completely closed and Melanie came along to help me and we also repaired about a 4 ft. area on the other side. It was dark so we couldn't finish the last hole but we accomplished a lot in the one hour we did have.

Sunday morning we all went to church with Damon & June and of course the cousins loved that. After church we went to a pizza place and had pizza together for lunch and then it was time to head back to Julies to pack up and head for Salina.

We left about 2:30 p.m. and arrived in Salina around 5:45 p.m. We spent the night with Mom & Dad and then returned to Hutchinson on Monday afternoon.

What a wonderful time with our kids and grandkids and they treat us so special that we want to say a big THANK YOU! for the great weekend. We love you all!

LAND AUCTION IN IOWA

Last Monday we traveled to Iowa to be there for the auctioning off of all the land that was the Neir farm for years. Rog's folks bought the land in 1959. The buildings had been sold earlier after Rog's parents moved to Hutchinson but they still had approximately 150 acres of land.

We drove to Kansas City and met our sons, Roger and John, and had lunch with them in St. Joseph, MO. We then drove on to Cherokee, IA. Don and Roberta drove up from Texas for the auction. We stayed in a motel in Cherokee and had dinner that evening with the auctioneer, Mr. Jim McGuire. He filled us in on what to expect and answered any questions we had.

We then went back to our rooms and most everyone wanted to go swimming. They had a volleyball net over the pool so the guys(Don,Roger,John & Rog) had several good games of water volleyball. I think they had some sore feet, aches and pains the next day.

Tuesday morning Rog & John got up early to go out and make a prayer walk around the boundaries of the farm. There had been a wind storm several days earlier so that some of the corn was laying down and there had been rain as well so the walk was quite challenging. They spent almost 2 hours walking 2 miles and were pretty wet and skinned up from the adventure.

At 9:30 Tuesday morning, we arrived at the corner where 2 roads cross for the auction. The auctioneer was there shortly after we arrived and soon people started coming from every direction. There were probably 50-75 people in attendance. The auction was scheduled for 10:30 and was over within the hour. The buyer of the land was from Washington.

Verdell(Rog's cousin) and his wife wanted to have lunch with us so we had lunch and then went to meet with the auctioneer at his office to sign papers. After that we were on the road again to return home. We had a very enjoyable time with our boys and look forward to seeing the rest of our children and grandchildren this next weekend in Kansas City.

UPDATE ON DAD

A couple of weeks ago, my Dad had a slight stroke. He was in the hospital for a week and now is back to where they live in the healthcare area. He is making good progress and we know that many of you are remembering him so continue to pray for Mom & Dad. We had to make a trip to Iowa the first part of this week but Jim and Sondy came down and were with the folks from Monday night until this morning.

This last Monday, Mom and Dad celebrated 66 years of marriage. That is note worthy in this day and age. Dad had already told us that he wanted to get flowers for Mom so we made sure they were there for them on Monday. They were beautiful!

A DAY OF BLESSINGS

Today is John & Melanie's fourth wedding anniversay. HAPPY ANNIVERSARY John & Melanie and we thank God for bringing this special girl into John's life and into our family.



Thirty years ago today, we were blessed with Susan's arrival into our home and we want to wish Susan a HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! Susan, you are a blessing!.

HUGE GARAGE SALE

Hats off to Angie(nurse friend from hospital) and Susan! We had a HUGE garage sale at our home today and they are cleaning up the leftovers as I type. One man's question summed up what it looked like - "Do you have everything here from when you were born?" There was a steady line of people most of the morning but I think everyone is staying in their air conditioned homes this afternoon.

The kids were selling some tomatoes and green peppers from the garden as well. In the pictures you can see that the kids were enjoying playing with some of the toys. The small pool table is now in the playhouse.

It was a profitable day and we all got lots of corners cleaned up and that needed to be done. They are taking all that was left to the Soup Kitchen so the clothes can be given to people who don't have money to buy them.

TAKING CARE OF GRANDKIDS

Susan had to work last night and tonight and Greg works his 24 hr. shift from this morning until tomorrow morning so this was our day with their children. We have a lot of fun but they have enough energy for 10 kids sometimes. They did some swimming and they spend a lot of time building with K-nex and have become very creative in their building.

Tonight Meryn came to me carrying a carton of cottage cheese and a HUGE serving spoon. I guess she was hungry for cottage cheese but she did use a regular teaspoon to eat with. She had been telling me all day that she wanted some "pau-he". I tried to get her to show me what she wanted but she couldn't do that. Ususally her brothers or mommy can help me understand but even they were stumped on this one. Finally, tonight I figured it out. She uses p for the s sound so that helped me. Sausage - yep, she still has some sounds to work on but we didn't have any sausage so that is why she couldn't show me.(plus she didn't know where to look)

HARD DAY OF WORK

Rog had an appointment this morning and then we were going to our garden plot and finish pulling up the cornstalks. When he left for his appointment, I decided I would go to the garden and get started and surprise him. When I arrived there, Greg & the twins were already two-thirds done. What a nice surprise for me! I helped them and we finished up pulling the cornstalks and the weeds(most of the weeds were taller than the cornstalks). It was so hot and humid that it really was not fun.

By the time Rog came, there was only one cornstalk left for him to pull and the ground needed to be rototilled. I left to go home and then found out that Greg & Rog were going to go in the early afternoon and cut wood. A family in our church has some hedge that they would like to have cleaned up. We need some of that for next winter so we offered to clean it up. I am glad Greg offered to help because I had just about met my quota in the heat today.

They brought home a pickup load of hedge but they didn't unload it yet. Some of it will need to be split but we'll save that for a cooler day(the thermometer says 119 degrees right now). I didn't get any pictures of the garden cleanup but Greg took several as they were cutting wood so I'll share a few of those. The people have a friendly dog that brings hedgeballs to anyone who will throw them for him so the twins enjoyed doing that.

Thanks for all your help and hard work today Greg & boys!!

While the guys were cutting wood, Meryn and Trevin were building with lincoln logs. Trevin had quite a little project going so we shared a picture of their work also.

CAMPING WEEKEND AT CLINTON LAKE

This is the weekend that our kids, grandkids, and Grandpa & I were supposed to go camping. However, after camp gramma and several other events that are coming up in the near future that will take us away, we decided that we needed a break so we bowed out. We miss being with the kids but have kept in contact by phone and know they are having a wonderful time.

Phil & Julie & family started out the fun and arrived on Thursday at Clinton Lake near KC. Damon and his kids arrived later that day but had to leave around 1 p.m. on Friday. Then the rest of the gang, Greg & Susan & family and John & Elisa & family arrived on Friday. Greg & Susan brought their camper with the luxuries that we didn't have when the kids were growing up so of course they were welcomed. June drove out for the day this morning with her children because they wanted to come back and be with the cousins more. Damon had a youth group event so that is why he could not stay.

They have a boat and it sounds like the kids and grandkids are having lots of fun skiing and inner tubing. They are having good weather and the nights are cooling down so the tents are not too hot. The girls and little ones go inside the air conditioned camper to stay cool. We miss being there but will have to wait until the next time to enjoy it with them.