Family Matters

An evening in the dark... well, sort of!

We had an exciting evening in Kansas the night of December 10.  I was just getting ready to go up to Grandpa's and the electricity went out.

I figured it was just my town so I headed to the grocery store and noticed before I even got into P-town, the lights were out there too.  Luckily, Baker's has a generator so they were open.  I called Paul and he had me get some hamburger. 

Grandpa was at their house with Paul's mom; Paul and the kids were at Grandpa cleaning deer.  Paul had the camping lights on, so there was pleanty of light in the house and I was surprised the trailer was staying pretty warm.

Once the kids got home we stayed entertained watching them practicing their cartwheels.  I took a few photos of Kolbee with his deer (an 8 point buck) taken in front of the car headlights.

Luckily Paul and Kristie have a gas stove so Paul cooked us all supper.  While we were sitting in the kitchen watch Paul cook, Tanner (one of the deputy's and family friend) came over to see Kolbee's buck.  About then Kodee came through the door, he was home from school for the holidays.  Karsten was so excited, he said, "Mom, it's just like a party here."

The electricity came on shortly after 9:30 p.m., a loud cheer went up in the McKee house.  Paul turned off the camping lights and boom... the electricity went off!  Then they came back on, then off... we all had this vision of someone at KCP&L messing with our heads turning a "master" switch off and on. 

The lights finally came on and stayed on about 10:00 p.m.  I headed for home about 20 minutes later.  But when I got home, no electricity.  I called and talked with Kodee, he said their lights were still on.  I told him I may be coming up if the electricity didn't come on soon.  I waited around until about 11:30 p.m. and was deciding whether I should just pack it in and go back to the McKee's house.

I was really waffling because I was the in-charge for my team the next day.  So no electricity meant I would have had to drive into the city.  So if I went to the McKee's I would have had to pack my laptop, clothes for the office and all my female paraphenalia.  Not something I really wanted to tackle at 11:30 p.m.  Luckily, I only had to wait about 10 more minutes and the lights came on at my house.  Woohoo!!! 

I have since discovered that I LOVE electricity - even though I grumble about having to pay for it each month!  LOL...

I've been working on a daily album for the month of December and this is my layout for the 10th.  The black is in honor of the total darkness I found myself in at my house.  (Nice deer, Kolbee.)

(Click on image to open a larger image in a new window.)

4-H Achievement Banquet

This afternoon I attended the 4-H achievement banquet at the fairgrounds in Mound City.

Since the kids receive their plaques and buckles for their 4-H projects at the awards banquet on the last Saturday of the fair, I wasn't exactly sure what they would do at the achievements banquet.  All I can say is that 4-H today isn't like it used to be in my day, big surprise right? 

Today, the kids were recognized for 4-H activities done throughout the year, not just during the fair.  There are a lot of opportunities for the kids to work on their projects outside of the fair, for example project talks, community events, parades, etc.  There are various levels of recognition (purple, blue, red) based on the number of criteria met.

Quentin received the following recognition:
- KAP Champion (purple)
- KPA Project Award - Horse
- Emerald Pin

 
(Quentin is fourth from the left.)

Mollie received the following:
- Cloverbuds certificate of participation

 
(Mollie is second from the right.)

Kate and Jed were recognized for their work as club leaders.  Kate has served as the Busy Bugs club leader for two years.  Jed has been the horse project leader for the county for three years. 

 
(Quentin stood in for Jed - he is the third from the left on the front row.  Kate is just behind and slightly to the left of Quentin.)

Last but not least, Dad presented the camp counselor award on behalf of the Farm Bureau.

I hope the kids will continue to participate in the opportunities that 4-H gives them.  I have always felt that my participation in 4-H was as much of a contributing factor to my work place success as my college degree.  Leading meetings as a club officer, public speaking opportunities, meeting deadlines, and documenting my projects in those darn record books are just some of the skills I learned through my own 4-H experience.  In fact, I still have my record book and I love to go back through it.  You could almost consider it one of my first scrapbooks. 

Great job, Quentin and Mollie... congratulations on your achievements!

Aden's kindergarten graduation

Aden graduated from kindergarten last May.  I was shooting video of the graduation so the photos are from before the ceremony and then afterwards.

Sy, Randen and Cooper getting ready for the ceremony to begin.

 
Karsten, Canyon, and Kaden playing before the ceremonies.

 
Jared and Leslie, the proud parents of the little graduate, Aden.

 
Leslie and Aden

 
Grandpa Randy, Aden and Grandma Robin

Don't you just love little people wearing caps and gowns!??  LOL...

Congratulations Aden!
 
 
 
 
 

More Halloween Pics

Here are some pictures of Quentin and Mollie.  They came over last night to show me their costumes since I didn't get to see them on Halloween.

Can you believe I had Taylor Swift and Augustus McRae in my house?!!  LOL...

I'm sure everyone knows that Taylor Swift is a young country singer sesations; however, you may not know Augustus "Gus" McRae.  Gus was one of the characters in Lonesome Dove.  As Quentin put it, "he was the ladies man."  Go get 'em, Quent!  LOL...

 
 

Scooby-Doo Gang wins the Costume Contest in Prescott

Brena decided that she wanted her entire family to dress up as the Scooby-Doo gang this year.  So, that's what they did!  How cool!  Jed even shaved his face to look like his character.  They even won the costume contest (adult category) at Prescott.

Cast of Characters:
   Scooby-Doo......Breck
   Daphne...........Brena
   Velma.............Natalie
   Fred...............Stacy (aka Aunt PJ)
   Shaggy............Jed

Danielle dressed up as a Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader.

 

Breck placed third in her age category and Danielle placed second.

Bailey and Canyon's Preschool Graduation

On May 18, Bailey and Canyon graduated from preschool at Mound City Elementary.

 
Colt and Candace there to watch Canyon graduate.  That is Josh (in the white cap) behind Colt, sitting next to Sy and Taylor.

 
Sy, Taylor and Candace.

 
Cooper and Karsten watching the festivities.

 
Cooper, Karsten, Kristie, Colt, Candace, Josh and Taylor.

 
Cooper (2nd from left) and Bailey (3rd from left) getting ready to hand out carnations to their moms.

 
Canyon with Candace.

 
Leji with Bailey.

 
Love this little imps smile!

 
Bailey with her step-sister and her half-sister, Lainey, Clint and April.

 
Bailey with Grandpa Gary and Grandma Sheilah. 

 
The happy graduates - Canyon and Bailey.

Congratulations Kiddos... I hope you are having fun in first grade this year.

Nichols Reunion on July 4th

These are the last few pictures Kristie sent me this evening.  The McKees attended the Nichols reunion out at Rod and Robin Earnest's lake on July 4th.

I don't know all of the names in these photos.  So I'm going to lable the photos so if you can help out on the names, please leave a comment with the photo # and I'll get them updated.  Thanks!

 
Photo #1:  Ginny and Janessa

 
Photo #2:  The two little boys on the back (right side) are Kaden and Kasen.

 
Photo #3:  Karsten

 
Photo #4:  Yikes, not even going to try.

 
Photo #5:  Lyndsey with her beautiful girls, Brooklyn and Sydney.

 
Photo #6:  Mike and Marlene's grandkids.

 
Photo #7:  Mike and Marlene's son and family but for the life of me, can't remember names.

 
Photo #8: Mike and Marlene's kids and grandkids, plus Sydney (the little toehead).

 
Photo #9: Marlene (Center) and Michele (right).  Yep, that's Little Michele, she great into a beautiful woman, huh!

 
Photo #10:  Robbie and Marlene

 
Photo #11:  One of Michele's girls, Grandma Virginia, and Michele.

 
Photo #12:  Mike, Grandma Virginia, and Robbie (Robin).

 
Photo #13:  M&M's son, Grandma Virginia, and Michele

 
Photo #14: Rod and Robin Earnest 

Mutton Bustin' at the Linn County Fair

On August 5, four of the boys - Canyon, Cooper, Karsten, and Kasen - rode in the mutton bustin' competition.

(Canyon and Cooper are the sons of Colt and Candace Umphenour; Karsten and Kasen are the boys of Kristie and Paul McKee.)

Here are three of the boys patiently waiting for their chance to ride.

 

Here are photos from Canyon's ride.

Here are a few shots from Cooper's ride.

 

Here is Karsten giving it a try.

Last, but not least, Kasen climbs on for his ride.

 

The kids give it a good go, but after all is said and done I think it is safe to say this was:
Mutton - 4
Boys - 0

LOL... good job, boys!

Edward Lee retires after 26 years with Linn County District #2

Dad officially retired on October 5 after working 26 years for the Linn County District #2.  He had a lot of time off that he was able to take after the fair, but his official last day was not until October 5.

On Friday, October 4, the county commissioners, dad's boss and co-workers threw him a retirement luncheon at the shop.  Vicki Leonard, District #2 commissioner presented Dad with a plaque thanking him for his years of service.  Herb Pemberton and Mike Page, the other commissioners, were also at the luncheon as were numerous county employees.  It was a great send-of for Dad's many years of service.

 
This is the cake for Dad.  Hope that upside down horseshoe is not a harbinger of future bad luck.  LOL...)

 
(Dad with some of the luncheon attendees.)

 
(Dad pictured with the commissioners after they've given him his plaque.  Left to right - Herb Pemberton, Vicki Leonard, and Mike Page.)

 
(A close up of the plaque.)

Edward Lee is parade Grand Marshal

Dad was given the honor of serving as the Grand Marshal for this year's Sugar Mound Arts and Crafts Festival in Mound City.

Jed and Bret presented Dad with the plaque then they hot-footed it to the back of the parade to ride with the Linn County Trailblazers.

To say Dad was pretty darn excited is putting it mildly.

 
(Dad in the convertible provided by Cox Motors, getting ready for the parade to begin.)

 
(Jed is up on Main Street getting ready to present Dad with his plaque.)

 
(I think he seems someone he knows.)

 
(Check him out... not sure if he should run for fair queen or commissioner... but he sure has the parade wave down.)

 
(Favorite sons - Jed and Bret - presenting Dad with his plaque.)

 
(Congratulations Dad, you deserve it!)

 
(Quentin, left, riding with the Trailblazers.  Morgan Wakefield is to the right, followed by Allison Wakefield.)

 
(Bret beside Mollie who is riding Pepper.)

 
(Breck is riding in front of Jed and Brena is on Josie.)

The pictures below were taken later in the day along the creek at the fairgrounds.  The photographer is Danielle, Stacy's (aka PJ) daughter.