We Love You Daddy

I was reminded several times throughout the day on Father's Day of qualities that I love in my husband and things I adore about him.  He is a GOOD Son, Friend, Husband, and Father.  I am so glad he is mine and I am his.

Our kids each made him and card and gave him a little gift on Father's Day/

Silas's card said, "Happy Father's Day! Thank you for Daddy and all the things you do. Thank you Daddy for your birthday.  Thank you for Father's Day.  I love you Daddy! From Silas".

Phoebe's card said, " dady your the best dady in the world happy Fathers day.  Love Phoebe".

Sarah's card said, "Happy Father's Day! Love Sarah To daddy I Love You. Best Daddy in the whole wide world.  You hug me Snuggle me Love me.  Your Definitely the best daddy".

We ate a Father's Day dinner while we watched the final NBA game together and then had some Happy Father's Day red velvet cake...because what is a celebration, or any day, without cake!

Happy 10th Father's Day, Eric!  We love YOU so much!

Mom's Visit

**GUEST BLOGGER**

 ~ Eric Hendrickson ~

My mom came to visit on Thursday, 6/16, and left Monday, 6/20.  We started off the first evening by going to Phoebe's tball game and Sarah's softball game.

The girls both played great!

On Friday morning, the girls went to get manis and pedis and go shopping.  I took the day off work and hung out with Silas until the girls got back.

On Friday afternoon, we went to Grandma Greats house in Olpe.  That evening we went down to the baseball fields and I talked to 7 of my 27 classmates who were there watching their children play ball.  We then went to the park to play.

We left Grandma Greats around 1pm on Saturday so we could get back in time to go to the Wingnuts baseball game.  On our way back into town, we stopped by Menards...my favorite store.

It rained about 2.5" on Saturday, but it didn't rain out the Wingnuts game.  The game was postponed from 7pm to 8pm.  We all got a Gregg Marshall bobblehead and got to watch Gregg throw out the first pitch.

At the end of the game, there is a baseball toss into a bucket at home plate.  Anyone who makes it into the bucket wins a cash prize.  I bought Sarah and I 5 balls.  Sarah threw 2 and I threw 3.  I thought for sure one of mine went in, but I was wrong.

On Sunday, we missed church because my mom's dog Tuffy was sick.  We took him to the emergency vet and we ended up putting him to sleep.  He was 16 years old and his body was failing.  On a brighter note, we had a nice Father's Day meal and watched the Cavaliers beat the Warriors in Game 7 of the NBA finals.  Both Mom and I were rooting for the Cavs.  Thanks for a great visit Mom.

First Family Camp-Out

**GUEST BLOGGER**

 ~ Eric Hendrickson ~ 

We invested in a tent this spring.  One stipulation I had with the purchase is that we had to use it.  On June 11th, we set out on our first family camping trip.  We went to Chase County Lake, which is about an hour and fifteen minutes from the house. 

My friend Damion, nicknamed the beard guy by Sarah, was also camping so we joined him.  The lake has a nice waterfall where the kids played while Damion and I caught bait.  Sarah and Silas also helped catch a few.

The waterfall was a great place to cool off on this 95 + degree day.

I swam with the kids for a long time.  The water was surprisingly warm.

We fished out off a pier near the swimming area.  The kids attracted some geese with pieces of potato chips.  One of the geese was a baby.

We had a late dinner of hotdogs, steaks, corn, and asparagus.  Damion cooked a fine dinner for all of us to enjoy.

Phoebe went to sleep around 11 and Sarah and Silas stayed up till midnight.  They all did great sleeping in the tent on their sleeping bags.

After 1am, the fish started biting.  Damian caught a big catfish, 22 pounds.

Later on, he caught another large channel cat of 18lbs.  

We ended up catching around 15 fish.  The average size was 5 lbs.  We were up till 5am fishing and ended up throwing back all the fish.

The kiddos woke up excited and ready for a new day and the geese scavenging our campsite for food.  We went back to the waterfall before we headed home around noon.  It was a fun first camping trip and I look forward to doing it again sometime soon.

Favorite part of the camping trip...

Sarah - "sleeping in the tent and seeing the baby goose and going to the waterfall"

Phoebe - "swimming in the lake and going to the waterfall.  And, I got hurt on my hand climbing on the rocks at the waterfall.  I sliced it on a sharp rock.  I cried and sitted on a rock.  It got better then I stopped crying and played some more."

Silas - "getting cooled off in the waterfall and dinner, the hotdog and smores!"

DK Weekend

A couple weeks ago Lindsee and EP came to Kansas to visit us and to check out the Dirty Kanza 200, the World's Premiere Endurance Gravel Road Race.  This Bike Race is in its 11th  year.  It is held in our hometown and rides out all over on the gravel roads in the beautiful Flint Hills.  Lindsee and EP's first stop however, was at one of Sarah's softball games.

Yay for super family fans!

Here we all are below, left to right: Eric, Popee, Silas Phoebe, Nanee, Lindsee, Sarah, EP, and me -Stacee.

After the game we had two turtles we needed to release back into their pond environment so Lindsee and EP joined us for the big "Release".

Saturday brought the Dirty Kanza... EP had signed up to ride in the 20 mile fun ride, which started 20 minutes after the 50 milers got started in their race.  Somewhere along his fun ride route he took a wrong turn and began to catch and pass the 50 milers on their route.  He kept on going, riding, passing people, and finishing the DK 50 "like a badass"!

Below, EP in the dark green tank top, beginning the fun ride in downtown Emporia....

Below, we all found a corner and some shade near the DK finish line to wait, cheer, and ring our cow bells for all the DK fun ride and 50 mile finishers.

There he is!!!!

Way to go EP!  Can't wait to cheer you on in the DK 100 next year!

There was a 1/2 mile running race, a 1/2 mile and a 2 mile bike race for children to participate in during the afternoon.  Sarah and Phoebe both ran in the 1/2 mile race then road bikes in the 1/2 mile bike race.

Here comes Sarah into the finish line!  Look at her stride.  She ran well and was the second girl to cross the finish line.

Many children started the race out very fast than began to walk.  Phoebe ran the whole way passing all the children who started too fast.  She has learned how to pace herself, keep going, and run!  Great job Phoebe!

Next up were the bike races....helmets on and ready to ride...

There goes Sarah, passing several little kids.

Below, Sarah is headed straight down Commercial Street into the DK finish line.

And, there's Phoebe, below, heading for the finish line.

That evening Eric, myself, Matt, Ziggy, EP, and Lindsee all went back downtown to watch some of the DK 200 milers cross the finish line.  We saw many men and women come in and cheered them on too.

It was fun to hang out with familly and friends for an evening.  Thanks for watching our kids Mom and Dad!

We also enjoyed time at Mom and Dad's house too.  We played several outdoor yard games and shared lots of laughs.

To find out more about the DIRTY KANZA or learn how 

you can ride in this Gravel Road Race, CLICK HERE.