Spring Break Trip 2026

** Guest Blogger **

Eric Hendrickson

After meeting with Kenny, Sarah and Owen's wedding caterer, on Saturday morning, we headed off on our short spring break trip to Oklahoma and Arkansas.  We started by visiting the cemetery in Lucien (Stacee had some spring flowers to put on her grandparent's grave there). Then we headed to our friend, Carl's, new land/cabin in southeast Oklahoma by Sardis Lake.

These longhorns were in the field adjacent the cemetery.  The kids tried to pet them, but they were not interested.

We stopped in Clayton, OK to get a few things for our off-grid stay in the mountains.

Carl took the family in his UTV to see his property and the surrounding area.

It was cool enough that this butterfly didn't want to fly.

Silas was able to get higher on the ladder than I expected but couldn't get himself into the deer stand.

The girls tried out this swing that was hanging from some trees. Silas watched as Sarah climbed the ladder and joined me in the deer stand.

Silas was able to get up into this deer stand close to Carl's cabin.

We stayed with Carl and his family on Saturday night and left Sunday afternoon.

We decided to stay at a hotel in Springdale, Arkansas on Sunday night.  This is a picture of Sarah and Phoebe in the elevator laughing (below)....

On Monday morning, we drove by Pastor Clark Snow's church building in Springdale, Arkansas.  He was the pastor who did the recent Men's retreat that Silas, and I, and many other men from our church attended.  We also stopped by the new Hutton office in Springdale for a visit.  Then we went to an antique store before heading to Ernie's house. 

Since it was super cold outside, we spent most of the time in the house talking to Ernie.  We had some good conversations and heard some funny (to me) Dad jokes. Ernie took us out for dinner at a local pizza restaurant.

We headed back home on Tuesday morning so I could be back to work on Wednesday. 

Silas 7th Grade - Basketball

** Guest Blogger **

Eric Hendrickson

Silas's first year of school basketball (and I believe the first year, other than when he was really young, that he was on a team I wasn't coaching).  The coaches said in the preseason meeting that it might be a tough year.  I am pleased to say that the boys had a pretty good season.

Top Row, left to right - Kyndel, Stencil, Julian, and Jacob

Middle Row, left to right - Wyatt, Ryan, Kiyan, Silas, and Kael

Bottom Row, left to right - Kendrick, Kamden, Klay, Hunter, Paxton, and Ryder

Not Pictured - Coach Flax and Coach Clasen

Game #1 vs. Prairie Hills away 1/15/26 (lost)

We started off the year playing against the team that ended up being first in the league (headed into the end-of-season league tournament).  We lost by 12 but played pretty well.  Silas played point guard this season.  I project him more as a shooting guard or small forward in high school, but it was good for him to get the experience of being point guard.

Game #2 vs. Winfield away 1/20/26 (won)

Winfield was one of the weaker teams in the league.  We won by 15.  Silas had 13 points, one three, and 4/6 free throws

Game #3 vs. Wellington home 1/22/26 (won)

Wellington was one of the weaker teams in the league.  We did not play very well and barely won the game.  Silas made one three pointer.

Game #4 vs. Mulvane 1/26/26 

cancelled due to winter weather rescheduled to 2/3/26 (lost 50-21)

The score looks really lopsided, which it was, but we were also the first team that Mulvane didn't beat by more than 30 points.  The Mulvane Middle School team is made up of a travel team that joined together to play in Mulvane.

Game #5 vs. Rose Hill 1/29/26 (lost)

Silas hit two three's.

Game #6 vs. Haysville Middle 1/31/26 (lost 31-25)

We played the other Haysville team tonight.  It is hard to have two Haysville teams be rivals in middle school and then be on the same team in high school.

Arnez and Silas played on an advanced YMCA basketball team for about a year and a half together, coached by Arnez Sr. and myself.  They are good friends.

#34 is Blake who also played on the advanced YMCA team with Arnez and Silas.

Game #7 vs. Augusta 2/5/26 (won 44-40 in overtime)

Augusta was a good team that we played really well.  Silas had 15 points in this game.

Game #8 vs. Clearwater 2/9/26 (lost)

We should have beat this team.  We didn't play our best basketball.  Silas had 8 points.

Game #9 vs. McPherson 2/12/26 (won)

McPherson did not have a very strong team, so we won this game easily.

Game #10 vs. Circle 2/17/26 (lost)

This was a game we could have won but we played a little flat and turned the ball over way too many times.

Game #11 vs. Ark City 2/19/26 (won)

We dominated this game.

Game #12 vs. Eldorado 2/23/26 (won)

This might have been the easiest game of the year.  I believe Silas had 15 points.

End of Season Tournament quarter/Semi 2/28/26

Game #1 vs. HMS - 9:00 am (lost)

We were in a 3 way tie with HMS and Augusta.  We were hoping to get the 3rd seed, but ended up with the 5th seed.  We rematched HMS.  We played a 2-3 zone for about 3/4 of the game, which was not our best defense.  When we switched to a pressure defense, the game got closer.  However, it was too late in the game.  I am happy to say that HMS ended up winning the tournament. (Again, it will be good, in high school, when these two teams HWMS and HMS can come back together and play as ONE TEAM.)

Fun Zone at Pizza Ranch later that afternoon with his fans from that morning's game...

We ended the season with 6 wins and 7 losses.  I thought they played well together.  There were also a few kids that had never really played basketball before, so I see them improving a lot for next year.  Go Gorillas!