Addiction

I have a small problem.  I have been hiding this for a little while.  I think it is time for me to man up and admit I have an addiction.  An addiction to watching Adam Richman eat and eat and eat.  I can't stop watching Man v. Food on the Travel Channel!  Adam Richman travels all across the country eating in every recommended hometown restaurant he can find.  Warning: Don't watch this show if you are hungry or about to go to the grocery store.  Not only does he eat some of the yummiest looking food on the planet, but he participates in whatever eating contest the restaurant has.  Nothing is too big, too hot or too fried.  He wants his picture on that wall.  This show isn't for someone who likes to eat like a rabbit.  Mind you, I don't know of anyone who eats like this but man is it entertaining.  I have watched him cook a dish so spicy that they had to wear gas masks.  He once dug into a hamburger so big you couldn't see his head behind it when he took a bite.  Tonight he polished off a 48oz. steak in less than 20 minutes and lived to tell about it.  Not only is his eating entertaining but the guy is downright funny.  His witty comments crack me up and I need a good laugh.  I am now getting my husband hooked.  Although it just makes him want to eat.  My food budget may have to be increased if I keep this up.  Have a minute?  Check the show out.  I promise you won't be disappointed.  I will also promise that you will say at least 10 times during the show, "He cannot possibly eat all that."  Sit back, relax, watch and just say a little prayer that you don't have his cholesterol numbers.

Travel Channel Man V. Food

Wyatt's First Day of Preschool!

Wyatt, his dad and I have been talking about this day for quite a while.  New things make him a bit nervous and so we wanted him to be fully prepared for the big first day of preschool.  We read the book Llama Llama Misses Mama a lot.  It is perfect for those headed off to school and explains the process and goes through the emotions a little one feels when their mom and dad leave them at school.  We took him school shopping and let him pick out his backpack.  We talked about all the fun he was going to have.  Pointed out his school when we drove by.  A week before his first day we met his teacher, Mr Relph, and he got to peruse his classroom.  Well, today was the day.  He picked out what he wanted to wear.  A KSU football jersey (of course!), his "comfy" shorts and his "fast" shoes.

He had the biggest smile on his face!  Walking into the school, he slowed his pace a bit but kept going.  He hung his backpack up in the room and grabbed my hand.  He stood behind me a bit, peeking at everything and everyone, including the kiddo who was screaming like crazy, and walked with me to find his chair.  He sat rather tentatively and I handed him a blue crayon and the paper in front of him that said This Is What I Colored On My First Day Of Preschool and he was off.

I told him I would see him later and he said "Okay".  Still coloring.  So I told him Dad and I were leaving and I would see him after school by the flag pole and he said "Okay, Bye Mom!"  Never looked up.  It was that easy.  Piece of cake!

When I went to pick him up, the class was on the playground so I hid next to the school in the shade and watched them play for a bit.  So cute.  15 little 3 year olds running around, climbing, jumping.  Loving life.  They got their backpacks and walked, holding hands up to the flag poles where all the moms waited with hugs.  He was so excited and even told me he didn't cry at all.  Ahh.  My big boy.  So Thursday, we do it again and something tells me he has this down.  Mrs. Relph said he was so good, helped pick up things and was a great friend to all the kids.  Music to a Mamas ears!  Happy first day of school buddy!

Deetda

I think when grandparents find out they have a grandchild on the way, they fantasize just a little bit about what the little one will call them.  Grandma probably does this moreso than Grandpa but just the same, I think they all do it.  Unfortunately, I don't think they have much control over it sometimes.  Somehow, my son has named my Dad (his Grandpa Kemper), Deetda.  Yep, Deetda.  He called him this from the get-go and and I think it is adorable.  Totally fun, just like their relationship. 

The minute these two see each other it is on.  The laughter, the giggling uncontrollably, the craziness, the trouble.  Anything Deetda does is the funniest thing on the planet to Wyatt.  I have literally seen the kid fall over he is laughing so hard.  They just have a plain good time.

When Deetda is around, Wyatt is on point.  Nothing gets left undone.  If it is to eat, they eat it.  If it is to play with, let them play.  Two peas in a pod!  I think it is so special the relationship they have.  You can't have too much silly in your life!  My Dad may wish Wyatt had a different name for him but I think it totally fits.  Any Wyatt wouldn't want it any other way.

Garden Time

I have always wanted a nice big garden.  My Mom planted one every year when I was growing up.  Not a small garden but a big garden that fed us for a year.  We had corn, tomatoes, rhubarb, zucchini, strawberries, beans, peas, asparagus, peppers, onions, carrots and oh boy I know I am missing something.  Mom would can and freeze everything so we would have good food to eat all winter.  I loved it.  I loved being able to eat strawberries straight out of the garden.  I have an intense love of sweet corn. On the cob or off, I could eat it every day.

My garden, on the other hand, leaves something to be desired.  I do not.  Let me repeat this.  I do not have a great thumb.  If it goes into the ground on my property, it will probably die.  Granted, with two little kids I find it hard to get the time to tend the plants but I guess I try.  I also now live in a place with clay soil.  If you have never tried to grow anything in clay soil, count your blessings.  It is NOT conducive to growing plants.  Weeds love it, plants no.  Regardless, my Mom and son planted a garden this year while I tended my new baby girl.  They planted beans, zucchini, tomatoes and later on onions.

Wyatt got his little scoop and rake out and Grandma helped him dig the holes and get the seeds or plants in the ground safely.  Wyatt doesn't like to get his hands dirty but he had a good time!

The soil looks not too bad in this picture but don't let it fool you.  It is a thin layer I brought in to help break up the clay.  Our Summer has been almost the hottest yet.  We are one day away from setting a record here for the most days over 100 degrees so you can imagine what my garden looks like.  The only thing I was able to save from the moles, grasshoppers, rabbits and heat were the tomatoes.  The weather has given us somewhat of a break lately and they are finally getting some blooms.

 One day maybe I will have a big beautiful garden like my Mom's.  In the meantime I am going to have to settle for small and efficient!  My strawberries I planted two years ago are blooming again since it has cooled down a bit and next Summer I think they are going to be great.  Maybe my tomatoes will grow bigger than the size of a golf ball.  But regardless of my poor attempts, my son (and later on my daughter) will know where their food comes from and with any luck, one of them will get a green thumb from their Grandma!

3rd Annual Kemper Family Farm Weekend

The Kempers

There are some things that will never change for me.  I love my family, I love where I come from and I love my Grandma Dolly.  Three years ago with the birth of my son I realized the importance of family.  I wanted him to know his cousins. First, second, third and so on.  I wanted him to know his great aunts and uncles and his only living great grandparent.  And I wanted them to know him.  So began the annual Kemper Family Farm Weekend.  For three years, those of us in the family tree under John and Dolly (Viola) Kemper get together at the family farm.  We have a project or two to complete.  The first year we painted Grandma's house, the next year her garage and this year we did yard work and washed windows and cupboards in her house.  It is a way for us to show appreciation for how much she means to us by brightening up her little corner of the world.  The best part?  Spending time with each other.  We laugh, tell stories, eat and reconnect after a year of busy lives.  This year we were so blessed to have the largest group yet.  There were six little kids (5 boys and 1 girl) ages 3 and 4!  Wow were they fun to watch!  It brought back so many memories of being little on the farm and playing with the cousins. 

Friday night we all headed out to the Logan Lake for pizza and smores.  Uncle Marc and Aunt Tam brought the Ranger and 4 wheeler to give rides and the kids tried to skip rocks on the lake.  Everyone stayed to watch the sun set.  Boy were those smores good!

Saturday we were up bright and early.  Homemade cinnamon rolls and cherry bars (cherries courtesy of Grandma Kemper's trees) were for breakfast.  Then we started in on the yard and housework.  Even the little kiddos got involved!

The grandkids were in charge of lunch and we had grilled hamburgers, hot dogs and brats and lots of yummy sides and desserts.  After lunch everyone either headed for a nap, to visit or to cool off in the city pool.  Dinner that night was at the church hall.  Aunt Tam and Rhea fried up the best fried chicken you can imagine.  Mom made the mashed potatoes and holy cow were we all stuffed when we left!

Frying chicken!!!!!

Mom cooking in the church kitchen

It was such a great time and I am grateful to everyone who could make it back.  I am bound and determined that this is one family who will not lose sight of the importance of each other.  My kids will remember just like I do, the farm and all the fun had there.  And I hope that Grandma Kemper enjoys having her kids, grandkids and great grandkids around her, even if it is just for a weekend.  Oh and just one more thing that will never change for me.... my memories!

Best Buddies

I am not sure exactly when it happened.  When they clicked.  But they did and there was no stopping them!  Wyatt and Lunden are together the peanut butter and jelly in a sandwich, the icing on a cake, butter on your popcorn.  These two can spend hours together and never get tired of each other.  They play trains and cars.  They like to sit next to each other in their strollers at exercise class just so they can show each other what they brought that day to play with and do a little swapping.  They are the kind of friends that know what the other one is thinking.  They can get each other into trouble faster than you can imagine.  One is into the mischief and the other laughs encouragement.  They are quite the pair!

When life keeps them apart for too long, they let us Mom's know they miss each other.  Get that playdate scheduled please!  When you see them together, they are like brothers.  I can only imagine how they will be when they get older.  I will be calling Lunden's parents looking for Wyatt and they will be calling us.  We may have to put beepers on their ankles to keep track of them!

They have had such a good time together in their short little lives and it is going to be so neat to see them grow up together.  I hope they always treat each other with respect and a pat on the back.  You just can't do without a best friend in your life and these two have been lucky enough to find one already!

Harvest 2011

We missed harvest with my Dad this year.  Life got crazy and traveling the 4 hours to the farm just didn't happen.  Luckily, my cousin was cutting down by Wellington so we drove down to see them and Wyatt had the time of his life!

Waiting for his ride!

Last year he was so afraid of the big combine and tractors.  He wouldn't go near them.  This year he didn't want to stop riding!  What a difference a year makes.  Austin took him on a ride in the combine and they cut a while until the header plugged up.  I am sure with two little kiddos in the cab, Austin could put his full attention into keeping the header cleared out!

Getting out of the combine to work on the header

Plugged!

 After they got the header figured out and the combine back to work, it was time for a tractor ride.  Austin's dad, Eldon, took Wyatt and they were so cute.  This was the first time Wyatt had met Eldon so I was shocked when he went off without a second look back.

Wyatt and Eldon headed to drive the tractor

There is obviously some farming in this little boy's blood.  Maybe next year we will get out to Grandpa Kemper's for harvest.  I have a feeling he will be asking to drive by then.  Wyatt never ceases to amaze me!  Thanks to the Lawless family for letting us have some fun!

Talking it over with Eldon and cousins Austin, Chalea and little Audie

Wyatt Driving the Tractor

 Harvest was always a fun time on the farm.  It usually lasted a good couple of weeks when I was younger.  My Dad and Uncle Marc used two old yellow New Holland combines with a header width about the size of a car. :) It took them forever!  Only one of them had air conditioning too.  Pretty miserable in the KS heat.  They had two old, small grain trucks too.  My brother and I would climb up into the fully loaded trucks and a crawl over all the wheat.  There would be grasshoppers and other dead and alive buggers in there but who cared.  It was kind of like walking in sand.  You would sink as you moved!  My Mom made the best dinners to take out to the guys and it was fun to go riding along to help feed the crew.  I still make a lot of the food she made year after year.  Brings back good memories when I do.  Lots of dust and wheat chaffe blowing.  I need to find some of the old pictures from back then.  I have a VHS video from 82 in the basement.  Pretty funny stuff!  One Summer I worked at the grain elevator, probing wheat trucks till the wee hours of the morning.  Leonard Long and I sat there waiting on those trucks.  The harvest crews that came through town usually had some pretty good looking guys running trucks too so staying up and working was way worth it!  Now my family operates a much larger combine, a semi truck, tractor and grain cart and they aren't out there near as long (provided Mother Nature cooperates).  There is something about a Kansas harvest that just makes me happy.  Hard working people making a living off the land.  Just as it should be.