Homecoming Parade @ Pitt State...

Last night Ryan, Steve and I drove to
Pittsburg after Steve got off work- we
arrived about 4:30 AM and crashed. The
phone was ringing and it was mom and
dad. The parade was at 9 AM and it was
already 10 after 9. We got up and left and
did not miss a thing. The parade was about
an hour and a half long. After the parade
we went back to Brian's house and brushed
our teeth!!!


It was a rainy day and so the top was up
on the car but it looked very good! If you
look close you can see that I got Brian's
attention!


Their float was in front of the car- it was
great also!


Because we were late, we were at the end
of the parade so we walked over to get a
good picture. Brian looked hot!!!



This is their fire truck and it is rare
because it actually runs! It is helpful
to have a house full of mechanically
inclined individuals!!!


We all met back at Brian's house and got
to take some more pictures...


This was one of the fraternities floats. Gus
looked really good- Brian said that they
do the same thing every year...


Here we are dining at El Charro's!!! What
an exciting bunch!

Touring BIG BRUTUS!!!


After having a fabulous dining experience
at El Charro, we went to see Big Brutus.
This was the first tourist attraction that
Steve has been on with the Varner clan...
that is, if you could not tell by this first pic


We were so happy when we walked into
this part and we also learned that there
was a video for our enjoyment, running
length of 30 minutes! Notice the flow of
the line, Ryan up ahead, mom, Brian, and
bringing up the rear, yours truly Dad!


Looking at all of the pictures and reading
all about it...


It was really big- this picture can not begin
to show the size of this machine.


Steve and Brian under the wheels- I think
that is what they are called- whatever
moved Big Brutus!


This is up in Big Brutus- you could only
go to the main floor due to insurance
issues- Ryan was trying to find a way to
the top- it would have been really neat
if they still allowed people up there.


This is where Brutus stopped and is now
an attraction. The hole that it dug for
mining purposes is now filled with water
that you can not fish out of. It is stocked!


Brian and his sis


This is the bucket/scooper part of Brutus
VERY BIG!!!


This picture was not Steve's idea!


Checking out the stocked pond...


The top of Brutus


Do you get the full picture now???


This was on our way out- It looks like
Steve had a good time!


The kids... Brian, Ryan, Rebecca and Steve


This was right before we left Pittsburg -
It was a fun day!!! My favorite line of the
day was mom talking about a RV, all
of the kids and vacation all in the same
sentence...now that would be a blast!!!

NORTH TOPEKA PRIDE PARADE!!!

This morning mom and I went to a parade
We did not know what the parade was for
until we got there. North Topeka Pride baby!!


I was trying to get a picture of a girl in
Ryan's math class. She is on the far right
in the back and her name is Tequila


There were several bands in the parade.
We were hoping that Topeka High would
be first so we did not have to stay for the
entire thing but they brought up the rear
of the parade- it was cold and we were in
there shade. Mom and I had a good time!


And here is our superstar. Sal was giving
Ryan a hard time today. Ryan mentioned
about riding on a trailer and Sal wanted
everyone to know that was Ryans idea! We
all dined at Taco Bell after the parade- NOT
in North Topeka!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BRIAN!!!!

How about a good old fashion home made
birthday cake- I was going for the scribbled
look lol


Brian, Jennie, Alex, Annie and her friend
came over and opened gifts


What a cutie!


He got a new wallet a key chain and a
mug with his name engraved on it- very
cool!


Brian humoring my picture taking...


We almost forgot to light the candles and
then we forgot to sing happy birthday- Brian
was thankful for that. After eating cake
we went to Gary's Berries and went through
the corn maze. Brian led the first half and it
took us an hour. I led the second half and we
were out in 15 minutes- pure luck!!!!

SURPRISE BIRTHDAY PARTY..
Sean Turns 30!!!

Where is Rhys??? Look for the sunglasses
This was one of the many highlights of the
day! I thought the car was plenty big to
fit all the balloons in- not so much! We
were "practicing our presentation" at
when we were out and about doing this~


Rhys planned a surprise birthday party
for Sean. His birthday cake was bowling
pins and balls- it was really cute!


I really think that Rhy pulled it off and
he was honestly surprised. There is no
way that I would have been able to do it!


Riley wanted the liquorish- she is so cute!
It was neat to see all of the kids having a
good time as well. I was helping Riley bowl
and she decided to take off down the lane:)
I freaked out and that is when the lane got
slippery and she fell- good thing her mother
did not see it happen:)


Then we opened the presents...Everyone
had a great time.


On a side note I had to include this....
Steve put this up all by himself - the globes
that used to hang in the bathroom are no
more!!! I LOVE IT!!!


So naturally we could not stop there.
The blinds that came with the home have
been fun to look at but I was ready for a
change. So Steve hung all of the blinds in
the den and I was so proud of him!

Blessings of a True Friend...

Today was a special day. Not
because I am 8 days away from
starting a new job but because I
was reminded of just how blessed
I am to have a true friend...Rhys.
A friend that has encouraged me
when I needed encouragement
laughed with me when I needed to
laugh and listened through it all.
There is no jealously only sincerity
and that is hard to come by. I am
forever thankful for our friendship.
She picked this arrangement out and
it is BEAUTIFUL!!!! The picture does
not even begin to show that..

Homecoming at Houstonia...

This year we got there EARLY!!! Ryan,
Steve, Brian, Jennie, and I all rode to
Houstonia together. We had a good time
waking Ryan up on the way there aka
slamming on the brakes and throwing
him out of the seat he was laying in...
Grandma and Grandpa stated on several
occasions how proud they were that we
were there- it was a special day!


Jennie got her first taste of family pictures!
It was beautiful today- high 90's- for October
1st!


The grandkids and Grandma and Grandpa
Smiley- Left to Right, Jennie, Grandma, Brian,
Grandpa, Ryan, Rebecca, and Stephen.


Getting a picture with Grandpa and Grandma!


Jennie and Brian take 1...


That one turned out really good! We took
Jennie up to the school after the potluck
dinner. Ryan ran to get a ball and when he
got back with the ball we went home!


Stephen and Rebecca, after surviving a
fall down the stairs this morning- talk
to Ryan about that!!!