Fourth Bi-Annual Shelley Family Reunion

Every other year The Gene and Theora Shelley families get together for a family reunion. Our family lives all over the country so each reunion we meet in a new location. We have met in California, Utah, and Hawaii. This year we met in Kansas. What is there possibly to do in Kansas? you ask?? Well, we found plenty of things and to do and lots of things we didn't even get to do because we ran out of time. We went to a farmstead called Deanna Rose. They had animals in cages, and animals for petting. They had a fishing pond and pony rides. They had an old school house and bank. They had several playgrounds and lots of log swings. I thought my kids might be too old for this but they had a great time.

We ate at a restaurant called Fritz's in the Crown Center. What makes Fritz's special is that you order your food on a telephone from your table (a la training table) then a train brings you your food.The train runs along a track hanging from the ceiling. The train drops your food on a tray above your table that then lowers down to the table. I think that the adults enjoyed watching the train deliver the food as much as the kids did.

Off to Mimi and Papa's House

Ryan and Cassidy got to spend the week in Utah with Mimi and Papa. They were really excited to go and I was really excited to send them. My sister, Leslie (who lives in Dallas) was flying to Utah to visit a friend so, they flew with her. I thought I might be a little sad after they left but I had so many things I wanted to do I didn't have time to be sad. While they were gone, I cleaned my carpets, repainted my kitchen, saw a movie, and took in my sewing machine to be serviced. Together Nathan and I decorated Ryan's room.
























Here are the before and after pictures. We decided on a "Movie/Hollywood" theme. He had seen some of the decorations but before he left we hadn't chosen a color or any bedding. His bed was a mattress and a box spring on the floor, so he is truly moving up in the world.

A Mother's Theme

My friend Erin posted this on facebook and I thought it was pretty funny. In the description it says something about church. I'm not sure what this has to do with church or Jesus or God for that matter but it is funny.

Best Father's Day Gift Ever!

This Father's Day I received the best gift ever! Cassidy was so excited about her gift for me that she had to give me some hints several days before Father's Day. To give you a little background, I am a pure technogeek, and I love new things with electronics and high price tags. I think it is genetic, but I'm not sure I want to find a cure. So, I have been lusting over the iPad from Apple, but I'm not terribly excited about spending my money on one. So I don't have one ... but I want one. In my church group, the iPad seems to be multiplying like rabbits with a new one appearing every Sunday.

Cassidy says to me on Thursday, "Dad, you are going to love your gift. It has a battery, and you can take it to church." I thought, "hmmm, did Karen really buy me an iPad? Did she know that I really don't want the 3G version? What size did she buy? the 16 GB or the 32 GB? No, she wouldn't spend that much on Father's Day. But I have been a pretty good Dad this year."

Then Sunday morning, Cassidy came downstairs and said, "Let's get Dad his gift!" I started to get excited. Cassidy then brought out a paper gift bag with "tissue paper" which was really shredded toilet paper. The bag looked a bit small for an iPad ... but I continued. At the bottom I found my personalized iPad (small spiral paper notebook and a D battery). The best part was when she exclaimed, "Dad, it even has a battery so you can take it to church with you!"

I have a very funny daughter. She's creative and I love her!

I think I have the most wonderful kids in the whole world

Sometimes I catch myself just watching my kids.

Ryan is getting taller everyday and it won't be long before he passes me. (Remember when you were finally taller than your parents, well I never saw that day, but I do remember the day I was taller than Cherrie's mom.) His interests have changed. I have boxes of Thomas trains and Star Wars people and Fisher Price little people that I can't bear to part with even though he hasn't touched them in years. He knows more about computers than I do. (Remember when your mom couldn't work the VCR, that's me now) When I need help with the "entertainment system" I call Ryan to help me. Even with his big teeth I can still see my darling little boy. When did he get so big?

My sweet and sour Cassidy is becoming more sweet each day. She is so aware of what everyone is doing and who is right and who is wrong. She loves to be in the kitchen and has learned to make brownies all by herself. With her braces her face is changing. She hardly has any chubby cheeks left. However, she will still allow me to plant kisses on them. Cassidy likes to be tucked into bed each night and although sometimes it is at inconvenient times, I am glad that she lets me end the day with her each night. It's hard to believe that she is eight. She is long and lanky and it won't be long before she is taller than me also.

I think I have the best kids in the whole world!!!

P.S. I can honestly say that one thing I really like about the dog is that he will never be taller than me.