It's Summer!

Ways that I can tell summer has begun...

The annual cul de sac bbq

No, we didn't have the fire dept called on us...Sarah called THEM.

The Olathe FD has a program in the summer that if you call them, they will try to come to your street party and show off the fire engine to the kids.  Luckily for us (and for the good citizens of Olathe) there were no fires or emergencies going on so they were able to make it out. 

Owen said "I got to see the GPS!"
The kids all loved it and thought it was really neat.  They got to climb on the fire truck and talk to the real firemen too.

Sweating it out at a Royal's game!

The day after our bbq, Grandma and Grandpa Cas came up for a Royals game.  They hadn't been to a game since I was a kid.   

Tickets are MUCH harder to come by than they used to be.  Our seats were upper deck and cost what you would have paid for lower level in the past.  They were also in the sun for the first part of the game and it was HOT.

Whether it is the Wade Davis from Boonville that flew fighters, bombers, and torpedo planes off of aircraft carriers in WWII
or
the Wade Davis who closed out the Royals World Series victory
ANYONE NAMED WADE DAVIS IS AWESOME!

Did I mention it was hot?  

The Pool is Open!

After the Royals game it was the perfect time to hit up the pool.  I stayed behind to tend to the dog and do some things around the house, but Grandma Cas went and took some good pics.

SUPER ELSIE!

Owen playing t-ball

Soccer is done so now it's time for t-ball.  Owen has three practices, then three games.  

Owen is using my very first baseball glove.  It has "George Brett's" name on it.  Pretty cool!

Owen reminds me of Ken Griffey, Jr with his hat on backwards taking bp.  :)

Me and Owen's yearly trip to ride Thomas in Baldwin City

This morning Owen and I made the trek out to Baldwin City to ride Thomas.  This was our 4th year in a row.  We went out for breakfast to fuel up beforehand.  Can you tell he's excited?

Percy was there this year helping out too.

Here's Percy coming in right before we headed out.

I wonder if this old engine once ran behind my parents house?

Owen got a new toy at the gift shop after we rode Thomas.  Can you say "Happy Boy?"  :)

And most importantly for Elsie...SCHOOL IS OUT!

Elsie is spending her summer weekdays at Y-Camp and she is excited about it.  They get to go on one field trip per week (cool places like the zoo and Kaufman stadium) and swimming once a week.  They also get Kona Ice once a week (which I'm jealous of).  Camp was supposed to be held at Elsie's school, which was really convenient for us because it's pretty much the same routine as during the school year.  BUT, Prairie Creek was struck by lightening the night before the last day of school. It made local news!  There was a small fire and it was enough to cause them to cancel the last day of school.  And, the repairs were going to take a few weeks, so they moved Y-Camp to Wolf Creek Elementary (Prairie Creek's rival according to Elsie) for the summer.  It's a little out of the way but no big deal for a few months.

Next weekend we are off to San Diego for vacation!  It will be the first time the kids have flown and the first real beach they've been to.  Should be fun!

See ya,

Ryan, Sarah, Elsie, and Owen