2017 Blue Jeans Week 43

Busy week!!!  It was a short school week because of parent teacher conferences.  Last band competition for Miss O.  A medical science fair win for the girls, and then Miss O and Ben got on a plane for Utah and a college visit while Mr J and Miss E stayed with me, and we went exploring to see The Pioneer Woman Mercantile in Oklahoma (more pictures in previous post) and went to a ballet.  Take a look at our crazy busy week. . .

Last marching band competition for Miss O.  So proud of her hard work in band!  

These girls--on their own and not for a class, entered a medical themed science fair and won their regional competition and advanced to the state competition next month!!!  Lots of hard work done by these ladies!!! Appreciate their sponsor too!

While Miss O and I were in the city at her band competition we hit Hurts Donut Company.  Yummy!!

Ben did a cake decorating class at the library with Miss E and Mr J earlier this week.

No school Thursday so we went on a field trip down to Pawhuska, Oklahoma to The Pioneer Woman Mercantile and restaurant and were able to tour the Lodge where she films her Food Network TV show.  So much fun and such good food!!!  Way more pictures of this in the previous post.

Friday we had tickets to the ballet in the city and my best friend joined us since Ben and Miss O were gone.  It was lots of fun!  

And this young lady went with her dad to Utah to visit BYU where she hopes to go next year and to see Miss A!  Hello BYU and love the Y on the mountain.

No trip to BYU would be complete without getting ice cream from the BYU creamery!  Yum!!

They were able to go hiking while there to Stewart Falls--so pretty!

Went to a football game and met up with my sister and her family.

And Miss O got to ride in a plane for the first time (that she can remember, she went as a baby, but obviously doesn't remember it :)  She thought the plane ride was pretty cool.  

Busy week!  Thanks for visiting!  Hope you had a great week too!!!

Pioneer Woman Mercantile

While Ben and Miss O were on a college visit last week, the kids didn't have school Thursday or Friday because of parent teacher conferences, so we decided we were going on a field trip.  I have been a fan of Ree Drummond aka The Pioneer Woman since 2007.  When her Mercantile and restaurant opened I really wanted to go.  When I found out it was just a few hours from me, I decided I was going!  My mom,  my sister and her husband and Mr J and Miss E joined me.  We were lucky enough to be there when you could tour the Lodge--the ranch guest house and where Ree films her Food Network show.  It was so beautiful!  So here is a look at our field trip from last week. . .

Eating an early dinner--normally the wait time for the restaurant is about 2 hours.  We got there later afternoon, went to the Lodge, and came back to the Mercantile to eat around 4 and walked right in--no line.  It is open from 7 a.m. to 7 pm. and early morning or later afternoon evening are the least busy.  All our food was amazing!!!  Everything on the menu and at the amazing bakery upstairs is one of The Pioneer Woman's recipes and does not disappoint!

This is the Lodge--the ranch guest house that Ladd and Ree remodeled in 2008 and where they film her Food Network show.  It sits on a hill and is such a beautiful setting!  We were lucky that it was open for tours the day we went because it isn't always open because of filming and guests staying there.

Inside the Lodge.  I loved the cowboy boots on the mantle!

Part of the kitchen where Ree cooks!

One of the awesome Pioneer Woman Kitchen aid mixers.

I wanted to cook in this kitchen!

So much fun!

They added on an addition to the Lodge a year and a half ago with a prep kitchen and storage or Ree's props for her cooking show.  Cool to see this room with all her stuff she uses!

And the view from the Lodge was absolutely amazing!  They definitely are out in the middle of nowhere, though!  100,000 acre ranch!

At the Mercantile.   

Inside the Mercantile and heading upstairs to the Bakery which is not to be missed--blueberry scones are amazing!!

If you ever get near Pawhuska, Oklahoma, I would highly recommend stopping and exploring and, of course, eating!!

2017 Blue Jeans Week 42

Busy week of birthdays and senior moments--last band concert, senior night, and jazz band.  Take a look at our week. . .

We are definitely Oreo fans at our house.  Have you tried the mystery oreo?  What flavor do you think it is???

Happy birthday to my Dad!  Sure love him!  Enjoyed his favorite banana cream pie to celebrate!

Girls Lunch Out with my bestest friends!  Sure love these ladies!

Mr J's first Jazz concert, and he had a solo and rocked it!  Love that sax player!

Miss O sharing an orange julius with her cute little friend :)

And senior moment...senior parents night with Miss O.  Yes, I shed some tears.  So proud of that girl!

Her last high school half time band performance!

The band did a glow show after the football game which was really fun to see!  

And happy birthday to this amazing man!  What a blessing he is in our lives!  Could not live without him!!!  Thanks for all you do!  Sure love you always and forever!!! (and his requested birthday cake was apple dapple cake with warm vanilla cream sauce from none other than Mel's Kitchen Cafe--to.die.for.)

Thanks for visiting!  Hope you had a great week!!

2017 Blue Jeans Week 41

A fun fall week!  Cross country league races, Chicago symphony, Fall festival.  Life is good and we are finally enjoying some fall temps!  Loving all things pumpkin at our house too!  Take a look at our week. . .

Kids went to a fall festival for a church activity and had a lot of fun!

League Cross country champs--both boys and girls!  Woohoo!!!  Amazing group of kids right here and awesome coaches!

Going to see the Chicago Symphony orchestra tonight!

Sure love this handsome guy!

Mr J hanging out at Ben's work and having fun on the balance machine :)

Tis the season for parades and marching band!  Love this marching band boy of mine!

And this marching band girl!!!

Thanks for visiting!  Hope you have a great week!

2017 Blue Jeans Week 40

Week 40???  How did it already get there?  Someone told me recently, "The days go by really slowly, but the years fly by."  So true!  This past week was busy!  Homecoming in a small town is a big deal, and Miss O was selected as a homecoming queen candidate.  Lots of fun stuff going on this week.  Take a look. . .

The fall homecoming court.  A great group of kids that Miss O has known since preschool.  Crazy to think they are seniors!  Fun week ahead!

I was a chaperone for the high school band this week as they went to a marching band competition and the weather was horrible!!!  Rainy hard in this picture, and cold and windy!  Ugh, not fun marching band weather, but despite all that, the band did awesome.  They are a fun group of chaperone.

Cross country meet this week... .and they are off!

Miss O and her cute escort before the big homecoming parade.

 It is parade time!  For the fall homecoming they have a parade with class floats, the fall sports teams, and the homecoming court gets to ride in the back of convertibles.  One of our best and longest friends got to be Miss O's driver.  Fun stuff!

And of course the band is in the parade!  This is the middle school band and Mr J's first time marching in a parade with the band.  They sounded good!

And Miss O in the parade!  Lots of fun!!!

So proud of this girl and a big senior moment.  It was hard not to cry!

Out on the football field Friday night for the ceremony.  She and her escort didn't win, but we were sure proud of them!!!

And then Saturday was another parade that Mr J got to march in.  Tis the season for marching band and parades!  We love them!!!

Thanks for visiting!  Hope you have a great week!!!

2017 Blue Jeans Week 39

We had a great week.  No school Friday, and Ben took the day off, so we had a nice long weekend together.  Finally got some fall-like temperatures and we are zoning in on pumpkin recipes :)  Life is good.  Take a look at our week. . .

Sunday night games and treats--playing Yahtzee and eating peanut butter cheerios bars which is Mr J's favorite treat to make.

Cross country meet for the week--go Mr J!  He did awesome!

Miss E working hard in her race.

And these girls rocked it!  First place as a team and individual medals!  So proud of my girls!

Picture from Miss A for the week--these are her cute roommates this year.  What an awesome group of ladies!

Fun family Friday!  We went to the city to the temple as a family!  Loved this!!!

Then we tried a new place to eat in downtown KC--Greek food, and it was yummy!

Thanks for visiting!  Hope you had a great week!