Days With the Duerksens

Well, what a difference 10 weeks makes! I last posted a picture of my expanding tummy at 27 weeks. I am now at 37 weeks and she's really sticking out there! The good news is -- only 12 more days to go!

This week the GRC (Goessel Rec. Commission) had a golf camp at Dad's golf course. Caiden and Ty had a great time all week, and I'm hoping that Caiden learned a few new things! While the boys were on the golf course, Cambry and Addi had fun at Grammy's house. On Friday, Grammy even had a fun craft ready for them to do -- they each decorated a cover for their very own journal. We had a fun week! Thanks Papa for letting the boys come to golf camp and to Grammy for hosting the girls! Ready for another morning of golf! Getting some practice in on the putting green Pretty girls and pretty journals!

We have so been enjoying our garden in its new spot this year! Once July hit, the produce started rolling in! Chelan and Caiden have been a huge help, particularly since it's been harder for me to bend over and pick green beans. The other day, I found a zucchini that had been hiding -- it's amazing how big they get when you don't find them right away! Caiden called it a "prize winner" and Cambry was very sad when we shredded it up to freeze (about 14 cups in all)! Next up -- tomatoes, cantaloupe, and eggplant. Can't wait!! The "prize" zucchini is in front and some of our green beans are behind it. Caiden has enjoyed helping stem and snip the beans for canning Caiden is slicing cucumbers to make hamburger dills!

Last weekend I was thrilled to join my church friends for a weekend away in Lawrence. We stayed at the historic Eldridge Hotel (I love those kinds of places) in the downtown area and enjoyed a couple of days of good eating, fun shopping, and time to relax! Good memories made! I know this doesn't show the hotel very well, but I liked the sign Our group of 9: Vanessa, Amy, Tina, Gretchen, Me, Mandi Michelle, Rachael, and Shari We enjoyed doing our own pedicures in the hotel -- here are our pretty toes! On Saturday morning there was a Farmers' Market downtown, so after a breakfast at Wheatfields Bakery (fantastic, by the way!), we headed down there. I liked this sign with the pretty flowers! These kholrabi were so pretty -- one of those childhood memories. My mom used to grow these and I would eat them straight from the garden - they taste a little like cabbage.

We were reading on the porch the other day when my ever-expanding tummy caught Cambry's eye. She looked at my stomach and said, "We can use it like a table, right Mommy?" It made me chuckle!

Shortly after we finished our wheat harvest on the farm, Caiden got busy with his small field of wheat (in the sandbox). He sharpened the end of a hoe (really, he did sharpen it in the shop)so he could chop of the heads of wheat. The heads got loaded into his dump truck and then threshed in a pan (with his hands or with a block). He was so excited when he realized it was time to "combine" his wheat!

Wheat harvest came and went in a blur! Once we really got started cutting Monday evening, we were finished by Thursday evening! Even though it was a really busy week, it was fun to be a part of. We had a couple of meals with cousins, and Caiden and Cambry enjoyed several rides on the combine. This spring, the farm bought a new semi, and after lots of work to get it ready, it was fun to haul some of the wheat to Lehigh in it! Cambry and Cale watch the wheat being unloaded Caiden likes to be right up by the action! Our van was a handy place for a meal on the first night! Cale and Mace joined us along with Trissa (their mom), Grandma, and Grandpa.

Chelan is such a good dad! The kids get so excited when they hear his truck come down the driveway after work, and they really love the weekends when he is around a little more! We're all so lucky to have him! Father's Day was fun for us (I hope it was fun for Chelan)! We got creative with a tape measure card for him -- the idea came from Family Fun Magazine. It was so much fun working on the project together! Caiden decided to hide it (along with a new rain gauge) in his toolbox for Chelan to find. I think Chelan's favorite part of the day, however, was when he and Caiden went fishing all by themselves. They each caught a fish that evening -- that makes a total of 5 for the summer!