Days With the Duerksens

My parents treated us to a visit to Strataca - the salt mine in Hutchinson - for their birthdays.  No one in our family had been there, so it was a new adventure for us.  What fun!  We particularly enjoyed the tram rides through the darkness, learning about the history of the mine, how the workers worked, and even what they left behind down there.  Educational and entertaining at the same time - a win!  Then, we enjoyed dinner at the Airport Steakhouse - a new place for our kids.  Thank you Mom and Dad for the special day and for everything you have taught us, do for us, and instill in us!  We love you!   Well-preserved trash left from the miners

Caiden's basketball team wrapped up their season a few weeks ago at the Wheat State League Tournament.  Going into the tournament, they were on a bit of a win streak, so we were hopeful that they would do well!  Thursday evening, they played Elyria Christian and beat them by about 10 pts.  This secured a place for them to play on Saturday.  Saturday morning was met with a sick one at our house.  Ultimately, this meant I would not get to go to Caiden's final games.  I would have to live vicariously through Chelan's texts.  I was a nervous wreck here at home all afternoon!  Their first game was against Canton Galva - the league leader.  It sounded like the boys played better against them than they had the first time, but did come up short. On to the 3rd place game against Peabody - for the third time this season!  The texts I got during the first half were dismal - shots weren't going in, legs were tired, etc.  At halftime, we we...