Days With the Duerksens

I wasn't there to witness it, but look who caught an 8 pounder!!

This year for Father's Day, I decided to recreate some photos I took 6 years ago for Chelan.  I think he still has them on his desk at work, so now he can replace them!  Look how they've grown!! Ages 1 1/2, 8, and 6 Ages 7 1/2, 14, and 12 (not sure what happened to Caiden's here)  

Harvest, for us, began on Monday evening - a new combine (to us), brand new auger, and the newly-added drive-over pit awaited the rush of work ahead.  I think Chelan had this drive-over pit in his mind for a long time, and it wasn't until I could see it all working together that I appreciated the vision, the planning, the searching, and the work it took to create such a set-up.  I've always been a visual learner, and perhaps Chelan does not share many of his plans verbally with me because of that.  Like I said, I didn't fully appreciate this huge undertaking until I saw the finished product! So, here we are on Friday, and we're done with our fields.  The rest of the wheat to cut belongs to Chelan's uncle, and even though it isn't "our wheat," it is nice that we get to extend harvest just a bit longer - especially now that "The Tregs" have arrived from California (that's what the girls (and Grandma) call Chelan's brother's fami...

May 26 - another birthday for Cambry!   Every year in the midst of a busy May, we pause to celebrate Cambry.  This year, she invited a friend over for the night and for jumping fun at a trampoline park in Wichita.  This was actually her first sleepover, and she had so much fun with Olivia and Delaney (her built-in friend)!  At twelve, Cambry is still her creative, free-spirited self, but she is also learning that she can find success when she works diligently and steadily - particularly in her schoolwork.  She also continues in 4-H, will volunteer at Bethesda Home this summer, and is generally a friendly, happy-go-lucky kind of girl.  We love her dearly! A Kindle Fire - finally! We also celebrated with family the day after.  Oreo dessert was her pick this year - only 1 candle to blow out!  

A couple of weeks ago, I traveled up to Topeka to watch my niece, Addi, swim in her first state swimming meet.  I am not very familiar with swimming meets, so it was interesting to figure that all out and fun to watch Addi swim her best!  She ended up with a 5th place finish in one race and then finished as the state runner-up in the 100 meter free.  What a privilege to watch her succeed after training so hard.  It will be fun to see how she does next year, and then she's off to college.  How can it be!!!????  I'm so proud of you, Addi!

Delaney just finished up two weeks of volleyball and basketball camps, led by our high school team coaches and assisted by high school players.  I think Delaney wanted them to last all summer - she had such a great time.  She seems to have a natural athletic ability, and so far just loves participating in all of it!  It's fun to see her learn new skills and then practice them - she likes to practice until she reaches her own goals.  I'm pretty sure that's not something she has been taught - it seems to just be part of her personality.  I hope that sticks as she gets older! Serving Passing Already a pretty good spike approach  Basketball scrimmage on the last day: Hot Shot and Free Throw Champ for 1st-2nd grade girls!

There is no lack of imagination when Cambry and Delaney join forces, and summer is the perfect opportunity for them to explore the depths of their creativity!  We've only had about two-and-a-half weeks of summer, but they have already created a puppet theater and a short-lived "smoothie shack."  It's fun to watch their imaginations play out!