Days With the Duerksens

Vanessa, Grammy, Delaney and I flew out to Portland to visit Addi and Daniel over spring break. What fun to be away for a few days to see new places and the family we love! Main attractions were: -hanging out at our AirBnB -marionberry everything (drinks, jam, etc.) -Pittock Mansion -Powell's Bookstore -March Madness basketball in downtown Portland -riding the public transportation to the games -Japanese garden -food trucks -Depoe Bay and Newport Beach Sea Lions

Chelan and I had a chance to spend a quick weenend away with Caiden at Rock Springs Ranch for one of his classes. It was special to meet with other farm families whose children are planning on returning to the farm to live and work. I think we all felt like it was a valuable weekend! In March, I dragged Chelan along with me to a Trisha Yearwood concert in Salina. Oh, the memories that come with hearing favorite songs from my high school days. This was our first time at the Stiefel Theater in Salina, and it was beautiful! One has to marvel at those old theaters and the work and effort it takes to restore them. Thanks, Chelan, for going along, and being stuffed into the far back corner with me!

Another basketball season has passed, and this was a fun one! The girls had fun (mostly) and played well together. Their season ended in the sub-state semifinals against a tough team from Troy. Surprisingly, Delaney made the list for all-state basketball, honorable mention! Another highlight was taking 3rd place at the Centre tournament in January.

It seems like family pictures were popular this year! Schmidt Christmas: Dad built little benches for Doug and Chelan, just like the one he made in 4H many years ago. He tried to recreate his look of "excitement"! Duerksen Christmas - just missing our CA Family: Extended Epp Christmas at Mom and Dad's: And from our little Christmas? Only this picture exists - Delaney's gifts to her siblings, made just for them! The weather was unseasonably warm for most of our Christmas break, so the girls took advantage of being outside - lucky for Kenya!

Chelan and I took Delaney to Kansas City for the championship game of the NCAA Volleyball Tournament - a birthday gift given to her in August. What a cool experience! From posing with the trophy to testing her vertical (6th place for all girls who tried!), to watching the match between Texas A&M and Kentucky, to a real life reindeer in the arena, we had a fun day!

Cambry was selling some art pieces at Prairie Lights at Dyck Arboretum, so we made an impromptu trip to Hesston to walk the path with her. It was a beautiful evening with our girl!