Family Time in Topeka

Friday the 25th Clint and I took off for Topeka, KS to stay with my brother Chris, wife Niki and family.   We had a little bit of a rough start as we had originally planned to take the Harley’s down, but had to switch at the last minute.  After I had packed the appropriate amount of clothing to fit into saddlebags and dressed in my gear, Clint broke the news that something wasn’t right with his motor and fearing a breakdown- we opted to take the cage.   Super bummed, but not letting it ruin the start of our trip, I made a quick change of the clothes and a bag re-pack (since I could now take more items) we hit the road only 45 minutes late.

 

Topeka is a quick easy drive for us, but Clint is such a kid when it comes to traveling.

1.  He complains about my music.  To this, I just turn it up even louder.  He is such an old soul and listens to OLD country.  Like really OLD.  I can’t stand his music – so thank god I always drive and therefore control the tunes.

Even though he makes up names for my favorite artists, ie: Jason Al and Dean (you know, the trio, he says), Dierks Bentree,    Grantley Giffert,  Duke Bryan (the duo of course), I think he secretly loves their music.  I just know it.  😉

2. He can’t sit still.

 

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This is the chair as far forward as it could possibly go.   Seriously.   Such a child.  Thankfully, entertaining.

 

Once we got to Topeka, Clint wasted no time digging into the Lego’s with all the kiddos.

 

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Such adorable, fun and polite kids.    Truly one of the cutest families I know.  🙂

 

Niki cooked a killer pork loin and potatoes on the grill for dinner – so our Friday night was a relaxed evening full of play time, good food and cold beers.  It was a really great Friday night!

 

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Saturday morning had us up around 8 with some seriously delicious homemade breakfast pizza – the secret was cream cheese, garlic and oregano – and then the boys dove into building a bike ramp.

 

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Jack was a big help.  🙂

 

Ben practiced quite a bit on a smaller ramp first before committing to the gigantic ramp the boys made.

 

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Watch out ladies and gents – we’ve got the next Pro BMXer.

 

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Clint thought he was one too.

 

Until…

 

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Yep.  Mr. Show-Off bent the crap outta that wheel.  I am so sad I didn’t get all of this on camera.  It was quite hysterical.   Sorry Sam – I don’t think you’ll be riding that bike anytime soon. :/

 

I hung out with this lil cutie while the big boys played.   🙂  He was on his second container of yogurt at this point.  Growing boy!

 

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The Big Boys finished the ramp and then the show really got started!

 

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Clint

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Chris

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Ben

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The cheerleaders:

 

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The boys

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Break time.  That ramp jumping is hard work!

The morning went by quickly and it was soon time for lunch.  Clint and Jack were buddies and spent the entire lunch time chatting.   Making plans to save the world, I am sure.  One Ninja Turtle at a time.

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After lunch, Sam took the two boys on a road trip to their grandma’s, Bri went to her best friends birthday party and the adults headed to Kansas City to the Power & Light District for some adult time.

That crazy recap to come soon!

Brace yourselves….

 

 

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Ground Turkey and Pepper Saute

Looking for a simple, high protein, low carb dinner idea?

 

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Cut up peppers and onions ( I used two green, two red and one sweet yellow onion)

 

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Melt 1Tbsp Coconut Oil in Pan and saute veggies until desired tenderness.  Add ground turkey.

 

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Cook thoroughly.  Raw turkey is bad turkey. 😉   Season however you wish.  I used Worcestershire Sauce, Garlic, Sea Salt and Pepper.  I added a little cajun seasoning to my own bowl for a little kick.   Next time I think I will throw in some jalapenos!

 

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Enjoy!

 

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A 3 Year Old’s Fight Against Childhood Cancer

Meet Lexxus Crooks

 

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Lexxus is the 3 year old daughter of Melissa and Adam; two fellow Clarinda, Iowa natives.

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Lexxus is fighting cancer.   

 

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On July 17th, 2014 the family received news they wished they never had to hear.

Treatments aren’t working and despite all efforts,

the cancer keeps spreading.

 

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Lexxus has been sent home to be loved and hugged while she continues to fight this ugly cancer on her own.

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Please lift Lexxus and her family up in your prayers, well wishes, good thoughts.

Whatever you’ve got.

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Her Story

March 2013:  Lexxus was diagnosed with Plueropulmonary Blastoma, a very rare form of childhood cancer.  Lexxus underwent surgery to remove a softball size tumor from her left lung and soon started the process of intense chemotherapy, multiple MRI and CT scans for a span of 8 months.

A week after her last round of chemotherapy, the Doctor’s found cancer had spread to her brain.  

December 15th, 2013: Lexxus had surgery to remove a quarter size tumor from her brain.

Following surgery came 25 rounds of radiation for treatment. 

December 30th, 2013: Lexxus began 5 weeks, Monday-Friday, of sedated radiation.

 

April 2014 : Lexxus underwent a Stem Cell Transplant

 

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June 2014: An MRI of her brain showed the cancer had spread and Lexxus went through another brain surgery on Tuesday, June 17, 2014.

 

July 17, 2014: Radiation followed by an MRI resulted in results showing the cancer spreading at a rapid pace.

 

   All treatments have been stopped and Lexxus is now home with her family.

 

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She’s a fighter and is surrounded by an entire community praying for her.

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What a sweet, courageous and beautiful little girl. 

Please pray for strength, comfort, peace and healing for all.

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If you would like to donate directly to Lexxus’s parents, Melissa and Adam, please go to www.paypal.com and use Melissa’s information to deposit directly to her account. Her e-mail is mcrooks817@gmail.com and her number is (712) 542-0214.

 

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To view a beautiful collection of photos by Photographer, Mallory Olenius, please visit the below links.

 

Lexxus Fight Albums:

Album 1: Photos by Mallory Olenius

Album 2: Photos by Mallory Olenius

 

 

 

Professional photos courtesy of Mallory Olenius

A Roof Over My Head

Last weekend Clint and a few other good hearted friends and family shingled our house.   They chose the hottest weekend in Nebraska as temps rose to mid-90’s with humidity levels out of this world!

Add on the fact that the boys lived it up at the Willie Nelson concert the night before and you can imagine how they were filling at 7:30am.

 

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Perks of husbands business?   Bobcats to get you on the roof when ladders were forgotten back at shop.

 

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While the boys worked in the heat – I worked in doors.  I was still nursing my tooth debacle and didn’t feel like getting too carried away.

First on my agenda?  Tackling my 17 year old’s room.   For the love…. I am positive that his room had not been cleaned since the last time I did.

At Thanksgiving

 

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I already had two loads going by the time I took this picture.

 

The final tally:  6 loads: all Kyle’s  ~   2 loads: a combo of Clint and I.

 

Next on my agenda: Baking and Lunch duties.

 

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You guys…

I did it.

I used my Christmas present for The. First. Time.

 

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It’s seriously Christmas in JULY!   (ya, I see Clint’s calendar hasn’t been flipped yet)    WHY did I WAIT so long to use this thing?

I am in love

I made Banana Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting.   <– Recipe Link.  The only thing I changed was I used 3 bananas instead of 2.

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Lunch time was much needed.  I was honestly a little nervous they wouldn’t get back up.  It was so freaking miserable out there.

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Champ.  Always in the middle of it all.

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This guy.   Don’t be fooled by the smile.  He definitely said something inappropriate prior.

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The guys worked until about 7pm and then called it a night.   I had dinner and ice cold beers waiting for them.  Pulled pork, fresh corn on the cob from my families farm in Clarinda (Thanks, Jeanne), watermelon and tater salad.

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Sunday they were back at it bright and early.  I felt well enough that I chipped in by cleaning up all the shingles out of the front yard.

 

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I’ll admit that at noon I slipped away to have some fun.  I met up with my friend Tracy for some Harley riding.  We met at Quaker Steak and Lube and then rode the route for my upcoming 9th Annual Bitch Ride!  Plattsmouth, Newhawka, Louisville, Waterloo and Bennington.

 

The Doghouse Saloon in Waterloo is my fave bar, hands down.  I’ve mentioned that a time or two.   In the summer they have live music –  even on Sunday’s!

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 Dallas Hendrix.   Great voice!   Definitely will have to track down a show of his.

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I was back home shortly after 6pm and went right back to work picking up shingles in the backyard.

 

PS – this is a great way to kill a good buzz.  😉

 

 

 

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And with that, we have a new roof and another summer weekend long gone.

 

 

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Cheers!