Our Neighbors are Turkeys

Yes, literally.

A rafter of wild turkeys invaded our next door neighbor's backyard this evening. We've never quite experienced backyard neighbors like this...until now. Andy was able to capture some great pictures, which will be wonderful for my 365 project (POTD). I wasn't home from work yet when Andy took the pictures, but I heard that our neighbor Mark was using a turkey call to get their attention. I think Andy should have gotten a picture of that!

I witnessed this same gang a few days earlier on the northside of Fletcher Road (about a half mile from our house) while taking Tyler and neighbor girl Hannah to middle school. This is really quite the sight to see since it's such a rarity, especially within the city limits.

(GOBBLE)

(GOBBLE, GOBBLE)

(GOBBLE, GOBBLE, GOBBLE)

(Okay....enough GOBBLES, huh?)

I didn't know a group of wild turkeys is called a rafter or a gang until I googled it tonight. See, I learned something new. But if they do decide to stay, I'll have to be sure to invite them over for Thanksgiving dinner. Hee, hee!

Days 246-250

These five days have a lot to do with sleeping. Do you suppose it's because I am always thinking about sleep?

Monday, August 31st - Our neighbor's house is currently vacant, so the kids have been using the driveway for four square. I don't know if you can tell it, but Tyler and King are having a disagreement over who is right. Grant is carefully watching too. Oh, kids!
Tuesday, September 1st - Tyler went to bed with Grant at 8:00ish and he's still wearing the day before's clothing. I tried waking him several times to move to his own room, but he was so tired he didn't budge. I took this picture right at 6:45 am before waking him for school.
Wednesday, September 2nd - Here's Tyler eating Fried Oreos after the Newsboys concert at the State Fair. I thought they were okay to eat, but just think of the fat and calories! They even had chocolate syrup drizzled over the top. Wow!
Thursday, September 3rd - I caught Grant watching Andy (Dad) get his work truck loaded for another day. Grant is such a Daddy's boy and usually an early riser.
Friday, September 4th - Madison's sleeping picture turn. I woke up Friday morning to find her at the foot of our bed. I buy each of them a lovely bed and then they sleep on my floor! Go figure!

Labor Day at the Lake

The Broeker's Labor Day was spent at Ritch and Raette's lake house at Big Sandy along with the rest of the Kindergarten team from school. There were thirteen adults and twelve kids who enjoyed the sun, sand, swimming, boating and tubing with the "Big Mable" floating device. It was such a terrific day and we just love the generosity that Ritch and Raette extend to all of us. They are wonderful people!

A Beautiful New Sanctuary

Our church, St. Mark's United Methodist, at 84th and Pioneers has been working to build a debt free sanctuary for the 4,000 members of our church since November of 2006. It's been a long journey for the church to fund such an enormous project (called Miracle on 84th Street), and this weekend we finally got to see it's reality and beauty.
They installed a projection screen system that I heard is state of the art. This system has a name to it, but I can't remember. I do know that the North star will be on the back wall for Christmas Eve services.
The seats are all theater-style and include six sections on the main level with 1,500 seats in all.
Here's the balcony with my family up there waving to me below. It's simply amazing!
A view from the balcony below. Wow! We are so fortunate to have such a nice congregation and now a nice church to go with it!

A note to family members: We have dibs on Christmas at our house this year! :)

Class of '89

Can it be? Can it be possible that 20 years have passed me by? Oh, my, where did the time go? It feels like maybe ten years have passed, but definitely not twenty. Anyway, the Class of 1989 commenced in Schuyler for our reunion this Labor Day weekend at the local VFW Hall. It was great seeing everyone and finding out what they are all up to....

Kelli (Hailey) Johnson and Suzi (Dubsky) Velinsky were the greeters for the night.
There were, I believe, 35 out of the 86 classmates present. One classmate is unfortunately deceased, one is incarcerated and one is serving our country in Iraq. Several classmates traveled from great distances like California, Tennessee, and Rhode Island for the event, but some classmates who live in Schuyler did not make it. Funny how that is!
Andy took most of these pictures. I guess I was too busy talking to think to take any. We did get a group picture, but I'm going to save it for my POTD (photo of the day).
Deb (Krula) DeBaets was playing the game...two truths and one lie. Everyone got a turn to play, which made for some good laughs.
This is Shannon (Eaton) Berry who we have to thank for putting this reunion on. She organized the food, the hall, the invites and the awesome video. That video was very well-done seeing old pictures and new ones of the classmates' families. Thanks Shannon for an incredible job! Hope to see you all in ten years, if someone steps up and takes that project on!

"Fair Well" to my Local Fair

The Nebraska State Fair has been around for 107 years in the capital city of Lincoln. Next year, it will begin a new life in Grand Island, much to my disliking. I consider this my last fair since the likelihood of attending it two hours away isn't probably going to happen. I am sure we'll try it once in a few years when they are established, but it just won't be the same as driving down the road. I've have some great memories of this fair (and from past fairs) and taking the kids to it. Here are some of them....

....the fried food on a stick! This is really the main reason why I attend. I love the junk food! You just can't find this kind of garbage anywhere! Really!
....having the kids pose on various tractors, machinery, by animals, etc. Anytime for a photo opp and Wow! I got a lot for my photo contest too!
....these "Wiggle Cars" were so cool! Grant had a blast riding one. I am considering buying him one for his birthday. They sell online for the same price with free shipping too.
....even the Budweiser Clydesdales were putting on a show. They are such massive, beautiful horses...simply amazing!
....getting cute painted eyes. It really matched her outfit well. Unfortunately, she tried to sleep with the makeup on and of course, it didn't work. It was darling while it lasted!
....gotta love scrapbooking that's entered by the 4H'ers at the fair! I'd so enter mine, if I could. LOL!
....weird sheep! I realize that the owners don't want the sheep to get dirty for show, so they hood them. But, they do look like they are racist sheep, especially since the black sheep next to them weren't hooded. I don't know, it just didn't look acceptable to me.
....the colorful ferris wheels. I love to take pictures of them. I think I have a "ferris fetish" going. Try saying that five times!
....going to concerts mid-week. Boy, that could never happen when it's in Grand Island. Darn it! Yes, Tyler and I went to see No Better Cause and the Newsboys in concert on Wednesday. Tyler is giving me that "look" again. You'd think he'd be use to it now.

....I blew an eardrum, I think. The concert was too loud and I am too old. Tyler thoroughly enjoyed it. I was a bit disappointed. The music just didn't sound the same, but that's a concert for ya. Well...good bye, dear Fair! I will miss you....funnel cakes and all!

Days 241-245

Wednesday, August 26th - Here are my two cute after school helpers. They are always so good at putting my lunch cards in their original places, changing the calendar and filing numerous papers in kids' cubbies.
Thursday, August 27th - Grant heard that Dad is running errands tonight and he's climbed on in for a ride. Grant is definitely a "daddy's boy".
Friday, August 28th - Here we are all beat after a long day at work. Dad sacked out on a couch and me sitting in the recliner. Teaching for five straight days is exhausting!
Saturday, August 29th - The Nebraska State Fair - The kids got their faces painted. I'll have to blog about it later.
Sunday, August 30th - Tyler's first football game of the season. Tyler #85 is playing Safety and they won against the Elks 30-12. Way to go, Police!