Band Festival

The 5 high schools participate in the band festival concert.

Symphonic band

"Symphonic Dance No 3: Fiesta!"

Farm Animals

Uncle Vern and aunt Dolores are under the weather. Let's give them some space and check out the animals on the farm!

Cousin Katie shows us where the 4 new kittens hide in the barn!

Sophie is in love!

Kitten love at first sight.

Mama cat is making sure Sophie does not smuggle one in her pocket!

Who needs an iPad when you can play with cats?

Barn cats are not used to being held very long.

Affectionate cats - until they plant their claws into 
Maman's thigh. Ouch! Yes, you better hide under the hay bale!

Uncle Vern has a new loft to admire his junk treasures!

The calves aren't sure about being petted. Maybe next time!

NE MCC Sale

We haven't been to the Nebraska MCC Relief Sale since Alex and Sophie were little. It's high time we check it out again!

Bandana's BBQ on the way to the farm.

On the way to "Nebraska the Good Life". 

Items to be auctioned off today.

Sophie likes to check out the quilts.

Does it mean she is going to take on sewing? Hardly.

Verenika lunch, Bethel College Choir, and Ten Thousand Villages.

Papa catching up with all the Beatrice folks.

New PR

Alex reached a new personal record in pole vaulting at the Track & Field competition at Bridgewater College. He didn't practice for 2 weeks and wore long pants: maybe that's the secret sauce?!? We'll take it!

3.46 meters / 11' 1/4": way to go, Alex!

Louisiana

Maman enjoyed exploring Louisiana's Cajun French culture. She needs to come back!

Cornfields? Nope. Sugarcane!

Cypremort Point State Park is a great spot to relax after work.

Man-made beach a few miles from the mine.

Marshland with small deer and alligators!

Alligator family hanging out in the wetland.

Bon Creole is a fun place! No alligator meat. Bummer!

Jane's has a great crawfish etouffée and shrimp bisque.

Weeks Island

Maman is traveling to Louisiana this week to audit the Weeks Island mine. While it was cool in Florida last week, Louisiana is 85 degrees hot and muggy!

We're not in Kansas anymore: flooded fields for rice & crawfish.

The Lafayette airport has audio messages in both 
English and Cajun French. That is so cool!

Golf of Mexico a few miles down from Weeks Island's plant.

Is this a joke? There are black bears in the wildlife preserve 
on the property along with wild hogs, alligators, and coyotes!

Tour of the plant to check out each building.

Time to go underground with the Finance folks.

2-mile wide salt dome is 1,600' down. 
And as hot and muggy as on the surface. Yikes!

Fluffy

One more stuffed animal is joining Sophie's already very large family. She just can't resist (and her father doesn't know how to say no).

Fluffy is getting ready to fly for the first time.

Hopefully this is not how Sophie got her Fluffy.

Coconuts

Last night in Florida: Coconuts on the Beach has great seafood.

Bye Florida! We'll come back when it's a little warmer!

Cocoa Beach

Papa and Sophie checked out Cocoa Beach's pier. Only the surfers were allowed in the water.

It's a little windy...

Surfers like the waves.

Canaveral

This is Maman's second visit of the Port Canaveral plant. Always fun to go to Florida with the beach closeby.

The plant processes salt coming from the Bahamas.

Showing Michelle the SpaceX launching pad from the roof.

The boat bring salt every 3 months.

View of the Morton plant from the restaurant on 
the other side of the port (by the cement plant).

Pelicans like to hang out by the restaurant.

Going to the beach after work: amazing!

It's pretty cool and windy

but when you live in the Midwest, walking on the beach is top!

Universal Studios

Papa and Sophie had fun visiting Universal Studios in Orlando. Long lines to get to rides but still worth it!

26,000 people had the same idea that day.

Lunch with Minions.

Hogwarts: Harry Potter land.

Gringotts Bank.

Butter beer in Diagon Alley.

Wendy found a candy store.

Fisherman's Warf replica.

Dr Seuss

Wicked

Sophie got Fluffy at the gift shop: busted.

What are the odds of meeting your preschool BFF?!?