Saturday, June 5, 2010

Memorial Day in Dorrance


This is where it all starts in Downtown Dorrance, Kansas. Our town population is less than 200 but we have an amazing crowd for Memorial Day. The festivities begin on the street in front of the American Legion. Bicycles, strollers, dogs, ATV's of all shapes and sizes and those walking on foot gather for the parade led by American Legion members and Sons of the American Legion. This year we were lucky enough to have Sam & Stan Langhofer from Topeka play the bagpipes. I just LOVE the sound of bagpipes. We walk from the legion to the city cemetery. The parade is amazing, there is no candy thrown and hardly any spectators, we ALL walk or ride in honor of those who served our country.


Garrett is ready to get the parade started with his decorated bike.



Anna has recently learned to ride her bike without training wheels so she loved showing off her new skills in the parade.
Please notice the yellow bicycle horn on Anna's bike. My Mom thought that would be fun for the kids. I am wondering what I ever did to deserve the pain of listening to 3 kids honk bike horns non-stop.



This is some of the family walking in the parade. In the stroller is my newest niece, Avery. This is the first of many Dorrance Memorial Day parades for her. On the right you will notice Jody's "baby bump," next year she will also be pushing a stroller in the parade.


This is Garrett entering the cemetery.




As we arrived in the cemetery we were greeted by a flyover of a WWII replica bi-plane that was built by a local Dorrance resident. Thanks, Tom for the special treat.


The ceremony includes a firing squad made up of Legion Members and Sons of the Legion Members. My brother-in-law is the one wearing the sunglasses.

Sam and his Grandma listened to the ceremony. Sam's Great Aunt, Mary Kay is wearing the red shirt.


This was our scheduled flyover by a KC-135 tanker out of Forbes Field, Topeka, KS. We really are lucky to have local connections to get these things lined up for our small town.



Sam also had a sweet ride for the parade.

Anna and her cousin Hallie in the cemetery.


Tuesday, June 1, 2010

KSU Baseball

OK, so I am a little behind. Here are some pictures from several weeks ago. We went to the KSU vs. Texas Baseball game in Manhattan on a Saturday afternoon. My Dad really thought Sam needed to go to a baseball game. Sam is currently 2 1/2 years old and his favorite thing to do is play baseball. He is forever saying, "Mom, where my gwub, I can't find my gwub." Then when he finally locates his glove he says, "Mom, you play ball with me?" It is pretty hard to say no. I usually get the bat and he pitches the ball to me. He has developed quite the wind-up when pitching. I think he gets his technique from the kids on the movie "The Sandlot." It is comical to watch. I hope his passion for baseball sticks around.


Grandpa can't say no to a trip to the concession stand. The problem is he only sprung for 2 slushes (hello Grandpa, we have 3 kids).


You can't go to a baseball game and not have peanuts.



We had great seats in the front row behind the K-State dugout.



Grandma Reilly, Sam and Dad.

Sam and Dad taking in the baseball game.


Garrett and Willie



When the kids got tired of sitting still we went behind the stadium and played.