Tennessee

For those of you who aren't my Facebook friend I need to catch you up on the Gauthier happenings. This was the year for the Voth family reunion my moms side. My mom is 3rd oldest of 15 children. We have this reunion every 3 years in various locations. This year we traveled 1589 total miles to Fall Creek Falls, Tennessee. We started our journey on Friday evening when everyone got off work. We left Lawrence about 5:00 and drove to Paducah, Kentucky arriving there about 12:30AM. The next morning we headed to Chattanooga to see Darrell and Claudia Moore. Darrell is my 2nd cousin on the Johnson side. We had a wonderful visit with them. They took us out on there motor boat to show us around their beautiful lake. That evening we walked the river walk and had pizza. Then the next morning we went to an aquarium which was wonderful. Sunday after the aquarium we drove about an hour to Fall Creek Falls where the family reunion was. There are 140 people on this side of my family. There were 70 of us there. This is the first time a sibling of my moms wasn't there. And there were 2 that couldn't make the trip. An aunt from Virginia who is battling cancer and an uncle from Kansas who can no longer drive because of his eye sight and they just couldn't make the trip. This place was in the middle of nowhere. You hit the entrance of the state park and it took another half hour of winding roads to get to the Inn. And there was no cell service at all. It was a beautiful area with the mountains, waterfalls and the lake. We went on this hike to go see a waterfall. There was a swinging bridge, and 2 wooden bridges, rocks and a path that kept going up. Well about half way you get to an area that you can drive to and then hike down to the falls. Rachel was DONE at the half way mark. So we didn't make it all the way down to the bottom of the falls. I should say Rachel, Lindsay, dad and I didn't make it. All of Davids family, my mom and Bob went to the bottom. Bob was amazed how well my mom did at almost 76 years old. I will say she was pooped when she got back to the top. That evening we had a cookout with just my family and my uncle Myron. We had Bob's burgers and they were wonderful. The next day we rented a canoe and a paddle boat and paddled around the lake a bit and then Rachel went swimming in the pool while Bob and Lindsay rested. That evening we had a nice dinner with all the family. We left there Wednesday morning and drove 11.5 hours to get home. It was a very fun and relaxing vacation.

Worlds of Fun

Here are just a few of my pictures from WOF. I didn't take a lot of pictures and those of you who are my Facebook friends can see them all. We did have a great time with all our family and friends. I guess the only friend was Phil because I consider Amanda family already. Bob cooked all the meals the only thing I did was make a dirt cake. So life was in the kitchen was good for me. Kenzie and Ethan are just so sweet and cute. i just love them to pieces. Oh and their mom and dad aren't too bad either. I do feel bad I didn't get any pictures of Don, Nancy, Jeff, Jodi and John. And the 1 picture of Jessica is pretty lame. Maybe next time. I wish Nancy had a blog so we could see the pictures she took. Sammie made her first Rip Cord jump or dive whatever it is this weekend. I think she almost broke Phil's arm holding on so tight. I do think everyone had a good time even though it was soooooo hot and we were there for 7 hours.

I did run into some old friends from home that now live in Chanute KS. Jerry and Anna Houston. They brought their great nieces there. I sat and talked to Jerry for a bit while Anna was taking the girls around on the rides. For those of you who don't know Jerry, he is blind. So he was sitting in the shade on a ledge just listening to the sounds around him. He was very happy I spotted him and came over to visit with him.

Prayer requests

Today Bob's brother, Uncle Rod is having surgery on his heart. I'm not sure of all the details so I am not going to write why. I don't want to put anything incorrect about what they are doing. Anyway keep him in your prayers. Also my aunt Ruth had surgery a couple of weeks ago for cancer. She had a very rough week last week. Things were starting to look a bit better on Saturday but she has a very long road ahead of her. 6 weeks for recovery then chemo and radiation. So keep her in your prayers as well.

State Swimming and Track

We spent Friday, Saturday and Sunday in Wichita for the State swimming and track meet. I only mention swimming and track because that is all Rachel did. There is actually weight lifting, tennis and cycling too. Actually we have a weight lifter that is unbelievable. He squats, dead lifts and bench presses all 550 pounds and more. He is extremely strong.

Day 1. On Friday we spent 4-5 hours at the pool. Rachel swam the 10m and 20m and got a gold and a bronze medal. We had about 20 total swimmers in our group. From swimming we head to the track for a cookout and opening ceremonies. Opening ceremonies was OK. They had a group of girls from KC that preformed on the trampoline. They were good but went on, and on and on. A drum line from Derby Kansas that was the best I have seen. They were really good. A singer who was ok but glad she only sang 3 songs. Then the fireworks. They were just awesome. They blocked off 21st street(for those of you who know Wichita) by the track and off they went. One right after the other. I thought last year was the best fireworks show I had ever seen but this was just as good if not better. It was a great ending for a long and hot day. I should mention we started this day meeting the bus in Lawrence at 7:00. So we were pretty tired when we hit the beds Friday night about 10:30ish.

Day 2 Saturday. We had to be up at 6 am showered, dressed, breakfast and on the bus by 7:30. Saturday morning events started at 8:00 and lasted all day long. Rachels first event was the 50m run. She took 4th place. From there we had the standing long jump and she got a bronze medal. Next up was the 100m dash and she took 7th place. (running is not her strongest event). She runs really hard just not very fast. Last was the tennis ball throw. She was so tired at this point she didn't even try. It was almost like just dropping the ball instead of throwing it. She got a 5th place ribbon. Part of the problem was there was so much staging and waiting to do the event and then staging and waiting for the award that everything was just one right after the next and she didn't have time for lunch. It was about 1 before she was able to eat. So about 1 and her events are done for the day and off to play in the olympic village. Lots of games with a punch card to turn in for prizes. This is the highlight for all the athletes and it was cooler with some wind where this was set up. She didn't get her card all punched off before it was time to load the bus so she saved it to finish on Sunday. We loaded the bus and headed back to the hotel leaving behind the walkers to finish up their events on Saturday. I was so thankful to go back early as we all got our showers done and Rachel and I took a nap! I am not a nap person but I took about a 2 hour one Saturday. Saturday evening brought the banquet and dance. This was in a hanger at Beech aircraft plant almost across from our hotel. The food was awful. The meat was like that pressed turkey. Most people didn't eat the turkey. The dance started and we(Coaches and parents) headed outside where there was a nice cool breeze. Inside it was hot, hot, hot! Our head coach pulled all our athletes outside and asked if they would like to go to McDonalds for ice cream instead of staying for the dance. I don't think anyone was opposed! So we loaded up and headed to McDonalds then back to the hotel for bed!

Day3. Sunday started about an hour later than Saturday which we were all very thankful. But we were checking out of the hotel today so we had to get packed back up and everything loaded on the bus again. Thank goodness most of the athletes have done this many, many times so they know the routine. At the track it is only track events, no field. Rachel only has a relay and it got scratched because 2 of girls from her team weren't there. She was disappointed but survived. She headed to the olympic village to finish up the punches on her game card. Finally 50 punches complete. The young girl helping with Rachels last game asked her if she wanted to start another card. I was standing behind Rachel shaking my head NO! Thankfully Rachel told her no. I don't think she realized she could keep playing. The more punches the bigger the prize. Anyway we came home with a real baseball (I don't know why she picked this) and some silly necklace that has already broken. All of our teams events are complete and we are heading for home. Arriving at home around 5:30 Sunday evening. We had a really great weekend with no rain and lots of wind! Thank goodness for the wind or we all would have baked. Temps were in the 90's. Lots of sunscreen and no major sunburns in our family!

Happy Birthday Dad

Today is my dads birthday! Happy Birthday dad! I love you.

My Baby's all grown up!

Above is Rachel and Lindsay before the dance and below is Rachel at the recognition.

This week was the last days of Jr. High. Rachel had 9th grade formal and then the next morning was 9th grade recognition. I don't know if it is her growing up or me getting old that bothers me most?

Catchn' Up too

The youngest of the 14 grandkids. He will be 6 this August. I thought this was such a cute picture of him shooting corncobs with his crossbow.

So Erin got us all caught up to date so I thought I better as well.

Today is Rachels last day of Jr. High. She is terribly sad to be leaving her teacher of 3 years making it hard to be excited that she will be going to high school next year. She really wants to be excited and then remembers Angela won't be there. So it is bitter sweet for her. Tomorrow morning will be 9th grade recognition and then she will be done! She starts summer school on June 16 - July 15 and will go to the high school for that. Her teacher in high school is wonderful. Anyway I think so. Rachel and her have butt heads already and the teacher has won everytime! She starts summer camp on June 1st and will go everyday 1/2 days and play, play, play! Swimming twice a week and all kinds of fun things. We have only track and swimming left for Special Olympics and the state meet will be in Wichita on June 5-7. SO takes a break through the summer and will start again with soccer after school starts again in August. So she has a pretty full summer.

Lindsay just completed her first year of college and did pretty well. We are very proud of her and all her hard work. She starts working at the same summer camp Rachel goes to but I think she will be working with the 5-12 year olds. We are very thankful to have an IN because summer jobs are pretty slim around here. Rachels teacher now is a lead teacher at the summer camp and asked Lindsay to work Fridays last year which led to everyday this year. She also volunteers for SO and will be going to Wichita too. It is quite an event and Lindsay will be very busy. She was asked by a friends mother to sing in a church choir last Christmas for a contata. She accepted and has continued to sing with them. This July 5th they will be singing a patriotic contata but with just 12 selected people. I'm looking forward to hearing them sing! She missing singing and is thinking of taking a choir class at JCCC this next year.

Bob is still at Allen Press and is staying very busy there. I am still at my awful job working the awful hours but am grateful I have a job even if it is awful. I did have a job interview last week and will here something this coming week but am not getting my hopes up as I'm sure 200 people applied besides me. I'm just happy I had an interview. I too am going to Wichita with Lindsay and Rachel for SO.

This past weekend we spent at my parents house with all my family. My brother from Michigan and his family were home. All 22 of us were together most of the time. I have added some pictures of the birds at my parents house. Right now the yellow finches are just beautiful. And there are lots of them. We had a wonderful visit with everyone and the time just went by so fast. It was sad to have to leave to come back home.

This summer is pretty full anyway through June. We have a free weekend coming up and then back to ElDorado for the Johnson picnic, then Father's day then our Gauthier nieces and nephews will be coming here to got to Worlds of Fun in KC. We are looking forward to this weekend as it is always lots of fun and we don't get to see these guys very often.

This year is the Voth family reunion. It happens every 3 years and will be in July in the Smokey mountains of Tennessee. We are hoping to go but if I get this new job we probably won't get to.

I think this wraps it up for us.