Halloween 2007! This weekend kicked off some Halloween activities. We are not big "door to door" trick or treaters. On Saturday we went to visit our friend Mrs. Bowlby at the Life Care Center. Residents were sitting outside their rooms while the kids walked up and down the halls. The residents passed out candy. There were also different activites including face painting and some other games. After the Life Care Center, dad and Sam went to Eastborough Park and enjoyed some beautiful weather. Sam's face was a mess from the paint. I felt like a dead beat dad with a child whose face was an absolute mess, but Sam did not want to clean it off. On Sunday evening, our church had its first annual fall festival. There were games to play and free funnel cakes outside. The funnel cakes were awesome and also free. We then all headed over to the big Believer's Baptist Church annual blow out blast with fun, games, lots of candy, chili hot dogs, chips, carmel dip with apples, and a big ol' stomach ache. Sam was enjoying the soft dart gun game. Mom picked up a clearance puppy dog costume at Toys R Us on Sunday. He sure is cute!

Caution: Musician in the making

When can I start piano lessons Grandpa Keefer?

Sam's Art Project

Sam found hidden in his closet a kit for making a square cement garden stone. After reading the directions which suggested wearing a mask to mix the cement, we proceded ahead....outside. Sam measured the water, and did some of the mixing. The mask, however, was a little on the big side, and didn't provide much protection from the dust that happened when you dumped the mix into the bucket. It was cute, though.

Here Sam is getting the last of the instructions on how to keep his fingers spread and push them down into the cement.

The original plan was to have one handprint of Sam and one handprint of Ben. However, Ben didn't understand the instructions to keep his fingers spread and flat. Instead he put his hand into the cement, and GRABBED a nice big handful of it. That technique didn't provide the greatest results, so we "erased" Ben's fistprint, and Sam put his other hand in the mold. The kit came with several glass rocks and other colored rocks, as well as a small jar of glitter, so after the handprints were done, Sam decorated the stone with the rocks and glitter. After letting the mold harden for 2 days, we took it out of the mold, washed it off, and it is now in the dirt landscaping right by the front door. Be sure to check it out when you come to visit us.

Big Brutus

We took off Saturday morning for Pittsburg, KS to visit our friends Scott and Joey Hudson, at Joey's grandparents house (aka - Scott's parents house.) On the way we stopped off at Big Brutus in West Mineral, KS. For all the details about what Big Brutus is or was, check out their website at www.bigbrutus.org Basically this machine removed the dirt and rocks that covered the coal seams, so they could recover the coal. It quit operations in 1974 because at $27,000 a month for electricity to run the machine - it was too expensive to operate. I had visited when I was in school at WSU with a couple of other music major friends. At that time you could climb all the way to the top of the black part. Now for "insurance reasons" that part is closed. You can still climb up into the orange part and walk around. Sam was more excited about running up and down the hill next to Big Brutus.


























Sam and Dad in the scooper bucket. (According to the brochure one bucket could scoop 150 tons of dirt and rock, enough to fill 3 rail road cars.)




























The size of the bucket in relation to 2 women standing next to it.

Sam and Dad "driving" Big Brutus.

Sam standing still long enough to take a picture.

Latrine anyone?

Are you ready for Halloween?

Ben is...BOOO!

Columbus Day 2007

How did you celebrate Columbus Day? The Shaffer family enjoyed the federal holiday by going to the Sedgwick County Zoo. It was a beautiful day, and we went to almost every exhibit. Sam and Ben enjoyed taking a break from the animals at the park by the gorilla exhibit. Big brother Sam even treated his little brother, Ben, to a ride on the slide. After the day was over, I decided that Doug should stay home every Monday from now on!

It's been very warm here lately. Just a few pictures of the boys playing in the back yard. Timber!

Yes, Wichita has an attraction!!

I have a respect for professional photographers. It's difficult to take good pictures at night. This is our new bridge over the Arkansas River where the Keeper of the Plains is at. I know some cities throw money away, but I think this is money well spent. It is a beautiful attraction close to Exploration Place. Check it out if you can.

Sam's First Field Trip

On October 4th, Sam's preschool class from Asbury went to C-Arrow Stables, north of Maize. It was wonderful as it was secluded and personal for the children. Sam rode two ponies, Fred and Gambler. Sam managed to break both ponies without getting thrown. The kids also got to feed Aladin the camel as well as other animals. The day was followed with a cool snack and a small pumpkin of their choice.

Oh the boys!!

It's been a while since we've posted. There were over 120 pictures on this album. Here are a few. The first picture is Sam building the "aquarium". Kristin put a small wooden coat rack together and Sam destroyed the styrofoam that was in the box. The top right of the picture is where Sam placed pieces around the edges of a small magnetic board that Scott and Jennifer gave Sam. He called it an aquarium because the magnetic board is an ocean scene. It does look like an aquarium.

It was national pirate day a couple of weeks ago and we celebrated by getting carry out from Long John Silvers. Sam now enjoys eating corn on the cob. I think this was the evening where Sam ate three ears of corn.

Another visit to Exploration Place sum up the last three pictures