Family Weekend

Rick's brother Keith and his family made a pit stop at Corinth West this past weekend. They had been touring around the U.S. in their motorhome. Katie was pretty hyped up about her cousins, Courtney, Lindsay and Allison coming to visit. While they were here, Katie was so busy with her cousins that we, meaning Rick and I, barely saw her. It is true siblings entertain each other so you don't have to play Barbie's or color with them; however, with more than one child you will have fights. I barely can handle it when Katie whines and protests. Couldn't imagine throwing another one in the mix. But I digress. When the weekend was done and over it must be said that we had a good time. I took a few pictures to capture the moments.

The cousins had not shot a gun before so that was one of their "things to do" on their U.S. tour.

 Courtney looking like a pro.

 Training from Daddy, a former gun safety and self-defense instructor.

 Walking back from her shoot. Mean looking little girl, hey?

 The Hatfields and McCoys have nothing on Diane.

 Here is Diane as one of Charlie's Angels.

 Keith, Diane and the girls made themselves at home in the front parking area. We have never had neighbors so close.

 Let's see how many Kirschners we can fit into a golf cart and yes, Katie does drive the golf cart.

(Lindsay, Courtney, Diane, Allison and Katie)

Let's tour the missile base.

(Rick--the leg and flashlight-- Allison, Lindsay, Courtney and Katie)

 Lower floor of the Launch Control Center.

(Ally, Courtney, Lindsay, Katie and Rick)

 Let's see who is strong enough to open the escape hatch.

(Ally, Rick and Courtney)

 Of course Katie had to try because her cousins did. Each girl pulled and tugged with all of their body weight. No one was successful but Rick did fess up that it is welded shut.

(Ally, Lindsay, Rick and Katie)

 Chatting on the upper level of the LCC. Those boxes and papers scattered around the place are the blueprints for the missile base. Rick pours over them as we slowly, slowly restore Corinth West.

(Keith, Diane, Courtney, Lindsay, Ally and Rick)

 Rick and Keith told the girls that they were going to swing over the silo. Rick handed out neoprin gloves and masks. Keith and Rick then got them into the safety harness and proceeded to hook them to a  imbedded loop in the stairwell's wall. All of the girls loved it except for Katie. She tolerated it. There are so many fun things you can do in a missile base . . . if you are easily entertained.
(Courtney)

 Courtney was the first to go.

Then Lindsay. She is so thin that she almost slipped through the harness.

Ally takes her turn.

Katie talking with her eyes. "Momma please rescue me."

The Doodles. Her little red cheeks and nose are a result of being in the swimming pool with her cousins for a good part of Sunday.

In other news, Rick was over at our pasture land and ran into a rattlesnake, the first one either of us have seen in months and the first for the summer. Unfortunately Rick didn't get him and the relatives left earlier that day so they didn't get to see one in the wild.

Cody made a friend. Keith and Diane brought their Corgi named Dyson. (Yes, after the vacuum cleaner. The dog cleans everything--I mean everything--off of the floor. They don't have to sweep or vacuum anymore.) Anyway, at first Dyson was Mr. Tough Guy and was barking and growling at Cody who was wagging his tail as fast as it would go. We kept the dogs apart until Monday when they both were taking a potty break at the same time. No growling or barking, just one wagging tail. They were fine together and I have never seen Cody so happy. He had a friend! He had a friend! But like all good things, it had to end. Our guests left mid-morning on Monday. I tried to hide Cody and/or Katie in the back of the motorhome but Keith and Diane were policing the door. I guess they have heard the story about how we put Katie's in Ga Ga and Pop Pop's van. They started going down the driveway when Katie made her presence known. Man, if only she had waited until they were out of the gate.

Well, it's late and I gotta sleep. Taekwondo at 10 am tomorrow which means getting up at 7:30 am. Nighty night.