Cross Country Meet at Sand Plum

The second Saturday in October was the day for a cross country meet hosted by FHSU at the Sand Plum Nature Trail in Victoria, KS. Dan took the boys out to Grandma's house the night before so they could watch all the races.  There were so many schools there this year that they had to split up the racers into two groups each for the men and women.

Bundled up for a chilly morning.

At the race course.

Waiting for a race to start.

Those aren't just walking sticks, you know!

In front of the cannon used to start the races.

Taking a break at Daddy's truck.

A bicycle rider leads the racers so they know which way to go.

They came back to the nature trail later in the day when it was much warmer.

Off-trail fun!

New Year's in Victoria, Part 2

Anne off-trail.

Anthony got an assist on the pull-up bar.

At the top of a steep hill.

Up the snowy stairs.

A stop for snow angels...

...and sword fights.

Taking a break.

Cross Fit station at the entrance.



Go Dominic!

Anthony made it all the way around.

On the way back home, we stopped at the famous Cozy Inn in Salina for freshly-made-while-we-waited Cozy Burgers.

It is a very small place (only 6 stools), so luckily no one else was there at the same time.  A fun end to our trip!

New Year's in Victoria, Part 1

Christmas with Grandma.

Catherine

Anne, Anthony, and Grandma

Grandma got a present, too!

Dominic and his godfather.

New Year's Eve party.  Cheers!

Picture inside St. Fidelis Basilica after Mass on New Year's Day.

The outdoor Nativity.

Anthony and his godmother.

Off to the Sand Plum Nature Trail that afternoon.

Uncle Chuck pointed out different animal tracks in the snow.

Crossing over one of the bridges.

Hiking through the snow, twin steeples in the background.

At one of the Cross Fit stations, Joseph did a log run.

Anne and Dominic carried logs, too.

Catherine's turn. Anthony, with red cheeks, is in the raccoon hat.

Daddy can't let the kids show him up!

The climbing rope was temporarily turned into a swing.

A very short video of Anthony on the "swing:"

St. Fidelis Now a Basilica!

In early June, Dan took three of the kids and travelled to Victoria, KS, his hometown and residence of his mother and two of his brothers.  On that first Saturday in June, the famous "Cathedral of the Plains" was to be officially named a Minor Basilica, which is a very high honor.  It is the only church in Kansas to be named thus.

Dominic, Anne, and Joseph relaxed with Grandma on the front porch of her home.

Dan with the kids.

At the soon-to-be-named-Basilica, waiting for Mass to begin.

The program.

The procession has begun and in came the Papal Umbrella (it has a really fancy name), which is only opened if the pope comes to the Basilica.

In the center is Fr. Al Brungardt, Dan's uncle.

The bishop to the right is Dan's cousin, Bishop John Brungardt.

The sanctuary of the Basilica.

After Mass and a luncheon, Dan took the kids to the nature trail.

On the trail.

A good time was had.

The kids with Grandma.