Salute to the Farmers

Family Members have been in the farming industry, in one way or another, for the last century or more.  So, last Saturday Bryan, Emily, Josh, and I went to Farm Aid 2011 in honor of all those that help provide us with the fruits, vegetables, grains, poultry, and beef that we so greatly love to eat.  The artists started playing at 1:00pm, however we did not make it until sixish, but just in time to hear Jason Mraz do his thing.  Next up was Dave Matthews, John Mellencamp, Neil Young, and finally Willie Nelson. I would have to say, that although Jason and Dave were fantastic, I think John Cougar Mellencamp rocked Farm Aid 2011. He was full of energy and also had an awesome violinist.  Willie was a let down, so we left shortly after he began.  Regardless of Willie being a bust, the weather and food were great, as was the company, The Perkins!

The Morris'

The Perkins'

John Cougar Mellencamp

Emily and Kinley 

Two women and their husbands were sitting in front of us at the show.  Of course, Bryan started chatting in up with them and found out that the women have been friends since six grade, now they are 46.  Emily and I met when we were in seventh grade, I think, and we have remained friends and now live less than five minutes away from each other....Emily we only have 17 more years to go and we can be like those women! We can do it! 

Willie Nelson 

The Boys 

Dave Matthews 

Jason Mraz

The Westermans

Alex and Ashley  Westerman

August 5th, 2011 marked the day my mother and father 'gave away' their last daughter.  Ashley and Alex were married at the Blue Heavens Studio in Salina, KS, reception followed at the Salina Country Club.  It was a fantastic day and night.  It was great meeting all of Alexs' family and seeing all of mine, it is a rare occasion when I have both sides of my family together in one building.  Ashley of course looked beautiful and she was not one bit nervous to sign her life away to Alex.  Alex is a great guy and I know he is going to take good care of my baby sister.  It takes a good man to put up with us Dinkel/Siler girls, we are; stubborn, relentless, and confident  but he seems to deal with us both with ease.  Alex has entered a very tight nit family and he fits right in. So, congratulations to Ashley and Alex, Bryan and I wish you a happy life together! :)

The Wedding Party

 

Always the Drama Queen

 

Dance Dance Revolution



Need I say more! :)

  

Some of the Dinkel Clan



This was such a bad and painful idea

The Westerman's spent their honeymoon in the Bahamas.  This will definitely be a vacation to remember for both of them, especially since Ashley found out, the hard way, that she has now acquired an allergy to shellfish.  I'll spare you all the gruesome details, but for the first time in her life she had to use her epipen.  However easy most would think this would be for two nurses, we would be dead wrong.  Who knew that nurses don't actually use epipens, rather they use the IV to inject epinephrine....Greys Anatomy has mislead me all these years.  Anyways, neither one of them had ever had to use an epipen so, needless to say it is painful, according to Ashley.  And, although she used the pen, she still had to go to the hospital and was put on steroids for the rest of the vacation.  Like I have always said, she is a drama queen! :) If Ashley ever updates her blog maybe we will all be able to read about their full honeymoon events. 

Oh Kentucky.....

Derby, Fried Chicken, Bourbon, Bats, and Disco Balls! Oh what all Louisville, KY has to offer.  I have been honored to have been the only person in my office that was chosen to go to the annual National Association of Pretrial Services Agencies (NAPSA) conference which is being held in Louisville September 11-14th. My days will be pretty busy, but my nights will be open for site-seeing.  One night the conference is holding a social/networking event at Churchill Downs Museum, which should be pretty fun. September is going to be a pretty busy month for me now, since I will be leaving for Kentucky four days after I get back from Montana. Who knew life after graduate school would be so busy! :)