We made a trip back to Newcastle for the Kneifl Family Reunion aka the Kneifl Christmas the weekend of of June 28th-30th. Our first stop was in Sioux City on Saturday night to watch our nephew, Mitchell, play baseball. He has had a heck of a season, and we really needed to catch a game! Grandma Romaine and Grandpa Eddie were at the game too, so that was a BONUS! We had to leave the game a little early to be in Ponca, NE to see Uncle Randy ride his horse at the Ponca Rodeo. His Newcastle team won...I don't exactly know what they call his "event", but I do know that they won. Sorry...city girl here.
The girls had a good time at the rodeo. They got to hold bunnies, sheep, and a baby goat. Avery LOVES animals, so this was perfect for her. Lily got to do something a little different...all of the kiddos get together in the rodeo ring (again, I don't know what they call it), and a clown leads them in some different exercises. They get down and ready to take off like at the start of a race. A whistle is blown or a gun is shot (sitting here a month later trying to recap, I can't remember), and all of the kids take off! Take off for what you ask??!! They let a bunch of farm animals loose (chickens, bunnies, pigs, sheep, kittens, etc), and the kids try to catch them. If you catch an animal you get to keep it! I was crossing my fingers that Lily wouldn't catch anything because there was no way an animal was coming home with us!! Thank goodness she didn't! She tells everyone, "I was so close to getting a bunny!" Her cousin Jarrett caught a bunny rabbit...it was pretty fun to watch the kids run around!
We spent the night in Newcastle on Saturday night. The reunion was on Sunday afternoon at Jason's Uncle Ken and Aunt Mary Ann's house in Newcastle. It was fun to get together and see people we haven't seen in a long time. The girls had fun playing with the other littler cousins, jumping on the trampoline and playing in the sand. The adults enjoyed a few adult beverages, playing horseshoes, and just catching up with everyone. EVERYONE enjoyed the water balloon toss!! Jason and I were down to the final few couples, but then HE dropped his balloon (just kidding, I don't remember if he or I dropped it)! The food was delicious, and I think we all ate too much! I know Avery ate nothing but dessert, but what's new?! Avery got upset a few times...number 1 because she was overly tired, and number 2 because I wouldn't let her on the trampoline with the older kids. She nearly got bounced right off of it!
The Kneifl Family
Avery and Jensen checking out the horses
Digging for coins!
Throwing horseshoes with dad
