The Kassel Family Project Life 365

I didn’t realize just how big the new smoker was when we were in Home Depot. Watching John help Andy put this thing together makes me think that we are going to have to share the love whenever he makes something…

Someone was a little tired and fell asleep by 7:30 while watching television with Daddy…

Our frustration with AT&T finally boiled over.  After six months of overage fees, we switched wireless carriers today.  I called a month ago to find out why we were going over each month and I was informed that our data was being handled differently.  Basically, we were using nearly double the data for the same amount of actual usage.  I was told that we could upgrade our plan to avoid the overages.  Yeah, right.  Thanks for treating customers of 10+ years so well.

Because of that and the fact that my phone was three years old and having battery issues, we switched to Verizon Wireless and Andy and I now have Google Pixel 2 smartphones.  Ironically, we will be saving money even with adding a third phone line.  We switched from a 3 GB plan to an unlimited plan and we will only be paying $5 more per month.  Andy and I were paying $145 per month for just the two of us.  Now, our plan is $150 per month for three.  I’ll take it!  And, yes, I cannot wait until a certain Wee Ginger gets a call on Christmas morning.  She is going to flip!

And, so it begins…  John will be playing competitive baseball next year.  Given that, we had him go to a baseball camp this evening to begin preparing him for these types of things.  The camp was given by Logan Moon, a Kansas City Royals minor league player.  John learned some new things and had a good time.  I think it was a successful, first baseball camp!

We spent our last day of vacation in Hermann, MO.  Our first stop was Robller Vineyard.  We discovered them last year and they have great wines!  We enjoyed a bottle of wine, appropriately named Kasselfest, while there and then bought two cases of wine to take home.  From there, we went to Vintage Restaurant at Stone Hill Winery for a late lunch.  Vintage never disappoints!

We finished the day with a trip to Martin Brothers Winery, which is really a meadery.  They produce four types of honey wines.  Andy discovered them at a tasting here in town and we were happy to see that they were open while we were in Hermann.  Of course, we purchased wine from there too!  Did I mention that we are restocking our wine at home?!?

We finished the day at the Big Tree Cycling Awards Banquet.  It was a fun, silly evening full of laughing with teammates and friends.  It was a great way to end our vacation!

Happy 21st Anniversary to my partner in everything!  No matter what happens, you are always there to pick me up, support me, and love me.  You are my one constant, and you always make life fun and interesting.  Today was just one example of Andy’s love and support.  For a bit of a change, we rode to Serenity Valley Winery on our road bicycles.

It was definitely a beautiful day for a ride, but Andy’s definition of flat and mine are different!  There were several hills and I am simply not good at climbing.  However, I hung in there and we arrived at the winery just after they opened.

We have only been out to Serenity Valley Winery one time and that was right after they opened several years ago.  They have added some great wines and we selected a sweeter red – Touch of Black N Gold – to enjoy while we sat outside and just enjoyed the weather and view.

It was a great afternoon and I was sorry when we had to head back to Columbia.  While I did struggle on the way back, Andy kept pushing and encouraging me.  Once I got warmed back up (unfortunately, it just took ten miles!), the ride went smoothly.  I feel pretty accomplished given that this was my longest ride to date at 40 miles and I was struggling.  Thanks to Andy for keeping me going.  I know I dropped back a lot, but you always hang in there with me and push me to go harder.  I love you and, even though I don’t say it often, thanks for getting me cycling.  I love it (though not as much as I love you)!

Andy and I are on vacation for the next three days.  It is officially for our wedding anniversary tomorrow, but it is also much needed downtime given all that has happened the past two weeks.  Today, was Abigail’s Restaurant in Rocheport for lunch and then a stop at Les Bourgeois Winery on the way home.