Humboldt Royalty

My parents were surprised when they got a call from a newspaper in the town they grew up in. They were interested in doing a love story on them for their Valentines Day edition. As embarrassed as they were, I'm so proud of their story.

Humboldt royalty candidates’ love survives
By TERRY BROYLES Humboldt Correspondent
OLATHE — Craig Adams and Madlyn Ostrander were among the candidates vying for Humboldt High School Sweetheart King and Queen 51 years ago. The two have been sweethearts ever since.The long-time tradition of selecting candidates, casting votes and the crowning ceremony is something the student body anticipates annually during the month marked with hearts and flowers.As freshmen candidates, Adams and Ostrander didn’t receive crowns that night in 1961, but the ceremony and dance following the basketball game is labeled as their first “real” date.“We met at Garvie’s Drug Store when we were in sixth grade,” Madlyn said. “I went to Catholic school and was waiting on my brothers to get out of football practice. Craig was there, he was flirting and I was in love at first sight.”Both were born in Humboldt. He a “city slicker,” she a “farm girl, milking cows and baling hay with 12 other siblings.”“Craig would ride his bike five miles out to our farm. He would help me drive the tractor in the fields and bale hay,” she recalled.The Ostranders were a large Catholic, farming family that didn’t have a lot of money, Madlyn said. “For my parents to buy me a formal dress was the biggest event in my life. It was my first store-bought dress; I was so proud of it. Getting to be a queen candidate was an unbelievable honor to me. I was sure I was Cinderella!”Through the remainder of their high school career, both excelled academically, were active in various school organizations and participated in sports. Adams was a standout on the basketball court and the football field and Ostrander a four-year cheerleader.After graduation in 1964, Adams went on to Pittsburg State University to earn a degree in industrial arts education. Ostrander graduated from Emporia State with a physical education degree. They were married on June 2, 1968 and will celebrate their 44th wedding anniversary this year.They have three grown children, Travis, Joshua and Ashli, and four grandchildren. They both taught at the high school in Wellsville where they lived 34 years before moving to Olathe 10 years ago.“We taught school, coached sports, sponsored senior trips and proms and raised our family (in Wellsville). It was a ball,” Madlyn said.But, the Humboldt and Iola area is where they return to be with brothers and sisters and old friends.“We came to the Old Grads reunion last year for the first time,” Madlyn said. “It was so much fun seeing our classmates and the new field house is totally awesome. It’s so great for the high school kids to enjoy.”On Valentine’s Day these “sweethearts” plan to have a dinner date, exchange romantic cards and possibly a surprise gift and maybe reminisce about their first date when they were Sweetheart King and Queen candidates.Happy to be together almost 44 years, the Adamses said they are best friends who talk a lot and enjoy each other’s company. “We have fun together and are there for each other,” Craig said. “Love is a great way to win battles. Now that we’re retired, we’re falling in a deeper love, having a great time.“It’s been a wonderful trip.”

Valentines Day goodies

This year I had 3 kiddos in school who needed treats for their parties.

I came across the cutest idea on pintrist. The love bug out of a snowball.

thank goodness Maci is so good, she basically did it all herself

with the eyes

and now the antennas

are they not too cute?

and some extra chocolate in our cookies for after dinner. They were hearts in the middle but kind of melted into puddles- oh well.

Lincoln had his first homework assignment that daddy helped with.

They made a heart filled with photos of who he is and where he's from.

And now enjoying the parties

We caught these two cuties passing out treats in the hallway

We then had a fun dinner as a family. Red pancakes, red eggs, red pudding and cinnamon red applesauce. Along with my favorite- a strawberry milkshake.

And my favorite part of the day. When we went to bed and found them all snuggled in the same room. Can you find Lincoln under the bed? Love these 3 kiddos!

Getting ready for Valentines Day

Valentines day is coming and we need to get ready.

Now with 3 kiddos in school it makes it that much more fun.

Lincoln worked on decorating his cupcakes for V-day.

and then he got to enjoy his first ever experience of making out his valentines cards for his classmates.

Maddox has become an expert

and for Maci it's SOOO easy!

Lincoln loved writing every letter on each card. Thank goodness he loves to write. Some moms talk about how it's a chore to get their kids to do thier cards... not for my kiddos. They had a blast

He even put his own valentines labels on each skittle. It's so fun to watch them enjoy even the little holidays!

Preschool

My youngest, little man started school last week. I was so excited, and so upset at the same time. How in the world did the last 8 years go by so fast? It was just yesterday that I decided to stay home with my first. I knew the years would drag on, but some how, the end is in site. It's about time to head back to work!

He was sooo excited about getting to go to school.

This smile remained on his face all week long!

And of course our best friend Trenton got to go too!

And of course you have to have a picture of the backpack (so he told me)

okay... both backpacks too

and off we go like 2 kids who own the joint!

Here's our pod. Once we enter there's no going back!

He's still ready to go!

And we won the jackpot with the teacher- Ms. Andrea!

But the best part- has to be the bus ride home!

Trenton didn't quite make it. He fell asleep after the hard day! Maci was sweet enough to carry him off. What a great bunch of kiddos I have!

Family Campout

Each year we pick the coldest night and do a family campout in our family room by the fireplace. With this year being such a non-wintery season, we picked just a cold night and enjoyed it.

The kids love getting all the blankets and sleeping bags to pile up. We always make cookies and popcorn to top off the night.

looks really cold with the sleeveless dress and no shirt doesn't it?

the kids LOVE to watch the old videos of themselves. Oh I miss when this big boy was that little :)

And they are out!

To be honest- I spent the majority of the night just staring at them. How did I get so lucky?

Maddox turns 7!

How oh how is time flying so fast? I remember like it was yesterday trying to talk Eric into "starting" our family. "A little more time" he would say... so we waited. It seemed like that "family" was taking forever to get going. And now... 3 kids later, my babies are older then I ever invisioned. I always pictured myself with gaggles of babies... but for some reason they never got older then 3 :)

However... they ARE older then 3 now! My oldest baby boy is 7!!!! 7!!!!

My sweet, kind hearted, always smiling, sports loving, ultra competitive, people pleasing, family loving baby boy is now 7!

I saw this cake, and it had Maddox's name all over it! He eats, dreams and breathes football right now. I'm not so talented in the cake making dept. and I new I could never afford a cake like this... so I turned to my good friend here in town. She's a hobbiest cake maker (is that a word?). She does it for fun, and loves to play. So she offered to make it for us. It turned out FANTASTIC!

It's so hard for me to see that 7 on that cake!

Maddox chose the helmet as his piece of cake! (Love this kid!)

Poor Eric threw his back out about 20 minutes before the party started. I think he would of liked to of been drugged and buried, but he was a good dad and laid himself flat on the floor and enjoyed the party from that spot.

Linc found a nice quite spot upstairs. After not seeing him for awhile I went looking and found him on our bed enjoying the ipod touch.

Next Party:

Today is his actual birthday, so we celebrated as a family today. He got to open his presents from us and we get to enjoy a dinner of his choice. Unfortunatly Eric had a school board meeting tonight (did you know he's on the school board) so we have to postpone dinner until tomorrow night. Just like any other 7 year old Maddox chose IHOP to go to eat. Can you tell our kiddos don't get out much- a drive thru at McD's or Wendys is as far as they get. They don't know what a good restraunt is. So IHOP it is tomorrow night!

The kids favorite thing on their birthday is to get measured. We moved into our house when Maci was 2 (on her b-day as a matter of fact) So from that day on we've marked the kids on the same wall every year. Unfortunatly the competitiveness comes out and fights do happen :)

the line under Maci 7 is Maddox's. He's not too happy that he's shorter then she was.
No amount of explaining about how girls are taller will do... he's adament Eric measured wrong!

Maddox's cousins were out of school today so they surprised him with his very own birthday cake.

Since we couldn't go eat tonight at IHOP without Eric, we did head into Gambino's for some pizza. His #2 request.

Friends Party:

For Maddox's friend party we went to Bump City to let these boys run off some steam. It was a perfect spot for a group of boys to play and have fun. Maddox invited his buddies : Parker, Camden, Samuel and Jackson. (this picture was taken after the party, so they were hot and tired)