Jen Logan, redid my blog. well, first she took our family pictures. then she waited for months so that I could send those pictures out on Christmas cards. and then, she made me look all fancy!
I love it and am so very thankful for friends that take care of me in every situation in life.
thank you sweet friend.
and because you love me so...
(pretty sure we were trying to figure out what was up with my camera when taking these so they are not the best quality...)
last week, my roommates from college all loaded up the kiddos and headed to Janae's house in Hutch to spend the day together. life has changed so much since the days of nap taking, class skipping, sleeping in the library, studying our rear ends off, lazy Saturdays, going to the games, nothing to worry about except making it through college days...
I lived with these girls and oh how I love them. they all went to high school together and so graciously accepted me as a friend back in 1999. we became roommates in 2001, 10 years ago. here is what 10 years does for you...
bahahaha. I love it! I love that we can still get together. I love that they know and remember things from the days of living together that I would probably never remember on my own. I love that I could call any one of them at any point in time and know that they would be there for me.
it was refreshing to be together that day. to catch up a little bit...with that many kids it is hard for conversation to happen. I vote ladies night next time. :) we went to the splash park and then back to Janae's home for lunch and nap time. here are a few pictures from the day...
Graham loved loved loved the splash park. if I could understand what the boy was saying all of the time, I am sure he would be asking to go back. :)
thanks Janae for organizing the day! love you beautiful girls! and your kids. :)
my Audra is having a baby girl so soon! we had been talking about the little girls room for a while. it was mustard yellow. she was just going to deal with it but as time got closer, she decided she wanted to paint! I was excited that she said yes to my offer of coming and helping and it happened to work out that Max could have Graham all day. so last Saturday, Tessa and I were on the road by 8. Burl, her husband, had already started by the time we got there and settled. he did all of the trim work...the ceilings were so high! here he is working hard for the money...and you can see the color change...
I love the new color! it would have been hard decorating a little girls room in that yellow. so glad she let me come. it was fun to hang for the day too! I had to have a head lamp on to paint the closet...don't laugh at the awful picture...I kinda look like I am gonna pass out...it was a little warm in that little space...
Tessa was really pretty good for the entire trip and day! I was happy about that and she looks pretty happy in this picture. :) hanging out with Miss Audra...
mommy and daddy and baby bump... ;)
all done! getting ready to head out. can't wait to see it with everything back in its place and decorations on the walls...
so excited for them! can't wait to meet their little girl! and so thankful for days of getting things done and getting to be in the same place for a whole day! :) it just doesn't happen to often anymore...
we spent the 4th of July with these two (almost three!) crazy kids...
it was so good to see them! it had been way too long. we grilled dinner, brats and chicken, had green beans, watermelon, salad, corn on the cob from the garden and then for dessert, Jaime made cheesecake bars (YUM) and I made this fruit pizza (in effort to be a "fun" mom. haha)...
then we headed outside. Shannon got to blow everything up this year ... Max had his leg up still recovering from ACL reconstruction surgery.
I don't think Shannon minded. :)
Graham sat on the porch or on dad's lap the entire time. he was so focused, amazed and maybe a little shell shocked. every once in a while he would turn to us pointing and "talking" about what was going on.
we are guessing that next year, he will be doing sparklers and poppers and all that fun stuff. we didn't even try this year. it still amazes me the craziness that happens in Derby the week of the 4th. it really does sound like a war zone. part of me really likes it because it is a celebration of the freedom that we get to live in and part of me gets really annoyed of the constant loudness although neither of my kids were really affected by it.
so thankful for the weekend though. we had a blast at bbq's Sunday, Monday and Tuesday visiting and hanging out with good friends!
the Logan's and us (is that how you say that? it doesn't sound right...but my brain doesn't work.) attended Derby Day's this weekend. we had bbq and went to the parade on Friday night and then met them for the Kidfest Saturday morning.
at the parade...
Jocelyn waved and said, "HI!" to everyone (so cute!) and Graham was pretty overwhelmed by everything going on...
my boys...
Graham talked and talked about this dog but once he got close would only give him a high five (and I can't figure out why this is underlined and I don't know how to make it go away).
Jocelyn loved on Sparky...
here are the kids watching the guys playing the drums and singing. Graham loved loved loved the music that was being played. he would break out dancing at any given moment. I can't get the video to upload otherwise I would show you...
going up to play the drums and sing el.e.phant, stomp, stomp -- monkeys. monkeys, swinging through the trees -- croc.i.dile, snap, snap -- lion, ROAR...
and Justin and Jocelyn riding on the train. :) Graham was still enthralled with the music being played at this point...
Jen told me the next day that Jocelyn was telling her this on the way home...
I love Graham.
Jackson loves Tessa.
daddy (meaning Justin) loves Max.
and mommy (meaning Jen) loves April.
hahahaha. I still laugh. we heart the Logan's and are so thankful they are part of our lives!
and next time Jackson and Tessa get pictures too. poor little things. ;)
Max has been instructing a few students who are working on their private pilot license. however, last night was his first student to make it to the part where they solo the airplane. because this student is a friend from church/derby/work, his wife, daughter, Graham and I went to watch and congratulate him when he made it on the ground safely!
looking back having us go meet them was a little stressful on Max (because he didn't want Justin thinking about anything but flying, it was all a surprise). Max had to decide if Justin was truly ready. he had to give us a go, no-go signal. we had to hide when we got there so Justin wouldn't see us. all these details had to be in line and...it all worked out perfectly. Justin did amazing! we got to listen to his calls on the radio inside the FBO and then meet him outside when he was on the ground.
Max still talks about when he soloed for the first time and wanted to make it special for Justin. he did cut the back of Justins shirt for him to hang (tradition I guess :)) and then we took them out to the Wellington Steakhouse for dinner. so fun to see accomplishment for both of our husbands. here are pictures from the night...
Max got together a team from work this year for the Easter SunRun! I think the team consisted of 28 people which was fun for us especially knowing the proceeds from the Easter SunRun go to futher Youth Horizons’ efforts to break the cycle of fatherlessness through youth programs. Alex and Alli (brother and sister-in-law) have been mentoring a brother and sister from Youth Horizons for years. it has been awesome to see what a positive influence they have had in those kids lives.
Max and his brother Jay ran the 10K. Justin, Jen, Jocelyn, Graham and I walked the 2 mile.
here is Jocelyn enjoying the ride...
the Logan family!
and had to get a snapshot of us as a family of three!
we have had a crazy busy month here at our house. seems like every month is like that especially now with Graham in our lives. here are some of the pictures I meant to post about earlier in the month. obviously that didn't happen. ha.
Graham started eating rice cereal. starting so young is highly controversial. I did a lot of reading and advice asking but in the end, I think I have learned, you go with your gut as a mom. he has now mastered the spoon! and will open his mouth and follow it as you move it. it has been so amazing watching him learn this month. things are happening so fast!
we hung out with the cousins for an afternoon...
watched a lot of K-State basketball!
celebrated Hudson's 2nd birthday!
went to the zoo for the first time with Jen and Jocelyn. although this is what G did most of the time...
before Graham fell asleep, the monkey watched him eat...
we had a great time! thanks Jen and Jocelyn for going with us!
we went to Manhattan to celebrate Hougie turning 30!
ate at Sumo to celebrate Gran turning 60!
hung out afterward at Alex and Alli's. Mer loves holding Graham...
watched more K-State basketball at grandma and grandpas house!
met Jared for the first time...
Dave came to town...
we celebrated Kyra's 4th birthday!
and Kek and Kiki came to stay with us for a week due to great grandpa passing away...
so fun. so many smiles. so hard. so exhausting. so many firsts. so tough. so exciting!
