3-Year-Old Preschool Graduation

The end of the year snuck up on us…but ready or not, Josh was the first one in our family to reach [sing the next phrase with the tune from Chevy's Chase's "Christmas Vacation"…] Summer Vacation!  Summer Vacation!  We took flowers for his teachers who are amazing!

  
Josh knows how to perform!  He had me in stitches with his exuberance!  I kept thinking about what his teachers said back in October when I checked in with them to see how he was doing…"He's just excited about life!"

 Love this one.  :)

 I really could eat him up, he's so cute.

 Kai Guy getting his certificate.

 And last but not least, JOSHUA LOCHHEAD!

 I love how he's grabbing Mrs. Johnson's pant leg…

Josh grew so much this year!  He loved going to school--even if he said each morning that he'd miss me when I was gone--and had a very good experience.  So glad we have one more  year before he's a Kindergartner! :)

I love this picture of Josh and his buddy, Kai.  They're goofs.

Machine Gun Kisses

Our pediatrician prescribed 1,000 kisses/day.  No problem.  :)

But here's the cuter video that happened in the making of the first…

Overcoming Fears

This boy.  I was so concerned about his end-of-year preschool field trip to Jump and Party--mainly because we'd been there a month earlier and he cried the entire hour because the slide and jumping frightened him.  But he really wanted to go, so I made arrangements to have Heidi take him (my work day!) with Kai.  Jeff ran over during his prep to check on him and sent me this video on my phone.  Exuberance abounds when this kid squelches a fear.  It's pretty sweet to see.

Our Bridge

Jeff sent me this pic in a text one morning--he'd biked on the way to work and got to see the falls misting that bridge where I talked him into getting married.  :)

Kaitlyn's Last Week in Spokane

Our good friend, Kaitlyn, just finished her junior year at Whitworth.  We can't believe three years has gone by so fast.  Parting with her for the summer was such sweet sorrow--but at least we know she'll be back in August!  Let's not even TALK about what's going to happen NEXT year at this time.  We hope you have a great summer in Salem, Kaitlyn!

PS, she survived a very BUSY eating experience with us.  I do believe this was the last restaurant we visited before deciding that Papa Murphy's will be our "eating-out" option for the next five years!

Our Millie Visit

Cousin Millie came to spend the night with us!  Her mom and G'ma and aunties went to see, "Wicked" and slept over at a hotel downtown.  Millie was happier with US!

 They played so well together outside--I actually got some gardening done!

And then we met her mommy at our church to return her.  She did so well!  Not the least bit phased.  We were so happy to have her. :)

The Soccer Team!

End of season BBQ!  We love the girls on this team.  Gracie had a great time, even though she says basketball is her favorite.  :)

May 16.

We love that Auntie!  Happy, happy birthday, from all of us to you!

Goodbye, National Boards!!!

The day Jeff submitted all of his Nat'l Boards paperwork, we celebrated with swimming at the YMCA and Didier's for dessert.  Gracie was able to jump into the pool and swim to the ladder all by herself for the first time!  So we were celebrating that, too.

We are so proud of all the hard work that Jeff put toward his Boards this year.  It was a lot of planning, collecting evidence, video taping, and writing, writing, writing!  He had many late nights at the kitchen table (his office A) and days in the coffee shop (his office B).  The kids and I had a few days and evenings when we were adventuring without him, but he worked so hard to try to not miss out on family time.  We are so proud of him!  And so relived that he's done.  Nice job, hon!

Mother's Day Weekend

Darling kids with darling gifts for ME...

We went down to the farm for the weekend.  Carmen was graduating from Vet School and we went to help throw her reception at the farm, and to love on G'ma Joan, of course.  You see in the background Jeff's National Board papers…this was the last few days to the finish line of turning in all of that work! Oh, this was also the weekend of Katie's School Auction, in which we made a large donation in order to receive SIX DOZEN COOKIES each month!  It's such a great story...

 Gregory Thomas.  Micah Gregory.  Matchey-matchey striped boys.

 Abby LOVES the babies.  Micah snuggled right in.

Papa's still got the touch.  We went to visit one afternoon.  This may or may not have been the time that the kids LICKED G'ma Trudy's windows and had to wash them for her.  So proud, so proud.