the other part of may

May was rainy. Very, very rainy and definitely cooler than April. 

May included baseball games, a work day at the new WV Young Life camp, a WVU baseball game, field trips, cicadas, the beginning of wedding season, our Italy trip and the winding down of school. It seems so far away that all I've got is these pictures.

Ted and Wyatt played on the same baseball team this spring. Them being on the same team is always the best. For them and for us in the stands.

Ken and Ben coached together. We made "Ben and Ken" jokes all season. They could be some sort of run on characters for Young Life.

Doh and Pap came over for opening day. In the particular picture, Sophie is sharing all the food she wanted Doh to bring with her when they stayed for our Italy trip. She's no dummy!

Hat day at school.

We hit up the WVU baseball game on Mother's Day. The kids got to run the bases . . .

 . . . and get autographs.

Wyatt was over on a rainy day for something. I don't know. It's always nice to see your kids break out the old chess board on a rainy day.

I spent 5 hours at the vet and way too much money the night before we left for Italy. Millie has the best blood work of any 13 year old dog they have ever seen. They have come to the conclusion that she has water diabetes. (Her body doesn't absorb water so she drinks and drinks and then has to be let out all the time.) On this particular late night, I may have cried at the vet's office.

Doing some crafts and sidewalk chalk outside.

We went to Virginia for Arch and Delaney's wedding! We had such a fun time. I didn't get a picture of them on their wedding day.

We got to see our great friend Laura and Ted walked her down the aisle at the rehearsal.

It was super hot that day. Like 90* on a brick patio that had baked in the sun all day.

Sophie had her first dance with her good buddy, Joe.

They are in the same class at school and are sweet friends.

Sophie got some fun gifts for her birthday. This pearl came from an actual oyster she opened.

Saturday morning breakfasts.

We hit the pool once in May. Sophie and Lily were less than thrilled and napped for awhile.

Sophie made her teacher a "bouquet of flowers" for her end of the school year gift.

May flew right on by. And then so did June.

april 2016

April blew right by us. The entire spring was jam packed full. It was good and hard and just trying to run through the tape on the semester. 

April involved 3 wedding showers, 2 bachelor parties, 1 going away party, 2 YL fundraiser desserts, 3 Young Life parent nights, the start of baseball season, a week of van repairs (I was sorely mistaken when I thought we could be a one car family now), 8 sessions of pre-marriage counseling (divided between 4 couples), 1 senior night, 1 day of pre-marriage counseling training, our 16 year anniversary and a trip to Clearwater Cove (a new Young Life camp in Missouri). Whew! I'm tried and broke just thinking about April. So here are a few snapshots of the month. I was bad about pictures.

April was absolutely beautiful. So we ate, did homework, played and anything else we could outside.

 

Sophie isn't allowed to eat on the couch. So after school she drags a dining room chair to the living room with her snack and watches a show or two.

My sister came through as she made a move south. We had dinner with her and our cousin Brandi and her husband, Chad.

On our way to gymnastics Sophie and I often stopped to check out the chicks. It was a sad day when they weren't there anymore.

We had 3 bridal showers this month. I only took pictures at one. Oops. Sorry Ash and Gabe. I do love you. Just put my phone away. Delaney babysat Sophie and Libby (sitting and watching) this summer so that was fun for them to come too.

I planted some flowers.

Ben and I were desperate for a date night. But the one night we had scheduled, Ted was puking. So Ben took Sophie out instead. Ben and I got a date in the following weekend which was awesome and very needed.

My flocks in the backyard. I do love them. I also wish they stayed longer.

And then there was fighting and apologizing with the children.

Ben and Rusty at a house show for PW. We had some things come up and couldn't stay long. But this warmed my heart - the matching shirts and all.

I hung up the eno under the deck. Sophie would come home from school, pull out the beach chairs, and play school. It's great. This particular day she was opening her mail from Aunt Sara.

Mountaineer Area & Harrison County Young Life Staff

Our two areas do most things together. We started having staff meetings this year with me, Ben, Seavy, Looch and Cameron and that has been a good thing all the way around.

Back Row: Kaitlyn Richardson & Daniel Seavy (Marion County Staff Associate) (they are getting married in June) and Cameron (YL WVU) and Sarah King

Front Row: Gina and Nathaniel Lutyens (Harrison County) and Ben (Area Director) and me (Area Admin)

Our newly placed leaders!

The seniors and staff we said good bye to in May. Man, this is an incredible group of people.  This was a particularly close class to our family and our kids are really sad about some of these people graduating and moving on.

 

Devon, Justin, Tommy, Jordon, Arch, Delaney, Alex, Alicia, Ryan, Greg, Ash, Stephanie, Sarah, Gabe, Jesse, Blake, Cameron, Kaitlyn, Ashley, Blake, Brittany, Kaitlin and Sarah

We went into April knowing if we made it through we could breathe on the other side. And that we did! Kind of because I'm writing this in June! =)