June 2020

We had a wonderful month, full of adventures.  It's finally summer and, while we are not back to normal, June felt like the first time we could try to do some normal things, albeit safely.

We got together with many of the students and the teachers in Brennan's 4th-6th grade elementary program.  Most of them stayed together from 4th-12th grades.  We had a socially distant get together (except for this photo!) at the park, masks worn!  It was great to see these young people and hear about their plans next year!

I work many, many hours a week on the COVID team at work so my shifts are a little crazy and it's been busy, but I have snuck in a few bike rides and walks.  Including this bike ride in the shape of Indiana in our town - inspired by a friend from church and his run one day.

Andie and I went to the drive-in, which I've been wanting to do for a long time.  We saw "Grease"!  I will definitely go back!

The church and youth group had a Graduates parade through all the neighborhoods of this year's high school graduates.  It was really touching!  They brought signs and gifts and I thought it was just so thoughtful.

Posing when they saw I was taking pictures

Brennan received this prayer shawl from one of our church members to take with him to college.

After many months away, we got together outdoors, sitting apart with our book club and wine club.  Mike brought his new electric knife sharpener to wine club so we all got our dullest refreshed!

We celebrated Father's Day with a yummy meal of David's favorites and a relaxing day.  

We made a quick trip to Mississippi between Thomas's summer semesters, which also happened to be ON Thomas's 20th birthday!  It was great to celebrate with family!  He is moving into a one bedroom unfurnished apartment later this month, so he requested essentials this year. 

I'm hoping one day soon, when it's safe for everyone, we can visit Grandma Carolyn in person and give her a big hug.  Chatting through the window by the sticker bushes is no fun at all.

We had a family and friends birthday lunch for Thomas and I was so happy to have Danielle, Natalie, and Shelly to help me out!  Hard to throw a party in another state during a pandemic!  But we had a great time at Oby's with Grandma and Grandpa, Donna and Ellie, Shelly, Danielle, and Natalie, and then Robin, Larry, and Wesley Graves.  Thomas and Wesley are 5 days apart (and little brothers Brennan and Tanner are 4 days apart!).  We had not seen them in years.

Thomas and Wesley

We took the time to recreate a couple of photos too!  Here are the boys and Larry many moons ago, and in June 2020.  They've changed just a little :)

And Natalie, Brennan, Thomas, and Danielle about 9 years apart at Oby's!

Finally, we went out to campus for Natalie's photo shoot for two sponsors for her upcoming national pageant.  Remy crashed and clearly needs to be in all of Natalie's shoots from now on!

Happy 4th of July!

April 2020

 April 2020 was the wildest month.  The weather did not cooperate here in Indiana and it felt cold and wet all month long.  Of course, quarantining is not my favorite thing, I missed countless exciting things I had planned after a miserable winter at work.  That has extended into a long, cold spring with way more hours at work than I am used to.  I sound uncharacteristically harsh, but dang, I am ready for summer.

While it was not the April I dreamed of, we did have some good times.  We went on some fun walks outdoors with the dogs, and had a few little socially distanced excursions.  Of course, Bailey and Remy love having us home.

 Daddy's driving through Chic-fil-A and it's Bailey's turn to be in the front seat.  He's enjoying every moment.

I did some socially distancing walks around town to see all the beauty.  The magnolias and tulips were gorgeous at North Christian Church.

We had several Zoom calls with friends, and those were a lot of fun!

Mary made us masks and Kelly and Scott dropped off a bottle of wine!

Back to the dogs.  They are rarely far from me.  I work a ton of hours from home, but in the comfort of my home.  For our anniversary David got me this fluffiest blanket (that looks just like one of our Maltipoos).  So I use my Maltipoo blanket a lot.  The dogs LOVE it.

I was taking a Zoom yoga class.  Remy was "helping"

Even playing pool downstairs, they like to be close by.

We loved having Thomas home a few days. He's isolating at his apartment in Indy, finishing up his 2nd spring semester of college.  Online learning has not been ideal, but it's OK.

Easter was my favorite day in April I think.  Thomas spent the night.  We opened our Easter baskets and watched the church service on Zoom.  Then we took a break and came back and cooked our entire feast together.  It was awesome!  We have never been alone on Easter.  We either travel to Mississippi and are driving back on Easter Sunday, or we go to church and then have a shared meal with our friends the Towsleys and Borowskis.  That's been our standard for 15 years.  This year, it was just us.

David had never made deviled eggs.  He was a little surprised how much mayonnaise it takes :)

Thomas is a great cook and does a lot of cooking at his apartment.  He's not afraid when I whip out a new recipe.

Our Easter meal was ham, deviled eggs, crescent rolls, asparagus casserole, green beans and new potatoes, and peach cobbler with vanilla bean ice cream for dessert.  I loved that we all cooked it together!

Then we zoomed with the Towsleys and Borowskis

And took some photos for Brennan's graduation announcements.

I celebrated 25 years at work.  I had a 7 year break but started 25 years ago.

My team sent me some gorgeous flowers, and David and Brennan got me roses and a lava cake which we enjoyed together.

We did the senior portrait challenge on social media.  I love graduation time for Brennan.  It's certainly strange this year, but it's also pretty exciting!

There was talk of a front porch parade so we decorated for Brennan.  I think that's no longer a "thing" but it's been fun to have people remark on Brennan's upcoming graduation and move to Purdue.

And then the school corporation announced graduation plans.  There will be a virtual graduation (head shots were due today), and cap and gowns were delivered a month early.  We got all that done and are so thankful to Rachel for taking some quick photos for us. There is also going to be a graduation walk through at the school after school ends in late May.  Thomas will be there and we can celebrate as a family.  It's not the traditional graduation we all anticipated, but it will be great.  Brennan has 3 weeks of school and a bunch of AP exams left.  He's ready and I'm ready for this school year to wrap up!

Happy May!

December 2019

Happy 2020!

December was a month full of birthday and anniversary celebrations, a lot of travel, a milestone at school and lots of puppy cuddling in front of the fire.  Pretty great month I would say!

We celebrated John's birthday with gumbo, bourbon balls, and a great night with friends.

The November birthday crew

 Brennan was super busy in December with his Senior Project, Senior Project research paper, Senior Project presentation, finals and AP exams, extra hand bell choir practices and concerts, and just normal school work and his internship!  But he handled it all and did a great job!

In early December we worked alongside the Youth at the church to wrap allllll the gifts that the church members donated for the Heart Tree.  

It was a chaotic evening but we got it all done!

 And then Brennan had his chance to present in front of 4 judges (teachers and community members).  Three of us were in tears.  He did such a nice job and his passion for helping low-income families with children with disabilities came through.  You won't see a photo of me here because I was trying to stop the tears.  He received an "Exceptional" and his Senior Project is complete!

 Lisa, Brennan's mentor for this project, is just phenomenal.  She was so encouraging.

 We celebrated with Shrimp and Grits (and a bunch of other stuff!)

David and I got to travel with my parents in December, something we haven't done in years!  We went to Philadelphia so that Daddy and David could attend the Army/Navy Game.  We celebrated their 50th anniversary (which took place in August).  They've been celebrating for months now, starting with a trip to Italy in May.  We had a great time sightseeing, EATING, shopping, and catching up.

Liberty Bell

Independence Hall

Betsy Ross's House

 Army/Navy Game

 There is the President crossing from the Army to the Navy side at half-time

Back in town, David and I celebrated 27 years since our wedding!   

We had dinner at one of our favorite local restaurants two nights before they closed.  A great meal and a great time celebrating.  David got me the comfiest blanket to snuggle in all winter!

The guys also hung the Senior Portraits for me, going down the stairs.  I love them! 

Remy likes Daddy to hold him during his naps sometimes.  So cute!

 We had a day to hike and it was beautiful

And then we headed to Mississippi for Christmas with the family.  We had such a great time!

Christmas Eve service at David's family's church

Christmas in Starkville

Brennan (17), Thomas (19), Taylor (18), Ellie (15) (and Ringo, Dexter, and Stella)

 With Grandma Carolyn

And Aunt Donna and Ringo

And Christmas in Ridgeland

Brennan (17), Natalie (15), Ellie (13), Thomas (19)

With Grandma and Grandpa

And Natalie who was crowned this past year in the Miss Mississippi teen pageant

And Christmas in Tylertown

 All the Great Grandkids

Rei'dynn, AvaGrace, Tanner, Audrey Beth, Keller, Noah, (Bailey), Thomas, Natalie, Danielle, and Brenna

And then the whole family minus Brittney and Magan who had to work!  We're at 29 family members now on my dad's side and it's awesome to get together once a year!

Back home for college football, taking down the Christmas stuff, relaxing, and gearing up for the best year ever - 2020!

Went went out to a new brewery in town for a taco truck / beer flight New Year's Eve early night out with Ginger, John, Violet, and Todd. 

 Happy New Year!