Kentucky visit

We weren't planning on going to Kentucky this summer but Justin's amazing and remarkable grandmother passed away. Without thinking twice, we changed our route to go to Colorado for family vacation to head to Kentucky to be with family.

Rosie...what an amazing lady. I'm not exaggerating when I say that I've never met a more positive person in my life than our "rosy" Rosie. She always saw the best in everything....I mean everything. She was pretty remarkable and quite a spunky, lively thing right up until the last 6 months of her 92nd year of life. She was the type to wave at the door until she saw your car gone and even stick her head in the window of the car because she loved that we visited her. It was so precious.

When we knew that Rosie wasn't doing well, we talked to the boys that she would be passing soon and Nolan opened up about how he was scared about dying. I told him that was nothing that he needed to worry about now. Rosie was nearly 100 years old and had a long happy healthy life. Then he said, "Yeah, and I'm only in the ones place." We went from sadness to hysterical laughter in seconds. I love that about my children and I know that Rosie was laughing in heaven about it. 

It really was a celebration of her life and the boys loved seeing their Kentucky family. They love visiting Gram and Pop's house. While we were there we decided to make a real trip of it and spend time with the fam and just hang out.

We took the kids to the Kentucky Horse Park and it was a blast. We packed a picnic on a gorgeous day.

And the boys always pick up right where they left off when it comes to their cousins. 

 

I'm not sure who's crazier about who when it comes to these two. Pretty sure, it's mutual.

 

After our lunch, we caught the horse parade and even had a chance to pet them. 

 

This horse was HUGE, but Landry didn't seem to care. Be careful, Daddy, she might just ask for one.

 

All in all, it was a gorgeous day and just what we all needed days after Rosie's funeral. 

And it's not a Kentucky visit without an ER visit. In case you're wondering why Landry has a boo boo on her head. She had a fight with a solid oak wood chair and the chair won.  Her 4 stitches prove it. Of course my baby girl is the first one of my kids to get stitches. I can't believe how great she was during the stitches. She cried more about the numbing medicine than the stitches.

 We also made some time to go to some new places in Lexington that we've never had time to do. And this next series of pictures were part of a sneaky photo shoot of the kids for my sister-in-law's birthday. They are some of my favorites of them as cousins. 

And this one of my nieces...oh my goodness. I can't handle how precious. 

I just love how the 900 miles between them doesn't keep them from playing with each other like they see each other every day. 

Our Nolan and Neala...

Neala Rose...named after Rosie. And how appropriate is it that she's perfectly rosy too just like her great-grandmother.

We managed to squeeze in celebrating Melissa (my sister-in-law) and Campbell's June birthdays too.

And even in a game of corn hole.

Our little crew is learning to become travelers after all. Well, everyone but Landry. One day she'll watch movies and sleep, right?! Lord, please let that happen one day.

So grateful for this time in Kentucky to celebrate the beautiful long life of Rosie and to see family.

Happy Father's Day

Feeling so blessed on a day like this like I have such amazing men in my life that have loved me, cared for me and been there for me in every way.

This man isn't my father biologically speaking, but he is my father because he married my mom who was doing it alone with three kids and loved me as his own. When I was in 2nd grade, he adopted me and has been so supportive and loving every day since. 

And then there's my husband. 

Where do I start to explain what an amazing father he is. He's so hands-on from diaper changing, playing catch, coaching soccer teams and the list goes on and on. 

Here's a small token of my gratitude:

I love you babe and can't imagine a better dad for our children. 

Pre-K graduation

I don't know what it is that Campbell always seems like a baby compared to Nolan. Even on the same birthdays, Campbell just seems younger than Nolan did. It's some messed up mind game that my brain plays on me.

Nolan is a September birthday and Campbell is a June birthday so Nolan was almost a whole year older than Campbell when going into kindergarten. It seemed like Nolan would never start kinder and with Campbell, it's hard to believe he's already starting.

Campbell is a total ham at home. He's sooooo LOUD....like deafening. Then when he's in a group of new people, he completely shuts down. His birthday is at the end of the month and he's already talking about how shy he gets when people sing "Happy Birthday" to him. He keeps asking if we can just eat cake and not sing to him.

So I was pretty nervous about his Pre-K graduation. I just knew that he'd bury his face in some teacher's leg or run off stage, but my baby proved me wrong...big time.

Check him out! I couldn't believe it myself!

He was up there, no fear, acting like it was just part of his normal routing to perform in front of 100 people.

 

He was even being his usual comedian self with his crazy facial expressions.

Look at how much he changed over the year. I'm a little nervous about this one starting kinder. I think I'll stay close to the phone just in case they call. He spells T-R-O-U-B-L-E! 

I think my brain might be playing tricks on me because forever this little guy will always be my baby boy. He's always been able to make me melt with those eyes and that sweet dimple. I turn into mush.

First and last day of 1st grade

Nolan just finished up his last day of 1st grade. It's so hard to believe I have an almost 2nd grader!

Here he is on the first and last day of 1st grade. Good to know that he wanted to be an astronaut at the beginning of the year and I asked him now and he said he wanted to be a ninja.

Can you say parenting fail? Imagination counts for something, right?

 

Here's a pic of all his first and last days of school so far in elementary. 

The top left pics are his first and last day of kinder. I think kinder is when he changed the most. Look at that baby face with the red shirt on.

He said this was the pose that they made him do for school pictures so he did it completely unprompted. Can you tell he's a photog kid? And is it just me or does he looks like he's in high school here?

First grade has been a great year. He's an amazing reader and his artistic skills always amaze me. I'm so so proud of this sweet little boy. It's a little bittersweet being the end of the year at Chisholm Ridge because Nolan has done so well, learned so much and had great teachers both years. I'm praying for an easy transition to his new school. I loved being able to peek in on him during the day every now and then and just blowing him a kiss in the hall when I saw him pass by. He still waves at me like he hasn't seen me in weeks.

Ok I have to stop talking about it or I'll start crying.

Here's to a new chapter in both of our lives.