I am happy to report that life in these parts is somehow still going really well, and major tradgedy or hardship has yet to befall us. Unless you count the air conditioner going out or our car breaking down. We can't complain - they were minor setbacks and actually timed beautifully. Plus we were trying to get rid of that money anyway...Andrew starts work tomorrow and we wanted to start fresh.
The past 5 weeks has involved a move, gender ultrasound, graduation, trips to Emerald Isle, Chicago, entertaining our first house guests, our introduction to organized sports with Asher, and a first taste of normal life here in Louisville. Here are some scenes from our transition month:
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Joey, Kim and I at Andrew's graduation banquet where he received a big award. We lugged home a few thousand dollars worth of low vision equipment feeling so proud of our guy.
Earlier that day, we had learned we are expecting our THIRD BABY BOY!!! It was kind of a shock, and it has taken me some time to readjust my expectations for life. Our chances of ever having a girl just got a lot slimmer. I think I may have blown an audition to the heavens at some point with my tragic little girl hair skills. But Heavenly Father knows what's best for our family. We love our cute, crazy boys so much, and are a little relieved to stay in boy mode. This little babe looks so sweet and perfect and our overwhelming emotion is definitely gratitude.
I love this baby so much.
The next day was Andrew's graduation. It was a culmination of so much sacrifice and hard work...it drew out so many big emotions. Incredibly proud of this wonderful man!
Having out of town family there to celebrate with us meant so much.
Saying goodbye to good friends was hard...but I am so glad we were along together for this journey. Can't wait to jet set to conferences with you people!
The brothers-in-law minus Adam
Standing in the light at the end of the tunnel
The next day we took off to North Carolina to visit dear friends at the beach. We made so many great memories as a family and loved the opportunity to get together with friends every night when the kids when down. As a parent, that's living, man.
We love visiting the Pine Knoll Shores Aquarium! But in case you needed an update, sharks are still scary, evil looking fish.
Throwing, digging, diving...we all beach in our own way.
After a week of sightseeing, socializing, showering sand off oureselves and overeating, we arrived home from North Carolina and left the next day for our brother-in-law Brian's dental school graduation in Chicago. When we weren't cheering him on, wer were eating at Portillo's, sampling Giordonno's deep dish, and partying it up at the Embassy Suites.
We had the best couple of days with everyone and are so proud of this amazing family!
Bryan is now not only a dentist, but also a captain in the Army, and as such, had not one, but two ceremonies to attend in the afternoon (during nap time. Eek!). Preston held out for us though! Crashed hard on the way home at 4 PM.
We had a day back in Louisville before a visit from our good friends from Columbus for Memorial Day Weekend. We were a little dead after all our traveling, but had so much fun getting to entertain.
A major force in our new lives here in Louisville is baseball. One of the few benefits to having a baseball obsessed grandfather is that you get to enjoy his season tickets regularly. We've managed to go to a game at Slugger Field every week since we've been back. That's a lot of hot dogs, cotton candy, Cracker Jacks and spilled soda. I always bring wipes, my camera, and constant fear a foul will hit us at any moment.
The boys got to run the bases last week, which was so fun to watch.
And Ash man ran a lot of bases last week - his first little league game was on Saturday. Posted this pic to Instagram with this caption:
"It's not every day your little boy hits a home run on the first pitch of his very first baseball game, and that your kids get to go to the toy store with gramps. It's not every day you have the best brunch at Wild Eggs, a backyard water fight, and get the whole house and both cars clean. It's not every day you eat free Penn Station, find the cutest park ever, and discover the community where you want to retire (#nortoncommons, whaaaat?!). It's not every day your husband makes you the first dirty Coke you've ever had (where have I BEEN??), so even when it keeps you awake hours later, you just feel happy and want to document this perfect day."
And for anyone interested in the delight known as a dirty Coke. I only drink soda on rare occasions, but perhaps I've been a fool. Do yourself a favor and try one - Coke, a splash of coconut, and fresh squeezed lime all over ice with a straw - soo good!
