On the very last day of the month, why not shoot for the stars and give you one more piece of May... or sort of. I am actually starting off this May Slice of Life with the last of April. I am behind in life and so many posts are brewing, but don't seem to ever get assembled and published because 3 kids, a dog, a husband, a house, a life... so many excuses these days.
I still CANNOT get over these pictures from my best friend's wedding. We have known each other for FIFTEEN years now. We are now all married. 3 of the 4 of us have 2 or more kids. We've traveled, lived in other states, finished degrees, got pets and houses... and yet we always find our way back to celebrate life with each other. I could NOT ask for a better gift than having these 3 in my life as the greatest support group ever.
As we were taking this picture in the middle of the sidewalk downtown, our girls are loudly going "CHEESE" as they do when you ask them to smile. A stranger goes running past us and laughs at them. That stranger? The one and only star of the KU mens basketball team Devonte' Graham. We both turn and look at each other and say "was that?!" Yes... yes it was.
The last bit of April that I want to document? These girls bonding. Megan came up from Florida for Kara's wedding and brought only her oldest with her. These two are a few years apart, but got along SO great. Just making us wish even more that Megan lived in Kansas and not Florida so our babies could all grow up together.
On to May. We started getting smiles out of this peanut. You still have to coax them out of her most days but it is SO rewarding.
This last winter Diesel spent September to January away from us receiving some hunting training. Clearly he is a lab and I am married to a hunter, specifically a duck hunter... and this furry dude is his partner in crime. Last year he got his formal training and then got to enjoy the last part of the season in the field on the weekends with Rob. It is now the off season and my dog and husband are both pretty bored. So a few weekends ago they tried their hand at a new activity and Diesel got his first two passes towards a title to add to his pedigree. I am pretty proud and glad that the time we spent away from him is paying off in the form of shiny ribbons to hang above his kennel.
This month also meant the start of a new hobby for me, book club. I was a part of one in Georgia and it was a great excuse to get together to have a girls night, more or less. But lets be real here... I also enjoy actually reading the books as well. We read "The Nightingale" by Kristin Hannah and if you like books, you should too. She's one of my favorite authors and next January this book is being released as a movie. So I can't wait for that. I'm a fan of book club, even the nerdy part of actually reading the book.
My babies. Similar but so different as well. We are so so blessed to have these three. This baby making chapter in our life is officially ending soon though and while I can definitely say my life is defined as being a mom, I will not miss the experience of being pregnant. I seriously look forward to watching these three grow into their personalities and go through life together... hopefully as best friends.
I bought a water table and it was the best summer purchase, ever. I scooped it up at Buy Buy Baby and with a coupon, it was under $35. My kids LOVE it. So I am definitely considering this a mom win.
Memorial day weekend was HOT. And by that I mean mid to high 90s all weekend. But this girl was out in it with her daddy doing what they love, golfing. She took part in a kids golf clinic and had so much fun. Rob is almost already banking on her being part of his retirement plan.
My baby all dressed up for Memorial Day. Her sisters were in red, white and blue too but promptly took off their cute outfits in favor of swim suits to play with their water table while we grilled out with my parents for the holiday. The perfect way to celebrate the holiday? With family.
And to wrap up May... we drove out to Leavenworth National Cemetery Monday afternoon to remember the real reason for the holiday weekend. Rob and I will consider our greatest goal met if we raise respectful children that do not need mommy and daddy to remind them what is and isn't acceptable in life. A huge part of that is knowing who sacrificed what in order for them to be free and enjoy all that they do in life. So Rob walked them down the side of the hill overlooking the cemetery and told them just that. Grace cried, my sweet girl with such large emotions. Brooke may still be too little to understand the concept but I am a firm believer that it is NEVER too early to start teaching them how to be grateful.
So June... what do you have in store for us?
always,
amanda
Kyle was part of that ceremony at the cemetery and he said it was an amazing experience.
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