Sunday, June 15, 2025

Project 365, Week 23

Nice quiet week. I think I got a nap in every day. ;) Got to hang out with my kids quite a bit and that makes me happy.

June 2
Last couple days of classes before finals and he was "locked in".


June 3
We went to visit Pop and Kiki. They tried out Kiki's pie and put new strings on Amanda's guitar.


Amanda's been doing a great job taming and maintaining the grounds at the office.


June 4
We usually have a nice talk on the 30 minute drive to MidWeek. This time, I noticed Aiden was a little quiet so I looked over. I think he's been working on growing.



June 5
Finally, the weather is right for mornings on the porch. My first time of the season and the birds sang me a welcome song.


June 6
Avery came over for breakfast and we enjoyed some time together.


I watched Dakota's baseball game and was reminded how cute sports are at that age. 


June 7
Our family sports event was the Men's National team. It was an underwhelming game and it was wet but we had so much fun! We saved the tailgating for after which was the right call for the weather clearing up. It was a great day and we reminisced about some of the wild weather sporting events we've done together.












June 8
The soccer game I watched this day was dry (and they played with more heart).


Avery and Jack came over for dinner. It was a lovely summer-type evening and lovely to be together.



Thursday, June 12, 2025

Project 365, Week 22

Such a great closeout to the wonderful, crazy month of May. My heart is still so full from it all.
 
May 26
The ramp going into the office had become a tripping hazard so Shaun and Aiden took advantage of the Memorial Day weekend to fix it. Once he found out there was a project, Nathan came in to help, too.




We left to catch a plane, but later, Jack helped Aiden finish it up.


Very last minute, Shaun and I booked a trip to Florida. We had greatly missed our annual spring trip and, with the wedding completed, it being our anniversary, Amanda working and Aiden still in school, we decided to take a few days. There's a lot of transitions that happen when kids get grown, not all of them are bad. :)

Once we had landed and secured a rental car, the first order of business was stopping off to watch the sun close out the day. Happy sigh!



May 27
It'd been a while since the two of us went away. Our time on this Florida trip was slow and laid back and very "us".  The condo wasn't right on the water bit it was centrally located and we had quick access to beaches and restaurants.

I used to be the first one awake, now Shaun beats me most days. When we're away, he is the hunter and gatherer of coffee, so I get to wake up to mine waiting for me.




Shaun walked and swam more than seven miles each day. When he was done, we walked down the street to a cute breakfast place. It was so good, we went back the next day. 



Siesta Key beach is rated #1 beach in the US. It was quite beautiful and expansive. There were a couple sandbars near the shore, making a natural, wave-free "pool" for babies and older people (me!)










May 28
A most peaceful start to the day, until the tiniest little flies started attacking me.







Back at home, Amanda was babysitting...


...and Aiden was giving his 10th grade project presentation. Pop and Kiki drove him, tied his tie, cheered for him and took a video for me. Aiden was very pleased to have the support.







May 29
Amazing how different the beaches were, depending on which access point we used.






After dinner, we headed home.


May 30
On Monday when we flew out of New Haven, Shaun left his phone at the airport. When we arrived the night before, TSA was already closed, so we had to go back this day. I was anxious to catch up with the girls, so I invited them to come along for the ride. I love getting time with them!


What does love look? This...setting up a table, hauling dirt and planters so I can create things that need to be taken care of all summer, but also that add beauty and make me happy.


Happy 31st wedding anniversary to us! We have been young and now we are old and always, God has been faithful.


May 31
Tina's bridal shower was at the church and her mom enlisted a crew of "church ladies" to put it on. It was amazing! And girly and tasty and fun. I brought my camera but there was someone there for the sole purpose of taking pictures so I only grabbed a few.

What an absolute gift to have so many good things to celebrate!






I met Avery there because she came from her house and I came from mine (!!).  She was looking so grown up and beautiful.



June 1
A new Melting Pot just opened in New Haven, a restaurant we've done with Nana annually for well over 20 years. We gathered all the in-state family to celebrate Nana's 96th birthday!

We crowned her birthday queen and she gave a toast.









Our beautiful matriarch, who has been so intentional about having a relationship with us. She has made great efforts to know about our lives and in that has championed us and delighted in us. 

There has been a whole pile of hard in her 96 years but she keeps on smiling.