One of the first snows, Adam went over to Gramma's to help Niko build a snowman. The snow was that crappy dry, not-sticky-at-all kind so he had to improvise and used a shovel to make a pile and carved a tiered snowman out of it. The face was made of M&Ms-true to my family's style. He is so good with Shannda's kids and I'm so anxious to be able to see him interact with our own kids and I'm grateful for the wonderful father figure he is.
Next, I helped my sister and mother make signs for Nathan's homecoming. I might have mostly taken over, using Shannda's children's appendages as stamps, but I think they turned out great and I'm pretty proud of them. Although, I will say that the ideas were not mine. Shannda and my mom did those all by themselves. :)
The next happening I found on my camera was the Run for Heaven's Sake. This run was a fundraiser for the Ramsey Keller Foundation, a local foundation that helps families who experience infant loss cover the burial expenses. Even though we did not personally use the foundation because my grandma graciously covered the costs and agreed to have McKinley buried over Grandpa, we felt this would be a good thing for us to do who help others who did not have that help. My mom bought the supplies and I tie dyed shirts for the whole crew and then we embroidered "Team McKinley" on them in pink. They turned out great! Besides the family here, Shannda's friends Sam and Lyndi and their immediate families came and so did Adam's and my sister and brother-in-law, Heidi and Spencer.
Unfortunately, it was raining so I didn't have my camera out during the race and we never got a group picture there, but here is what I do have.
Also, unfortunately, it rained the entire time Heidi and Spencer were here. We were planning to go camping that weekend, but didn't get to. And we couldn't really think of anything else we wanted to do that wasn't outdoors. So Heidi and I made our sweet husbands do a spa night with us. We did our own while they dropped my dad's phone charger to him at work in Laurel (he was on midnights...and we're living with him for free...for the past year. It was the least we could do). Then when they came back we put face masks on them and made them soak their feet and use the homemade sugar scrub we made. Then we watched a redbox movie and exchanged foot massages. It turned out to be a decent date night, if I do say so myself.
Now, I'm just working at the Refinery again, earning some much needed money and Adam is working at the school gym and observing all day trying to get his internship credits taken care of. He has scout camp and camping with our friend Cupcake and then he's headed off to Valdez for the rest of the summer to work and spend time at home. I don't want to spend that much time away from him, but I know he'll enjoy being in Valdez and I might come and visit him. We'll see.
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| Please note my crazy husband who is building a snowman in shorts. At least he wore tennis shoes instead of flip flops I guess... |
Next, I helped my sister and mother make signs for Nathan's homecoming. I might have mostly taken over, using Shannda's children's appendages as stamps, but I think they turned out great and I'm pretty proud of them. Although, I will say that the ideas were not mine. Shannda and my mom did those all by themselves. :)
The next happening I found on my camera was the Run for Heaven's Sake. This run was a fundraiser for the Ramsey Keller Foundation, a local foundation that helps families who experience infant loss cover the burial expenses. Even though we did not personally use the foundation because my grandma graciously covered the costs and agreed to have McKinley buried over Grandpa, we felt this would be a good thing for us to do who help others who did not have that help. My mom bought the supplies and I tie dyed shirts for the whole crew and then we embroidered "Team McKinley" on them in pink. They turned out great! Besides the family here, Shannda's friends Sam and Lyndi and their immediate families came and so did Adam's and my sister and brother-in-law, Heidi and Spencer.
Unfortunately, it was raining so I didn't have my camera out during the race and we never got a group picture there, but here is what I do have.
Also, unfortunately, it rained the entire time Heidi and Spencer were here. We were planning to go camping that weekend, but didn't get to. And we couldn't really think of anything else we wanted to do that wasn't outdoors. So Heidi and I made our sweet husbands do a spa night with us. We did our own while they dropped my dad's phone charger to him at work in Laurel (he was on midnights...and we're living with him for free...for the past year. It was the least we could do). Then when they came back we put face masks on them and made them soak their feet and use the homemade sugar scrub we made. Then we watched a redbox movie and exchanged foot massages. It turned out to be a decent date night, if I do say so myself.
Jeni and the kids came up to drop Anika off for some camps and she just happened to be here for her birthday. Naturally, we got out the bouncy balls and had some races, directed by none other than Adam. Anika won the first race. The younger ones had a little trouble with technique. But it was all in good fun.
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| Even the birthday girl joined in on the fun! |
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| Grandma dominating. |
Now, I'm just working at the Refinery again, earning some much needed money and Adam is working at the school gym and observing all day trying to get his internship credits taken care of. He has scout camp and camping with our friend Cupcake and then he's headed off to Valdez for the rest of the summer to work and spend time at home. I don't want to spend that much time away from him, but I know he'll enjoy being in Valdez and I might come and visit him. We'll see.
