Caves and Some Other Stuff

 Before Natalie and Brian went to Montreal we had a few days together in Austin.

The kids have been to the Inner Space Caverns, but Brian and I had not.

It is really cool actually!

It is really odd when you think about how 35 is right over your head!

Matthew had a lot of questions.

Brian bought them some mining sand to find gems.

I want to do silver mining when we go to Colorado too.

 Of course, we went to Salt Lick too.

The girls were a little sad that Natalie was leaving.

It's hard to believe Meagan went on her trip with Grandma Lois a full year ago.

We also went to an Express game, but I don't think I got any photos from it.

We ran into a ton of people that we know there!

After dropping Brian and Nat off, we made a quick stop at Callahan's.

It's fun to see all the birds and pigs!

Summertime fun

 Meagan got a subtle purple stripe in her hair.

Apparently, very subtle, since you can't see it here.

It actually looks really good!

 Well, this was the best of the photos I took of Matthew with his current favorite girlfriend.

He told us on the way home that "her beauty shines like a diamond."

 A few of my friends and I went to the Oasis last week.

Guess what?

That is WATER in the lake!

My cousin Michael and his family came to town last weekend.

Meagan and her cousin Soledad love each other!

Meanwhile, Natalie is off with her uncles in Montreal.

They are having a blast!

Turks and Caicos

Drama

 First we had passport drama.
We now have them.
We shall soon use them.

Then, we had baby Timmy drama.
He flew onto the roof.
We could not get him down.
Andy had to use some rather non-traditional methods, but he is home now.

Winding Down

The year is really winding down.

Meagan is finishing elementary school.

That is a big milestone and I find myself curiously emotional about it.

I suppose it shouldn't surprise me.

Change has never been my forte.

Her best year has been this one.

Her teacher is a gift.

He has taught her a lot more than multiplication and US History.  

He has given her confidence and self-reliance.

I am beyond thankful.

We had a dinner last night since these kids had been together for two straight years.

Natalie came too. 

 The girls with Mr.Bhattacharyya.

 The whole class with their teacher.

Meagan with Makenzie, one of her best friends since Kindergarten, and Alex, a close friend since first grade.

Just for old times sake, this is a photo from Kindergarten graduation.
It is with Mrs. Erickson, another of our very favorite teachers.

Missing Papa/Daddy Joe

It has been two years since my dad passed away.

Some days it seems shorter. 

Some days it seems like it was so long ago.

I treasure a message he left on my cell phone a few weeks before he died.

It was when he took Matthew to see Elmo Live at the Erwin Center.

I can hear Matthew calling out and laughing to his papa.

My dad's voice sounds so light and happy.

That recording is a treasure.

I cried when I couldn't tell him the Royals were in the World Series.

I will cry again when he can't see Meagan's little 5th grade graduation, like I did when he wasn't at Matthew's Pre-K graduation.

You see, I knew my parents might be at my kids' high school graduation, but pre-k or 5th?

That just didn't seem like a possibility.

Now my kids have only two grandparents.

They are incredibly blessed to have their awesome Greenstone grandparents, as well as their bonus grandparents, the Topas.

Andy and I feel lucky as well..

But today and yesterday, we feel sad.

I feel sad for all that my parents are missing.

We have hard a heartbreaking few weeks here in Austin.

Terrible flooding, people passing away, and property destroyed.

Yesterday, though, the anniversary of my dad passing away?

It was lovely.

It was around 80, with a small breeze.

We spent the day mostly outside at the Domain.

Then we bought a computer at Microsoft.

Nothing could honor my dad better!

Well, except for a Royals vs. Cubs World Series in October.

Miss you, Dad.

May Excitement

 Last night was the Sommer production of Peter Pan Jr.

I don't think I got any good photos of Meagan.

We did get this one afterwards with one of Natalie's best friends, Myka.

 We went to our first MLB game as a family!

It was so much fun.

We figured that we would be there for like an hour and waste a ton of money on food.

Not at all. 

The kids got so into it.

It was a fantastic first game for them.

There were 4 home runs, 3 for the Astros, one for the Bluejays.

It looked to be a big win, but at the very end the Bluejays got that home run and brought it super close.

Matthew in particular was funny.

He sang and cheered, "GO ASTROS!"

Speaking of, Andy and I are the happiest baseball fans right now!

The Royals and Astros are both in first place.

That is not a typical thing to see.

This was Chloe Bug's first road trip.

Her beagle sisters stayed home, but she happily went to Houston.

The entire trip she had to be right on Natalie's lap.

She may have sat on Meagan's lap for a few minutes too, but that was about the end of her flexibility.

She loves to be touching people.

We love her so much that we don't mind.

Although, her new love of sleeping ON Andy's head isn't his favorite.