Annual bus trip. Brock and Liz's last hurrah!
Ana and Ellie.
First stop, The Onion.
Finkenbinders!
Ana, Val, Me, and Liz
Neil and Ellie. Gave the deposit for the cup.
Liz, Shelley, Ana, Val
Da' Smiths!
Ellie showing off her skills. She borrowed the trumpet from Groove Puppet. Matt was kinda grossed out. Ha!
So. Much. Fun.
Next day took the ladies to the park.
I love my monkeys.
We got to celebrate our good friend, Ella's, birthday.
We made good smelling candles.
At the zoo.
Partners in crime, Livie and Addie.
Hudson, Nolan, Izzy, and Finn.
Elisa at Smiths' on one of our last few weeks together.
Val Camp, Liz Smith and I.
Smiths' dog Ginger. She went to Doggie Heaven 6 months later.
Elisa and her beautiful momma, Ana.
Friends.
Harrison Smith. Love!
Nolan and Ginger
You never get too old for bubbles.
This is what our neighborhood always looks like. I love the screams and laughter from the kids. It's a beautiful thing.
The Boys.
Addie and Grandma Ruby
Birthday Girl!
They love their Grandma Ruby.
PopPop and his girls before the dance.
So proud of her corsage.
Izzy and her BFF Addie before the concert.
Nolan and Hudson Smith, Izzy and Addie
This particular April was full of events that made me proud of the family I have and the friends that I've met. We found out this month that our great friends and neighbors, the Smiths, are moving to KC. I know it's only 3 hours away but it seems like an eternity. I will miss our fun times together, our unplanned get togethers, and the close friendships our kids have. Izzy and Hudson were like brother and sister...always looking out for one another. I know our lives will get busy and it will be hard to see one another, but we will talk often.
This month my beautiful grandmother turned 87. She has been a great constant in my life. Her and my grandpa were at every event I ever had. They didn't miss a thing. It was a beautiful get together that my mom put together. A few months prior my mom was at my grandma's house. They were leaving the house and the wind took the door and my grandma with it. She hit her head causing a brain bleed and things didn't look good. She is currently in a rehab facility and doing everything she can to get well and get out of there. She tries to do things on her own and the staff doesn't like it too much. It is driving her crazy not to have the independence. I know she will give it all she's got to get out and back home.
Towards the end of the month Izzy had a Father/Daughter Dance for Girl Scouts and Mark was gone for work. So PopPop stepped up to the plate and took Izzy to her first dance. A pretty dress, beautiful bouquet and a handsome date and Izzy was ready to go. We all went to Biaggi's for dinner and then they were off. Izzy was sad her dad couldn't take her but she and PopPop had a great time.
Earlier in that week Izzy had her Spring concert. It was themed pajama party. She did a great job with the songs and her speaking part. Mark was away for work with this too so Gamma, Grandma D., Shelley Fast, and Taylor Sankey came to support her. Shelley and Taylor are our neighbors that have become very dear to us too.
I have learned that friends and family are always in your corner and it feels great.
