As I downloaded the pictures for this post, I realized I forgot about these Brinlee pictures left on my phone. It made me a little teary, remembering how gosh dang cute she is.
Here's a few, at the doctor's, waiting for Nora and Mommy to come out. Brinlee helpfully rearranged the chairs, bringing chairs from the sick waiting room side to the healthy waiting room side.
Good thing we were the only ones there. No one complained about Typhoid Brinlee spreading germs through contaminated chairs.
Brinlee, I miss your cute quirkiness.
Amy did the women's run this year.
Her cheering section came, too.
They spent a lot of time complaining about how Amy "forgot" to sign them up so that they could run, too.
Amy ran the 5k,
but I ran the 25k, trying to keep up with Hailey and Makayla as they chased Amy.
Don't act all innocent, Hailey.
You two gave me a good workout.
Amy and I went to watch Hailey in her year-end program.
The class performed a play they wrote. Hailey's job was to throw things onto the floor on cue, like these blurry paper squashes.
Here she is, being invisible in her black outfit.
Makayla and Hailey found the perfect Mother's Day gift for Amy: something they could paint.
They each made a little box for all of Amy's treasures. They also swore me to secrecy about the $10,000 they are saving up to buy Amy a car next year. Isn't that sweet?
Amy, opening her gifts.
Hailey, on her own, found a card to give to Amy.
We are all pretty happy that summer is finally here.
Makayla has been particularly joyful to discover that all of her favorite flowers are blooming again.
Makayla graduated from Preschool this week.
She crossed over the graduation bridge, moving on to Kindergarten.
There's her teacher, Miss Karen. I'm pretty sure Makayla is her favorite student. The fact that I'm her grandma has nothing to do with that belief.
The proud family.
As soon as Makayla graduated and ate her graduation cookies and punch,
we climbed into the car and headed to Colorado. That's Amy dead on the middle seat. She injured her back at work. She spent a pretty painful weekend in Fort Collins, hardly able to move. Hard to believe sitting in a car all day isn't helpful.
After an endless easy 8 hours, we arrived at the Bassetts.
It was Grandpa's birthday the day we arrived. Can you imagine a better gift than time with family?
Here's Grandpa, opening a gift from the grandkids. That face is his version of the face on the bag. I think Ava did it better.
On Saturday, we invaded the local Five Guys Burger place.
Next, the kids headed to a party at the gymnastic school while Stan and I met our newest grandson.
There's just nothing in the world like that first baby in the family. It's the start of something big!
I love seeing this little family of Scott, Kelsey, and Koen, and I know they are going to be wonderful parents.
I don't think he looks much like Scott, but what a handsome little guy!
I could just sit and hold him forever.
The plan was to keep the kids out in the car, away from Koen until things settle down, but they managed to escape when they came to pick Stan and I back up. Kelsey was just as kind and gracious as always
as the new cousins swarmed little Koen.
Hailey would like to sit and hold Koen forever, too.
Sunday was Hannah's day.
Everyone should have a big sister like Kailyn and/or Jordan.
Seriously, is this not the cutest little face?
The Bassetts after church-what a great looking group.
The Bassetts + the Joneses.
The Bassetts + the Bassetts.
Cute little cousins.
Makayla, rising above it all.
What an angel!
After church, Uncle Scott joined us for lunch.
Shelly fed us Hawaiian Haystacks like she feeds 35 people everyday. She's amazing.
Bassetts have a swimming pool with a waterslide in their backyard the kids enjoyed playing in. Ok, maybe it was more like a water feature, but the kids still enjoyed it.
We stopped by Shelly and Ken's rental, where children mysteriously lined up behind Stan.
Is it?...can it be???
Dog pile on Grandpa! Don't worry Stan, Ava will save you!
Oh wait, Ava's not saving, she's enjoying.
After Grandpa managed to escape
we headed to the park.
Kailyn took some pictures for me: Scott
Makayla pushing Amy,
and the boys with their cousin.
After the park, we returned to the Bassetts for chili over potatoes, with Scott-grated cheese under Ava's tutelage.
Here's a typical Bassett picture: Shelly reading to a few kids.
Kailyn will be playing clarinet next year, just like I did, and just like Shelly did. How cool is that??
It's always so fun to spend time together. Bassetts and Joneses, we love coming to see you!
