Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Leo (and Alli) Comes to Visit!































Alli and Leo came to stay with us a couple of days...what fun! Although we see them fairly often, there hasn't been much time to just sit around and just play! Leo is adorable, and so easy-going. Quite a nice change from my children...though I love them!! The kids love him, but I think Jack is the most enamored--he can't seem to keep his hands off him, off his face, off his hands...all the places dirty 5 year old boys shouldn't touch on clean babies!! It's so sweet, though. We are pretty sad that Scott, Alli, and Leo will be moving to Oklahoma, although I feel like it's a great thing for them--Alli got a professor job at OC, and Scott has already heard back from a job, too--they'll be far, but what a fun place to go visit them!

Crazy Girl



Just had to grab this shot of Mae...she is always doing funny things...

sometimes even a picture can't capture it, and I'm usually not fast enough with the video camera! She is actually "shaking her booty" here, and making herself laugh so hard she eventually falls over!! After seeing the picture, I also realized what a brown little berry she is...has her father's skin, thank goodness!

Thursday, August 25, 2011

Camp Kichaca


















































































































































































































































































































































































































































Our church has a kids' camp for ages 3rd-6th grades, and Callie got to go this year! I was fortunate enough to be able to go, too! I went in the capacity of camp nurse, kitchen help, co-lifeguard, photographer...so fun! It really was a great experience, and a little nostalgic. It brought back so many memories of my growing-up years, when I LOVED camp--so many special memories and life experiences and I am so excited for Callie to have something similar. Another interesting thing is that this camp is the same one that Bryan went to as a teen. Talk about life coming back around! A big thank you to my fellow parent staff members--thanks for the many laughs! Drew, our family minister, did a great job of directing, and we had lots of teens that stepped up to help. Callie had a great time. Although I was glad to be there for her first camp experience, I really did try to stay "away", with only the occasional interference. 8 years old is pretty young to be responsible for all hygiene issues...wow. At one point, I came in to the cabin to check on her, and she and a bunkmate were doing their bathroom cleaning duty...cleaning counters, potties...with their own personal washrags!!! For those of you who have been to pretty baseline camps...eww......! Another special thing for me is a kid named Griffin. He recently went through 14 months of treatment for cancer, and is now in REMISSION!! His last chemo treatment was just 2 months ago, and he was a trooper at camp. He did make me a bit nervous, and I think I followed him around like a puppy, constantly reminding him to drink water, take it easy, etc...He is a phenomenal kid, and such faith and acceptance in the face of such a difficult trial. He won Best Camper for the boys, and Callie won for the girls!! So proud of her.

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Yellowstone 2011











































































































































































































































The Hanna/Cassady Family went to Yellowstone in June...what a fun trip!! We flew there, and then rented a 15-passenger van. 3 small children, 1 infant, 6 adults for lots of time in the van...actually wasn't too bad! Poor little Leo didn't get many great naps, but he survived! We saw so many beautiful places, 6 grizzly bears, 1 black bear, lots of Elk and Bison, went on a cowboy cookout, went white water rafting and horseback riding in the hills...whew! So fun. One of my favorite stories is the Asian tourist who LOVED Leo...she kept cooing at him and patting him, and wanted her picture with him! All the while, he was in the baby bjorn being carried by Allison...pretty funny! Thanks to Grammy and Papa for a great trip!