Another "crazy" dinner

Our college-bound oldest son has 21 days left until he leaves the nest. (submit sighhhhhhhhhhhhhh here). The anticipation of the day has been forthcoming for 18 years and a flood of emotions overtakes a Mom daily. (some very unexpected). I am proud of Brandon and the many good choices he has made. He has achieved success in many areas and his independence is joyful.

Nevertheless........

...he is very ready to be on his own and use his powers for good. Many of my friends have told me that kids get really weird when they are about to leave and I am sooooo experiencing this. It is a defense mechanism so that parents don't really lose it at the prospect that their child is REALLY not going to be around.

In order to survive the summer with Brandon without exiling him from the family,  I lowered my expectations of what I wished for him to accomplish this summer. He is going to do what he wants to do. 

...This was MY defense mechanism!...

Jessie prepares a STEW for her brothers.

Our summer really has been

CRAZY

so why not add to the madness!

Micah Hansen and Hunter Bishop---BEST friends

Hunter's long-time friend is moving to Abu Dabi with his family to have the adventure of a lifetime. Micah Hansen will come back to KC in the summer, but will be so missed by Hunter and our family. Leanne and her family have been such good friends to us and although we will all miss them, we wish them the very best in living in this strange foreign country.

Hunter spent many hours creating the perfect card for Micah and presented him with some heart-felt sentiments----this is not typical behavior for a 15-year-old boy!

Hunter also hosted a bitter-sweet goodbye party attended by these teens. He leaves on Aug. 3.

During the last 12 years, Hunter and Micah have participated in cub scouts, boy scouts, piano, and other church youth activities as well as other events.  I put these pictures together in electronic format viewable here:


The Book of Micah

Click here to view this photo book larger

Farewell, my friend and confidante!
As you go, so must I
Return upon the well-worn path
Each soul must travel by.
Wend where you will, my wanderer,
Even as you stay
Long-treasured in my lonely heart,
Loved well, though far away.

Put your feet up and stay awhile....

There are a few moments in life where I am grateful to be aging and summer is one of them! 

It all has to do with experience and perspective (and a bigger house!) 

...AND...

...just walk over the toys...(SAVE the vintage toys like Fisher Price and store in a safe, hidden place where they can be recovered for future nieces, nephews, and grandchildren to enjoy)
...eat dinner whenever...(dinner can be cold cereal  every night--no one has been hospitalized yet)
...leave the house a mess until August 18...(when school begins)
...enjoy planning spontaneous activities...(this does not include "sleeping")
...let the kids wear the SAME clothes for an entire week...(teenage boys are excluded from this)
...the swimming pool equals bath time...(no peeing in the "bath water")
...lower expectations for teenagers...(this will keep you out of jail!)

...AND...

(if only I could follow my own advice)!

3 weeks with my adorable nieces

My only brother, Greg, who lives outside Atlanta, Georgia, visited Kansas City in mid July for 2 days. He then directed a soccer clinic in California and left his 3 daughters with Grandma and Grandpa. while his wife traveled with her job. My sister, Kim, and I helped my parents watch and care for the girls as well as my boys! Although we were a little rusty, we enjoyed bonding and loving our young nieces.

The excitement at seeing this large fish tank at Cabellas made me laugh out loud. It was as if the girls had NEVER seen a fish before--at least not ones this large.

Hunter EFY 2010

Celebrating our Nation's Independence

"America is a tune.

 It must be sung together." - Gerald Stanley Lee

As Brandon prepares for college, this is the last July 4 that our family will be ONE unit.

My sister, Chris, Paul and Katherine visited for the holiday and we enjoyed some family fun including shopping, swimming, visiting a new water park--Schlitterbauns-- and good old fashion card playing! 

(surprisingly, I won MOST of the card games I played) 

...a June 30 birthday present to ME....

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MORE PHOTOS HERE

Hunter's busy summer

As toddlers, these boys were often dressed alike. It was NOT my intention to torture them and put them in matching clothes (maw ha ha ha!!!!!!!!!!), however, participating in a 2-day youth TREK in 106 degree heat MIGHT be made bearable with lightly-colored clothing and material. The THRIFT store's limited choices happened to result in the image below!!!!!!!!!

....the shades were DEFINITELY the boy's idea....

Hunter is spending the week at KU in Lawrence, KS with a youth group. Micah Hansen has been his best friend since he was 6 years old and they are "roomies."  Hannah Ward and Eliza Scow are also participating in the camp! 

Helping the boys set-up their dorm made me realize that in less than 2 months we will be doing the same thing for Brandon, although it WON'T be for a week!

...Seasame Street Blanket---MOM's idea!   (GENIUS)