Pumpkin cookie recovery

I am blogging this 6 + months later and this stretch of weeks still exhausts me to write about let alone experience.  I actually looked forward to my ear surgery as an opportunity to take a few days to just relax.  Almost right?

Thank you to Chris and Drew for being my care takers on Monday.  The surgery was just awkward more than anything else.  I was out, Dr. Eisen replaced by stapes and packed my ear up and sent me home to rest and recover.  I didn't want to open the packing, look at anything or touch anything.  Monday was my rest day.

Tuesday was the only day Farrah could meet with Mrs. Rockwell to make the famous pumpkin cookies.  I have heard about and seen her make these cookies for years.  It was a blessing to be able to join her to this experience.  Farrah picked me know right out of the principal's office to get started.  We cranked the cookie production and I was thankful to just be a part of the assembly and their catch up.

Years of tradition right here.  In a childhood home that Farrah remembers.

While it was a nice walk down memory lane for her, 

She made a visit to say hi to her momma

She even made time to grab some flowers and say hi to her brother-in-laws momma

the next day was back to work for me - just from the home office.  I received the most wonderful bouquet of flowers from my co-workers - Guess they really do want me to come back

Just something about the Shane in this photo.  never would have thought he would use this table as a desk.  I mean, not that he is tall or anything.

 

They do love eachother

You really never know when you adopt dogs if they will be friends.  These ladies aren't perfect, but I sure do love them.  Nice to see photos like this and know they really may love each other too.

 

They still carve

There is something about their outfits that kinda looked like a gender reveal.  We had to capture the goofballs.

I do love that they will still carve, but I really love not having it do it.  Drew requested seeds too.  They were delicious

Enjoy the photos and not the mess.

Kids - love every bit of this!  Congrats and great job!

 

Diane comes to visit

Diane flew in for the weekend with us on Thursday.  So amazing of her to take the time for just us!  I was still knee deep in our leadership conferences so thankfully Farrah had orchestrated the friend weekend all together.  Friday started with a hike for them, than I caught up with them for a dinner in New Haven. 

Farrah found tickets to the Tina Turner musical for us all.  The music and singing were AMAZING.  Had the 3 of us up and dancing.  The PERFECT show to see together.

We were going to ask him to take our photo until we figured out he was IN THE show so of course we needed a photo WITH HIM!

That night we spent a CHILLY evening at the lake, it was nice just being the 3 of us, but boy was it COLD.  Glad these ladies are hearty.  The sun came out Saturday and we took a nice stroll along the lake.

All about enjoying the beautiful that is nature, spent the morning all together watching church TV, than out for a hike together.

pretty much adore this group.  Only missing Tate and the Wisneski crew.

15 years of friendship.  Beyond thankful for knowing them and loving them through the good, bad and the ugly.  These ladies are my first calls.

Love this kid through the thick and thin.  its a growing year for him.  Really excited for him to be on the other side of it.

Something is happening in the woods.  Hmmmmm....

Thank you Diane for making this friend weekend a priority.  We love you!

 

The first acceptance

Nick got the email to open a letter for Oregon - This turned out to be his FIRST college acceptance!  Love that Farrah captured this memorable moment.  No doubt - this kid is off to some big things, this is just the tip of the ice berg.

We are so very blessed to get to be on this ride with him!  Congratulations Nick.  Are you hard work over the years is leading to all these OPEN doors.  

 

Vesta gets crazy

Vesta puts on a VERY impressive and labor intensive leadership event every year.   Almost 200 team members fly in from all over the country to collaborate and grow.  I am blessed by know many through the years with development and other projects.  Here are some favs from the DC 800 Southern Ave days.  They won big this year with Property Manager of the year.  Well earned Nicole and Steve! 

Lauren is one of my favorite fun collegues!

I get to spend lots of time with Jimmy this year as we redevelop Monterey village, a property he has managed for over 20 years.

This was the night we opted for Karaoke at Talcott collective.  It was a HUGE success and we all woke up with strained voices and sore feet from singing and dancing all night.  

Gotta admit, fun projects like this at the Leadership conference translate into a bit of stress for the construction manager.  HIGH expectations.  Thankfully our crew delivered.

Events like this are truly magical for this really diverse crew.  Wonderful event all around.

 

Senior Night

How did we get here??  I remember Nick on the Blue Dragons in Germany, where the ball was a hot potatoes, he wanted to get the ball, but he didn't really want to get the ball.  He was enthusiastic but didn't want to run the table.  He played so many different teams finally ending up in Canton with his buddies being coached by Steve Bemis.  As the kids got older the team got a bit smaller until Nick found himself playing with Charlie on an Avon team him 8th grade year (he will always remind me how I dropped him off late to practice and his first game with Avon.  He NEVER had it easy, but heck, that made him who he is today).  He always enjoyed the sport and really kept adding to his skills.  Now he is a senior and leader.

Thank you to the Junior parents for making this evening so special for the boys.  for many of them this is where they will leave it.

Love to hear the crew there, except for Shane who was crushing the JV game across the street.

We even got Ashley on Facetime.  Technology can be awesome

How lucky is this kid?  How lucky are we?  The McCullough, my folks, the Briggs.  This is the best

You will be here too you guys!

Well captured

Surely each one of these events is a treasure.

Proud of these boys and the friendship they made through the years.

Love the relationship that these two have together.

This is the game the following night - its the full family photo!

Had no idea he could even do this - but guess I should not be surprised.  

Gotta check out the flip throw.  You can say he has come FULL CIRCLE.  from his days as a blue dragon.  Love you Nick.  

https://youtu.be/9iLnKpSjcgM

 

Home coming

Tis that homecoming time of year.  Love that Schmooby was willing to go

This year we managed to get some photos with him before he heads out.

The fanfare is very different for our senior, especially since his girlfriend is many miles away.

We loaded up on the class of 2027

Now I captured their faces better

Now he is all put together.  Anyone see the band aide on my head.  completely self inflicted.  Trying to do a little extension cord management.  Hit my head on the house brick.  Just cant make that stuff up.  At least Nick looks good!

We put the screen up and watched football on the front yard.

Kids came home from the dance, girls changed, but they all went over to the murphy's for some volley ball.  It was so fun to watch them hanging out together!!  While they didn't stay very long at the dance at least it was still a fun night for them.