So wrong yet so right

I spent the weekend walking down memory lane. I traveled back to Muncie, Indiana for a reunion with my old playgroup friends...
I love these girls. Every single one of them...


The purpose of this reunion was more than just catching up. It was to honor our friend Randi, who died unexpectedly on April 1st.

The trip was everything that I hoped it would be. We laughed...
We cried...

(Obviously, it was ugly crying)

We were silly and didn't act our age......
Though there were times that we were reminded of true our age, like when I got stuck in this position with a cramp...
Thanks Tam, for capturing the moment on film...

We were well-fed...
My new dearest love is on the bottom of that pile-o-meat, bacon-wrapped hot dogs on the grill. (I will eat them on a train. I will eat them in the rain. I will eat them in a boat. I will eat them with a goat...) And a close second, smores made with a resee's peanut butter cup and cinnamon graham crackers...
My roomies surprised me with an early 40th birthday party in the hotel room...
But the pinnacle of the trip was a remembrance time for Randi that was beyond beautiful. Which was fitting since that is exactly what Randi was. We shared verses, memories, poems, and what Randi meant to each of us. And then we each chose a word that we thought represented her and wrote it on a little card. We each chose different words to try to capture this lovely person. I chose PURE. Then we attached them to balloons and let them go in her old back yard. They were headed straight for trees and power lines, but they somehow dodged them both and floated away...

I will never forget that moment.

These women are precious to me. It was interesting to see how each of us had changed and the journeys we have walked in the 7 years since we had all been together, and yet how we were still the same.

It was so right to be reunited again, yet so wrong that Randi wasn't with us. It was fitting that Randi was the one who brought us together again, even if she couldn't be a part of the fun. She was just like that. Always seeking the good of others. She exemplified selfless love.

We had a meaningful and fun time together. But we missed you, Randi...
We always will.

And now may I present to you...

Summer.

Today was the last day of school. It was a busy day. Tate had Field Day all morning. If you remember, he was embarrassed to have one of us volunteer. So we both went. Muahaha! Actually, I just went to pick up Lulu who thought middle school field day was pretty fun...
In the past I have made memory books for the teachers with pictures of each student or something like that as an end of the year gift. Now I have four kids, so I did this instead...
Summer Survival kits. Easy and affordable.Then it was time for the closing "ceremony" at the elementary school (consisting of Beach Boys songs and the school cheer)...
Ya know what's crazy? At the ceremony on the first day of school this year, Lulu looked like this...
Then it was time to say goodbye to teachers, friends and another year of school...

And 15 minutes later, our backyard was hoppin'...
I love our tradition of a last day of school party. This year the theme was Summer Sundaes. I was excited how the invitations turned out...
I don't even need to do invitations. I could just call everyone and say "Don't forget the last day of school party at our house!". But why do I put the effort into it? Just because it pleasures me. Same with the decorations...

I saved money by having punch balloons double as decorations and favors...
I could have saved money by using Bounty napkins, but I fell in love with these...
It's been a great year for each of the kids in school and so it was fitting to end it with good times and great friends...
Lulu has a new favorite game. Wait for it...
Ta-da...
Guess I will be watching Lulu do this all summer long? I think I'm going to need the 6 extra hands and 6 extra eyes I'm going to have around here to help out!

Memorial Day was...

Remembering...
and Making Memories...
This weekend of Remembering and Making Memories was full of activity, fun, and family. We started the weekend by remembering Lulu's referral day with a family outing at Coldstone...
We are very lactose-tolerant...
Her Loveliness loved it...
On Memorial Day, we remembered Granddaddy as well as the men and women who have given their lives to preserve our freedom. There was a service at the cemetery where my Dad is buried to honor them. I love that I grew up in a military family and a military town...
We had fun making memories with family at Gunga's lake cabin...

Cousins are fun...
The weekend was capped off with a late-night visit from the Lewis family...
Aren't the girlies cute blowing kisses? But it wasn't cute that Lulu repeatedly swatted at Gracie (pictured above) saying "No!" while grabbing things out of her hands. Can you say D.I.V.A?

Memorial Day weekend was both meaningful and fun. And finally, for your viewing pleasure...
I am going to be in SO much trouble with the well-coiffed wonder for posting that picture, but I love it. I think this boy is cute, cute, cute and I can rarely get pictures of him anymore. Sorry, pal.