This was a giant milestone month for you (and our family), but before we get to all of that...I have some business to attend to with you. Are you ready? More puppy spam! Ha. Here we go...
Look at who are finally making friends? GG and Grizz!
Grizz also required her first bath with us this month, too. Let's just say, she was not a fan and Daddy and I got soaked in the process, as you can see below. Yikes!
After the bath, Grizz decided to perch on Daddy's shoulder and look out the window while she dried off. Eventually she fell asleep...then you climbed up on Daddy's lap and did the same. Daddy is a snuggle magnet.
I guess the snuggles are contagious because this was going on in the bedroom at the same time. Too cute.
So far, Grizz is still small enough for you to take her for walks without your arm being pulled out of its socket. With the rate she is growing however, this probably won't be for long. Anyway...Lao Lao came with us on some and every time you grab Lao Lao's hand on walks, it just melts my heart.
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| zonked out |
And every time our animals do things like this, I'm reminded we live in a zoo and I just shake my head. (side note: as I type this blog, I am listening to Grizz and Suzy running back and forth, wrestling, and wreaking God only knows what kind of havoc upstairs)
Can you find the dog in my (once) nicely folded laundry? *sigh*
Now, what was I saying about living in a zoo? Ha.
Suzy sat like this to look out the window and it cracked me up.
Along with modeling how to "properly" sit on the couch, Suzy also showed Grizz the ropes on the trail, too. Grizz took her first walk down to and over the creek. She loved it!
However, we unfortunately found out that just as we were closing the book on her parvo, Grizz had hookworm as well. So we had to give her another round of a different type of medicine and since she's had so much medicine coarsing through her system lately, her coat has gone through a lot of radical changes. She shed a bunch of the wiry hair that was on her butt, as well as a lot of her black hair. This picture shows just how much light grey she has underneath the black topcoat. Crazy, huh? I have no idea what kind of dog she will look like when she is fully grown but it's fascinating to watch her change.
Here are some various pictures of her coat as it lightens up. So pretty.
And with her fan club at the vet's office...some of the staff that are helping us get Grizz all better and who just adore her!
Ok, I think it's safe to say the puppy spam is over for a bit. Brief intermission, if you will. Anyway, you and I got some nice weather and were able to hit the trail for our first bike ride of the season. Yay! 5+ miles isn't too shabby for our first ride!
Uncle Forge's major milestone this month was graduating from CCAD! He has worked so hard and has so much talent. We are so proud of him and look forward to seeing where his glassblowing career takes him!
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| congratulations, Uncle Forge! |
After the graduation ceremony, we went to a cookout at Forge and Kenzie's. You weren't actually with us at the graduation or cookout, as you had another fun responsibility to attend (which I will talk about later). During the cookout, Daddy and I also got to hang out with Appa, their labradoodle. He just loves hugs...any way he can get them. Ha ha.
Daddy and I celebrated our 18th wedding anniversary on the 19th of May this year as well. This was us on our evening out to celebrate. I can't believe it's been 18 already! Time sure does fly!
Your last day of school is rapidly approaching. We can see summer break from here. So, I decided to let you get blond streaks in your hair just for fun. You've been wanting something like this for quite a while. We love Brittany (our hair guru) and she did an amazing job. I love how it turned out and the confidence on your face as you strutted out of the salon was well worth it!
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| so bright before the rinse! |
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| look at that face! |
Remember how I previously mentioned that you had another fun responsibility to attend on the day Forge graduated from college? Well...at the beginning of the month, you were selected to attend a day camp for children with special needs as a peer mentor at the end of the month just before school let out. Evidently, you were specifically chosen for this responsibility and the letter below explains why. Recreation Unlimited is a local campground that has all sorts of fun activities tailored for kids of all different levels of ability. How cool is this? You had an amazing time, regaling us with stories about the kids you met there and the joy you felt watching and participating in the various adventures with them. I am so grateful you had this experience.
The teacher that headed the entire trip gifted you with a framed collage of pictures from this special day, along with a sweet note of thanks written on the back. Seeing and reading this made my heart glow. How sweet...
The following picture is you with a cultural presentation you made during the last weeks of school. Each child had to create a giant poster board and bring in ethnic food from one of their countries/cultures of origin. There were presentations and foods (to share with everyone) from around the world. It was a very neat experience and you worked so hard on this project. The night before sharing the food, you and I made vegetable dumplings together and while we didn't get a picture of them, let me assure you that they turned out delicious and were a big hit with your classmates and teachers!
Remember how I said this month was a month of milestones? Well...below you will find a major one, probably the biggest one for you in a while. Your last day of school as a fifth grader AND as an elementary school student! Next year you will be attending middle school and I can't believe we are here already. *sniff sniff* What? No. I'm not crying, YOU'RE crying! Ha ha.
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| Grizz wanted to get in on the last day of school pictures |
We attended the annual clap out at school where they roll out a red carpet from the stage to the front door of the school and then all of us parents and family members line up to clap and cheer and high five the fifth graders as you file past in the official transition from being elementary schoolers to becoming middle schoolers. It was quite emotional for everyone. You actually had a slight panic attack after the whole process and fortunately, your teachers and principal were all there to help you until I could get to you in the sea of people. I'm not sure what the staff will be like at your middle school but if they are even half as dedicated and loving as the staff at your elementary school, we'll be just fine. Man, are we going to miss these lovely humans!
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| with your principal, Dr Hazlett ~ best principal in the 'ville! |
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| you and Jelysa |
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| you and Gloria |
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| from left to right...Ms Holland, Miss Dorne, and Mr Chapman (do you see a photo bomb, too? ha ha) |
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| and this woman is our beloved Mrs Wolfgang... school counselor extraordinaire (I will admit that she and I both cried as we hugged each other goodbye) |
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| Melting Pot |
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| Jude had never been to a fondue restaurant before and so the flaming pot of chocolate surprised her ~ can you tell? ha |
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| our sweet server wrote a message for all of you in syrup and whipped cream |
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| taking advantage of this cool setting for a photo shoot (for your first album cover?) |
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| the water was so warm and we almost always had the pools to ourselves |
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| on Lao Lao's shoulders |
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| sunset dip |
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| night swims felt so good |
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| ready to blast off! |
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| this is what we were sitting in in the picture above |
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| cooling off in a fountain in the rocket garden |
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| where they build and store the actual shuttles/rockets |
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| where they launch the rockets (the arm extended to the left is what the astronauts use to climb into the shuttle) |
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| closer view...see the arm? |
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| fixing a space shuttle in virtual reality |
We even got to listen to a real astronaut (who was from Ohio!) speak about his missions!
And we met him, too! Nice guy.
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| astronaut Mali |
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| driving to NASA, we got introduced to love bugs... |
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| found a sketchy diner for dinner that actually had good food |
I love the picture below so much...jumping for joy into Cape Canaveral.
On our last night in Florida, we saw a double rainbow as we headed down to the pool for one final swim. Super fitting as it was also (almost) the beginning of Pride month!
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| the water was so nice that you had to drag Lao Lao out of the pool |
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| heading home and totally beat...sleeping sitting up on the plane |
Once home, we took Daddy with us to the Field of Heroes, a tribute to all of the veterans, past and present, who have served our nation and that we give thanks to and remember on Memorial Day. There were over 3,000 flags in perfect formation, each one honoring a different hero. I've always wanted to see it and this year we finally made it there. Breathtaking and heart-wrenching.
And last but not least...to end on a silly and endearing note...here are a few snapshots of randomness for you.
The first picture is a screenshot of some texts we sent to each other as I was out shopping and sending you pictures of some clothes I thought you might like. Evidently, you were not a fan of the football jersey t-shirt...but had a suggestion for me. I cracked up when I saw it. Where did you even find this clip art? Ha ha.
This is a picture I took of the current screensaver on your phone. I found out later that it's from your latest obsession, BTS, but I just love the message on it. I asked you about it and you told me, "Yeah, Mom...it's my inspiration! I really do love myself." That made my heart swell up...I hope you always do, kiddo. I hope you always do.
And finally, you have been requesting late night walks with me before bed. These sessions are ripe for us to share all kinds of wonderful and intimate talks and I am so grateful that you seem to be enjoying them as much as I am. Here was what I posted the morning after our first late night "walk and talk" session.
Here's a little snippet from one of our "walk and talk" sessions. This is one of many that makes me think we're all gonna be alright...
*discussing dealing with people you know*
M: You know me, I don't like to exclude anyone.
Me: That's one of the things I love about you.
M: Yeah, you're raising a good kid, Mom.
Me: Heck yeah, I am! But I think a lot of that good stuff in you came pre-baked before we met you...from your birth mama.
M: (showing me your sun-kissed, golden brown arm) Well, I am a chicken nugget!
Haha.
Love you so much, kiddo.
Mama
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