The Drop Off

July 9, 2012

After getting to spend the week with the boys at the Mayes household, Scott and Bill met up at the halfway point between Yakima, Washington and Bend, Oregon.  They spent a little time together so that the girls could visit with their cousins before Bill took the kids off for part two of their Oregon vacation.

Hangin' With the Mayes Boys

July 3, 2012

Nicholas is 15 this year, and for the first time, he got to take a solo vacation to visit his male cousins in Washington.  It was a pretty big deal for him, since he usually spends summers surrounded by his sisters and his three girl cousins. He loves his sisters and Aunt Lisa and the girls of course, but I don't blame him for wanting to spend some time where there's a little more testosterone in the house.  Uncle Scott and Aunt Julie were great hosts, and Nicholas couldn't have had more fun on his visit.  Nicholas got to play lots of video games with Matthew and Micah, and got to know his baby cousin Nathan.  In addition to video games, the boys also played frisbee, picked cherries, went up to their cabin, had a bonfire, and road ATVs, among other things.  Scott and Julie also said that Nicholas was a polite and respectful house guest, which I was happy to hear--not that I thought he wouldn't be!  Long before it was time for the visit to end, Matthew, Micah, and Nicholas already had plans for a repeat visit next year.

Leaving on a Jet Plane

 June 28, 2012

I just put Nicholas on a plane for his very first flight--and it's a solo flight!  Uncle Scott and Aunt Julie invited him out for a little visit with all the Washington Mayes boys.  After spending every summer with his sisters and all the Gaetje girls, it's fair that he get to spend a little time among the boys for once.  I was a little nervous about the fact that he has not one, but two flight changes on the journey, but he seemed more excited than nervous.  He's fifteen and a pretty self-sufficient kid, so I have no doubt that he could problem-solve if any issues came up, but still it makes me so happy to live in a time when our cell phones allow us to touch bases through out the trip just in case something were to go wrong.

The More the Merrier

May 13, 2012

My sister Lisa has embarked upon a new and very exciting chapter in her life.  For as long as I can remember, she has always wanted to either adopt or foster kids.  There is such a need for that in our world, and Lisa has always seen that need as a calling.  After a great number of checks and assurances in many forms (financial scrutiny, physical check up, personal interviews with social workers, background checks, home and auto inspections, just to name a few), she was cleared to have kids placed with her.  Almost immediately, Riley and Emily, brother and sister, met with Lisa for a few visitations before the actual placement.  There was an immediate connection, with Lisa and with Lisa's girls, and before long her family had grown by two.  I'm thrilled for her and and all the kids, and can't wait to meet my new niece and nephew.

My Handsome Nephews

August 31, 2011

My brother posted these pictures of my handsome nephews recently. Golden Gate Photography in Washington did a fantastic job capturing the boys--I love these photos!

We Threw a Graduation, and Look Who All Came

June 17, 2011

We got to see so many friends and family members during graduation week, some of whom even traveled from out of state to celebrate with us. We are so lucky to have all of these wonderful people in our lives, and we loved getting to spend time with them all.

Scott, me, and Jerilynn
Julie and Scott
Devin, Lisa, and Bailey
Delaney, Scott, and Jerilynn
We had three rows of family cheering on our graduate!
Bree and Laura
Jonathan, Lisa, and Grandma
Matthew and Julie
Micah and Bailey
Sean and Laura
Sandi, Lisa, me, Laura, and Grandma
Julie, Nathan, Scott, and Bree
Danielle, Devin, and Delaney
Clara, Devin, and Danielle
Nicholas, Taylor, Danielle, Bailey, and Devin
Bailey, Devin, Danielle, and Morgan
Nicholas, Bailey, Sandi, Danielle, and Devin
Lisa, Pat, and me
Lisa and Cheryl
Nathan
Danielle and Devin
Bailey and Lisa

Soccer With the Cousins

June 17, 2011

Danielle's soccer team, The Tigers, practices every Wednesday for their weekly games. While all the family was visiting for Bree's graduation, Coach Michael welcomed the cousins to sit in on practice for the week. (Well, 'sit in' is a bit misleading; those girls ran their tails off!) Delaney, Bailey, and Devin all play soccer in their home cities, so it was a great deal of fun to get them all together to play. Collectively, those girls have some pretty serious soccer skills. Danielle's teammates were, as always, friendly and welcoming to the newcomers. Seeing them play together made me wish, once again, that Lisa could move up here with the girls.
Bailey, Danielle, Delaney, and Devin