catchin' up

Um, where did May go?

Josiah's b-day party was a blast. About 50 friends/fam showed up to a toasty, humid, windy bbq. It was fun to see everyone and celebrate Josiah's 1st year! Can't believe how fast it went. Yes, cliche, but true. Here are some of my fave pics of the day...

He ate about 3 licks of icing, then smashed the rest.

Great cake made by LauraLee!

Mr. Monkey mommy & daddy picked out. He still hugs it like this every time he sees it. So sweet.

He's an early reader.

Then we moved onto planning a fundraiser dinner. It was fun, but was definitely a lot like planning our wedding reception. Lots 'o work. But, it paid off. We were blessed beyond our imagination--again. We raised almost triple what we were asking for. All glory to Him for working out the details. And through the process, we made some amazing connections. Our speaker was a former KU basketball player and I'm pretty sure we're going to be life-long friends with him and his family. It was that deep of a connection.

Next up, 3 trips. Hotlanta with the girls (and Josh and Josiah..haha). Branson one last time. Lousiana for Michael's family reunion.

Then we're off! Starting to count weeks now.................

si, estoy aqui.

I'm still here. But just too busy to post anything of significance. Fun b-day party for Josiah last weekend, big fundraising dinner next weekend. Lots to do.

On a fun note, we found out our placement. :) You should contact me personally if you want to know...not sure I'll post it for the world to see.

green light, go!

We just got the green light to buy our one-way tiks to Colorado! (for training, then straight to China) Whoa, talk about reality check! Only 10.5 weeks left. AND we should find out what city we're going to any day now! Ahhh! Bout time!


Fortunately, Josiah will get a practice run on an airplane when we go to Hotlanta for an ahem reunion! He can't wait to see Aunts Erin, Holly, and Miranda and cuz Renae!! But he probably can wait on the loads of kisses he's going to endure. ;)


I think I might start going through stuff in the basement and start selling. Sure don't want to wait until July to do it all! Can't wait to have the apartment-wide sale. It will feel great to get rid of all of this!

bi-polar blogger

Yes, it keeps changing. I'm pretty sure I like how it looks now, but don't be surprised if it keeps changing. :) I don't really like to make drastic things about myself (clothes, hair color, etc.) so why not live vicariously through my blog? haha.

party planner

Less than 3 months til we depart. WHOA.

Less than 1 month that Josiah won't be my little baby anymore. Guess it's time to have another one! ;)

Speaking of Josiah, I'm planning a party for him. At first, Michael was highly against throwing our 1-year-old a birthday party. But then he remembered we're leaving the country and this may be one of the few birthdays he gets to celebrate with friends and fam for a while. (just so you know, I would've fought my way through it had he not agreed...with love, of course!) We're going to grill out at a park. Should be a blast. I'm also going to make him his own cake. I haven't given him many sugary foods up to this point, so why would I throw his body into overdrive by letting him eat as much sugar as he wants just because he's reaching a milestone? Not gonna have it. It'll be sweet..but made with fruit or something. I'll have to find a way to make some sort of icing, though. Maybe out of cool whip or something. Still want to see him smash it all over his face, of course!

We're also planning a benefit dinner (for ourselves..haha..ok, lots of other people are helping plan as well) for early June. Pretty excited about that one. Former KU b-ball player will speak, good food, and a silent auction. Still LOTS of planning to do, though!

hostess with the mostest...stress?

It's raining today. I like it. I went to mom's group this morning and put on jeans to look appropriate. I jumped back in my sweats as soon as we got home. It's just how it's supposed to be on rainy days. Too bad I ran out of chai....I would sure love some right now.

This past weekend was B-U-S-Y. My parents came up on Tuesday night and stayed, then picked up the aunt and uncle from Colorado. Everyone stopped by for a few hours, went to chik-fil-a (oh boy..so good), then they drove on down to Branson. Eric (the bro) came on Friday afternoon and had some fun uncle-nephew time with little man. On Saturday, the quad came back up and it was a full house until Tuesday. They didn't stay here..no room..but hung out here. It was fun! Lots of homemade chex mix, homemade ice cream, brownies, and iced tea was consumed between the 7 of us.

However, I learned something about myself. As I was scurrying around, trying to make sure everyone was comfortable, fed, quenched of their thirst, I was getting more and more stressed out. Oh, and trying to remember when Josiah last ate/slept/pooped. Then I had a flashback to when I hosted the MB reunion. How many people came? Like 20? I was in charge of meals and entertainment. I was so stressed out I barely had fun. I tend to be a people-pleaser, so when the load is on me to make sure everyone is happy and fed, I think I go overboard. And I've never been great at entertaining. I look to a few of my friends to be great and just being spontaneous and having fun, no matter what is happening. Erin, you're one of them. :)

So what can I learn from this? I sure don't need to worry so much about what other are thinking And I need to know how to relax with my company...sure, making certain that everyone is taken care of...but not obsessing over it.

And I only took 3 pics of when everyone was here. That was dumb. New goal: must take pics at EVERY opportunity. A lot of "lasts for a while" are coming up soon...!

easter

We had a relaxing weekend, thankfully. We needed it after the chaotic week we had. I think I was at the post office just about every day and made multiple calls to the Chinese consulate. Oh, the joys. :)

Here are some pics..

easter egg hunt at the felder's

found one!

super cute. he loves to be chased...so I do it all the time, just to hear hime laugh!

HILARIOUS

with his basket.

all the loot from the mueller's.

I'm starting to think about his birthday party. Freaks me out that he's almost ONE. wow. Guess we'll just have to have another one so I won't start missing the baby stage! :)