Indianapolis

Makenna and Collin (Yust)
Mark and Kinley

Makenna and Kinley

Standing at the window in our room looking out over the City

Matt had a Show down in Indy last weekend so we drove down for Friday night. We took the kids swimming in the hotel pool and then we went out to dinner with my college roommate Karrie, her husband Shane, and their baby girl, Kinley. It was so great to see them. Kinley is just so cute and getting so big. After our walk back to the hotel we saw Collin and his wife, Liz, who were having dinner with Matthew. It was great to see so many people. I love Indy, so it was nice to be there for a night.

Makenna Bella Boos Birthday Party

Birthday Girl Before the Party
So Excited to Party!

The Train Room

Arts and Crafts Room

Face Painting Room

Pizza Parlor

The Market

Construction Room

Water Room

Singing Happy Birthday

What a Fun Day!

Presents!

We luckily had decided a while ago to have Makenna's Birthday party at a play place called Bella Boos. After falling at work this past week and tearing my quad, there is no way I could have handled throwing a party for Makenna at our house. Bella Boos ended up being the perfect party place. We had a "Party Guide" who took us from room to room to let the kids play. She was super fun and the kids loved her. They started at the Train Room, then went to the Arts and Crafts Room, then went to the Face Painting Room, the Market Place, the Soft Play Room, the Building Blocks Room, and Finally the Water Room. They had an absolute blast. After all the play, we went into a seperate party room where they served all of us pizza, juice, cupcakes, and cake. Finally Makenna opened her presents, the staff cleaned up the room, and we were on our way. It was awesome. I would have a hundred more parties there. It was no work for us and all play for them!

The Birthday Parade

Singing Happy Birthday

Mark's Last Soccer Game

Mark with his Medal

Mark Goal!

Nice Day

Here are some pictures from a nice day we had a couple weeks ago. Mark and Makenna loved playing outside in their bathing suits. I swear it's either 85 degrees here or 55 degrees and no in between. Luckily this was a nice one.

Birthday at Cebra's

Ballerina Barbie...YES!

A princess book

They even got Mark a present...a new bat and ball

Makenna had an early Birthday party at Aunt Cebra's house b/c they didn't think they were going to be able to make her Birthday party last night. They got her an ice cream cake and gave her a bunch of presents, after taking her and Mark to Red Robin for Lunch, to Zao Island to ride go karts, and then to a park to play. They had a GREAT Day!

Presents!

Pink Hamper from MiMi and Jeff
Princess Jewerly from Grandma and Grandpa J

Baby Alive from Grandma and Grandpa J

Leapster Explorer from Mommy, Daddy, and Mark

Here is Makenna with some of her presents. She loved everything she got SO much! She went to bed and asked if she could play with everything in the morning. We said, "Of Course!" She also got Leapster Explorer games and a case from Aunt CiCi and Uncle Mike, and shoes and clothes from Aunt Marci. It was a great night!

Happy 4th Birthday Makenna!

Today was Makenna's 4th Birthday. It was a fun filled, busy day. We got her 4 yr old pics taken, went out to Breakfast at her favorite breakfast restaurant (Schoops), then went to Culvers for lunch, and had her favorite food for dinner, pizza. Then her Grandma J made her the exact cake that she asked for, vanilla with strawberries in the middle, and white frosting. She gots lots of presents and was super excited about them.

Last Day of School

Mark's last day of school
Makenna's last day of school

Mark and Makenna both had their last day of school last Thursday, May 19th. They both loved school so much but were looking forward to summer break. Now, if we could only get some decent weather we could enjoy it even more!

A Generation of Cousins

Carter, Mark, Rylan, and Maggie

We went to Alyssa's 1st Communion last Sunday (Alyssa is Matt's cousin, Angie's daughter). It was a great family day and was nice to see everyone. This was our first gathering since Christmas so it's always nice to see how all the kids are changing. Here is a picture that was taken of the 4 cousins that were all born in 2005. Rylan is 2 weeks older than Mark, Carter was born in November, and Maggie in December. It's amazing how big they are all getting!

Graduation Songs

Here are a couple of the songs that Mark sang at Graduation. Unfortunately the video recorder had horrible static on it and you can't hear anything. So here is an impromptu version of each song with a little guitar added.

Friends and Family

Mark and Nora
Mark and Nathaniel

Mark and Grandma and Grandpa J

Mark and Aunt Marci

Aunt Myrna, Makenna, and Mark

Uncle Mike, Makenna, and Mark

Mark had a bunch of people at his Graduation supporting him. It was so nice for him to be surrounded by friends and family. After the Graduation we all went to lunch and he was given all sorts of gifts. He was so excited. It was a great continuation of our day!

Mark The Graduate

Mark with his Certificate
Hugs from Makenna after Graduating!

Proud Family

Proud Parents

Mark with Matthew

Mark and Me

Mark and Makenna (before school)

So Excited to Graduate!

Mark had his Preschool Graduation today. He was so excited all week for today. He's had a countdown going ever since Sunday. We were so impressed with his school and everything they did. We walked in and there were signs hanging on the wall with each child's profile picture and things about them. Then we were handed a book of pictures of basically everything they have done the entire year. It was amazing. I won't even have to scrapbook it now! :) The kids came out sang a few songs and then were each announced. The best part was they made each kid stand at the front while the parents got pictures. It was so nice. Then they made an i-movie (slide show) with pictures from the whole year to music. It was about 4 songs long. Afterwards they had a little reception with finger foods. I just really can't say enough good things about his school. They are so wonderful and do such an amazing job with the students. Mark has never been happier and neither have we!