Graduation

Here is Brad just before the graduation ceremony begins

Brad is walking up to get his diploma

Taking pictures after the ceremony

This final picture was taken at Chili's, where we ate dinner before the graduation started. My family and grandparents joined Dad and Debbie and us, and it was very tasty.

Brad has now graduated from school! Yay! He has a bachelor's degree, with a major in Bible/Theology and a double minor in Greek and in Communications. He has worked hard...and done well. That gold cord that you see around his neck is very special. Only one other person in his graduating class received one. They give out cords for academic performance, and the gold cord is the highest honor.

Graduation is fun! And now we have the summer stretching out ahead of us...during which we have to make a big decision about where to move and what seminary to go to. One week we are fairly certain we want to go to one seminary, and then the next week we want to go to the other. Even throughout every day, I change my mind several times. Where should we go? We don't know. Do you have any ideas??

Grandpa and Grandma Visit!

December is standing in the hallway of Grandpa and Grandma's hotel

Grammie plays "phone" with December (one of December's favorite games)

December loves Grammie's cell phone!

This picture and the one after it are taken at school, during Brad's graduation lunch

Grandpa tries to hand December her sippy cup before we go for a walk...but she keeps throwing it to the ground in a game she plays here with Grandpa

Heading to the park to play!

Grandma gives December her shoes at the park

Daddy helps December walk at the playground

Swimming at Grandpa and Grandma's hotel pool -- December loved swimming!

Uncle Stephen keeping December warm after she gets out of the pool

Daddy helping December learn how to drink out of a straw

As you can see, we had tons of fun playing with Grammie, Grampie, and Uncle Stephen! They came in on Wednesday and left yesterday...boy, we were sad to see them go! December loved having them around, and so did Brad and I! The reason why they came was for Brad's graduation, which happened on Friday...hopefully tomorrow I will tell you all about that!

Daddy and December Time

This was taken today -- Brad is helping December navigate the uneven ground

December's newest favorite thing to do: find a book, plop into your lap, and listen (as long as she is the one who gets to turn the pages)

It's getting to be December's bedtime, and Daddy is sharing her favorite blanket with her

More reading!

We are very excited because Grandpa and Grandma J and Uncle Stephen are coming into town tomorrow! They are coming in for Brad's graduation, which is on Friday. I showed December one of our dvds that has Grandpa, Grandma, and Uncle Stephen on it, so she will remember them tomorrow. Brad took his last exam earlier today, and he's in his last night class of the semester now. Yay! Tuesdays are rough here because of Brad's night class. December never sleeps well on Tuesday nights, and the only reason I can figure out why is because Tuesdays are the only nights when Brad isn't home. Somehow that throws her off, and she wakes up during the night because of it. Strange, eh??

December, the Dutch Baby

This is how December feels about getting her picture taken...

The doll that December is holding is dressed exactly like her (only December is supposed to be wearing that cute white hat, too)

The four grandchildren, all dressed up in Dutch costumes! (Makenzi at the top, then December, Markus, and Emilia)

Do you like these pictures?? They were taken yesterday at a studio...boy is it tough to get all four grandchildren to sit still enough for a picture! Makenzi and Markus aren't too bad...they're poseable and will eek out smile for the camera, if nothing else. But December and Emilia? Hehee, we sure make that photographer work for her money! We help the best we can, but there's not really a whole lot that can be done. Especially for December. If she doesn't feel like smiling, there is no way on earth you can finangle one out of her (as you can see by the top picture). Sad faces are cute, though, too.

Are you curious as to why they are dressed up in Dutch costumes? Well, at the beginning of May there is something called "Tulip Time." It's a week-long event -- imagine it like the Stampede, only trade the cow pies for tulips, the cowboy chaps and spurs for Dutch costumes, and the Cowboy hats for gray hair. I'm super excited to go! During it, there is a parade, and December and her cousins are going to walk in it -- wearing their cute costumes, of course. Brad and other members of my family will be watching the parade and getting pictures, so after it happens, I will show you the excitement!

The reason why they got special pictures taken of them is because my Mom wants them for her sewing room...she sews Dutch costumes. She works very hard at that and does great work -- can you tell from the pictures? December LOVES her Dutch dress and won't take it off. She is wearing it even right now...just for the fun of it. Yesterday, after the pictures, I took it off and put her regular clothes on her. A few minutes later, December had picked up the dress and was following me around with it, saying her classic "Nn! Nn! Nn!" I took it off and put it on her at least four times yesterday. This morning, after I dressed her, she went and sought out her Dutch costume again and wanted it put on. So today it is just staying on. I can't describe how much she loves that dress! Hopefully it won't get worn out before the parade...