Catching Up! - May/June Arizona, Jeanette's B-day, River Fest

Okay - so as I said, I'm WAAAAYYY behind in blogging. Mainly because summer has been crazy busy. So if you don't see your part or day posted yet, it is not because I don't love you. I'm getting there!!!

In May, we had a first: Mommy's first trip away from Max for more than 150 miles and more than one night. I traveled to Phoenix to see my friend/pretty-much-sister Beka Zemansky graduate from the Arizona State University Cronkite School of Journalism. Beka has had a pretty amazing journey in life, and this was one of the great moments I got to share with her and her boyfriend Steven. They were fantastic hosts: we shared food, fun, laughs, British tv, and so much. She is an amazing journalist, and you should check out her site: http://rebekahzemansky.com/

Some of our fun:

View of downtown Phoenix from B/S's apt.

B and her editor, Steve.

Steven and Beka. Awesome couple; awesome friends.

Sisters.

Yep - she did it! Hooding!!

Most importantly though, while Mommy got to go and play, Max got the vacation resort treatment from Grandma Cathy and Grandpa Joe. Thank you so much to them for giving me my first vacation. I missed Max, but it was nice to know he was getting spoiled rotten and loved on. Lucky boy and lucky mommy.

Flying the souvenir jet plane Mommy got at the airport.

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When I got back from Arizona, Paul, Max and I attended an 85th birthday brunch for Grandma GG's mom, Jeanette. It was a great celebration. Here are some pics from that event:

Linda and Jeanette, the birthday girl.

Max's favorite part of any celebration: cupcakes!

Max and his friend Alaina holding hands. SUPER cute.

Jeanette with actual and extended grandchildren.



My stepbro Cory Paustian, my older bro Rob, little bro Ben, me, Dad and Linda.
Pretty sure it's the first time in a while we were all in a picture!



Linda, Cory/Cat, Rob (Sara there in spirit), Ben/Jamie (a week before Dex came), Paul, Max and I, Dad.

Just took some family pics with Paul's fam, so Mom/Joe - you two are up next for family pics!

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The weekend Dexter was born we also visited because of our own family tradition of the Wichita River Run(me/Paul from our first year dating).

Rob, Sara, Paul, Max, and I weathered the hot weather in the race while Mom and Joe weathered it as spectators. In addition to the 2-mile effort, this was the first year Max could run the Tot Trot. And he could run it with his friend John, the son of my friend Kerri whom I have known since Kindergarten. So rewarding that Kerri and I can meet up, share our stories and our kids, and it's as if no time goes by. It's fun too when our parents/stepparents can see this too. Just rewarding.

Like every weekend we visit Wichita, it starts with Grandpa Joe giving Max a new Cars vehicle.
Grandpa spoils this kid!



Susan, Paul and Max with the River Fest Wagon Master - he's a big deal. :-)

John and Max. Only a week apart. Our little blond boys.
Love it!!

Paul with Max up front and left; Kerri with John over right in green.

The line-up of 2-year-old runners.

So there are no pictures of Max running. The enormity of the situation sort of freaked him out, and he had Daddy carry him to the finish. Upside: we scored an extra medal for Dex. Downside: I deleted the videos because I didn't want Max to see them later. He runs all the time. He's awesome and I love him. Done.

Okay - so that was just the end of May and beginning of June.

More will come. If you don't see yourself or some events, don't worry. I love you all. It's coming!!!

More soon!