The Rest

So....slightly over one month after returning from MN...here are the rest of the pictures. What can I say....we just visited too many fun places and too many special people to abbreviate. Look for more recent updates to come!

J helping Grandma K water the flowers. He loves doing this with the hose at home but the bucket is fun too!

On our SD jaunt J got to see his ??? (mommy's cousin) Alana run in a track meet.

But, it was HOT (even for El Pasoans!) so he relaxed on the bench in the shade a bit

...that is...until he found a little friend (see squirmy girl in the back) willing to share her popcorn

Aunt Trish and Uncle Al have a cool rocking horse!

And...when mommy forgets to pack pajamas and sends Daddy and Lyle to Walmart....we get

SUPERMAN!!!!!!!!!!!

Faster than a speeding bullet

And WAY too silly for bedtime!

I think he was trying to fly!

We also visited Great Grandma and Grandpma B. J had fun with the "antique" toys

and decided that it was too warm out for pants. Here we have a pantless budding soccer player

is this taking a break, or is he hoping for a huddle?

playing with Great Grandma B

Swimming with Daddy at the hotel....BRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR

I'm not too sure about this daddy!

Finally it looks like he's having fun!

One more shot with Great G&G B

Back in MN we did a little furniture shopping. Don't ask why. Of COURSE we found the couch we would LOVE to own. I mean...a chaise, underneath storage, and a hide-a-bed....seriously....it's genius (and comfy)! Now we just have to figure out how to get it from Ikea to our house without paying $400 shipping!

We liked this one too (minus a few of the pillows). I am in a RED phase and seem to like just about everything that is the color. But again....there is a shipping problem.

Back at G&G K's house. J found the most high-tec toys yet. Is he training to be an astronaut? A scuba diver?

or just silly?

ahhh....plastic bowls and non-baby proofed cabinets. It just doesn't get better for a little guy

Busy guys hard at work

J kindly rearranged ALL of Grandpa K's rocks while we were there

Yes, that is Mommy's old Tonka truck - they just don't make them the same anymore!

Eating lunch on the patio

And trying to eat all of mommy's cookie shake

HEY - where did it go????

Another use for the Tonka truck. now hauling wood.

The grill masters performing the super crucial taste test! Yup....those were GOOD steaks!

Finally all tuckered out.

Ready to go again

The giant ball was a favorite but no competition whatsoever for the rocks

Lunch with family...Happy birthday Mel! Keely and Mali's cake was awesome!

Stephen and Uncle Mark kicking back

Keely and her beautifully decorated fruit pizza

Mali and her fruit pizza with Mel

Exploring with Grandma

TWO giant beach balls! WOAH!

And a tractor. John Deere of course!

Hey - how am I supposed to play ball in here???

We got a bonus day in MN because when we showed up at the airport for our flight they wouldn't let us check in because "you aren't allowed to check in more than 24 hours before your flight." Umm....WHAT? Ooops....mommy scheduled the flight for the wrong day! So, we went back to the house and had a bonus day! Grandpa took advantage and took J to the park. I LOVE his face here!

Fun at the park

Hey...get me OUTTA here!

WHEEEEE

The Final Details

On the Tuesday after graduation my mentor through the capstone process, Rev. Jim Vehling, and his wife invited us out for lunch. We had been through the whole process with somewhere around 290 emails back and forth but had never actually met each other. Really, honestly, without his help and encouragement I never would have made it through. It was so nice to spend some time with them. We went to a great restaurant called "Mai Village" in St. Paul that serves Vietnamese food. If you are ever in St. Paul and looking for something different - go here!

The final thing that I had to complete to be "officially" finished with my MA was to have my thesis bound and signed by my committee members. The Tuesday after graduation I took the bound hardcover books to Concordia where my committee all happened to be in a meeting. How convenient!

Here is Rev. Vehling signing...
Dr. Bunkowske....
And Dr. Press


Now it's OFFICIAL!!!!
Meanwhile...Jaden napped in the car.....
And Grandma got creative for propping his head up....YUP....that's a diaper (clean of course)

Graduation

Well, after months and months I did finally make it to graduation. I don't exactly feel like a "Master" but it does feel GREAT to be done :-)

Here are a few pics from the celebration!

Here I am walking in. Little did I know with a last name that begins with "H" that I would be THE FIRST one to walk across the stage. They had the degrees separated by program and the MA of Christian Outreach went first. Since there were only 3 other people graduating from that program this year (with last names that start with "P", "S", and "Z" I was the lucky 1st across the stage. The only bad part about that is since we went first the crowd (and our supporters) didn't really have time to get into it. So, when we walked across the stage there was dead silence but, by the time the MA Education and Business people were walking across there were screams and cheers galore. Oh well.....
Here I am with my lovely mom!
And my dad...
Leaving the auditorium. Sorry about the pink line....that is what our camera has been doing lately. I sent it to Canon this week and they are supposedly going to fix it for free....otherwise we'll be buying a new camera soon!
A post-ceremony picture.....Yes, that's me with my empty diploma folder....I'm STILL waiting for that to arrive in the mail!

The MA Christian Outreach graduates of 2009

Me with one of my very favorite pastors ever (my confirmation pastor, first pastor to ever take me on a servant event, crazy waking us up early every morning on servant events singing "Wild Thing", pastor who married Stephen and I.....) He teaches at Concordia right now and even though I had lost track of time and failed to mention to him that I was going to be graduating, saw him when we were walking into the auditorium and couldn't have been happier that he was there!

Again, the MACO grads up by the stage (PLEASE notice my cute shoes! Cutest pair of shoes I've ever owned.....and highest heels ever.....I did NOT realize we'd be making an entire lap + of the indoor track when I decided to wear them!)

My dear hubby and amazing son

My cheering section (at graduation and in life in general).

The President of OHSCO Dr. Mark Press and my mentor through a lot of the program Dr. Eugene Bunkowske.

J trying on mommy's cap for size (good thing he has a bit of growing to do before he gets to this stage!)

A celebration dinner at "Porterhouse". YUMMY steak.....and a tired baby!

Fun in MN

Chillaxin' with Daddy on the patio The big blue ball...another favorite!

Oh, that and throwing rocks. I hope Grandpa K didn't pick up too many with the lawnmower after we left!

Should I eat it?

YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That was a good throw! (it goes farther if you shout when you throw it)

J's favorite toy at G&G K's house

This was J's favorite toy. It drove mommy bonkers when we took it with us on a car trip though! It was much better in an unconfined space! He especially liked dancing to the "radio"