Almost Late

Theresa and I have been meaning to write this since Wednesday! Apparently we're still not settled into a new routine since I started working at the public library 20 hours a week.

We're prepping for another one of our receptions, in Colorado this time, on the 17th.

Kate and Theresa have signed contracts and are awaiting a shipment of clothes for their Lu La Roe boutique, which could take 2 months. After that, they'll have their business up and running!

Theresa and I's other business is rather dormant as we adjust to life at the library. We haven't head back from our first potential client, the Oklahoma Railway Museum, so we're just waiting on that. We'll try and work with Wichita's struggling "Kansas Aviation Museum," a cool collection located in Wichita's first municipal airport terminal, once we've adjusted to our new routines. That work probably won't be paid and instead be more of a resume padding experience and just help us get our brand out there, considering that the museum is really in trouble financially.

Almost Fall

Here it is almost the end of August and getting very close to the beginning of Fall.  School started last week and it isn't long till the State Fair.

Despite the heat we had some beautiful flowers this summer.

  Pam and I tried our gardening skills again but it was a battle between us and the rabbits.  There were 3 that really liked the garden.  We tried  putting screen around it  but they just crawled under and quite enjoyed themselves.  Finally put up some fencing which did the trick.  We did enjoy what was left of the cucumbers, green peppers and zucchini.  Still have cantalope and eggplants that are growing.

Two weeks ago the Kinast Reunion was held at the Dillon Nature Center.  There was a good crowd this year and lots of good food. Here are the siblings and all of our family that attended.

This week-end was the reception for Chris and Theresa at the pasture.  The weather was beautiful, nice and cool and the lights and flowers made for a festive evening.

Baby Brain

Hi Family!

Sorry for the delay! Just a quick post from us for now as you'll be hearing from us and seeing many pictures once this little one arrives.

Mary has had some serious baby brain so if it's not directly on my to-do list, it's probably not getting done. All my blood circulation is going down to this baby that's growing in me! I love it, though. This week marks my last week at Jersey Boys. On Sunday, I will bid them fair well for a bit and go on maternity leave. There is lots of flexibility in my timing for all of this so I won't have to decide when I want to go back until well after the baby comes.

Kurtis is working hard at Hudson Scenic and filling in at Jersey Boys whenever they call him to swing. Both jobs are very fulfilling and, if I'm not mistaken, he has or is very very close to making his money for the second year in a row toward union membership. He will have one more year in order to complete this and we're excited to have that milestone accomplished as there is no better union in the entire city for theatrical work. He's excited to be a dad, too and often chats with our little one.

The baby is growing bigger now! We are at 37 weeks out of 40 tomorrow and everything is looking healthy. All movements feel great and it's especially fun when the hiccups hit. The only thing that we are working on is getting this wee one to turn around. Currently the baby is in a breech position, which the doctor and midwife do not like at this point in the pregnancy. So, we're trying mostly natural techniques to turn and if that doesn't work, then we'll have to do an ECV on Tuesday which is a rather invasive way of turning the baby from the outside. Prayers that the baby cooperates before then, please, and we get a full turn to heads down! If all of this goes smoothly, we'll be upstate for a home birth with our midwife and friend, Whitney, who is extremely competent and well connected to the hospital up there should we need it.

Hope you all enjoyed your summer time! More from us soon-ish!
Love,
Mary, Kurtis and the baby

Givan Update by Numbers            

Hello all:

Well, the summer is almost over and for me that means another camp season in the books.  Praise the Lord!  Here’s a summary with some numbers.

 3,259 number of stays for camp that had to be arranged

 365 camp meal times that had to be scheduled

51 days until a trip to Chicago with Kate for the National Eating Disorder Conference.  (Her trip to Disney didn’t work out so we are doing this instead).  Andrew and Katie will contact you when it gets closer.

31 days until the State Fair begins and my vacation.  Let me know if anyone wants to go with.

20 (about) number of new plants Tim put out this year.  They are very pretty and have been fun to watch.  Several will get moved inside this Fall.

15 number of job applications I have filled out.  It’s time for a change but right now it isn’t looking to possible

13 days until Chris and Theresa’s reception at the pasture.  We look forward to seeing you if you can attend.

6 number of girls at the zoo.  On our bucket list was a trip to see the elephant exhibit at the Sedgwick County Zoo.  Thank you Rivers’ girls for being our guides.  If you want to go to the zoo and have the animals look at you you should attend with Kate and Gus.  One giraffe left his feeding station (zoo patrons were feeding him) to come and see Gus.

The Meerkats were especially interested in Gus

4 for the number of actual job interviews.  Sympathies to all who are doing the job hunt or may need to in the near future.  It does nothing for self-esteem.

3 = a trio.  Tim and his “girls”.  Liza recently had to wear a cone and man can she flip her head and get it off quickly.

2 number of times I have worn a dress in the last 4 years.  This is Sam (co worker and friend) and I at a fund raising event at the Cosmosphere.  We were there working not donating!

1 number of new family members added to the Givan group and she doesn't have 4 legs.  Theresa and Chris will be married on the beach in Santa Barbara on August 8. 

Theresa with her parasole

Off to Santa Barbara

Take care everyone and enjoy the rest of the summer.