A lot of pictures...but they're mostly of Theo so it's ok!

Hi everyone!

We have failed pretty spectacularly at posting on our assigned times but it's not for lack of content!  Theo is growing up so fast, it's mind-blowing how much he learns every day.  He's definitely on his own schedule.  He's just now taking his first steps at 16 months, and is also expanding his vocabulary quickly.  It seems like every day he has a new word!

In order to catch everyone up quickly, we'll do a picture post of the summer...

We'll start with Theo's birthday party in May.  It was a beautiful (and messy) day with lots of friends of all ages!

Then we spent the Memorial Day weekend in Michigan with Katie's parents.

Three weeks later, in June, we made the trek up to Minnesota, waking with the sun at 5:30 for Strawberries at Sunrise.  

But Theo took it all in...

And even learned a few things!

When we got back, Aurora had joined Mary in Chicago and play dates were scheduled.

They were exhausting.

And then, if we hadn't traveled enough, we decided we should take Theo overseas.  Theo said goodbye to Chicago...

And hello to Strasbourg France, where we visited Katie's childhood friend Kate and her fiancee. 

We then went to Germany to for a Peace Corps buddy/groomsman of mine's wedding (also named Theo). 

 I was in his party as well.

We then took the high-speed train to London via Paris.  We can confirm the Chunnel is in fact a tunnel and therefore quite dark.

We spent most of our time in/under London with another of Katie's childhood friends, Katherine (sensing a nominal theme? Any thoughts Kate?)

Theo's favorite part of Europe was undoubtedly St. James Park and the birds, who he continuously greeted whenever they were in sight.

Back in the states, we took a long weekend trip to Winston-Salem to visit Katie's maternal grandparents and try on a few hats.

Then we traveled to Boulder over Labor day to meet up with several college friends and their families.

We made a pit stop at the Denver Zoo and took in a Rockies game.

We also went up into the actual Rockies and drove to Rocky Mountain National Park.

And now, we're out of vacation days! So we hang out at home and work on our next steps.

Miss you all!  Our next set of flights will be to Wichita in December (maximizing use of the free baby on the lap rule!) so we hope to see you there!

Love,

Katie, Andrew, and Theo!

The Animals in Our Life

Theresa and I aren't allowed to have pets in our apartment (although I don't think the lease specifically forbids our adopting the 4' bull snake that lives in the neighborhood) so when we want some interaction, we have to find it elsewhere. Last week we visited the Garden City PetCo since they let you play with their cats and met these little guys (and gals):
It was very hard not to leave with an "illegal" cat, fortunately PetCo doesn't handle the adoptions so you can't fill something out onsite and leave with a "free" pet that day.

Theresa with Olive (L) and PEACH (R)
(we first assumed PEACH was a girl and on finding out otherwise had to make the name more masculine, hence PEACH)

Me with Olive--she was a tortoiseshell and extremely small

Gandalf the Girl (R) going wild, her normal state

Aerosmith, who loved the tinfoil toys so much he'd growl when the others got close

Theresa's parents visited and we had a close encounter with more exotic animals at the Garden City Zoo. There was a giraffe feeding we took part in, and the bull giraffe was very anxious to get his tongue on the romaine leaves. We saw their new calf for the second time in a few weeks, the cute and still awkward Kijiji (that's Swahili for "village").

Work is going well: I'm nearly halfway reassembling the old Liberal Army Airfield displays, Theresa is preparing for the first meeting of her Women in Aviation exhibit working group, and we survived moving our military loaners without any real incident before the Liberal Air Fair.

Before:

Currently:

Enjoying life!

Summer sure went fast this year!  We enjoyed some special times with family and friends.  In June, I went to babysit Aurora in Chicago for 10 days while Mary was working the Cher Show.  Randy was able to come for a few days as well.  We explored Chicago and found several parks and fun places to go.  July brought the 4th of July celebration along with a visit from our old neighbors The Holsopples.  It was Al, Donna, Lacey, and Anna.  We enjoyed catching up.  Then the end of July brought Charles' birthday,  a vacation to Cape Cod, MA with wonderful scenery and some beach time.  At the end of July, Auntie and I started a Zumba class.  My, they don't let any time grow under your feet, you are to just go for it!  It is getting better- Ha!  This weekend we enjoyed Grandma and Nate's birthday celebration on Saturday! A big event at our house is a done sunroom/deck! Here are some pictures. 

Father's Day fun for Great- Grandpa 6-15-18

Grandpa on Father's Day 6-15-18

Fourth of July parade watchers.  Adelynn and Ava were on a float this year.

Lacey, Anna, Donna, and Al Holsopple 7-7-18. 

House we rented in Falmouth, MA near Cape Cod.  Beautiful flowers there too! 7-29-18

Blowing out Grandma and Nate's candles!  9-1-18

Grandma

Nate

Four generations - Oliver, David, Great-Grandpa, and Grandpa

Great-Grandma and Grandpa with the great grandkids.  

Ava, Kinley, Olivia, Adelynn.

Oliver, Emily, Great-Grandpa, Great-Grandma.

Finished Deck and Sunroom.  Pictures of the inside to come next time.  8--10-18


We hope everyone has a wonderful fall!  Take time to enjoy each other and the life around you!

Some Pictures from Double K & 2 Edgemoore