Family Matters

Breck's birthday party (part 1 of 2)

Jed and Natalie hosted a small birthday party for Breck on her actual birthday, June 30.  The photos here are taken from that evening.  (She had a bigger party at the church in Hume on July 5, those pictures will be in part #2.)

 
Ohhhh.... a cake with FIRE on it!

 
MMMM... that taste's pretty good!

 
Brena and Mollie horning in on some camera time.  LOL!

 
Hi Mommy!

 
I think I like all this attention.

 
I'm 4, right Mom?

 
Hi Grandma!

 
Need to get a bigger bite, how are you supposed to eat this thing?

 
Think I'm gettin' the hang of it.

 
What are you looking at?

 
Oh wow look... I LOVE cards!

 
Look I got some green stuff! 

Thanks, Breckie Boo, for letting me share your birthday with you!  You are one cutie patootie and I love you very much!

Aunt Sheilah retires after a 28 year teaching career!

On Monday, May 18, we celebrated the retirement of Aunt Sheilah (as well as Linda Wunderley) at Everybody's in Mound City.  The party was hosted by the Mound City elementary school administration. 

The joint was packed with friends, family and co-workers of Sheilah and Linda.  There was a slide show of each of the ladies and their families.  Showing them over the years in both their personal and professional lives.  I know Aunt Sheilah will be deeply missed.  One of the teachers at the party was telling me she'd tried to convince Sheilah to stay for just a couple more years so one of her young sons could be in Sheilah's class.

If you are ever out with Sheilah, you are bound to notice that she has many former students who come up and visit and fill her in on their lives since they last saw Mrs. Umphenour.  She is truly loved by her students.

 
Here is Aunt Sheilah behind the reception table.

 
Makenzi and Madison - Lee and Denise's daughters - posing for the camera.  Aren't they a couple of beauties?!!

 
Quentin goofing around with Bailey, Clint's daughter.

 
Here's a shot of the crowd, there to share in Sheilah and Linda's retirement celebration.

Aunt Sheilah said she is planning on taking it easy for awhile and do all those projects she hasn't really had time to pursue and just relax and enjoy herself for awhile.

Congratulations Aunt Sheilah!

Alex and Kolbee's graduation ceremony from Pleasanton High School

It's hard to believe but these two youngin's have graduated from high school.  If you ask them, I'm sure they'd both add... "FINALLY!"

It was a great weekend, with family and friends gathering to celebrate this special occasion.  I'm not sure why or exactly when it started, but it seems we have all made an extra effort to make it to high school graduations.

Traveling quite a distance to attend the festivities included the entire Cooney family who traveled to the graduation from Fort Mill, South Carolina.  The Randall's traveled from Jacksonville, North Carolina.  (I think they get the award for traveling the farthest, but they flew in so does that count?  I should mention they flew in by way of Miami where they went to attend Jeremia's [Josh's brother] graduation - doctoral program in sports medicine, very cool.)  Adam and Morgan drove up from Dallas, Texas.  Debi's sister, Patty, drove in from Western Kansas and Heath and his kids drove down from Atchison. 

We also enjoyed the company of all the "local" family and friends that can be counted on to celebrate and cheer us on our major milestones.

Although I was hoping to arrive a little early, with the Cooney's visiting it just wasn't to be.  LOL... we were lucky to get to the high school before "Pomp and Circumstance" started to play.  Needless to say, we sat in the nose-bleed section.  Luckily, Bret and Jed's family were up there waiting for us. HEHEHE!

So enjoy a few photos of the graduation from a new perspective, just in case you've never sat quite so high at one of these events. 

 
A shot of the school board and administration.  Paul is a school board member and is the fourth person from the right.

 
Alex entered the gym first since she (and Griffin Bortzfield) were valedictorians.

 
Kodee's girlfriend, Hannah, also graduated.  This is Hannah walking in with Landon Baker.

 
Kolbee walking in with Kyle Walker.

  
This is Alex giving her valedictorian speech.

 
Alex hugging Paul after she receives her diploma.

 
Hannah shaking Paul's hand.

 
Paul handed Kolbee his diploma and here you see him giving Kolbee a hug.

  
Woohoo!  We're outta here.

 
Alex and Kolbee, both looking pretty darn happy.

 
LOL... two cool kids.

 
Proof... I'm not the only one that takes photos! (Audrey on the left and Kristie on the right.)

 
Kolbee with Paul and Kristie.  Do you think Kolbee's smile could be any bigger?  LOL...

I'll get more group photos and photos from the party posted in a separate posting.  It's time to go to bed so I can get to Sunday School in the morning.