It was great to see all of Kevin and Debi's daughters with them at church today. They are a beautiful group of girls. Here is a layout with a couple of photos I took today. Josiah is 3 months old and he is so adorable. He looks so much like his dad, but when he cries he scrunches up his face like Adison but he sounds like Adeline. LOL...
If you are on Facebook, you've probably seen this photo already, but I wanted to share it with everyone who hasn't jumped on the FB bandwagon yet.
Do the girls look thrilled or what? Adeline (who justed turned two on January 29) is holding on Josiah with Adison (age 3) beaming from close by. LOL... I love this picture of Audrey and her growing family.
Beautiful!
If you are on Facebook then you have probably already heard the glorious news that Audrey and Josh are the proud parents of Josiah Edward Randall.
Here are a couple of pictures that Debi sent me via text message along with his vitals. (Thank you so much, Debi.)
This is the update Debi posted on Facebook earlier today.
Audrey and Josiah came home about an hour ago. You've never seen such excited little girls to see them both. Adison and Adeline each held Josiah. Everyone doing great. I spent the night with the girls last night while Audrey and Josiah had to stay another night at the hospital.
Oh and I have to add, I think it is very cool that Grandma Anna's littlest great great grandson was born on her birthday... 110 years later.
On December 28, I met up with Cammie and Audrey at Aunt Sheilah's house for a visit. They were both home for a visit during the holidays. Audrey was here with her girls from Jacksonville, NC and Cammie was here with Joel and her girls from West Salem, WI.
Pictured here are all of the kids, including Clint's kids.
Standing in the back row, left to right: Chelsea (Cammie's oldest), Kaity (Clint's step-daughter), and Caylee (Cammie's middle daughter).
Sitting or kneeling, left to right: Cate (Cammie's youngest; who, by the way, is not happy about having her photo taken), Lainey (Clint's youngest), Bailey (Clint's oldest), and Audrey's girls - Adison (wearing the veil) holding Adeline.
In every picture Cate is wearing this expression, this little lady did not want her picture taken no matter how hard we tried to coax her out of it.
I know, don't pass out, I'm posting again... I can't believe it's been two weeks since I last posted, in an effort to catch up I'm just going to start posting whatever comes to mind or that I happen to find interesting or amusing. So things are going to be a little wonky for the next few weeks - meaning out of chronological order - if you haven't realized I'm a pretty linear thinker/doer and coloring outside the lines or getting things out of order is not my normal state of being. So now that my brain is doing a complete backstroke and I've shared it with you all, let's get this ball rolling.
A couple of week's ago, Dad and I traveled to Topeka to watch Alex complete in her last Kansas High School Rodeo Finals. She was competing in both Pole Bending and Barrel Racing. She did not do very well in either event at the two shows I attended and I don't have any great shots to share with you - in fact, most of the decent shots show a pole down. (Sorry Alex)
Alex did not qualify to go to the nationals this year. When I asked if she was disappointed, she said she was a little but not too bad. It was time for others to go and she was already looking forward to and planning for college.
However, I do have some great shots of Alex receiving a couple of scholarships during the presentation on Saturday afternoon.
Alex was one of two seniors that received the Virgil Miller Memorial Scholarship being presented here by Virgil's son, Jeff Miller.
In this photo Alex is receiving a Farm Credit Academic Scholarship. Alex has made the High School Academic Rodeo Team since she started competing in high school rodeo; not surprising considering she was one of her class valedictorians.
Alex also received a third scholarship given by the Kansas High School Rodeo Association.
I also have to mention that when Alex was interviewing for one of the scholarships she'd applied for the interviewer told Alex she should be teaching kids how to apply for and interview for scholarships, he said she did fantastic!
Congratulations Alex on your successful high school rodeo career! We are looking forward to watching you compete at the college level next.
Here are some photos from the party for Alex and Kolbee held at Grandpa's farm after the graduation ceremony.
The first group of shots are a few posed photos with the graduates and their folks.
Paul and Kristie kissing their graduate, Kolbee.
Paul, Kolbe and Kristie
Debi, Kevin, Alex, Kolbee, Paul and Kristie
Not sure what Alex is laughing at, but I love this photo ofher.
Debi, Alex and Kevin.
This next group of shots are just some casual photos of folks standing around a visiting, the kids opening their gifts, and the general milling around of friends and family. I hope you love these get togethers as much as I do. Where else would you see Sheila Wimmer, Shane Kastler, and Heath Umphenour at the same place? ;-D
Sheila Wimmer with Audrey. Sheila taught Michele and she also had Alex. That is quite a teaching career and I'm sure she had quite a few stories to share with Alex about her mom.
Paul, trying to hide from the camera as usual.
Pastor Shane and Kevin
Ann Jackson visiting with Grandma Virginia
Kolbee checking out his T-shirt blanket. The squares are made from some of Kolbee's T-shirts. Kristie told Kolbee that she made the blanket. The look on his face is him saying "Really? You did this?" LOL... right Kolbee, she whipped that out between your sporting events, her work and taking care of her dad.
Alex is showing off her new purse.
Kolbee checking out his new laptop.
Gary, David, DeWayne, and Kevin visiting.
David, Missy, Trenton, and Edward Lee. Looks like Missy is telling quite a story - the men are all quiet.
Kolbee and Alex sitting on the ottman (made by Jada for Alex) opening and reading their cards.
Trenton and Edward Lee... not sure which is the bigger story teller. Probably Edward Lee, he's been at it longer. ;-D
Jess, Sheilah, Julie and Jae
Great GREAT Aunt Deanna holding Molli Blou. (Check out Jae in the background, that little lady is always trying to get some part of her body in a photo. Here it's her head, but she doesn't care if it's a foot or arm. LOL...)
The kids playing on the big slide.
The kids playing in the yard. Isn't it good to see Grandpa's yard full of kids?
Mollie is cracking me up. She is decked out in her little cowgirl finery and she's wearing her scooter/skateboarding helmet. Jace was showing her a few tricks.
Aunt Patty holding little Olive.
Tommy visiting with Kolbee... Good to see you again, Tommy!
Now this is a normal site. One of the big guys picking on one of the little guys. (Okay, don't think you can call Dalton little!) I'm sure Adam is just finally glad he's one of the "big guys!" HEHEHE
Oh my, it looks like Malachi is about to get a facefull of football. I think Kaden got a hand on it and deflected it. In the red shirt is Chase, then Adam and Dalton. Isn't it funny to see our vehicles parked on the highway!?
This is Jace trying to jump up and touch the rim. Check out the little shaver... he's a ways away from the rim, but he can jump a lot higher than I imagined.
Here is Judah on the move. Someone better look out. He's got a determined look on his face and a squirt gun full of water!
Here is a photo of Julie feeding Breck. (This photo was taken at the graduation ceremony.)
This last group of photos are group shots. A couple were taken at the gym because I wasn't sure they would be at the party.
Another photo taken at the graduation ceremony. This is Clint's family. The pretting little girl in pink is his daughter Bailey and his wife, April, is holding their little girl, Lainey.
I also got a photo of Adam Hamilton and his girlfriend Ashley Casey with their son, Talan, after the graduation ceremony.
Grandpa sitting for a photo with Heath and his kids, Christian (little guy in blue), Chase (red) and Courtney.
Grandpa with Deanna, DeWayne, Cassidy, Jada, Dalton, and David
This photo cracks me up. These two guys are going to be Freshman next year. Can you believe they are the SAME AGE! Well almost, Brenton is 8 months older, but a FOOT taller. How adorable!?
Brenton, Danea and Breanna
Five Generations: Edward, Edward Lee, Julie, Jess and Molli Blou
(In the photo, Edward is seated. Standing L to R: Jess, Julie and Edward Lee holding Molli Blou)
Papa Jason is making faces at Molli, that's why her legs are sticking out straight and she is starting to smile. She has a full body reaction to Papa Jason.
Grandpa Edward with the Cooneys: Jace, Jess, Jason, Julie holding Molli Blou and Jae.
Wow, that was a lot of photos. I hope you enjoyed them!
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.
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.
If you missed the comment Alex posted, she finished in 4th on Sunday, 3/22. She said she would have placed on Saturday too, she had a good time going, but her horse's tail knocked a pole over. Darn...
I checked the results link and they still have her listed in 7th place overall; which is what she was at the end of the fall session, so I'm not sure that it's been updated.
Her next rodeo is at Lakin on April 18-19.
Here is a photof of Alex taken last year at Topeka.
