These kids enjoyed a meal at Joes with their grandparents while their folks were at work!

We got these pictures from Grant from his day at Keystone. Glad he was able to test out all of his new gear that he either bought or got for Christmas - as well as his super duper cheap Epic pass. Hopefully he'll get a lot of use the next 3.5 years out of the gear.

late night picture when we were both awake

Reid has started making cookie dough just because... a lot...

my google location summary of 2023. I only visited one country but 81 cities.

I guess this is our new thing on Mondays?!?

Snow/cold days...

Literally two minutes before we are supposed to leave for work/school...

Grant was woken up at 4:30am (obviously) for a random drug test, regular military morning requirements, and then a top secret security clearance interview and then physics 2. He was exhausted by 10am!

but then a different day was better!

My day at the time... thankful Thursdays...

Our wrestler is a part of the District Champs team!

OSU tennis - So much fun! We defeated #3 Michigan this night.

Although I hate the glasses, Grant was given free pit viper sunglasses at a men's basketball game. These are all the rage with baseball players so he was excited! He actually wanted to pay money for them in high school and we thankfully talked him out of that idea - ha!

My sushi came in a flower shape!

Date night with my Dad to go to the McKnight Center. It was an excellent show. What an incredible story about the 38 flights and 7,000 people that were forced to land in Gander, Newfoundland on 9/11.

I may look "a little" like him.  :) ha!

and then I was greeted by Eddie when I got home!

I guess my clothing and my house match! ha.

and then here is our third pea in the pod also wearing teal that same evening...now he is sporting a mustache.

Mom is meanwhile hanging out with some of her girls on a trip!

Wrapping up Christmas break and some fun

Here are a few more from the All Academies Ball.

These are the Beamans. They are new friends with a cadet at the Academy.

Cadet Processional

Will Beaman. Fun fact: he is the highest ranking cadet officer in his grade. Wowzer!

Family fun with the Bales

New Years Eve

Grant spent the evening with his friends, and Kyle and Reid had a pair of brothers over to hang out. We invited their parents for games and dinner. Who would have thought that the most fun would be a cell phone question game!

Reid one round one...

Stacy won round 2...

Then Jessica and then Kyle!

Sprite at midnight!

Here's to 2024.

Kyle worked a lot of the break. We took him dinner one night and just wanted to see the place. He was heat sealing medicine right now.

the lab and work area

Grant spent so much time with his friends over the break. They ended it by going to a Thunder game.

 Kyle either worked or slept.

Mom turned 70!!! We celebrated her twice!

We had a family party on Grant's last night here with dinner and German chocolate cake.

On her real birthday, I had a brunch for her friends. It was fun to pull out "the pretty stuff" and have her friends over - they are a hoot. Their friendships are so special.

Her childhood friend, Debbie, came as well as Anne and then six Stillwater gals.

I have really enjoyed Kyle lately. He even came to hang out in my room so I laid down next to him for a nice chat.

I haven't really been at a table but there has been poison so this resonated with me.

snuggles in church.

Dugan won his MMA fight!!

Reid had a middle school dance.

His teammates were screaming for him - so very fun. These fellas are heading to OSU and OU to wrestle at the next level.

Just a reminder this is my kid who thinks hugging his mom is too much touching....

It confuses me?!?

All that sweaty touching leads to Staph yet again...

Grant at 5:05am to go back. Not quite sure he felt the adrenaline and excitement that was there in June.

Eddie running around looking for him later that day.

I love parent pages for USAFA - I was able to spy my Chemistry student on his first day of class!

And there he is - I hope this is a great semester and know I pray for you.